Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams, 28 September 1798
Abigail Adams Smith to John Quincy Adams
Quincy Sept 28th 1798
my Dear Brother
the Enclosed letter our Dear Mamma has requested me to enclose to you and to write to you she brought it with her from Philadelphia and has intended to write to you herself but has not been able1 she has been very much indisposed ever since she has been at home with a Bilious dissorder and has been brought very low with it, but is now we hope better and upon the recovery
I came on with our Parents to make a visit to my two Sons who have been at an Academy at Atkinson and with our Aunt Peabody for the last twelve months. I have not been here before for five years the Illness of our Dear Mother has cast a gloom over the face of every thing here—and it scarce seems like home without her enlivening chearfullness
Congress did not rise untill late in july which brought it to such extreme hot weather as made it very uncomfortable travelling—and we have had the warmest Summer that has been known for many years the Thermometer has stood at 96 often—and when removed to a Situation exposed to the Sun has risen to an hundred and three degrees—
the President left Philadelphia very quietly, intending to take an Easy journey to this Place—but he was interrupted by Troups of Horse and Escorts through most of the Principle Towns through which he passed which as demonstrations of respect evencing the attachment of the People, and their entire approbation of his Administration—were certainly sattisfactory and pleasing altho the extreme heat Dust and agitation of such a journey has been very prejudicial to our Dear Mother2
when you come to peruse our News papers you will observe I am sure with great pleasure the rising spirit of the People of America expressed Universally in their Addresses to the President—and I dare say you will be highly gratified with the Answers
French Politicks are becoming quite old Fashion, and those who advocate them, loosing the Confidence of the People
We begin Already to experience the good affects of our Navy, our Coast is kept clear of French Privateers, and our European Vessells which used to fall Victims to them are arriving daily— Capt Nickolson of the Frigate Constitution has recently captured a French Corvette with 20 Guns. and two hundred Men—and we have accounts this day of the Capture of three other Privateers by other Ships—3
The extreme heat of the weather United with other causes have produced the Yellow fever in Philadelphia New York, Boston, New London, & Portsmouth its ravages have not been in Boston equal to either of the other Cities but a great Number of the inhabitants have left the Town— in New York and Philadelphia it has been extremely fatal—and has totally baffled the power of Medicine and Physical skill— from 40 to 60 have died of a day for many weeks. it is said that 30 thousand of the inhabitants have left the City— the Physicians have pronounced that the only safety was in Flight4
the Putrid State of the Air in Boston has been supposed to arise from a quantity of spoiled Fish which was incautiously thrown into the Dock and became putrid and has affected the air of the Town in those parts Contiguous to it— most of the Stores have been Shut and very little business done since the Midle of july
Franklin Beach, Fenno and Greenleaf in New York have died with it and many others but none of our particular acquaintances or near Connections5 our Dear Aunt Peabody has lost her Daughter Betsy Shaw, in a Consumption—which is an event that has afflicted her much— she was sick but seven months it has almost broke her heart— she was just grown up—and was a promising Child. her Son William has taken his degree at College this year and now Serves the President as private Secretary
we are in great hopes of the pleasure of Saluting our Dear Brother Thomas soon on this side the Atlantick— I sincerely pray he may be preserved from falling into the Power—of any Enemy—and particularly of French Pirates he is very much wanted here you may be assured
And now my Dear Brother let me request you to present me affectionately to your my Dear Sister and to beleive me yours affectionately
A S—
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mrs: A. Smith—28. Septr: 1798. / 27. Jany: 1799 recd:."
1. Not found.
2. JA and AA were celebrated as they traveled from Philadelphia to Quincy. At Trenton, N.J., their passage was heralded by an artillery salute. In New York City, one newspaper reported “the loud and repeated huzzas from a greater concourse of people” proved “the unbounded love and respect entertained for this venerable Chief,” as city officials and the militia escorted the Adamses to CA’s house. In Watertown, Mass., the streets were watered in advance, and a “verdant arch” was installed over the road in Cambridge. After the Adamses arrived home, Gov. Increase Sumner was joined by officials from Quincy, Braintree, Milton, and Weymouth at a dinner in Quincy Hall on 12 September. JA attended without AA, who was toasted: “A speedy restoration of health to that ornament of her sex, the LADY of the PRESIDENT” (Philadelphia Carey’s United States’ Recorder, 2 Aug.; New York Commercial Advertiser, 28 July; Newburyport Herald, 10 Aug.; Massachusetts Mercury, 18 Sept.).
3. The Massachusetts Mercury, 28 Sept., reported the 8 Sept. capture of the French privateer Niger by the U.S. frigate Constitution, While the newspaper claimed on the 25th that the ship carried 20 guns and 200 men, the issue of the 28th placed the counts at 24 guns and 75 men. It also reported the taking of a privateer by the U.S. frigate United States and the retaking of a Damariscotta, Maine, vessel from a French privateer. The Boston Columbian Centinel, 19 Sept., claimed that the U.S. ship Rover was in pursuit of a French privateer off the New York coast.
4. Between late August and November, yellow fever claimed the lives of approximately 1,300 people in New York City. In Boston the death toll “did not exceed 250,” and a few deaths were also reported in Portsmouth, N.H.; New London, Conn.; and Wilmington, Del. In Philadelphia, however, more than 3,500 died and 40 percent of the city’s population fled, including the government, which relocated to Trenton, N.J., in mid-August (Massachusetts Spy, 26 Dec.; Boston Independent Chronicle, 12–15 Nov.; Anita DeClue and Billy G. Smith, “Wrestling the ’Pale Faced Messenger’: The Diary of Edward Garrigues During the 1798 Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic,” Pennsylvania History, 65:252, 267 [1998]; Thomas Condie and Richard Folwell, History of the Pestilence, Commonly Called Yellow Fever, Phila., [1799]; , 22:66).
5. Among those who died in the yellow fever epidemic were newspaper editors Benjamin Franklin Bache on 10 Sept. and John Fenno and Thomas Greenleaf on the 14th (; Boston Independent Chronicle, 20–24 Sept.).