Adams Family Correspondence, volume 2

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 February 1777 JA AA John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 February 1777 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

Baltimore Feb. 18. 1777

I shall inclose with this a Newspaper or two.

I am as yet in tollerable Health. My Eyes are somewhat troublesome. I believe I must assume the Appearance of Wisdom, Age and Gravity and put on Spectacles to walk in, about the Streets.

I hear nothing from you, nor from any Part of New England, but 164I am endeavouring to devise some better Regulations of the Post Office, so that I hope that Channell of Communication will be opened.1

We are told that the Air of Baltimore is unhealthy, and I confess I should dread it, if I were to stay here long. But We shall soon remove.

You may write now by the Post. I am very anxious to hear from you, and to know the State of public Affairs, in your Part of the World.

I have written by Mr. Hall a Resignation of an Office. I suppose it will make a Noise. But I hope not much. I cant help it. But should be glad to hear from you, how it is received. I hope they will fill it up soon, that the Talk may be soon over.

I could not be, at the same Time in Maryland and Massachusetts Bay, which was Reason enough for the Measure, if I had no other, but I have many more, and much stronger.

I have not Health enough, and never shall have to discharge such a Trust. I can but just keep myself alive, and in tollerable Spirits when I am master of my own Time and Course of Life. But this is not all.

I am not formal and ceremonious enough for such a stiff Situation.—But you know I have many Reasons more.

RC (Adams Papers); docketed in pencil by AA. Enclosed newspapers not found or identified.

On 17 Feb. JA was named one of five members of a committee “to revise the regulations of the post office, and report a plan of carrying it on, so as to render the conveyance of intelligence more expeditious and certain” ( JCC , 7:127). The committee brought in a report on the 25th, which was read and tabled; the MS is in the hand of the chairman, Thomas Heyward; text printed in same, p. 153–154. For subsequent efforts toward the same end in April and October, see same, p. 258, and vol. 9:816–817.

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 February 1777 JA AA John Adams to Abigail Adams, 20 February 1777 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

Baltimore Feb. 20th. 1777

This Morning I received yours of the 26th. Ult. It is the first I have received from you, and except one from Gen. Palmer of the 28th.1 it is the first I have received from our State.

Yours made me very happy. Dont be uneasy about my Waiter. He behaves very well to me, and he has not the least Appearance of a Spy or a Deserter. He has not Curiosity, nor Activity nor sense enough for such a Character. He does his Duty extreamly well however in his station. But if he was a Spy he would learn nothing from me. He knows no more, from me, than the Horse he rides, nor shall he know. . . .2 I 165have no Conversation with him upon Politicks, nor shall he come to the Sight of Papers.

I hope our Soldiers for the new Army will be all inoculated at Home before they begin their March. The Small Pox is so thick in the Country that there is no Chance of escaping it in the natural Way. Gen. Washington has been obliged to inoculate his whole Army. We are inocculating soldiers here and at Philadelphia.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs. Adams at Mr. John Adams's Braintree”; docketed in pencil by AA.

In Adams Papers. JA's reply, of the present date, is in NN and is printed in part in Burnett, ed., Letters of Members , 2:268.

Suspension points in MS.