Philadelphia, 1 October, 1775.
This morning I received your two letters, of 8 September and 16
September. What shall I say? The intelligence they contain came upon me
by surprise, as I never had the least intimation before that any of my
family was ill, excepting in a card from Mrs. Warren, received a few
days ago, in which she informed me that "Mrs. Adams had been unwell, but
was better."
You may easily conceive the state of mind in which I am at present.
Uncertain and apprehensive at first, I suddenly thought of setting off
immediately for Braintree, and I have not yet determined otherwise. Yet
the state of public affairs is so critical that I am half afraid to
leave my station, although my presence here is of no great consequence.
I feel, I tremble for you. Poor Tommy! I hope, by this time, however, he
has recovered his plump cheeks and his fine bloom. By your account of
Patty I fear, but still I will hope she has been supported, and is upon
the recovery. I rejoice to learn that Abby and her brothers have
hitherto escaped, and pray God that His goodness may be still continued
to them. Your description of the distressed state of the neighborhood is
affecting indeed. It is not uncommon for a train of calamities to come
together. Fire, sword, pestilence, famine, often keep company and visit
a country in a flock.
At this distance I can do no good to you or yours. I pray God to support
you. I hope our friends and neighbors are kind as usual. I feel for them
in the general calamity. I am so far from thinking you melancholy, that
I am charmed with that admirable fortitude and that divine spirit of
resignation which appear in your letters. I cannot express the
satisfaction it gives me, nor how much it contributes to support me.
You have alarmed me, however, by mentioning anxieties which you do not
think it proper to mention to any one. I am wholly at a loss to
conjecture what they can be. If they arise from the letters, be assured
that you may banish them forever. These letters[100] have reached
Philadelphia, but have produced effects very different from those which
were expected from the publication of them. These effects I will explain
to you sometime or other. As to the versification of them, if there is
wit or humor in it, laugh; if ill-nature, sneer; if mere dullness, why,
you may even yawn or nod. I have no anger at it, nay even scarcely
contempt. It is impotent.
As to politics, we have nothing to expect but the whole wrath and force
of Great Britain. But your words are as true as an oracle, "God helps
them who help themselves, and if we obtain the divine aid by our own
virtue, fortitude, and perseverance, we may be sure of relief." It may
amuse you to hear a story. A few days ago, in company with Dr. Zubly,
somebody said there was nobody on our side but the Almighty. The
Doctor,[101] who is a native of Switzerland, and speaks but broken
English, quickly replied, "Dat is enough! Dat is enough!" And turning to
me, says he, "It puts me in mind of a fellow who once said, The
Catholics have on their side the Pope, and the King of France, and the
King of Spain, and the King of Sardinia, and the King of Poland, and the
Emperor of Germany, etc., etc., etc.; but as to those poor devils, the
Protestants, they have nothing on their side but God Almighty."