 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO MRS. SMITH.
You must not flatter yourself with the expectation
of hearing from Colonel Smith until the February
packet arrives. It is as soon as you ought to think of
it. You see by the papers, that a minister is in nomination
from England, and, Mrs. C—writes, will
come out soon. Mrs. P—, from whom I received
a letter, writes me by the last packet, that Mr. Friere
is certainly appointed from Portugal, and that he
only waits for the arrival of Count—, his successor,
in England, before he sails for America. Mrs.
P—likewise communicates the agreeable intelligence
of Mr. P—'s having forsaken the bottle, and
that the Countess B—had another child, and was
vastly happy, beloved by her dear Count, &c.; all
in the true style of Mrs. P—. She desires to be
kindly remembered to you and the Colonel.
Present me kindly to all my New York friends.
That I was attached to that place is most true, and I
shall always remember with pleasure the fifteen
months passed there; but, if I had you and your family,
I could be very well pleased here, for there is an
agreeable society and friendliness kept up with all
the principal families, who appear to live in great
harmony, and we meet at all the parties nearly the
with us, the Governor, the Ministers of State, and
some Senators. Of all the ladies I have seen and
conversed with here, Mrs. Powell is the best informed.
She is a friendly, affable, good woman, sprightly,
full of conversation. There is a Mrs. Allen,
who is as well-bred a woman as I have seen in any
country, and has three daughters, who may be styled
the three Graces.
My best respects to your good mamma and family.
Tell Mrs. C—I hope she makes a very obedient
wife. I am sure she will be a good one. I think I
shall see you in April. Why do you say that you
feel alone in the world? I used to think that I felt
so too; but, when I lost my mother, and afterwards
my father, that "alone" appeared to me in a much
more formidable light. It was like cutting away
the main pillars of a building; and, though no friend
can supply the absence of a good husband, yet,
whilst our parents live, we cannot feel unprotected.
To them we can apply for advice and direction,
sure that it will be given with affection and tenderness.
We know not what we can do or bear, till
called to the trial. I have passed through many
painful ones, yet have enjoyed as much happiness
through life as usually falls to the lot of mortals;
and, when my enjoyments have been damped, curtailed,
or molested, it has not been owing to vice,
that great disturber of human happiness, but sometimes
to folly, in myself or others, or the hand of
Providence, which has seen fit to afflict me. I feel
murmur not at those which are withheld.—But my
pen runs on, and my lads, at whose table I write,
wonder what mamma can find to write about.
Adieu. My love to the children. From your ever
affectionate
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |