Adams Papers
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Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 10 September 1794

Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams

Haverhill September 10th 1794

My Dear Sister—

My Cousins most agreeably supprized me by a Visit— I had been informed that your Sons were to sail the week before— I thought they were upon the wide Ocean, & many a fervent wish for their saefty T had breathed forth— I am sorry I could not have the pleasure of seeing my other Nephews, especially your eldest Son, as perhaps, it will be many a year before I see him, if ever— It is an unstable world we live in— And we Sisters seem to be called, to be separated from some of our dearest Connections all at once— For I must think, I shall feel the Separation from Mr Cranch, even more than his own Father, & Mother— For I had considered him as fixed among us—as a dear Relative, & worthy Friend, as a Protector to me, & my Children, one whom I hoped to have lived, & died with—but Providence seems to be pointing out to him another Place—a Sphere of more extensive usefulness, I trust, & ought I to murmur, or to repine.—1 He that cuts of one branch, can cause another to shoot forth—& if it is best, it will be done— Reliance upon the wisdom, & goodness of the divine Being, has the most salutary effect— We derive from it, our sweetest Comforts, & it gives peace, & serenity to the mind when nothing else can—

Cousin Betsy is much better, riding she finds of service, I hope she will be able to make you a visit at Quincy when my Cousin Lucy returns—

The bag the oatmeal was in, I should be obliged to you, if you would send it— It is a nice one for my William to pack his Cloaths in— I mean to do his washing— more cloaths is necessary, but I can do it, better than hire—2 what you was so kind as to give me I found of great service, they were much better than we could afford to buy— turning the hind part before, & making them over again, made quite useful small cloaths—

Adieu my dear Sister—may you, & Yours be protected from every kind of danger, & evil—

Elizabeth Shaw—

RC (Adams Papers).

1William Cranch had accepted a position as agent to James Greenleaf’s firm, Morris, Nicholson & Greenleaf, in Washington, D.C. He was retained to handle their legal and business affairs, work he continued until the firm’s failure in 1797 (NEHGS, Memorial Biographies, description begins Memorial Biographies of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1880–1908; 9 vols. description ends 2:451–454).

2William Smith Shaw was beginning his first term at Harvard; he would graduate in 1798 (Harvard Quinquennial Cat. description begins Harvard University, Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates, 1636–1930, Cambridge, 1930. description ends ).

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