Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12

William Cranch to Abigail Adams, 21 November 1797 Cranch, William Adams, Abigail
William Cranch to Abigail Adams
My dear Madam.— Washington Novr. 21. 1797

I am not only highly gratified, but extremely grateful for your kind communication of 15th. instt, with it’s important inclosures.— The fraternal and affectionate friendship, which has so long existed between your sons and myself, has indeed been among the greatest Consolations of my life—and the consciousness that it still continues, brightens many of my passing days.— Having been so long accustomed to friendship so sincere, to Confidence so unlimited and to an interchange of sentiment so unconfined by distrust or suspicion, I have most deeply and sincerely felt the loss occasioned by our seperation— Yet the sensation was not immediate—it’s Effect was by a continued repetition of the want of those Consolations which a confidential friendship affords.— Since my residence at this place, the Cares and perplexities which have occupied my mind, have almost entirely excluded every literary pursuit, and I was fast approaching towards the pitiful condition of a dull, plodding man of business.— The misfortunes which have driven me from that Course, and thrown me again into the practise of the Law, “in all the humility of its first outset,”1 are perhaps not to be regreted, since it is a fact that I return to the dry pages of Coke upon Littleton, with almost as much pleasure as I have formerly found in those of some of the best of the Poets.— Whether this taste will continue long, or whether it is a mere temporary thirst occasioned by a long abstinence from the waters of Helicon, I am not able to say, but I have certainly a great accession of happiness, since I have taken the resolution.—2 Some remnants of my old business, however, intrude themselves upon me; and the affairs of my brother Greenleaf have occupied and still occupy a great part of my time.— These with the Care of supplying the wants of my family, and a little law business, have prevented me from being punctual in my Correspondence with your sons; as I have thought it my first duty to devote my leisure moments to assist Mrs. Cranch in the Care of her Children—to amuse her mind—to console her anxieties, and to support her spirits.— But she is now, I hope, recovering her health, and I will most certainly renew a correspondence, the benefits of which must be so evidently on my own side.—

It is necessary that I inform you that I have never had any Controul over the publishment of the Washington, Gazette, and that I 304 never interfered with the Editor, although there were many things publish’d which displeased me extremely; and that since the 24th. of Augt. last I have had no interest or concern whatever in the office. The Editor deceives himself with the idea of being impartial, & says he means to publish both sides of the question.— under this notion he prints the rankest disorganizing pieces he can find, & satisfies his Conscience by saying he refuses nothing. His paper has a very limited Circulation, and he pays so little regard to his own interest, that he can not support it long. This man was sent here from Boston in 1794 by Mr. Appleton, the loan officer, to be a book-keeper for Doctr. Appleton, and was afterwards continued in Employment by me. I found him to be very honest, tolerably industrious, sufficiently accurate for his Employment, and having a large family to support, I was disposed to do every thing in my power to assist him. The salary allow’d him was not sufficient to support his family, and a number of concurring Circumstances induced me to purchase the printing office and set him up as an Editor—but he has not the industry or abilities to support it.3 The reason he gave for republishing Aristides, was, that it was possible it might be the begining of important movements in the western Country and therefore ought to be known. I was absent when those pieces were published, and have never read them. I once took up one of them, but threw it down again in disgust. They are supposed to be written either by Mr. Brown, the senator, or (which is much more probable) by his brother Doctr. Samuel Brown, who lately resided in this City. He is a man of some abilities and Address, and is lately from Edinburgh where he received his medical Education. While here, he was the founder of a Club, in which affairs of state were discuss’d with all the depth of jacobinical profundity. At the head of this Club was placed, Doctr. Coningham—a man about 50 years of age, by birth an Irishman—and possessing little of medical or any other Knowledge, but a plenty of Conceit. He was formerly a roman Catholic, but was excommunicated for his infidelity, and is now as open in his atheistical, as in his jacobinic principles. He is a Justice of peace, and gets his living by brewing beer and distilling Whiskey, with a Capital furnished by Mr. Greenleaf, through the unsuspecting goodness of the late Doctr. Appleton.— The rest of the Club was composed principally of foreigners, of no Education. Whether Doctr. Brown could not support himself by his profession or whether he found his politics did not thrive in this part of the Country, he went off to Kentuckey in the summer, and is without doubt trying to raise himself 305 into notice by the Vehemence of his zeal in the Cause of french principles.—4

