Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 16 April 1800
Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody
April 16th [1800]
my Dear sister
I have received two Charming Letters from my much loved
sister since my last to her.1
they demand from me a More minute reply than my time will allow, being
unwilling to leave a visitor who has been with me for a week past, Mrs
Johnson & Son from Georgetown, the Mother and Brother of My Dear absent
Sons Louissa, tho formerly known to me as a
visitor an acquaintance merly, without any particuliar interest in more than an agreable person &
pleasing manners excite. I find since the familis are united by marriage
much greater and more powerfull attractions towards it. add to this mrs
Johnson is a sensible well bred discreet woman, with polite and affable
manners: I expect her to remain with me a week longer—
The season my dear sister is delightfull. the grass &
grain have spread over the late barren plains & feilds, a verdure which
invigorates the spirits, and gives pleasure to the Eye, raising which you
behold the Trees all corresponding with their parent Earth, streching forth
their luxurient Branches drest in natures most pleasing livery. the weeping
Willow, which is a favorite tree with Me, from the gracefullness of its
slender branches, and which float and
wave to every breaze, intermixt with tall strait & Elegant poplar, form
a most Charming assembledge planted and intermixt as they are throughout
every street in this large & populus city— as they are of quick growth
thousands of them have been planted out and grown to a Surprizing height
Since I first a resident in this city and contribute greatly to the Beauty
of it, releiving the Eye from the dead and flat appearence of the brick
walls of the Houses— the streets here are all upon strait lines crossd like
a checker board, the Width of them add greatly to the Elegance convenience
& beauty of the city—and admit of trees upon each side of them, paved
with larg brick upon each side upon
which foot passengers always walk, so that you never see a person in the
middle of the street but with waggons or carriages— since Congress first sit
here, the city has grown one third— most of the Elegant Houses have been
built within the last ten years—2
I have past one of the pleasentest winters which I have
experienced for many Years. thanks to the Giver of every good gift, my
Health has been firmer, and I have experienced less indisposition than for
many Years past. Some Sleepless night I have had, but they have been few in
Number compared with the last winter. I propose returning to Boston Quincy in the next Month.
Congress talk of rising then, but I rather fear they will Sit into June.
Your son is some afflicted with what I may properly stile our Family
infirmity, the Rhumatism. Thomas is equally So, but neither of them have
been confined with it.—
I am persuaded Your Abbes feverish habit proceeds from worms. try the wafers which I gave you for her, they are safe. I have used them for caroline smith. use the cold Bath for her, and by gentle excercise and Air strengthen her Habit; a change of Air may also prove salubrious to her I shall hope for a visit from you my dear sister as soon after my return as you can make it convenient. the kind of Lawn which you request to have, is not be had here. I shall attend to the Linnen but from the confusions in Ireland, they come out much higher than formerly.3 we Made a peice up for your son, the beginning of the Winter.
My Love to Miss Palmer. do not blame Nature, by which she
is endowed with strong passions & a Warm Heart; I never was an advocate,
“for logs of Green wood which quench the coals”4 nor do I believe that in this
matures age of Reason and reflection I should find any attractions in a
stoic Soul— the kind and friendly admonitions of Parental experience, should
not be disregarded, nor the check
the too enthusiasm of youth, and teach
them to view the world as it really is, and humane nature as it will be
found, full of imperfections, much to forgive & much to be forgiven—
Youth is the season for joy, for hope, for pleasure & for improvement;
made it is excess alone which
renders these blessings hurtfull— but I Must hasten to close my Letter with
/ assureing my Dear sister that / I am her truly affectionate
A A
Dft (Adams Papers).
1. AA last wrote to Peabody on 4 Feb., and Peabody responded on 30 March, both above. The second letter from Peabody has not been found.
2. Fueled by immigration, manufacturing, and its role as the federal seat, and despite the loss of more than 10 percent of its population to yellow fever, Philadelphia’s population grew from 28,522 in 1790 to 41,220 in 1800 (Michael C. LeMay, ed., Transforming America: Perspectives on U.S. Immigration, 3 vols., Santa Barbara, Calif., 2013, 1:55–56).
3. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 severely impacted manufacturing, resulting in higher prices for linen as exports dropped from a record 46 million yards in 1796 to 35 million in 1800 (F. W. Smith, The Irish Linen Trade Hand-Book and Directory, Belfast, 1876, p. 51–52, 147).
4. Isaac Watts, “Few Happy Matches,” line 28.