218. ABIGAIL ADAMS
20 October 1777
’Tis true, my dearest friend, that I have spent an anxious three weeks, and the sight of a letter from you gave me joy beyond expression. I had sent every post day, and every post was disappointed. I could not learn one word with certainty. Nor can I now determine whether you are eighty-eight miles nearer to me, or farther off than you were before.
I was greatly surprised when I heard that the enemy was in possession of Philadelphia, without any engagement on our part. If men will not fight and defend their own particular spot, if they will not drive the enemy from their doors, they deserve the slavery and subjection which awaits them. There is much, I think, comprised in that short sentence, “I shall avoid all history and make no reflections.” I think I can construe a volume from it. I will follow the example, lest a miscarriage of this should give triumph to an enemy.
Our affairs at the northward wear a more pleasing aspect. The sunshine from the north gilds the dark clouds of the south, or the storm would look dismal indeed.
It is a New England observation that in some late general orders, when many motives and stimulatives were set before the men to excite them to action, they were assured of conquest without once acknowledging the superintendence of Divine Providence.
Our favorite Dr. Tillotson observes that “in all our concernments we ought to have a particular regard to the Supreme Disposer of all things, and earnestly to seek his favor and blessing upon all our undertakings, but more especially in the affairs of war, in which the providence of God is pleased many times in a very peculiar manner to interpose and interest itself, because all war is as it were an appeal to God, and a reference of those causes to the decision of His providence which through pride and injustice and perverse passions of men can receive no other determination.”
’Tis not more than three weeks since I thought our affairs looked in a more prosperous train than they had done since the commencement of the war. Though they have not taken the turn I hoped for, yet I doubt not they will finally terminate in our favor. Providence for wise purpose has oftentimes since the commencement of this war brought about our deliverance by ways and means which have appeared to us the most improbable and unlikely; has given into our hands those things which we were destitute of, and in the greatest necessity for. So true it is, Acknowledge Him in all thy ways and He shall direct thy paths.
To you, my dear friend, I need not excuse these moral reflections. I have ever considered it as a happiness to be united to one whose sentiments in religion were not only agreeable to my own, but to what I have ever esteemed the truth.
22 October
I believe I may venture to congratulate my love upon the completion of his wishes with regard to Burgoyne. ’Tis reported today from many ways that he has with his whole army fallen into our hands, and ’tis said the post brings the same intelligence. If true, as I most sincerely hope, let us with gratitude acknowledge the interposition of Heaven in our favor.
We have, too, accounts of an engagement at the southward. I am glad to hear of fighting, even though we come off second-best; not because, Heaven is my witness, that I delight in the effusion of human blood, but because I believe by delay we should lose more lives than by the sword. It sinks our spirits, disheartens our soldiers, makes them both idle and wicked. How great would be my joy could I see peace and quietness once more restored to this distressed land,—
“Peace o’er this land her olive branch extend,
And white rob’d innocence from heaven descend.”
1It gave me great pleasure to hear of your health and spirits. Did you save your clothes, or have they fallen into the hands of the enemy? We are all very well in the family. The whooping cough prevails much and is just coming into the family. I long for the month of your return to come. I wrote you with regard to Brackett but received no answer. You will let me know, and when to send. Dr. Tufts desires to know if you have received a letter from him within these two months; he fears that it did not reach you, as it was about the time of your removal. The spirit of barter and exchange predominates so much here that people dispose of their own bodies. Matrimony prevails among all orders and ages; the scarcity of the commodity enhances the value. Men are a very scarce article to be sure. Among the late marriages which have taken place, and are likely to, Miss Betsey Smith to Mr. Shaw last Thursday, old Deacon Webb of this town to a maiden sister of John Ruggles’s wife, who has lived to the age of sixty-six unmarried, our friend Mrs. Lincoln of this town to Deacon Storer of Boston, an exceeding good match and much approved of. Numbers of others in the lower class not worth mentioning, but I ask my cousin Polly Smith’s pardon for omitting her. She marries in about two months to a Mr. Gray, a brother of Mr. Ellis Gray’s of Boston.
’Tis very cold for the season. We had snow yesterday and ice in the streets this morning. When shall I see my friend? ’Tis more than nine long months since we parted. Shall I send the beginning of December? Heaven grant us a joyful meeting.
Ever yours.