Adams Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Lovell, James" AND Period="Revolutionary War" AND Correspondent="Adams, Abigail"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-03-02-0200

James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 January 1780

James Lovell to Abigail Adams

Jany. 13. 1780

Madam

I send you a Continuance of the Journals.

The Printer having lately made a Mistake in the Course of sending me the Sheets of 1778, I was led to think he had done so before, as to that which I have written to you about already, called by him H; I therefore now put up one, as well as M.N. which I am certain were not before inclosed to you. I would have you send all forward to our Friend, unless you should have found that I really committed the Error of sending you before both Mr. A’s H and my own. For you are to know that only two Copies are taken out of the Printer’s Hands; and as I could not find all my own Pages I was induced to think I had sent them to you. But as you see above I have altered the Conjecture.

How do you do, Lovely Portia, these very cold Days? Mistake me not willfully; I said Days. For my Part, I was hardly able to write legibly at the Distance of only 18 feet from two Fire Places in the Congress Room at 4 oClock this Afternoon. There is no Probability that the Cold will be decreased in 7 hours from that Time. I will strive however to refrain from coveting my Neighbour’s Blankets. I shall find that not difficult. But really I doubt whether I shall be able to keep myself void of all Coveteousness. I suspect I shall covet to be in the Arms of Portia’s1 Friend and Admirer—the Wife of my Bosom, who would be a whole Coverlid bettered, as well as I, by such an Approximation.

Upon casting my Eye back thro’ what I have written, I find it would have been more justly comprehensible if the Page had been either a little longer or somewhat shorter. There was not room to write Turn over. I hope, however, that you did not stop long without doing so Madam; because a quick Turnover alone could save the 10th. Commandment intire; and you must now see plainly that I had not the smallest Suspicion of my being driven by my present Sufferings to make a frantic Breach there.

I hope Mr. Adams is long e’er now in France where he will not have at his very Fingers Ends such nipping Reasons as I have to regret his Separation from that sweet Comfort which is held up to our Hopes among other Bible-Felicities. Eccles: IV. 11.2

We are still without News from any of our Agents or Ministers abroad. I will not fail to communicate the first we get that can amuse you. Respectfully & affectionately Yrs.,

JL

RC (Adams Papers). The serial issues of the Journals of Congress accompanying this letter have not been found.

1In the MS, Lovell facetiously ended the first page with the word “Portia,” adding the possessive form and the rest of the sentence overleaf. This device, reminiscent of some found in Sterne’s writings, explains the clumsily playful remarks in his next paragraph.

2“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone?

Index Entries