 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO MRS. SMITH.
I received, by Mr. King, your letter of December
30th. I am uneasy if I do not hear from you once
a week, though you have not any thing more to tell
me than that you and your little ones are well. I
think you do perfectly right in refusing to go into
public during the absence of Colonel Smith. The
society of a few friends is that from which most
pleasure and satisfaction are to be derived. Under
the wing of parents, no notice would be taken of
your going into public, or mixing in any amusement;
but the eyes of the world are always placed
them to censure, and even the friendly attentions of
one's acquaintance are liable to be misconstrued, so
that a lady cannot possibly be too circumspect. I
do not mention this to you through apprehension
of your erring, but only as approving your determination.
I should spend a very dissipated winter, if I were
to accept of one half the invitations I receive, particularly
to the routes, or tea and cards. Even
Saturday evening is not excepted, and I refused an
invitation of that kind for this evening. I have been
to one assembly. The dancing was very good; the
company of the best kind. The President and
Madam, the Vice-President and Madam, Ministers of
State, and their Madams, &c.; but the room despicable;
the etiquette,—it was difficult to say where it
was to be found. Indeed, it was not New York;
but you must not report this from me. The managers
have been very polite to me and my family. I
have been to one play, and here again we have been
treated with much politeness. The actors came and
informed us that a box was prepared for us. The
Vice-President thanked them for their civility, and
told them that he would attend whenever the President
did. And last Wednesday we were all there.
The house is equal to most of the theatres we meet
with out of France. It is very neat, and prettily
fitted up; the actors did their best; "The School
for Scandal" was the play. I missed the divine
Farren; but upon the whole it was very well performed.
Chew's, and on Friday sup at Mr. Clymer's; so you
see I am likely to be amused.
We have had very severe weather for several
weeks; I think the coldest I have known since my
return from abroad. The climate of Old England
for me; people do not grow old half so fast there;
two-thirds of the year here, we must freeze or melt.
Public affairs go on so smoothly here, that we
scarcely know that Congress are sitting; North Carolina
a little delirious, and Virginia trying to give
law. They make some subject for conversation;
but, after all, the bluster will scarcely produce a
mouse.
Present me kindly to your mamma and sisters.
How I long to send for you all, as in days past; my
dear little boys, too. As to John, we grow every
day fonder of him. He has spent an hour this
afternoon in driving his grandpapa round the room
with a willow stick. I hope to see you in April.
Congress will adjourn in March, and it is thought
will not meet again till December.
Good night, my dear. Heaven's blessings alight
on you and yours,
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |