Adams Papers
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John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1786

John Adams to Abigail Adams

Grosvenor Square Decr 27. 1786

My dearest

Mr Murray, whom I am glad to see out again will carry to Bath this Memorandum that We are all very well. He will arrive for what I know before Mr Bridgen. The Weath’s is very cold, but by a good fire and a good Walk I have not yet been obliged to recur to my Expedient of an immaculate Virgin Bottle of hot Water. I sent Yesterday—Packetts to Coll Smith from Paris.1

The News from Boston is very well. The Court has set at Cambridge in great Pomp guarded by three thousand Men and a train of Artillery. The General Court have passed an Amnesty, with some Exceptions, to all who will take the oath of allegiance, in a certain Time. The Governor reviewed the Troops and made them a Speech. In short government appears now in its Majesty supported by those in whom all Majesty originally resides, the People. I have not seen the Papers but Coll Trumbul gives me this Account,2 Coll Smiths Toast “common sense to the Common People” is already verified.

Make your observations, keep your Journal, and make Nabby Smith do so too, and let me see all when you return.

Yours evermore

John Adams

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs Adams at Mr Marjrams abbe Square Bath favd by Mr Murray”; endorsed: “Mr A December 27.”

1. Presumably Thomas Jefferson to WSS, 20 Dec., including a twelve-sheet map of South America and possibly a lost letter to AA2 (Jefferson, Papers description begins The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, Princeton, N.J., 1950– . description ends , 10:620).

2. Not found. For the opening of the Middlesex County court in Cambridge on 1 Nov., see JQA, Diary description begins Diary of John Quincy Adams, ed. David Grayson Allen, Robert J. Taylor, and others, Cambridge, 1981– . description ends , 2:120–121. The General Court’s amnesty, “An Act Granting Indemnity to Sundry Offenders, on Certain Conditions, and Providing for the Trial of Such, Who Shall Neglect or Refuse to Comply with Said Conditions, and of Those Who Shall Be Guilty of Like Offences in Future,” was approved on 15 Nov. (Mass., Acts and Laws description begins Acts and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts [1780–1805], Boston, 1890–1898; 13 vols. description ends , Acts of 1786, Sept. sess., ch. 44).

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1786
    Author
    Adams, John
    Recipient
    Adams, Abigail
    Date
    27 December 1786

    Reference

    Cite as
    “John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-07-02-0161. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 7, January 1786 – February 1787, ed. C. James Taylor, Margaret A. Hogan, Celeste Walker, Anne Decker Cecere, Gregg L. Lint, Hobson Woodward, and Mary T. Claffey. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2005, p. 413.]

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