Adams Family Correspondence, volume 11
ry6 1797
The heavey rain & thaw to day will prevent my getting my Letters to Town to go by the post, to that cause you must attribute it. This Month is a short one, and March will soon be upon you with its new Duties, with its load of care, and perplexities. those of a Domestick kind I would relieve you from as much as possible, Yet wish to consult You upon them. in the first place, what is to be Done about an House furniture Household at Philadelphia? I do not know the Number which will be requisite. as few as can perform the necessary business will be most for our Comfort. in My Letter to Brisler I named a Woman here who if she could be had is well calculated for a Housekeeper both when I am absent and there. Men servants will be best procured at Philadelphia their buisness will be better understood. I feel most anxious for Your private Scecratary, who must be trust worthy close mouthd a Man of buisness, and application. the accomplishments of a Drawing Room are not so requisite, as those of the Cabinet, nor do I consider it as any peculiar recommendation that a Young Gentleman has been abroad, where he is much more like to accquire habits of dissipation than application.
Mr Pickerings Letter to mr Pinckny is just publishing in our papers. I have not been from home to hear the Sentiments of people upon the Subject, but I am confident it will have a Salutary effect upon the minds of those who read it, and open their Eyes with respect to their engagements and attachment to France.1 the late victories of their Army in Italy, tho Dearly purchased will give them an 541 other incentive to conquest, and render them still more delirious. there has been much talk here of an Embargo as an necessary measure to preserve our remaining commerce. I askd a Gentleman in the Mercantile Line who was hopeing that Congress would lay an embargo, if the people were not the best keepers of their own Liberties and priveledges. O no he replid, the Merchants would risk, & ruin themselves if not restraind by authority
There is much good Sense in Swanwicks arguments for a direct Tax. a Land Tax will be submitted to in N England with much less reluctance than the very unpopular ones of Hearth Window and Stamps. I am astonishd that so sensible a Man as Mr Harper Should know so little of the temper and disposition of his Countrymen.2 if there are no extra officers appointed for the collection of a land tax, so as to render it burdensome in that way I believe it will be cheerfully paid, and we certainly ought to have Some resource of Revenue which is not subject to the piratical plunder of Foreign Nations.
Mr Volneys prediction respecting France will take place sooner or later I have not a Doubt, and that it must be Royal Blood to heal their Wounds, tho a successfull General may pave the way but their measure is not yet full. the vials of wrath are not yet all poured out upon the Nations against whom they are contending
I wait for your directions respecting our affairs at Home. the Grass Seed You will not fail to Send. this Thaw must extend to your Rivers, and open them. Billings has been employd for several Days in making a Dragg for stones. he has compleated one which he says would make you laugh if you could See it. he is making a New cart putting his Harrow and tools in order. his wanderings have not been very troublesome this Winter. take him at large I do not know a better Hand. he can contrive buisness & Sit himself about it. his cattle look well. Baxters Sheep have not attempted Your Wall, but they leap the other. adieu my Dear Friend and companion. I dreem too of you, but they are not so pleasing as My Waking Thoughts the former being fancifull wandering, the latter possessing the / constant & unalterable attachment / and affection of your
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mrs A. Feb. 7. Ansd 18 / 1797.”
Timothy Pickering’s 16 Jan. letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was communicated to Congress on 19 Jan. by the president and published in installments in the Massachusetts Mercury, 31 Jan., 3 Feb., and in the Boston Columbian Centinel, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 February. A response to Pierre Auguste Adet’s 15 Nov. 1796 letter, for which see
AA to JQA, 11 Nov., note 3, above, Pickering reviewed and refuted Adet’s charges against the United
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States, noting that “there has been no attempt in the Government of the United States to violate our Treaty or weaken our engagements with France” (
Annals of Congress, 4th Cong., 2d sess., p. 1914, 2713–2769; Charles W. Upham, The Life of Timothy Pickering, 4 vols., Boston, 1873, 3:357–358).
On 12 Jan. 1797 the Committee of Ways and Means presented a resolution to the House of Representatives for a direct tax on lands and slaves. The next day John Swanwick stated his support for the land tax, noting that he “trembled for the existence of our Government; for it could not exist without revenue, and he could not see how that revenue could be raised but by a land tax.” Robert Goodloe Harper disagreed and submitted a proposed list of indirect taxes, including duties on stamps and windows. Harper argued that a direct tax on land would create a heavy financial burden for the nation: “For an assessor to go through the United States, and class every farm according to its value, would not only be very expensive, but it would require a very long time to accomplish such a business.” Swanwick responded to Harper on 16 Jan. that “a window tax, a hearth tax, a stamp tax … cause murmurings and discontents wherever they are established; but in no country has a land tax been grievous.” Swanwick further argued that a land tax would allow “all ranks” to “unite in putting their shoulders to the wheel of Government.” On 20 Jan. the House voted 49 to 39 to approve the resolution (
Annals of Congress, 4th Cong., 2d sess., p. 1843–1844, 1858, 1863–1864, 1868, 1886, 1889, 1941–1942).
AA wrote to JA on 7 Feb. enclosing a letter for Martha Washington of [9 Feb.], below, and lamenting the lack of letters from their sons in Europe. She also reminded JA that Richard Cranch would soon want a decision regarding purchasing Cranch’s farm (Adams Papers).
I recd Yesterday together your Letters of the 28. 29. and 30th of January.
It is impossible for me to give any Directions about our affairs at Quincy. I shall be hurried here with Business and Ceremony. I like your Plan to get Mears but fear he will not agree to it.
When you come here I hope you will bring all the Women you want. I would not have any other than N. England Women in the House on any Account. Why cant Becky and Betcy too come here.
But I can determine nothing, untill the H. of Representatives Shall determine— I cannot even receive the Furniture belonging to the Public, without their Act.1 If I have an House to furnish—I will have no House before next December, if then. I will live at Lodgings at Francis’s Hotel.
The Governors Retirement does him Honour. I wish I could retire too: but it is now too late. I am in the Cage and cant get out as yet. The Examination is to be tomorrow after which We shall soon see what turn Things are to take.
I am with the tenderest Affection yours / & only yours forever
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A”; endorsed: “Feb’ry 7th / 1797.”
On 2 March George Washington signed an act appropriating $14,000 “for the accommodation of the household” of the president and authorizing the sale of presidential furnishings that were “decayed and out of repair” (U.S. Senate, Jour., 4th Cong., 2d sess., p. 343;
Annals of Congress, 4th Cong., 2d sess., p. 2307–2308).