Prospect of a union; Diana and Lysander

Prospect of a union. Radio Network. The American Revolutionary period in a series of readings from the letters of the president of the United. Part 1 Guyana Lysander from Southern

climes the cheerful son returns and the late frozen north then gently warm. His subtle penetration operate so he does but look on flowers and plants they grow. His loving beams sweetly salute the spring and dark their virtue into everything. This poem was Hannah Green's advice to her young lawyer friend John Adams for everything was his prospect of marriage to the parson's daughter Abigail Smith into which April's virtue would be darted. Her advice was not take the Adams were married in October not April. There had been a smallpox epidemic in Boston and in April John was inoculated against the disease and occupation was still a matter of some controversy in 1764. Many people thought the doctors favored it for the fees that they earned. The method of inoculation was to give the patient a milder but

immunizing disease cowpox cum pox was contagious and for that reason Adams was quarantined. His confinement was lightened However by the letters that came from Abigail in women. Braintree April 11 1764 my ever dear Diana. The room which I thought would have been an hospital or a museum as really proved a den of thieves and a scene of money changers. More persons have been with me about business since I shut up than a few and many more than I was glad to see for it as a sort of business that I get nothing by but vanity and vexation of spirit. If my imprisonment had been in consequence of bankruptcy I should not have endured much more mortification and disquiet. I wish this day was a fast as well as tomorrow that I might be sure of two days trying before my departure. I am not very impatient at present yet I wish I was at Boston. I am somewhat fearful of foul weather on Friday. If it should be the very first fair

opportunity must be embraced. Abstinence from all but the cool and the soft as the other two agreed with me very well and I have not once transgressed in a single iota. The medicine we have taken is far from being loathsome or painful or troublesome. As I own I expected and if I could not enjoy my retreat in silence and solitude there would be nothing wanting but this ins of your ladyship to make me as happy as a monk in a cloister or in hermit in his cell. You will wonder perhaps of my calling in monks and hermits on this occasion and made out about the happiness of their situation. Yet give me leave to tell you freely. The former of these are so totally absorbed in devotion and the latter in meditation and such an appetite such a passion for their respective employments and pleasures girls had better lay up in their minds that no mortals excepting him who hopes to be bound to your ladyship in the soft ligaments of matrimony has a better security for happiness than day Hitherto I have written with the air and in the style of rattle and frolic. But I am

now about to shift to the sober and the gray. My mamma is as easy and composed and I think much more so than I expected. She sees we are determined and that opposition would be not only fruitless but vexatious and therefore has brought herself to acquiesce and to assist in preparing all things as conveniently and comfortably as she can. Heaven reward her for her care and her labors of love. I longed to come once more to Weymouth before I go to Boston. I could well enough I'm as well as ever and better too. Why should not I can't. Shall I come and keep last with you or will you come and see me. I should be glad to see you in this house. But there is another very near it or I should rejoice much more to see you and to live with you. We both have lived enough to ourselves to glory virtue and mankind until both of us shall be desirous of translation to a wiser or better world. I am until then and forever after will be your admirer and friend

and lover. John Adams. April 12th. 1764. My dearest friend here in my chamber a mere nominally assure you after professing myself will it not be out of character to confess that my thoughts are often employed about Lisander out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Why not the mind. Think it. Received the packet you so generously bestowed upon me to say I thought that after such an entertainment would be wronging my conscience admitting truth. How kind is it in you by frequent tokens of remembrance to alleviate the pangs of absence by this I'm convinced that I am often in your phone which is a satisfaction to me notwithstanding your telling me that you sometimes view the dockside of your Diana. And there no doubt you discovered many spot which I rather wish were a race

than concealed from you. Do not judge by this that your opinion is an indifferent thing to me. What it you know I should look forward with a heavy heart. But it just brought other ways for I would rather stand there there and be thought well of by and offend them by the greater part of the world beside. I would hope that those faults which you discover proceed more from a wrong head than a bad heart ere long may I be connected with a friend from whose example I may form a more formal conduct and whose benevolent mind will lead him to pardon what he cannot demand. The things I have abundance to say to you. What is next. Or that I should have been extremely glad to have seen you today. Not fasting if you remember we spent together and why might we not be. Why I can tell you. We might if we had been together have been led into temptation.

I don't mean to commit any evil unless setting up plates and thereby injuring our health may be called so. So that I could have submitted without much remorse of conscience that would have had but little weight with me. Had you not give me a do you the last time I saw you the reflection of what I that before noon endured have been ever since. Sufficient to deter me from wishing to see you again to you can come and go as you formerly use to the center not to you. Since she designed to have pissed you before you went away but you made no advances and she never having been guilty of such an action you know not how to attempt it. I know you with anything in the mathematics whereby you can convey one to her inclining lines that meet in the same center. We're not back to your kind of nigh as any. Tomorrow you leave Braintree. My best wishes are to end you with Marcia I see or you

mortal power but god to just watch round his head and soften the disease banish all sorrow from his mind. Become him. So with pleasing thought and show mankind that virtue if your care for the standard praise his name. Let me hear from you soon as possible and I can by sending your letters to the doctor believe you may get conveyance and I rejoice to hear you feel so comfortable. Still Be careful good folks I scared my ma has just been up and asked to whom I'm writing I answered not very readily a problem I hesitated. Then my dog said she to Mr. Adams tell him he has my good wishes for his safety. A good night to you my fire is out. Pray be so kind as to deliver or stand if they don't visit you. The letters as directed. 13 April 17 64 my dearest we arrived at

Captain Coming up it's about 12 o'clock and sent our compliments to Dr Perkins the courier returned with the answer that the doctor was determined to inoculate no more without a preparation. Previous to inoculation that we should have written to him and have received directions from him and that medicine before we came into town. I was surprised and chagrined. I wrote instantly a letter to him and informed him that we had been under a preparation of his prescribing and that I presume to Dr. Tufte had informed him that we depended on him in preference to any other gentleman. The doctor came immediately with Dr. Warren in a chaise and after an apology for his not recollecting I'm obliged to break off my narration in order to swallow a hasty pudding and milk. I have done my dinner. For not recollecting what Dr. Tufte had told him Dr. Perkins demanded my left and Dr. Warren my brother. They took their lancets and with their points divided the skin for about a quarter of an inch and just suffering the blood to appear in

a thread about a quarter of an inch long in the channel. A little lint was then laid over the scratch and a piece of rag pressed on and then a bandage bound over all my coat and weskit put on and I was bid to go anywhere and do what I please. Don't you think the doctor has a good deal of confidence in my discretion best to leave me to it. The doctors have left us pills red and black to take night and morning but they look very sagaciously and importantly at us and ordered my brother larger doses than me on account of the difference in our Constitution. Doctor Perkins as a short thick set dark complection yet a pale faced man pale faced I say which I was glad to see because I have a great regard for a pale face. Can any gentleman of physic divinity or Lall it indicates. Search and study. Gives himself the alert cheerful air and behavior of a physician not forgetting the solemn important and wise. Ryan is a pretty tall genteel fair faced young gentleman not quite so much

assurance in his address as Perkins perhaps because Perkins was present yet showing fully that he knows the utility there. And that he will soon practice it in full perfection. The doctor's having finished the operation and left out their directions and medicines took their departure in infinite haste. Depend on it I have one request to make which is that you would be very careful in making Tom smoke all the letters from me very faithfully before you or any of the family reads them. For although I shall never fail to smoke them myself the fourth feeling I get I fear the air of this house will be too much infected soon to be absolutely without danger and I would not. You should take the Distemper by letter from me for millions. I write at a desk far removed from any sick room and show us all the care I can. But too much cannot be used. I have written thus far and it is 45 minutes past one o'clock and no more. My love to all my hearty thanks to mama for her kind wishes my regards

as due to pop out and should request his prayers which are always becoming and especially at such times when we are undertaking anything of consequence as the small pox. Undoubtedly though I have not yet the least apprehension at all of what is called Danger. I am as ever your John Adams. Tuesday 17 April 17 64. Yours of April 15th. This moment received. I thank you for it and for your offer of milk. But we have milk in vast abundance and everything else that we want except company. You can't imagine how Finally my brother and I live we have as much bread and as much new Pura milk as much pudding and rice and indeed as much of everything of the fascinations kind as we please and the medicine we take is not at all nauseous or painful. Mr. Quincy is Samuel and Jones III have the distemper. Very likely. I asked Dr. Perkins how they had it. The doctor answered in the style of the faculty or internet.

It is extremely pleasing says wherever we go we see everybody passing through this tremendous distemper in the lightest easiest manner conceivable. The doctor meaned those who have the Distemper by inoculation in the new method for those who have it in a natural way are objects of as much harm as ever there was a poor man in this neighborhood one bass now laboring with it in the natural way. He is in a good way of recovery. What is the most shocking sight that can be seen. They say he is no more like a man than he is like an hauled and haws swelled to three times his size as black as a bacon. Blind as a stone. I had when I was first inoculated a great curiosity to go and see him but the doctor said I had better not go out and my friends thought it would give me a disagreeable turn. My uncle brought up one Vinal who has just recovered of it in a natural way to see us and show us his face is torn all to pieces and is as rugged

as in Braintree Commons. This contrast is forever before the eyes of the whole town. Yet it is said there are five hundred persons who continue to stand out in spite of experience the expostulate of the clergy both in private and from a desk the unwearied persuasions of the selectmen and the perpetual clamor and astonishment of the people and to expose themselves to this Distemper in the natural way. Is man a rational creature. Thank you. Conscience forsooth and scruples are the cause I should think myself a deliberate murderer. I mean that I incurred all the guilt of deliberate self murder. If I should only stay in this town and run the risk of catching it in the natural way. In contrast we see others under the symptoms and all the pains that attend the distemper under the present management every hour and are neither dismayed nor in the least disconcerted or dispirited but are every one of us wishing that

his turn might come next that it might be over and we are about our business and I return to my from my garden. But above all to my Diana who is the best of all friends and the richest of all blessings to her. Lysander. Yes I long to hear that something you promised to tell me and you are next. What can that thing be. Thought I. My busy fancy will be speculating and conjecturing about it night and day I suppose. Tell your next letter riddle the mystery. You are a wanton malicious What shall I call you for putting me in this puzzle and tease for a day or two when you might have informed me in a minute. Oh and now I think on that I am determined very soon to write you an account in minute detail of the many faults I have observed in you. You remember I gave you an hint that I had observed

in one of my former letters. You will be surprised when you come to find the number of them by the way I have heard since I came to town and insinuation to your disadvantage which I will inform you of as soon as you have unravelled your enigma. Believe me to be with an alterable affection. John Adams. Thursday evening Weymouth April 19th 764 Why buy good men now has the curiosity of a girl who could have believed that only a slight hint would have set by on magination a dragon such as Nana and a fine encourage Would I have to unravel the mystery as our caller stood nothing less truly than to be told something to my disadvantage. What an excellent reward that would be about Court of Justice did Starr learn that equity. I thank the friend. Such knowledge as that is easy enough to be obtained without paying for it. As to the insinuation it does not

give me any uneasiness for TD it is anything very bad. I know thou dost not believe that I am not conscious of any harm that I have done or wish to any mortal. I there are no malice to any being to my enemies with any I have I am willing to afford assistance therefore towards man. I maintain a conscience void of offense. Yes by this I mean not that I'm hopeless. But tell me what is the reason that persons would rather acknowledge themselves guilty than be accused by others. Is it because they are more tender of themselves or because they meet with more favor from others when they ingenuously confess that that be as it will. There is something which makes it more agreeable to condemn ourselves than to be condemned by others. But although it is vastly disagreeable to be accused of faults yet no person ought to be offended when such accusations are delivered in the spirit of friendship.

I now call upon you to fulfill your promise and terribly. All my faults both of omission and commission and all the evil you either know or think of me be to me a second conscience nor put me up to a more convenient season. There can be no time more proper than the present. It will be harder to erase someone happy to strengthen and confirm them. I do not think I trifle. These are really meant as words of truth and soberness for the present with nothing. Friday evening I hope you smoke your letters well before you deliver them. Mama is so fearful lest I should catch the distemper that she hardly ever thinks the letters are sufficiently purified. Did you never rob a bird's nest. I do remember how the poor bird would fly round and round fearful to come anigh yet not know how to leave the place just so they say I have a round piece smoking my letters.

But how to watch your name. Who taught you to threaten so be a mentally a character besides that of critic in which if I never did I always hear after shall hear you will. Thou canst not prove a villain. Impossible. I therefore still insist upon it that I neither do nor can it be for my part I know not that there is any pleasure in being feared. But if there is I hope you be so generous as to fear your Diana that she may at least be made sensible of the pleasure Mr. Ayers will bring you this letter and the bag do not replying. It is filled with here is love respect for God's good wishes. A whole wagon load of them sent you from all the good folks in the neighborhood. Tomorrow makes the fourteenth day. How many more are to come. I do not trust myself with the thought but you let me hear from you by

