"A Diplomat's Wife in Philadelphia: Letters of Henrietta Liston, 1796-1800"

Martha Washington as first lady

An article about the letters written by the wife of a British ambassador to the U.S. Contains references to Martha Washington.

Bradford Perkins

Henrietta Liston

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043-5597%28195410%293%3A11%3A4%3C592%3AADWIPL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D

journal article

eng

Perkins, Bradford. "A Diplomat's Wife in Philadelphia: Letters of Henrietta Liston, 1796-1800." The William & Mary Quarterly, 11 4 (October, 1954): 592-632.

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila. Feb. 1797: “In my last I mentioned that Mr. Adams had carried his Ellection [sic] for President, it was only by three Votes. Washington is preparing for retirement with a very cheerful Countenance—Mrs. Washingtons [sic] heart seems a little melted, as she never expects to see Philadelphia again; she prest [sic] me to come to Mount-vernon this Summer but I made my excuses, as our wishes bend to the North….” (608)

From Mrs. Henrietta Liston to her uncle, Phila., 7/12/1797: “…to-morrow Congress rises (I am glad of it,) on the following day we dine, by invitation, with the President [John Adams], who, as his Wife is not in very good health is glad to run from the heat of Philadelphia, I believe I told you how pleased I am with Mrs. Adams, she has spirit enough to laugh at [journalist Benjamin F.] Baches [sic] abuse of her Husband, which poor Mrs. Washington could not, I hope to acquire that sort of spirit in time, but the thing is new to me yet-" (613)