Adams Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-05-02-0242

Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 10 October 1784

Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams

Braintree october 10th 1784

My dear Sister

When I return’d from Haverhill I hurry’d over a very incorrect Scrowl, being as I thought very much in danger of not geting it on board Capt. Scott before he saild, but here is Mr. Tyler just return’d from Boston and tells me he will not Sail till Teysday. I dont Love to have Letters lay by so. They will seem such old things when you get them that half their value will be lost. Mr. Tyler has receiv’d another Letter from Mr. Adams and one from Cousin with her Picture1 which we think is very well done and a pretty good likness but I had rather see the original Dear Girl. You must return with her as soon as you possibly can and make us all happy. Braintree has lost all its charms for me. How sweetly did we live Oh thou dear Companion of my Infant days. In afflictions darkest night thou hast been my greatest human support and the debt remains yet unpaid. Tell me my sister how I shall discharge it?

I greatly rejoice with you that after so long an absence you have once more met the Friend of your Heart. How does he look? Not a year older now than when he left us I dare say, now he has found his best Friend. Your letters have put us all into such fine spirits that we are the most agreable Companions to each other in the world. I hope we shall [remain?] such, but we are changable mortals you know. I last night receiv’d a Letter fro[m sister] Shaw. She is better and your Letters have done not a [litt]le towards restoring her. Cousin Charles return’d last Thursday. It felt a little like coming home. We did every thing in our [power] to make it appear so to him. Tommy does not seem to wish to come without he can see Mama. Mrs. Hall and Suky2 din’d with me last Friday. Your Brother and Miss Polly3 drank Tea with me. You would be surpriz’d to see how much Flesh your Mother has gather’d. She told me she had been dreaming that she was so Fat that she could not move herself. She really seem’d concern’d about it. My little Favourite Boylstone4 was to see me yesterday and brought me a letter for you. He is going to board in the upper Parish to attend Mr. Porters Schoole. If ambition and deligince united with genious will make a great Man, he promises fair to be one. Cousin Charles has examin’d him, and says he is surpriz’d at the rapid progress he has made in his studies. He told me he design to catch cousin Tom, and enter colledge with him.

I suppose you are now in Paris. Where ever you are write to me as often as you can. I shall do so by every vessel that I can hear off, by the Marquis5 you may be sure. Adieu my dear Sister.

M C

RC (Adams Papers). The folding marks suggest that this letter may have been enclosed in Mary Cranch’s letter of 3 Oct., above. Slight damage to the text where a seal was removed.

1Neither the letters nor the picture of AA2 have been found.

2Susanna Adams, daughter of JA’s brother Peter Boylston Adams..

3Mary Adams, Peter Boylston Adams’ eldest daughter.

4Boylston Adams.

5The Marquis de Lafayette had landed in America in August, arrived in Boston from Connecticut on 15 Oct., stayed a week, and then traveled south to Virginia. He sailed for France on 23 Dec. (Lafayette in the Age of the Amer. Rev description begins Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, ed. Stanley J. Idzerda and others, Ithaca, 1977-. description ends ., 5:xliii–xliv).

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