Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From Amicus

From Joseph Hague
To John Adams from Eliphalet Fitch, 10 May 1790 Fitch, Eliphalet Adams, John
From Eliphalet Fitch
Dear Sir Kingston Jama. May 10th. 1790

Since writing you, on the 7h. Instant, by this Conveyance I have delivered to Captn. Peters, of the Marianne, a Barrell of Sugar and a Barrell containing One dozen of old Rum and Two dozen of old Madeira Wine.— The Sugar and Rum were made on my Estate and the Wine is from my Cellar— Let me therefore present them to you.— I have requested my Mother to Send you a Packet with Some Papers relative to the Slave-Trade; and if you approve of Sending Copies to the President I would avail myself of your kind Attention therein; as 348 you will See by the inclosed Copy of my Letter.—1 With Sincere Esteem— / I am, Dear Sir / Yr. Mo. Obedt. Servt

Elipht Fitch

PS

I do not know what Title to give to Men in America; and beg your Candour in that respect.—

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Honble. John Adams / &c. &c. &c.”; notation: “Please to turn over.”

 1.

Boston native Eliphalet Fitch (1740–1810), second cousin to JA, was a sugar merchant. Fitch wrote to JA on 7 May (Adams Papers), announcing his plans to retire from his post as receiver general of Jamaica. Fitch sent his gift to JA via the Marianne, Capt. Peters, which arrived in Boston on 22 June. No letter to JA from Jerusha Boylston Fitch (1711–ca. 1799) has been found.

JA forwarded Fitch’s enclosure, which contained a 10 May letter to George Washington and several pamphlets on the African slave trade. The publications were Debates in the British House of Commons, Wednesday, May 13th 1789, Phila., 1789, which included a key speech by abolitionist and Yorkshire M.P. William Wilberforce and A Speech Delivered at a Free Conference between the Honourable the Council and Assembly of Jamaica Held the 19th of November, 1789 on the Subject of Mr. Wilberforce’s Propositions, Kingston, Jamaica, 1790, which was the opposition’s response, made by Jamaican merchant and slave owner Bryan Edwards (Boston Columbian Centinel, 23 June; New York Evening Post, 4 Sept. 1810; AFC , 5:173; Ezra S. Stearns, comp., “The Descendants of Dea. Zachary Fitch of Reading,” NEHGR , 55:400 [Oct. 1901]; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 5:391–392; François Furstenberg, “Atlantic Slavery, Atlantic Freedom: George Washington, Slavery, and Transatlantic Abolitionist Networks,” WMQ , 3d ser., 68:266, 270 [April 2011]; DNB ).