ing and leaving all my letters behind. A storm prevented
my sending on the day appointed, and she sailed by sun-
rise the next morning. Though my letters were in town
by nine o'clock, they missed. I know, if she arrive, how
disappointed you will feel.
I received from France by the Alexander yours, bearing
no date, but, by the contents, written about the same time
with those I received by Mr. Guild. Shall I return the
compliment, and tell you in a poetical style,
" Should at my feet the world's great master fall,
Himself, his world, his throne, I 'd scorn them all " ?
No. Give me the man I love ; you are neither of an
age or temper to be allured by the splendor of a Court or
the smiles of princesses. I never suffered an uneasy sen-
sation on that account. I know I have a right to your
whole heart, because my own never knew another lord ;
and such is my confidence in you, that if you were not
withheld by the strongest of all obligations, those of a
moral nature, your honor would not suffer you to abuse
my confidence.
But whither am I rambling ? We have not anything
in the political way worth noticing. The fleet of our allies
still remains with us.
Who is there left that will sacrifice as others have done ;
Portia, I think, stands alone, alas, in more senses than one.
This vessel will convey to you the packets designed for the
Firebrand. I hope, unimportant as they are, they will not
be lost.
Shall I close here, without a word of my voyage ? I
believe it is best to wait a reply, before I say anything
further. Our friends desire me to remember them to you.
Your daughter, your image, your superscription, desires to
be affectionately remembered to you. Oh, how many of
the sweet domestic joys do you lose by this separation from
your family. I have the satisfaction of seeing my children
thus far in life behaving with credit and honor. God
grant the pleasing prospect may never meet with an alloy,
and return to me the dear partner of my early years, re-
warded for his past sacrifices by the consciousness of hav-
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1782.]
ABIGAIL ADAMS.
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