I received a letter from your son T. B. A. dated London septr. 11th. informing me of Mr. Johnson’s family having sail’d.—5 A house is taken for them (not in this City) but in Georgetown. They are not y[et] arrived, but are anxiously expected.—

I sha[ll r]eturn the letters as soon as I have made the Extr[acts], & you may be assured that my own Exertions shall not be wanting, as far as my leisure and abilities shall permit, to promote the safety and happiness of our common Country.

My Richard has had the quinzy (synansia trochealis) but is geting better.6 William has a very severe Cold.—

With the most affectionate respect, I am, Dear Madam / your obliged & obedt. nephew

W. Cranch

I have heard Complaint made, that the President neglects the Interest of this City—that he does not Answer the letters from the Commissioners &c— At the time of the Election it was said that Mr. Adams would be opposed to the City.— I denied it— I said that I had never heard any direct opinion from him—but I knew it to be one of his strongest principles that the existence of our independance, depended on the Union of the states—that the federal City was a new bond of Union and therefore he could not be opposed to its wellfare.7

But we are spoiled by the fondness of the late Presdt.— There is a great difference between a common horse and a Hobby.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs. A. Adams / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Mr W Cranch / Novbr 21 1797.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

1.

Cranch quoted from JQA to AA, 26 June, above.

2.

In Greek mythology the Helicon was a mountain sacred to the Muses upon which the Hippocrene—a spring whose waters were credited as a source of poetic inspiration— could be found ( Oxford Classical Dicy. ; Hesiod, Theogony, lines 1–3, 8–9).

3.

On 21 May 1796 Cranch and Benjamin More (d. 1821) signed articles of agreement “to carry on the printing business, as well as the business of a Bookseller and stationer, in partnership at their joint and equal expence, in the name of Benjamin More only, but for their equal and joint profit for the term of Five years.” For running the business, More would be paid $800 per year; Cranch would advance the necessary funds and receive 6 percent interest per year. The Washington Gazette debuted on 15 June 1796 and ceased publication on 24 March 1798 (Contract, Benjamin More and William Cranch, 21 May 1796, DcWaGWG:MS2135, Box 5, Folder 66; Boston Daily Advertiser, 23 July 1821; Fred A. Emery, “Washington Newspapers,” Columbia Hist. Soc., Records , 37/38:45 [1937]).

4.

John Brown represented Kentucky in the U.S. Senate in the 2d through 8th Congresses. His brother Dr. Samuel Brown (1769–1830), Dickinson College 1789, received his medical degree from Marischal College of the University of Aberdeen in 1794 and was a professor of chemistry, anatomy, and surgery at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., from 1799 to 1806. Cornelius Coningham (1746–1820) served as a hospital surgeon 306 during the Revolutionary War and in 1796 established with James Greenleaf the first brewery in Washington, D.C. ( Biog. Dir. Cong. ; ANB ; Jefferson, Papers , 35:592; Clark, Greenleaf and Law , p. 146).

5.

Not found.

6.

Cynanche trachealis was a term for an inflammation of the larynx and trachea in infants that caused difficulties in breathing (William Cullen, First Lines of the Practice of Physic, 2 vols., N.Y., 1793, 1:177, Evans, No. 25359).

7.

On 31 Oct. 1797 JA wrote to the commissioners of Washington, D.C., noting the receipt of a letter “you wrote me Sometime ago inclosing the Form of a full Power to borrow money” and explaining that he had not yet replied because “some questions arose upon it in my mind, which I wished to take Advice in.” JA again wrote to the commissioners on 5 Dec., enclosing the power to borrow $150,000 “for the Use of the fœderal City,” and he further noted that “if this Resource should fail of having its compleat Effect, I agree fully with you in opinion, that it will be necessary for your board to lay the whole subject before Congress for their consideration and further provision and that it will be necessary for One of you to attend in Philadelphia, in order to explain all things to the Members of Congress” (both DLC: U.S. Commissioners of the City of Washington Records, 1791–1869).

Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 November 1797 Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy
Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams
my Dear Son Philadelphia Novbr 23d 1797

I am under obligations to you my dear son, for keeping up so regularly, and so constantly your correspondence with me; notwithstanding your various publick employments and private engagements, and I consider myself as very fortunate in receiving your Letters, tho frequently of an old date, owing to the circuitous route they have to make.

By mr Fisher of this city I received a few Days Since the joint Letter written by you and your amiable partner; accompanied by the Sattin, which is very excellent.1 I did not receive with it any Bill of it, nor have I received any account of the cost of my watch. I cannot by any means assent to this. I had no intention to lay a Tax upon you. I therefore request you to send me an order to pay the amount to Dr Welch, or your Brother Charles who I know have your pecuniary affairs in their hands. I have written to you already upon this Subject.

I had hoped I should have been able by this Time, to have congratulated you and my Dear Daughter upon the arrival of her Parents in America. I shall not fail of giving the earliest intelligence to you. Your Friend mr otis has spent the Evening here, and says young mr Johnson is very well. he will come on as soon as his Parents arrive.

I will send you by this opportunity Some Newspapers. the reason why I have not been more attentive on this subject, is that I knew 307 the secretary of state was to send you regularly the papers from hence. I supposed the postage must be a heavy Charge. at present the papers contain little besides the affairs of Europe Which you have much nearer to you, than we have, or desire to have

your Father and I left Philadelphia as soon after the rising of Congress in july last, as we could, and we have been absent near four Months. we were detaind a Month longer than we intended by the breaking out of that deadly disease, the yellow fever in this city, which but for the fleeing of the inhabitants to the number of thirty Thousand, would have made as great ravage as in the year 1793 the Frost only puts a stop to it. we returnd here on the 11th, Congress were adjournd to the 13th, but oweing to the dread of that Disease they have not been able to make a Congress untill this day.

Mr Hall arrived in N York on the 7th. I saw him a few moments only. he brought your Letters of August 10 & 31, and sep’br 11th which is the latest date received from you. the papers and Books he also deliverd, but fears he has lost a Ring which he says he had for me. I fancy it was a lock of my New Daughters Hair I the more regreet it, as I suppose it came from her.2

I have received a Letter from you july 6th dated Maasluys one of july 28 and one of july 29th. tho I have before acknowledgd the receipt of all these Letters, yet I repeat it, as this may possibly reach you before those; I have inclosed to you a duplicate of a Letter from your Father, in hopes that the reasons alledged in it for a change of your mission, will satisfy Your scruples. I am also desired to forward to you a Letter from the President of Harvered Colledge.3 in a former Letter I informd you that you were unanimously Elected a Member of the Academy of Arts and Sciencies, at their last meeting.

The affairs of Europe are so Surrounded with clouds, and enveloped in darkness, that the wisest Politicien with the most Scientific Eye cannot penetrate their mazes, nor trace the regular Confusion. The raging of the Sea, and the Tumult of the people have been aptly compared; who can say to either, thus far shalt thou go, and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed; or peace be Still. None but He who rides in the Whirlwind, and directs the storm, can calm the contending Nations. unto him I commit “the hour the Day, the Year,” and view with Awe this astonishing Revolution.4 happy indeed if we may be permitted to escape the calamities of War, tho cruelly Buffeted and Maltreated. the opening Session of 308 Congress will soon develope the sentiments of the people, who have heitherto been disposed to bless them, who have cursed them, and do good to those who have despightfully used them; you will find the sentiments of the President unchanged, as his Speech will shew you. he therefore in few words rcommends to the two Houses the former system.5 I can write to you only in general terms without that freedom of communication which is desirable, but which might expose more than myself.

Your old school mate Bache goes on in his old way loosing altogether the Character of Gentleman, by a low malicious kind of abuse and scurility. if he ever had any of the milk of Humane kindness, it is all turnd to vinigar, and I believe he is a very misirable Being, for he cannot but feel, that all good Men despise him, and who is hardy enough to brave contempt?

