Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13

Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 3 June 1799 Adams, Thomas Boylston Adams, John Quincy
Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams
No 6. My dear Brother Baltimore 3d: June 1799.

On my journey through this place, about a fortnight since, I wrote you a few lines by a vessel bound to Bremen; on returning here I find another ready to sail for the same place, and I have found a moment to give you a little sketch of my journey, which though not long has been a very pleasant one.1

After passing a few days here, I went to Annapolis, where the Supreme Court of the State was sitting, and where gaiety & mirth rendered my visit quite delightful; a number of very genteel families reside there and from the general acquaintance of Mr: Tom Johnson I was introduced to them all, and was treated with much hospitality. I proceeded to the Federal City, Georgetown & after a day or two spent there, I went with Mr: & Mrs: Johnson & Mr: T.J. to visit the venerable Washington and his lady, both of whom we found in perfect health & spirits. The General received me with a cordiality & treated me, during my stay of two nights, with a degree of kindness & distinction, which was highly flattering— He enquired with interest after you & Mrs: A— and said many civil things to Mrs: J— respecting you. In fine, we were all highly gratified with our visit & received a very cordial invitation to repeat it. Mrs: Lewis, who was Miss N. Custis was absent from Mount Vernon on a visit to her husband’s relations— She was married on the Genls: last birth day, and I toasted her at Boston, that very evening, connected with a sentiment; viz: “May her nuptials, lay the foundation for a numerous race of patriots & hero’s.”

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On my return from Mount Vernon I stayed a day or two at Georgetown & at Mr: Cranch’s Fed: City. I saw the Capitol, which is in a state of considerable forwardness and might be ready for the accommodation of Congress in a few months, if necessary— The President house, another fine spacious & magnificent pile, not yet complete, excepting the exterior, and not likely to be so, as one of the Commissioners told me, without a fresh grant of money. It seems incredible, that so large a sum as twelve hundred & fifty thousand dollars, should have already been expended in the improvements & public buildings, but I am assured it is the fact. Complaint against the mismanagement &ca: of the Commissioners is very loud; charges of incapacity are equally common & not one of the three is allowed to be a fit person for the conducting so great a concern. Every man, it seems to me, within the district of Columbia, is more or less desirous of being a Commissioner himself, and very few, in my opinion, would give less dissatisfaction, than the gentlemen now in the Commission, however they might surpass them in talents, capacity or integrity. The affairs of the City have, very certainly, from some cause or other, become confused & embarrassed, so that property in the soil cannot be conveyed to those disposed to purchase, free from any question as to title; this discourages enterprize, which might otherwise take that channel and change the appearance of things to a more cheering complexion. Congress will not I think, be at their ease, when they first remove thither, though a number of buildings are going up, for Hotel’s & boarding houses. The number of dwelling houses is small, and what there are, yet chiefly unfinished; the neighborhood is by no means well supplied with provision, but when the navigation of Potomak is open, as it may be ere long, a fine rich & florishing back Country will furnish an abundance of every comfort. The situation of the City is beautiful & by all account healthy; perhaps you would like to have an house there; if so, signify it unto me, as I dare not buy on speculation.2

I returned hither two days since, having taken Annapolis again in my route, for the sake of passing more time with Cousin Cranch, who was attending the Court there. His health has been much impaired by the anxiety & distress which his misfortunes brought upon him; but his character & reputation survive in all their purity. He is the father of three children, the last of which is a daughter, only a few weeks old— I think he will get over his difficulties, though they oppress him heavily—

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My last letters from Quincy are of the 10th: ulto:—then all well. I expect to be in Philada: on the 6th: currt: and to open my Office there immediately— God avert the pestilence from that City, is the fervent prayer / Of your affectionate Brother

Thomas B Adams.

Love to Mrs: A— her friends are all well.

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “J Q Adams.”

1.

TBA’s earlier letter has not been found. The vessels he was referring to were probably the ship Mount Vernon, Capt. Solomon Rutter, and the brig Sonne, Capt. Haar, which respectively cleared Baltimore for Bremen by 11 May and 14 June (Baltimore Federal Gazette, 11 May, 14 June; Williams, French Assault on American Shipping , p. 251).

2.

The Board of Commissioners for Washington, D.C., was suffering the consequences of unsuccessful land speculation by Morris, Nicholson & Greenleaf, among others. To cut costs, in Nov. 1798 the board halted construction of the U.S. Capitol. Masons, bricklayers, and laborers were dismissed, a consequence of which was the sale of 499 tons of stone, 30,000 bricks, and various artisans’ tools. The board also reduced the number of slaves working on construction projects from 85 to 25. Only carpenters remained steadily employed. An additional setback occurred when on 18 Feb. 1799 a fire destroyed a workshop and construction supplies (Arnebeck, Through a Fiery Trial , p. 499, 505, 506–507). For the earlier funding and development of the city and the commercial development of the Potomac River, see vols. 11:375–376, 378–379; 12:306, 418–419, 420–421, 460–461.

John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 8 June 1799 Adams, John Adams, Thomas Boylston
John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams
My Dear Thomas Quincy June 8. 1799

The daily Duties of my office require so much Writing that my hand and head are fatigued & exhausted before I have half done: and this must be my Apology for not writing you till now.

I hope you are now well settled in your office and pursuing your studies. Practice will come in time, but the most certainly from an incessant Attendance upon the Courts and taking minutes & making Reports of Tryals.

Yesterday at Eleven Governor sumner departed. I feel the Loss of an esteemed Relation. His Mother and mine were first Cousins.1 In this Gentleman were united an Assemblage of Qualities, which is not to be found again in the State of Massachusetts. His Education, Fortune Temper, his masterly Understanding extensive Information and Uprightness of heart: his Attachment to the Union and Fidelity to the national Government: his Independence of little Circles and partial Combinations: the Candor of his heart and serenity of his disposition, fitted him for his Station beyond any other Man who can succeed him;

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Write me as often as you can and let me know your health your progress and prospects. I am, with a tender Affection / and well founded Esteem, your Father

J. Adams

RC (NhD:Ticknor Autograph Coll.); addressed by William Smith Shaw: “Thomas B Adams Esqr. / Attorney at Law / Philadelphia”; internal address: “Thomas B. Adams”; notation by JA: “J. Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 119.

1.

That is, Sarah Sharp Sumner (ca. 1719–1796), whose mother, Susanna White Sharp, was a sister of JA’s maternal grandmother, Ann White Boylston (vol. 1:154; Boston Columbian Centinel, 25 June 1796; JA, D&A , 2:17, 18; 3:256–257).