Ann Thompson Gerry to Abigail Adams, 21 December 1797
Ann Thompson Gerry to Abigail Adams
Cambridge Decr 21st 1797.
My dear Madam
I acknowledge the receipt of your very obliging favour of th’ 23d of Novbr1 and should have done myself that pleasure before but was prevented by a severe indisposition (from which I am now pretty well recover’d) and the afflicting loss of my Father which has called my Sister from me2
I am extremely anxious to hear from Mr. Gerry at Paris I find by my letters from him previous to his quitting the Hague that the other Gentlemen where misinformed with respect to the place he sailed for having heard that it was Havre instead of Rotterdam which occasioned their proceeding without him I hope that as soon as any probable cojecture can be formed of the time of his return you will be so obliging as to inform me of it. with my best respects to the President and wishes for many returns of the season I remain / Dear Madam with sentiments of the highest / respect and esteem your obliged friend
Ann Gerry3
RC (Adams Papers).
1. In her letter to Gerry of 23 Nov., AA relayed news of the safe arrival of Elbridge Gerry at Rotterdam en route to Paris (private owner, 1971).
2. In addition to giving birth to a son in October, Ann Gerry was suffering from an eye aliment. Elbridge Gerry consulted several oculists in Europe and transmitted their recommendations in several of his letters. Ann Gerry had also learned about the death of her father James Thompson, for whom see vol. 7:142 (, p. 24, 27, 31).
3. Ann Gerry wrote again on 15 Jan. 1798 informing AA that she had received a letter from her husband with news of his arrival at Paris and that the envoys had presented their letters of credence and received cards of hospitality but were waiting for further response from France (Adams Papers).