77. ABIGAIL ADAMS

5 November 1775

I have been prevented writing you for more than a week past by a whitlow upon the forefinger of my right hand. ’Tis now so tender that I can manage a pen but poorly. I hope you have received several letters from me in this fortnight past. I wrote by Mr. Lynch and by Dr. Franklin, the latter of whom I had the pleasure of dining with, and of admiring him, whose character from my infancy I had been taught to venerate. I found him social, but not talkative, and when he spoke, something useful dropped from his tongue. He was grave, yet pleasant and affable. You know I make some pretensions to physiognomy, and I thought I could read in his countenance the virtues of his heart, among which patriotism shone in its full lustre, and with that is blended every virtue of a Christian: for a true patriot must be a religious man. I have been led to think from a late defection, that he who neglects his duty to his Maker may well be expected to be deficient and insincere in his duty towards the public. Even suppose him to possess a large share of what is called honor and public spirit, yet do not these men, by their bad example, by a loose, immoral conduct, corrupt the minds of youth and vitiate the morals of the age, and thus injure the public more than they can compensate by intrepidity, generosity, and honor? Let revenge or ambition, pride, lust, or profit, tempt these men to a base and vile action, you may as well hope to bind up a hungry tiger with a cobweb, as to hold such debauched patriots in the visionary chains of decency, or to charm them with the intellectual beauty of truth and reason.

But where am I running? I mean to thank you for all your obliging favors lately received; and, though some of them are very laconic, yet, were they to contain only two lines to tell me that you were well, they would be acceptable to me. I think, however, you are more apprehensive than you need be; the gentleman to whose care they have always been directed has been very kind in his conveyance, and very careful. I hope that it will not now be long before we shall have nearer interviews. You must tell me that you will return next month; a late appointment ¹ will make it inconvenient (provided you accept) for you to go again to Congress.

The little flock in receiving papa’s letters have been more gratified than they could have been by any other present. They are very proud of being thus noticed. I am much obliged by the sermons lately received. The dedication of Dr. Zubly’s is both spirited and zealous. I was greatly pleased with it, but suppose it will be casting of pearl before swine.

It seems human nature is the same in all ages and countries. Ambition and avarice reign everywhere, and where they predominate, there will be bickerings after places of honor and profit. There is an old adage, “Kissing goes by favor,” that is daily verified. I inclose to you the paper you sent for. Your business in collecting facts will be very difficult, and the sufferings of this people cannot be described with pen, ink, and paper. Besides, these ministers of Satan are rendering it every day more and more difficult, by their ravages and devastation, to tell a tale which will freeze the young blood of succeeding generations, as well as harrow up the souls of the present.

Nothing new has transpired since I wrote you last. I have not heard of one person’s escape out of town, nor of any manoeuvre of any kind.

Master John is very anxious to write, but has been confined for several days with a severe cold, which has given him sore eyes, but he begs me to make his excuse and say that he has wrote twice before, but it did not please him well enough to send it. Nabby has been with her aunt Betsey ever since her grandmamma’s death. Charley and Tommy beg mamma to thank papa for their letters, and wish they could write to tell him so. Brother and sister Cranch send their love. Mrs. Cranch’s disorder left her soon, and the sickness has greatly abated all round us. Your mother speaks pathetically of you, and always sends her love to you. I will only ask you to measure by your own the affectionate regard of your nearest friend.