 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO MRS. CRANCH.
Can my dear sister realize that it is near eleven
months since I left her? To me it seems incredible;
more like a dream than a reality. Yet it
ought to appear the longest ten months of my life,
if I were to measure the time by the variety of objects
which have occupied my attention; but, amidst
them all, my heart returns, like the dove of Noah,
and rests only in my native land. I never thought
myself so selfish a being as since I have become a
traveller; for, although I see nature around me in
a much higher state of cultivation than our own
country can boast, and elegance of taste and manners
in a thousand forms, I cannot feel interested in
them; it is in vain for me, that here
Suckles each herb, and nurtures every flower."
'T is true the garden yields a rich profusion; but
they are neither plants of my hand, nor children of
my care. I have bought a little bird lately, and I
really think I feel more attached to that, than to any
object out of my own family, animate or inanimate.
Yet I do not consider myself in the predicament of
a poor fellow, who, not having a house in which to
put his head, took up his abode in the stable of a
dog, with whom he daily divided the small portion
of food which he earned. Upon being asked why,
when he found it so difficult to live himself, he still
kept a dog; "What," says the poor fellow,
"part with my dog! Why, whom should I have to
love me then?" You can never feel the force of
this reply, unless you were to go into a foreign
country without being able to speak the language of
it. I could not have believed, if I had not experienced
it, how strong the love of country is in the
human mind. Strangers from all parts of the country,
who visit us, feel more nearly allied than the
most intimate acquaintance I have in Europe. Before
this will reach you, you will have learnt our
destination to England. Whether it will prove a
more agreeable situation than the present, will depend
much upon the state of politics. We must
first go to Holland to arrange our affairs there, and
to take leave of that Court. I shall wish to be moving
as soon as my family lessens, it will be so lonesome.
We have as much company in a formal way
as our revenues will admit; and Mr. Jefferson, with
one or two Americans, visits us in the social, friendly
way. I shall really regret to leave Mr. Jefferson;
he is one of the choice ones of the earth. On
Thursday, I dine with him at his house. On Sunday,
he is to dine here. On Monday, we all dine
with the Marquis; and on Thursday we dine with
the Swedish Ambassador, one of the most agreeable
men, and the politest gentleman I have met with.
all my movements, which makes me so particular
to you.
I have many affairs upon me at present. What
with my son's going away, my own adjustments for
a final leave of this country, many things must pass
through my hands; but I am the less anxious to
write, as your nephew will tell you all about us.
You will think I ought to have written you more
now; but I am almost sick of my pen, and I know
you will see what I write to others. I will not,
however, close until the day before he quits the
house.
To-morrow morning my son takes his departure
for America, and we go next week to England. I
have nothing further to add, than my regards to
Mr. Cranch, and a desire that you would let me
hear from you by every opportunity. I shall lose
part, and the greatest part of American intelligence
by quitting France; for no person is so well informed
from all the States as the Marquis de la Fayette.
He has established a correspondence in all the States,
and has the newspapers from every quarter.
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |