Two or three years after, having had the misfortune to lose a daughter, between whom and Mrs. Adams there had been a considerable attachment, she made it the occasion of writing me a letter, in which, with the tenderest expressions of concern at this event, she carefully avoided a single one of friendship towards myself, and even concluded it with the wishes ’of her who once took pleasure in subscribing herself your friend, Abigail Adams.’  Unpromising as was the complexion of this letter, I determined to make an effort towards removing the clouds from between us.  This brought on a correspondence which I now enclose for your perusal, after which be so good as to return it to me, as I have never communicated it to any mortal breathing, before.  I send it to you, to convince you I have not been wanting either in the desire, or the endeavor to remove this misunderstanding.  Indeed, I thought it highly disgraceful to us both, as indicating minds not sufficiently elevated to prevent a public competition from affecting our personal friendship.  I soon found from the correspondence that conciliation was desperate, and yielding to an intimation in her last letter, I ceased from further explanation.  I have the same good opinion of Mr. Adams which I ever had.  I know him to be an honest man, an able one with his pen, and he was a powerful advocate on the floor of Congress.  He has been alienated from me, by belief in the lying suggestions contrived for electioneering purposes, that I perhaps mixed in the activity and intrigues of the occasion.  My most intimate friends can testify that I was perfectly passive.  They would sometimes, indeed, tell me what was going on; but no man ever heard me take part in such conversations; and none ever misrepresented Mr. Adams in my presence without my asserting his just character.  With very confidential persons I have doubtless disapproved of the principles and practices of his administration.  This was unavoidable.  But never with those with whom it could do him any injury.  Decency would have required this conduct from me, if disposition had not:  and I am satisfied Mr. Adams’s conduct was equally honorable towards me.  But I think it part of his character to suspect foul play in those of whom he is jealous, and not easily to relinquish his suspicions.

I have gone, my dear friend, into these details, that you might know every thing which had passed between us, might be fully possessed of the state of facts and dispositions, and judge for yourself whether they admit a revival of that friendly intercourse for which you are so kindly solicitous.  I shall certainly not be wanting in any thing on my part which may second your efforts; which will be the easier with me, inasmuch as I do not entertain a sentiment of Mr. Adams, the expression of which could give him reasonable offence.  And I submit the whole to yourself, with the assurance, that whatever be the issue, my friendship and respect for yourself will remain unaltered and unalterable.