 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO MRS. SMITH.
I have not written to you since I received yours of
January 5th. I go from home but very little, yet I
do not find my time hang heavy upon my hands.
You know that I have no aversion to join in the
cheerful circle, or mix in the world, when opportunity
offers. I think it tends to rub off those austerities,
which age is apt to contract, and reminds us,
as Goldsmith says, "that we once were young."
Whilst our presence is easy to youth, it will tend to
guide and direct them.
Be to their virtues ever kind,
And fix the padlock on the mind."
To-morrow our theatre is to open. Every precaution
has been taken to prevent such unpleasant
scenes as you represent are introduced upon yours.
I hope the managers will be enabled to govern the
mobility, or the whole design of the entertainment
will be thwarted.
Since I wrote you last, a renewal of the horrid
tragedies has been acted in France, and the Queen
is no more.
Turns its black deluge from that aching head;
The fiends of murder quit that bloodless form,
And the last animating hope is fled.
Which snaps the thread of life's disastrous loom;
Thrice blest the great, invincible command,
That deals the solace of the slumbering tomb."
Not content with loading her with ignominy, whilst
living, they blacken her memory by ascribing to
her the vilest crimes. Would to Heaven that the
destroying angel might put up his sword, and say,
"It is enough;" that he would bid hatred, madness,
and murder cease.
And white-robed Innocence from Heaven descend."
I wish, most ardently, that every arm extended
against that unhappy country might be withdrawn,
and they left to themselves, to form whatever constitution
they choose; and whether it is republican or
monarchical is not of any consequence to us, provided
it is a regular government of some form or
other, which may secure the faith of treaties, and
due subordination to the laws, whilst so many governments
are tottering to the foundations. Even in
one of the freest and happiest in the world, restless
spirits will aim at disturbing it. They cry "A lion!
a lion!" when no real dangers exist, but from their
own halloo, which in time may raise other ferocious
beasts of prey.
I hope to hear from you soon. I wrote to you by
Dr. Appleton. Your grandmother has been very
sick, and is still in so poor a way that I have very
little expectation of her ever going abroad again.
her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She has ever been a woman of exemplary
benevolence, a friendly, open, candid mind, with a
naturally good understanding, and zealously anxious
for the welfare and prosperity of her family, which
she has always promoted by every exertion in her
power. Her only anxiety seems to be, lest she should
live to be a burden to her friends; but this will not
be her hard lot.
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |