Adams Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-08-02-0176

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 26 April 1789

Abigail Adams to John Adams

Braintree April 26. 1789

my dearest Friend

Major Gibbs Captain Beals & mr Woodard all are going to New-york, and all have desired Letters, but as they all go at the same Time one Letter must answer.1 I wrote you this week by mr Allen, since which nothing has transpired in our little village worth communicating. the Newspapers I inclose to you all that I get in the course of a week, but the printers or the persons to whom they are committed, think as you are absent, it is of little concequence whether I get them or not. the Torrent has subsided & a calm has ensued. Laco I see has advertized his Works to be sold in a pamphlet2

I wish to know where & How you are accommodated, and what ever else you may think proper to communicate. I have heard only once from you at Hartford & fear I must wait a week longer, before any intelligence reaches me. pray is it prudent discreet or wise, that the debates of the House should be publish’d in the crude indigisted manner in which they appear to be given to the publick?—

Have you seen your little Grandsons yet? how is mrs Smith I hope she will write me I shall be very lonesome when our sons are gone to colledg Next week, only I am buissy about the Garden, tho I have had Time to get very little done. I have been obliged to have all the wall of the great pasture poled the sheep became so troublesome & wandered every where, & to day have been building the wall against Mr Bass—

The Family are well. Esther is tolerable the Baby has a bad soar mouth— pray burn all these Scribles for fear you should leave or drop any of them—any where

Let me know how you do— I cannot Say I am very well, tho better for this fortnight than I was before you went away. I hope your journey will be of service to you but I fear too much perplexity in Buisness for you.

adieu & believe me most affectionatly / Yours—

Abigail Adams

RC (Adams Papers); addressed by TBA: “His Excellency John Adams / Vice President of the United States, / New York—”; endorsed: “Portia. Apr 6. / 1789”; notation: “Favored by / Mr Woodward.”

1Major Caleb Gibbs (ca. 1750–1818) had commanded Washington’s bodyguards from 1776 to 1779. He later served as the civilian superintendent of the Charlestown Navy Yard (James Archer O’Reilly III, Memorials of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, Boston, 2004, p. 142–143).

2Stephen Higginson, writing under the pseudonym Laco, published a series of articles attacking John Hancock in the Massachusetts Centinel. These pieces were gathered together and printed as The Writings of Laco, as Published in the Massachusetts Centinel, in the Months of February and March, 1789, Boston, 1789 (Boston Independent Chronicle, 23 April).

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