4760. LIFE, Reliving.—[further continued].
You tell me my granddaughter
repeated to you an expression of mine,
that I should be willing to go again over the
scenes of past life. I should not be unwilling,
without, however wishing it; and why not? I
have enjoyed a greater share of health than
falls to the lot of most men; my spirits have
never failed me except under those paroxysms
of grief which you, as well as myself, have experienced
in every form, and with good health
and good spirits, the pleasures surely outweigh
the pains of life. Why not, then, taste them
again, fat and lean together? Were I indeed
permitted to cut off from the train the last
seven years, the balance would be much in
favor of treading the ground over again. Being
at that period in the neighborhood of our warm
springs and well in health, I wished to be
better, and tried them. They destroyed, in a
great measure, my internal organism, and I
have never since had a moment of perfect
health.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vii, 421.
Ford ed., x, 347.
(M.
1825)
