Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody, 18 July 1800
Abigail Adams to Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody
Quincy July 18th 1800
My Dear Sister
I received Your kind Letter by mr Peabody and thank
You most Sincerely for it;1 I did not know that You had been so very sick untill I saw a Letter
from You to mrs Foster: You my Dear sister certainly take too great a
charge upon you; I know that You delight in doing good, and
communicating, that as our good Father used to Say, he had rather be
worn out, than rust out; but your constitution is so feeble that You
should Spair it, as much as possible. Your Life is too precious to Your
Family and Friends, for you to be any way lavish even in well doing; I
think it is your Duty to take some relaxation and change of Air &
scenes will tend to invigorate you, and give a new Spring to your
spirits. a Cheerfull Heart does good like a Medicine; your Spirits have
supported carried your feeble
frame through many a trying scene aided by the best supporter, and the
only Sure and stable prop upon which We can rely with security.
“Religion bears our spirits up” whilst we trust that the Supreem Ruler
of the Universe knows what is best for his creatures—2 I have had a very Sick turn. a
fever confined me to My Bed for
Several Days—just before the Presidents return. he found me confined to
My Chamber, but thanks to a kind Providence, I am restored again. Mrs
Norten is better than I feared She ever would be again. She is a mere shadow. her
Situation is a very precarious one; a very little matter would turn the
balance against her— She is returnd to her Family Sister Cranch has the
two Youngest Children Still with her, and mr & mrs Greenleaf &
her two Children are with her now; Mrs Smith returnd with the President,
and was very happy last night to see her two Sons, who are grown fine
Boys—
Your son has made the tour to Washington with the President. he would have immediatly visited you upon his return, but hoped You would have come at Commencment, but when I found how large a Family You have, I did not wonder that you could not both be absent at once I think You had better resolve to come when the Children return which will be in about a fortnight.—
You kindly inquire after my Family. I had a Letter from Berlin about a fortnight since. it was an old Date 18 Febry— it however informd me of a new misfortune to which mrs Adams had again been subject. Her Health had been much mended by her excursion to Dresden the last Year—and she was some way advanced in her Pregnancy: attending one of the Assemblies at Court, the Lady of the Spanish Minister who had recently arrived, was standing by her, when the Lady in turning round caught her foot in the carpet, fell & broke her Leg short of, the agitation & hurry of Spirits this accident occasiond, and the assistance which Mrs Adams endeavourd to render her; through her into a fainting fit; and She was carried home when a renewal of the Misfortune to which She had three times before been subject, took place and left her again upon the verge of Dissolution when he wrote, two Months had elapsed, and she was but slowly recovering
Thomas is in Philadelphia where I hope he will succeed in buisness. he is good amiable and virtuous, a comfort to his Parents. God grant him Life and Health;
I will send the Linnen you request by William—and will write by him
adieu my Dear sister / affectionatly Your
A Adams—
The President desires to be affectionatly rememberd to you. Mrs smith will write to you— Louissa sends duty. Remember me to Miss Palmer—
RC (DLC:Shaw Family Papers); addressed: “Mrs Elizabeth Peabody / Atkinson”; endorsed: “July 18th: 1800.”
1. Peabody wrote a letter to AA on 14 July (Adams Papers), in which she said she had suffered from fever and a sprained ankle and reported on the clothing needs of William Steuben and John Adams Smith. The letter was in reply to one from AA of 22 June, in which AA noted having returned to Quincy with Susanna Boylston Adams and her anticipation of a visit from AA2. She also commented on the poor health of Elizabeth Cranch Norton and invited Peabody to visit (DLC:Shaw Family Papers).
2. Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Three Books, Book I, Hymn 132, line 13.