Prince Town New Jersey Aug. 28th， 1774
My Dr，
I received your kind letter， at New York， and it is not easy for you to imagine the pleasure it has given me. I have not found a single opportunity to write since I left Boston， excepting by the post and I don’t choose to write by that conveyance， for fear of foul play. But as we are now within forty-two miles of Philadelphia， I hope there to find some private hand by which I can convey① this.
The particulars of our journey， I must reserve， to be communicated after my return. It would take a volume to describe the whole. It has been upon the whole an agreeable jaunt. We have had opportunities to see the world， and to form acquaintances② with the most eminent and famous men in the several colonies we have passed through. We have been treated with unbounded civility， complaisance， and respect.
We yesterday visited Nassau Hall College， and were politely treated by the scholars， tutors， professors and president， whom we are， this day to hear preach. Tomorrow we reach the Theatre of Action. God almighty grant us wisdom and virtue sufficient for the high trust that is devolved upon us. The spirit of the people wherever we have been seems to be very favorable. They universally consider our cause as their own， and express the firmest resolution， to abide the determination of the Congress.
I am anxious for our perplexed， distressed province—hope they will be directed into the right path. Let me in treat you， my dear， to make yourself as easy and quiet as possible. Resignation to the will of heaven is our only resource in such dangerous times. Prudence and caution should be our guides； I have the strongest hopes， that we shall yet see a clearer sky， and better times.
Remember my tender love to my little Nabby. Tell her she must write me a letter and enclose it in the next you send. I am charmed with your amusement with our little Johnny. Tell him I am glad to hear he is so good a boy as to read to his Mamma， for her entertainment， and to keep himself out of the company of rude children. Tell him I hope to hear a good account of his accidence and nomenclature③， when I return. Kiss my little Charley and Tommy for me. Tell them I shall beat home by November but how much sooner I know not.
Remember me to all enquiring friends—particularly to Uncle Quincy， your Pappa and family， and Dr. Tufts and family. Mr. Thaxter， I hope， is a good companion， in your solitude. Tell him， if he devotes his soul and body to his books， I hope， notwithstanding④ the darkness of these days， he will not find them unprofitable sacrifice sin future.
I have received three very obliging Letters， from Tudor， Trumble， and Hill. They have cheered us， in our wanderings， and done us much service.
My compliments to Mr. Wibirt and Coll， Quincy， when you see them.
Your account of the rain refreshed me. I hope our husbandry is prudently and industriously managed. Frugality must be our support. Our expenses， in this journey， will be very great—our only reward will be the consolatory reflection that we toil， spend our time， and tempt dangers for the public good—happy indeed， if we do any good！
The education of our children is never out of my mind. Train them to virtue； habituate⑤ them to industry， activity， and spirit. Make them consider every vice， as shameful and unmanly； fire them with ambition to be useful—make them disdain⑥ to be destitute⑦ of any useful， or ornament acknowledge or accomplishment. Fix their ambition upon great and solid objects， and their contempt upon little， frivolous， and useless ones. It is time， my dear， for you to begin to teach them French. Every decency， grace， and honesty should be inculcated upon them.
I have kept a few minutes by way of journal， which shall be your entertainment when I come home， but we have had so many persons and so various characters to converse with， and so many objects to view， that I have not been able to be so particular as I could wish—I am， with the tenderest affection and concern， your wandering.
John Adams
① conveyv. 传达，传递，表达
② acquaintancen. (与人)相识，了解
③ nomenclaturen. 命名法，命名，术语表
④ notwithstandingconj. ［书］虽然，尽管
⑤ habituatev. 使习惯于
⑥ disdainv. 蔑视，鄙弃
⑦ destituteadj. 缺乏的，没有的
约翰·亚当斯致妻
我亲爱的：
在纽约收到了你亲切的来信，你想象不出它给我带来的快乐。自离开波士顿我还没有找到哪怕一次给你写信的机会，虽然信可以通过邮寄，但因害怕恶作剧，所以我没有选择那种传递方式给你写信。不过，由于我俩同距费城不超过42英里，我希望在那儿找个人私下为我们传递这封信。
我们旅程的细节必须搁到我回来后再告诉你，因为整个旅行经历可以写成一本书。总的来说，那是一次令人愉快的游览。我们有机会看世界，并有机会在我们路经的几个殖民地结识那些最杰出的知名人士。那里的人盛情款待了我们，并对我们表示出极大的尊重。
昨天我们参观了纳索荷学院，受到了学者们、导师们、教授们和校长的礼遇，今天我们要去听他们演讲。明天我们要到行动礼堂。愿万能的上帝赐给我们智慧和美德，这足以使上帝高度信任我们。我们所到之处的人民精神面貌可嘉。他们普遍地认为我们的事业就是他们的事业，并表示出坚定的遵守国会决定的决心。
我为还在困惑和痛苦之中的人而忧虑——希望他们会被指引到正确的道路上去。亲爱的，我恳求你，尽可能使自己安逸和平静。在这个危险的年代里，顺从上帝的意志是我们唯一的精神支柱。我们的指导方针应该是谨慎小心。我最强烈的愿望就是：将来能看到一个更加晴朗的天空和更美好的时代。
请向我们的小南比转达我亲切的爱。告诉她一定给我写封信，并附在你下次给我写的信中。我为你和我们的小约翰厄逗乐而感到无比欣慰。告诉他我很高兴听说他是一个乖孩子，读书给他妈妈听以逗她开心，也不与那些粗俗的孩子为伍。告诉他我希望在回家时能看到他对词类和词尾变化掌握得很好。替我亲吻我的小查里和汤米。告诉他们我十一月份以前可以回家，但具体多早能回我还不知道。
请向所有问起我的朋友们问好——特别向昆西叔、你父亲及家人、塔富士博士及家人问好。我希望在你孤独时撒克斯特先生是一个好伴侣。告诉他，如果他将他的身心投入他的书中，尽管这些日子很阴暗，我希望，他会发现他的书在未来不是毫无价值的亏本销售。
我分别从图多尔、特朗勃和希尔那收到了三封鼓舞人心的信。在我们的长途旅行中，他们激励了我们，并给了我们很多帮助。
你见到威尔伯特先生、卡尔·克莱西先生和科尔·坎西时，请转达我对他们的祝贺。
你一提到雨，我顿觉精神振奋。我希望我们的农业要谨慎管理和苦心经营。勤俭是我们的立足之本。这次旅行的开支会很大——我们唯一的回报将是令人安慰的反思：我们为公众的利益辛劳工作、甘冒危险，并耗去了我们的时光——如果我们做了有益的事，那的确令人感到幸福。
孩子们的教育问题总是萦绕于我的脑海中。培养他们良好的道德，使他们养成勤勉、充满活力和富有进取精神的习惯；让他们视每一种缺点为可耻和懦弱；激励他们要有雄心壮志成为有用之材——使他们鄙视缺乏有用知识的人和毫无成就的人；把他们的抱负建立在伟大、坚定的目标之上，而无视那些细小、琐碎和无价值的事情。亲爱的，是你开始教他们法语的时候了。应该让礼貌、优雅和诚实牢牢地铭刻于他们的心中。
我以日记的方式记了一些备忘录，待我回家时可让你浏览消遣。不过，我们有那么多不同的人物要交谈，有那么多的事物要观察，所以不能够如我所希望的那样详细叙述这一切。接受我最温馨的爱和关怀，你的流浪者。
约翰·亚当斯
于新泽西普林斯镇
1774年8月28日
