Page:Familiar Letters of John Adams and his Wife, Abigail Adams, During the Revolution.djvu/449

1782.] 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-