But in 1783 they departed for good! and in 1789, Vice-president John Adams and Mistress Abigail came to live there.
We have already read two examples of Mrs.Adams' enthusiastic outpourings in regard to Richmond Hill.

She was, in fact, never tired of writing of it.

A favourite quotation of hers she always applied to the place: _"In this path, How long soe'er the wanderer roves, each step Shall wake fresh beauties; each last point present A different picture, new, and each the same."_ That entire neighbourhood was rich in game,--we have already seen that the Dutch farmers thought highly of the duck shooting near the Sand Hill Road, and that Minetta Brook was a first-class fishing stream.
Birds of all sorts were plentiful, and the Adamses did their best to preserve them on their own place.

But too keen sportsmen were always stealing into the Richmond Hill grounds for a shot or two.

"Oh, for game laws!" was her constant wail.