Adams Family Correspondence, volume 9
You ask, in one of your letters to Mr. Adams, what is become of Mrs. Adams that I do not hear from her?1
If my heart had not done you more justice than my pen, I would disown it. I have so long omitted writing to you, that my conscience has been a very severe accuser of me. But be assured, my dear sir, that I never fail to talk of you with pleasure, and think of you with affection. I place the hours spent at the Hyde amongst some of the most pleasurable of my days, and I esteem your friendship as one of the most valuable acquisitions that I made in your country:—a country that I should most sincerely rejoice to visit again, if I could do it without crossing the ocean. I have sometimes been suspected of partiality for the preference which I have given to England, but were I to live out of America, that country would have been my choice.
I have a situation here, which, for natural beauty, may vie with the most delicious spot I ever saw. It is a mile and half distant from the city of New-York. The house is situated upon an eminence; at an agreeable distance, flows the noble Hudson bearing upon her bosom the fruitful productions of the adjacent country. On my right hand are fields beautifully variegated with grass and grain to a great extent, like the valley of Honiton in Devonshire.2 Upon my left, the city opens to view, intercepted here and there, by a rising ground, and an ancient oak. In front, beyond the Hudson, the Jersey shores present an exuberance of a rich well cultivated soil. The venerable 100oaks, and broken ground, covered with wild shrubs, which surround me, give a natural beauty to the spot which is truly enchanting. A lovely variety of birds serenade me morning and evening, rejoicing in their liberty and security, for I have as much as possible prohibited the grounds from invasion: and sometimes almost wished for game laws, when my orders have not been sufficiently regarded. The partridge, the woodcock, and the pigeon are too great temptations to the sportsmen to withstand. How greatly would it add to my happiness to welcome here my much esteemed friend. Tis true we have a large portion of the blue and gold, of which you used to remind me, when you thought me an Egyptian; but, however I might hanker after the good things of America, I have been sufficiently taught to value and esteem other countries besides my own.
You was pleased to inform us, that your adopted family flourished in your soil,3 mine has received an addition. Mrs. Smith, Mr. Adams's daughter, and the wife of colonel W. Stephen Smith, respecting the name of the great literary benefactor of her native state, and in grateful remembrance of the friendly attention, and patriotic character of its present possessor, has named her new-born son Thomas-Hollis. She desires me to present you her affectionate remembrance. Mr. Adams is absent upon a journey, or he would have written you a letter of a later date than that which Mr. Knox is the bearer of.4 This gentleman is a brother of our secretary of war, and is appointed consul to Dublin.5 He is intelligent, and can answer you any question respecting our government, and politics, which you may wish to know; but if he should not see you, I know it will give you pleasure to learn that our union is complete by the accession of Rhode island; that our government acquires strength, confidence and stability daily. That peace is in our borders, and plenty in our dwellings; and we earnestly pray that the kindling flames of war, which appear to be bursting out in Europe, may by no means be extended to this rising nation.6 We enjoy freedom in as great a latitude as is consistent with our security, and happiness. God grant that we may rightly estimate our blessings.
Pray remember me, in the most affectionate terms to Dr. Price, and to Mrs. Jebb, and be assured, my dear sir, that I am, with every sentiment of regard and esteem, / yours, &c.
MS not found. Printed from John Disney, ed., Memoirs of Thomas Brand-Hollis, London, 1808, p. 39–40.
In a letter to JA of 29 March, Hollis sent his affectionate regards to AA and noted that he “should be gratified with a line from her.” Hollis also wrote to JA on 28 May (both Adams Papers).
AA would have seen Honiton, a picturesque town situated in a valley near the Otter River, during the Adamses’ month-long visit to southwestern England in 1787. Roughly fifteen miles east of Exeter, Honiton was renowned as a center of the lace-making trade (Black's Guide to Devonshire, Edinburgh, 1874, p. 164).
Hollis, who named his American plants and trees after friends from the United States, noted in a letter to JA that “Mrs Adams herself & family are in perfect health at the Hide” (28 May 1790, Adams Papers; vol. 8:195).
Probably that of 11 June (LbC, APM Reel 115).
William Knox sailed for London aboard the brig Rachel on 11 Sept. (Pennsylvania Mercury, 16 Sept.). The London Times reported on 30 Nov. that he had arrived safely in Dublin.