I fear your Father will not get time to write at all by this opportunity, as he is overwhelmd with Buisness at this Time—

This Day we have the first official account of the arrival of Gen’ll Marshall and mr Gerry and of their proceeding to France, but from whence are we to look for justice?6

I will write to mrs Adams and to Thomas if I can by this opportunity. our Friends are all well. my own Health has been much mended by my frequent journeys and your Father supports the fatigues of his office much better than I expected; The vice President has not yet arrived. he is detained by a suit at Law in which he is much interested. Mr Read of Carolina is President pro Tem.7 I am my Dear Son with the sincerest wishes for your Health and prosperity your ever affectionate / Mother

A Adams

RC (Adams Papers); addressed by Louisa Catharine Smith: “John Quincy Adams / Minister Plenipotentiary / At the Court of Berlin”; endorsed by TBA: “Mrs: A Adams / 23 November 1797 / 15 January 1798 Recd / 19 Do Answd:.”

1.

Philadelphia merchant James Cowles Fisher (1756–1840) was one of the passengers aboard the William Penn, for which see AA to TBA, 7 Nov., note 3, above. Fisher carried JQA and LCA to AA and JA, 28 July, above ( Philadelphia Directory , 1797, p. 69; Edward Carpenter, Samuel Carpenter and His Descendants, Phila., 1912, p. 216; Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 26 Oct.).

2.

For a summary of JQA to JA, 10 Aug., see TBA to AA, 10 Sept., note 2, above. In his 31 Aug. letter to JA, JQA commented on the Blount affair and noted that he was still waiting for his commission and instructions for his posting to Prussia. He also criticized U.S. newspaper editors with regard to their publishing his letters: “In some instances there have been so many blunders of the press, that I could scarcely recognize myself.— Some of these errors strike me as being designed” (Adams Papers). For a summary of JQA to JA, 11 Sept., see AA to William Cranch, 15 Nov., note 2, above.

3.

The Dupl of JA’s letter to JQA of 3 Nov., above, has not been found. In May JQA had sent Rev. Joseph Willard “a small token of 309 gratitude and veneration to the Library of the University.” The gift of “two boxes, containing a few books” totaled 19 works in 176 volumes. The letter enclosed by AA here was Willard’s 3 Nov. letter of thanks (JQA to Willard, 19 May, LbC, APM Reel 130; Adams Papers).

4.

Alexander Pope, “The Sixth Epistle of the First Book of Horace,” line 9.

5.

In his 23 Nov. address to Congress, JA reported the arrival of John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry in Europe but cautioned that “whatever may be the issue of the negotiation with France, and whether the war in Europe is or is not to continue, I hold it most certain that perfect tranquillity and order will not soon be obtained.” He recommended “that we should make every exertion to protect our commerce, and to place our country in a suitable posture of defence, as the only sure means of preserving both.” JA also noted that the Spanish garrisons within U.S. territory had not yet been evacuated and suggested a law be passed to punish “attempts of foreign agents to alienate the affections of the Indian nations.” The speech included updates on various articles relating to the treaties with Great Britain and Spain, raised the issue of French depredations on American shipping, and noted the expense incurred by American consuls abroad, suggesting that “the Consular act relative to seamen requires revision and amendment” ( Annals of Congress , 5th Cong., 2d sess., p. 630–634).

6.

Marshall wrote to Timothy Pickering from The Hague on 15 Sept. confirming the 18 fructidor coup in France. The letter included a notation on the address leaf that “Genl. Pinckney & Mr. Marshall left Rotterdam on the 19th. Septr. for Paris. Mr. Gerry arrived at Rottm. the evening of the same day, & proceeded to France a few days after.” The letter was carried by George Izard, who left Rotterdam on 28 Sept. aboard the Adelaide, Capt. John Mann, and arrived in Baltimore on 19 November. Pickering received the letter on the 22d (Marshall, Papers , 3:136; Baltimore Federal Gazette, 20, 21 Nov.).

7.

Jacob Read was elected president pro tempore of the Senate on 22 Nov. and served in that capacity until 13 Dec. (U.S. Senate, Jour. , 5th Cong., 2d sess., p. 406, 414).