Mr Ayers and excuse this very bad writing. If you've mended my pen it would have been better. Once more a few gold and silver have I none but such as I have give I unto thee which is the affectionate regard of your niece Miss Weymouth April 30th 764. Dear Lisander yesterday the doctor returned to our no small satisfaction. I think there is but one person upon earth the sight of whom would have been more rejoicing to me but not the sight alone would please. It would therefore be advisable to keep it an unfillable distance to any approach would not in danger. I was yesterday at the meeting of a gentleman and his lady clothes all shifted. No danger and no fear. How do you and how do you was exchanged between them. A smile and a good natured look. Upon my word I believe they were glad to see each other attended meeting I was affected with

it and thought whether Lisander under like circumstances who really meet is Diana and whether Diana could with no more emotion receive Lisander What think you. I dare answer for a different meeting on her part where she under no restraint. When May that meeting be here you would stand for your horse. The doctor tells me that you run down to Friday. Do not venture abroad too soon. Very bad wins for the invalid's. Do I hear you stand like an oak. Oh by the way you've not told me that insinuation to my disadvantage which you promised me. Now Methinks I see you criticising what upon earth is the girl after. Where is the connection between my standing the distemper like an oak and an insinuation to her disadvantage. Why I did not expect that a short sighted mortal would comprehend it. It was a complex idea. If I may so express myself. And in my mind that was a great connection.

I will show you how it came about. I did expect this purgation of Lysander would have set us on a level and have rendered him a sociable creature but ill luck he stands out like an open as hearty as ever. Now mentioning one part of this sentence brought to mind the accusation of haughtiness and your faults naturally led me to think of my own. But here I have more than insinuations against you and intolerable for bidding expecting silence which lays such a restraint upon but moderate modesty that is impossible for a stranger to be tranquil in your presence. What say you to that charge. Deny it but by experience I know it to be true. Yes to this day I feel a greater restraint in your company than in that of almost any other person on earth. Is there anything austere in your countenance. Indeed I cannot recollect anything.

Yet when I've been most pain die I hardly studied it but never could discover one trace of the severe. Must it not then be something in behavior. Asked Sylvia not harpies your pretties are not her complaints. What it is. Else why should I not feel its great restraint when I write. I expect you to clear up these matters without being at the least saucy as to the charge of haughtiness. I am certain that is a mistake for I know anything of Lisander. He has a little of that in his disposition as he has a dual nature but averse sauciness. No mortal can match him no not even his own. Boston May 7th 1764 I promised you some time ago a catalogue of your faults imperfections defects or whatever you pleased to call them. I feel at present pretty much at

leisure and in a very suitable frame of mind to perform my promise. But I must caution you before I proceed to recollect yourself and instead of being vexed or fretted or thrown into a passion to resolve upon a reformation for this is my sincere aim in laying before you with this picture of yourself in the first place then give me leave to say you have been extremely negligent in attending so little to cards. You have very little inclination to that noble and elegant diversion. And whenever you have taken an hand you have held it but awkwardly and played it with a very un courtly and indifferent air. Now I have confidence enough in your good sense to rely upon it you will for the future endeavor to make a better figure in this elegant and necessary accomplishment. In the second place you could never yet be prevailed on to learn to sing. This I take very soberly to be an imperfection of the most moment of any and ear for music would be a

source of much pleasure and the voice and skill would be a private solitary amusement of great value when no other could be had. You must have remarked an example of this in Mrs Cranch who must in all probability have been deafened to death with the cries of her Betsy if she had not drowned them in music of her own in the third place. You will very often hang your head like a bull rush. You do not see it erected as you ought by which means it happens that you appear too short for a beauty and the company loses the sweet smiles of that countenance and the bright sparkles of those eyes. This fault is the effect and consequence of another still more inexcusable in our lady. I mean an habit of reading writing and thinking. But both the cause and the effect ought to be repented and amended as soon as possible. Another fault which seems to have been obstinately process today and after frequent remonstrances advices and admonitions of your friends

is that of sitting with the legs across this ruins the figure and the air this injures the health and springs I fear from a former source. There is too much thinking. These things ought not to be. 50 imperfection is that of walking with the toes bending inward. This imperfection is commonly called parot. I think I know not for what reason but it gives an idea the reverse of a bold and noble air. The reverse of the stately strut and the sublime deportment does have I given a face for portraiture of all the spots I have hitherto discerned in this luminary I have not regarded order but have painted them as they arose in my memory. Near three weeks have I come and studied for more. But more are not to be discovered. All the rest is bright and luminous. Having finished the picture I finished my letter last while I am recounting faults I

should commit the greatest and that of tedious and excessive length. There is a pretty return to conclusion for you from your Lysander. Prospect of a union is produced and written by Elizabeth Spiro. So you are the four college radio station of Amherst Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges and the University of Massachusetts from whose faculty the constant prospect of the Union was

drawn. STEPHEN CONROY was hurt as John Adams and Abigail Marjorie Kaufman with the letters of John and Abigail Adams were taken from the Adams Family correspondence published by the Harvard University Press. The song was written by Dr. Joseph Warren and was recorded by Sawyer as Minutemen from the collection of early American songs of John and Allison. This program was distributed by national educational radio national educational radio network.