Adams Family Correspondence, volume 9

Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 6 January 1791 Tufts, Cotton Adams, John
Cotton Tufts to John Adams
Dear Sr. Weymouth Jany. 6. 1791

We begin to feel the good Effects of our national Government— By the Presidents Speech at the opening of the present Session of Congress, our public Affairs wear a promising Appearance.1 His Speech gave a new Spring to public Credit; in the Course of Three or Four Days after it reachd us public Securities rose 10 or 15 Pr Ct— The several Departments of Government being well filld, from the firm prudent & upright Conduct of officers, Content will follow, Murmurs cease and a general Confidence in the national Goverment be established—

Agreable to your Request, I have loand your continental Securities—have taken two sets of Certificates as per Mem. enclosed—2 Your State Notes, I have yet on Hand, thinking it best to let them lay, till our Genl Court shall have discussed the Subject of their public Debt, which, I presume, will be taken under Consideration 173in their appraching Session, which commences on the Third Wednesday of the present Month—3

I have settled with the Printers, stopd Adams & Freeman's Paper, directed Edes & Sons to send no more after the Expiration of the present Quarter, wch. will end in February, and have continued the Centinel—4

I am extremely sorry to hear of the Indisposition of your Family— I hope to hear in Your next of their Restoration to Health, for Yours & their Happiness You have the ardent wishes of / Your Friend & H Ser

Cotton Tufts

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hon. Jno. Adams—”; docketed: “Dr Tufts to Mr Adams / January 6 1791.”

1.

George Washington spoke at the opening of the third session of Congress in Philadelphia on 8 Dec. 1790. “The abundant fruits of another year have blessed our Country with plenty, and with the means of a flourishing Commerce,” he said. “The progress of public Credit is witnessed by a considerable rise of American stock abroad as well as at home.” The president also mentioned the opening of a new Dutch loan, a petition for Kentucky statehood, Native American hostilities on the western frontier, and the need to protect American commerce from political upheaval in Europe ( First Fed. Cong. , 1:497–501).

2.

Not found.

3.

The Mass. General Court convened on 26 Jan. 1791 and adjourned on 12 March. In a speech opening the session, Gov. John Hancock praised Congress’ Aug. 1790 assumption of state debt but expressed concern that the amount to be paid to Massachusetts lenders was capped at $4 million. Hancock proposed that the legislature fund the residue from state revenues, and on 9 Feb. 1791 the legislature agreed to do so “whenever it is assertained what Sum remains to be provided for by this State.” A 24 Feb. motion to consider Hancock's proposal further was defeated in the expectation that Congress might remove the limit. The federal limit remained in place and the legislature eventually funded the shortfall (Mass., Acts and Laws , 1790–1791, p. 155, 168–170, 214, 559–561; Boston Columbian Centinel, 26 Feb.; Boston Independent Chronicle, 17 March; Woody Holton, “Abigail Adams, Bond Speculator,” WMQ , 3d series, 64:837–838 [Oct. 2007]).

4.

Edmund Freeman (1764–1807) was printer of the Boston Herald of Freedom, a newspaper that, although ostensibly nonpartisan, leaned Antifederalist. Tufts also canceled the more overtly Antifederalist Boston Gazette and Boston Independent Chronicle; see AA to Tufts, 17 Jan. 1790, and note 1, above. Tufts continued the Massachusetts Centinel, the only Federalist Boston newspaper (Frederick Freeman, The History of Cape Cod: The Annals of Barnstable County, 2 vols., Boston, 1862, 2:148; Stewart, Opposition Press , p. 875).

Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 7 January 1791 Cranch, Mary Smith Adams, Abigail
Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams
My dear Sister Braintree January 7th 1791

What a Succession of troubles have you had to incounter & not one of us to help you through them— I have been very anxious for you & was affraid by my not hearing sooner that something had happen'd— oh my poor Thomas how I pity him—his Patience & fortitude have been put to their trial— he has a great share of it I know, 174& he will find tis good to be sometimes afflicted he will feel more tenderly for others & be more ready to be “Feet to the lame, & hands to the hungry, if not eyes to the Blind[”]1 than if he had never needed the like from others tell him that Miss Paine Sends her Love to him & says she feels most sympathetickly for him & for you all & wishes you that health which she never expects her self she knows she says that cousin has thought of the poor cripple at Braintree— I hope to hear he is better soon— I wonder how you have stood such fatigues—& your house too to be in such a miserable situation not fit for well People to have gone into I wonder it had not made you all sick. I wonder if it has been as cold with you as here I never saw such a December & now we have a thaw which has Set every thing a float & makes us all feel very unwell it has given me such a head ack that I can hardly see what I write—but I could not bear to have your son visit you without a line from me. I must write a little to mrs Smith too She poor woman now knows a little & but a little of the feelings of her mama in her Friends absence She is not left with such cares as you were nor is he in any danger from an Enemy I wish she was where I could see her & her dear little Boys

It seems to me your Gentleman & Ladies were wanting in judgment to visit you before you had time to put up your Furniture I hope you will find some Friends where you can visit free from the shackels of so much ceremony as your station subjects you to you have found Doctor Rush just what I always thought him; by the way—I wish you would some time or other ask him whither he ever attend'd such a Funeral as our Neighbours have reported he did: cousin Thomas can recollect the Story & the names enough to ask the question— they say mrs Brown dy'd two year ago this winter & it was her Funeral that was so splendid. The Lady here is still in mourning for her Friends

your Friends are all well & desire to be rememberd kindly to you especially those of this household. tell cousin Thomas I long to be with him cousin Charles is a good nurse I am glad he is with you— my good Louisia does every the can to assist you I know, my Love to them all— Mr Adams with my dear Sister will always have the highest esteem & the tenderest affection of their / grateful Sister

Mary Cranch

my Love to mrs otis when you see her

RC (Adams Papers); docketed: “Mrs. Cranch 1790.”

1.

“I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame” (Job, 29:15).