Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From Samuel Adams

To Cotton Tufts
420 From John Adams to John Codman, Jr., 10 October 1790 Adams, John Codman, John Jr.
To John Codman Jr.
Dear Sir, New York October 10 1790.

I duely received your obligin letter of the 27th of August; but a journey to Philadelphia, and the confusion of preparations to remove to that City, have prevented an earlier answer to it. I concur very freely and very fully with you, in your sentiments respecting the appointments of Consuls abroad; but I find the President and Secretary of State, are impressed with an apprehension of censure, for appointing too many from one State.1 Before your letter arrived to me, the President and Mr Jefferson were both gone to Virginia— When I meet them at Philadelphia, I will deliver the letter to the latter, and heartily wish your Brother success.2 I think it is adviseable for you to send on to me the best letters of recommendation of your Brother, that you can readily obtain; and they shall be communicated too.

The Wine you received for me from Spain, I should be obliged to you, to Ship by the first good opportunity addressed to me at Philadelphia; I shall remove in ten days, and be there ready to receive it, before it will arrive.

I am Sir with much esteem your obliged humble Servant,

John Adams.

LbC in CA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “John Codman / Junr Esqr: / Boston”; APM Reel 115.

 1.

Of the eighteen consuls nominated by the president on 4 June and 2 Aug., four men were from Massachusetts, three apiece were from Virginia and New York, and two were from Maryland. The remaining six were not Americans, which proved the greater controversy. Senators hotly debated the issue, finally resolving to support the candidates by midsummer. Tension lingered over the perceived regional favoritism of the appointments. Reviewing the whole process on 26 Nov., Thomas Jefferson observed that “so many Massachusetts men have already obtained Consular appointments as to endanger considerable discontent in the other states” (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 5:473–476, 6:183; Jefferson, Papers , 18:80).

 2.

George Washington departed New York on 30 Aug. and visited Philadelphia for several days, reaching Mount Vernon on 11 September. Jefferson left for Monticello by 2 Sept., arriving home on 20 Sept. (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 6:380, 392, 393, 410; Jefferson, Papers , 17:473, 511; Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 4 Sept.).