DATE: January 30, 1998

 Database: 9900003

 Subject: . Letters of Abigail Adams Ed by Charles Francis Ada,s. ECP/ 99/ 1//

pg 381:

To Mrs. Smith

Washington, 21 November, 1800.

My Dear Child,
I arrived here on Sunday last, and without meeting any accident worth noting, except losing ourselves when we left Baltimore, and going eight nor nine miles on the Frederick road, by which means we were obliged to go the other eight through woods, where we wandered two hours without finding a guide or a path.  Fortunately, a straggling black came up with us, and we engaged him as a guide, to extricate us out of out difficulty; but the woods are all you see from Baltimire until you reach the city, which is only so in name.  Here and there is a small cot, without a glass window, interspersed amongst the forests, through which you travel miles without seeing an human being.

[382]
In the city there are buildings enojgh, if they were compact and finished, to accomodate Congress and those attached to it; but as they are, I have no great comfort from them.  The river, which runs up Alexandria, is in full view of my window, adn I see th vessels as they pass and repass.  The house ise upon a grand and superb scale, requiring about thirty servants to attend and keep the apartments in proper order, and perform the ordinary business of teh house and the stables; an establishment very well proportioned to the President's salary.  The lighting the apartments, from the kitchen to parlors and chambers is a tax indeed; and the fires we are obliged to keep to secure us from daily agues is another cheering comfort.  To assist us in this great castle and render its attention necessary, bells are wholly wanting, not one single one being hung through the whole house, and promises are all you can obtain.  This is so great an inconvenience, that I know not what to do, or how to do.  The ladies of Georgetown and in the city have them visited me.  Yesterday I returned fifteen visits, but such as