In July 1789, a Spanish ensign seized two English vessels in Nootka Sound, an action that jeopardized diplomatic relations between the two countries. Tensions escalated in the spring and early summer of 1790, with both sides preparing for war—a conflict that also could potentially involve France due to its Family Compact with Spain. The United States, too, committed to maintaining neutrality, faced the troubling possibility that Britain might attempt to march soldiers through Canada and American territory to reach Spanish possessions. Despite these concerns, the crisis was resolved without bloodshed. Although Great Britain and Spain reached a preliminary agreement on 24 July, the news did not reach the United States until months later. Discussion of a possible Anglo-Spanish war appeared in the American press throughout the summer; see, for example, New York Daily Advertiser, 3 Aug.; Boston Columbian Centinel, 4 Aug.; and New York Daily Gazette, 9, 17 August. The New York Gazette of the United States, 4 Sept., contained a report from London that began, “The question, ‘are we to have a war?’ has thrust ‘how d’ye do?’ out of place; and as no person can give a proper answer to this question, the quantity of supposes, conjectures and ifs, are really wonderful” (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series
, 6:26, 492–493; Jefferson, Papers
, 17:35–37, 92, 93).
6 September 1790]1
By mr Knox our old accquaintance who is appointed consul to dublin I embrace the opportunity of writing to you and acknowledging the Recept of your obliging Letters by col Trumble2 whom we were all very happy to welcome to his Native Land and who has acquired to Himself and his Country an immortal Fame by his great Genius and talants in painting the Mayor and corporation of this city have employd him to take two full Length portraits one of the President of the united States the other of their Govenour at a hundred Guineys each. the first he has finished to the intire Satisfaction of every Spectator.3 the Respectable Family from which mr Trumble is descended, his own most amiable Character and his intention of painting the great and important Scenes and principal Actors from the Life, in the late Revolution ought to ensure to him publick Patronage and I fatter myself he will meet with it before he returns to Europe. mr Jefferson whom you were so desirious of 102seeing return, is you know long e’er this time, our Secretary of State. he took leave of me last week to visit his Family in Virgina. the President and his Lady and Family sat of this day week for their seat at Mount Vernon. under the present administration our Government daily acquires strength and stability. the union is compleat by the late Adoption of the constitution by RhoadIsland. nothing hinders our being a very happy and prosperous people provided we have wisdom rightly to estimate our Blessings, and Hearts to improve them. I thought to have found you in America upon my return to this country and am sorry you could not make it convenient to you. I know very well by experience the strong attractions which England possesses, and Should prefer it to any other country that I have seen America excepted. Alass poor France how many direfull scenes has she yet to pass through before order will be Reestablishd. however great the Blessings to be derived from a Revolution in government, the Scenes of Anarchy cruelty and Blood which usually preceed it and the difficulty of uniting a Majority in favour of any System, are sufficent to make every person who has been an Eye witness to the demolition of one government Recoil at the prospect of over turning Empires and kingdoms4 I hope my dear Madam that you receive agreeable accounts from the Countess your daughter and that she has increased the Family Happiness by further additions to the Family.5 present me kindly to her when you write and to our Friend Mrs Church remember me affectionatly She is a Charming woman, we regreet her loss here, and wish she would return with her Family to her Native Land.6 I do not know any gentleman who would be more agreeable to all those who have the pleasure of an acquaintance with him, than mr Freire in the Character you mention him, and I am satisfied from the knowledge I have of him his manners and Character would be particularly adapted to the Genius & disposition of Americans, and if his Court should appoint him, he would be received with all that Attention and Respect which is due to the Friendly conduct which the Queen of Portugal has manifested towards the Americans—7
Remember to mr Paradice for whom I have a real esteem & to dr Bancroft and any other of our old Friends and acquaintanc who may inquire after Your Humble Servant
Dft (Adams Papers); notation: “Mrs Paradise. 1791.” Filmed at [1791].
The letter is dated based on the Washingtons’ departure from New York; see
AA to Abigail Bromfield Rogers, [5 Sept. 1790], note 4, above.
John Trumbull delivered a letter of 7 Oct. 1789 (Adams Papers) in which Paradise 103congratulated JA on his election as vice president and expressed her esteem for Thomas Jefferson, who recently had come to the aid of her family. She also wrote to AA on 3 June, but AA did not reply (vol. 8:367–368).
Richard Varick (1753–1831), mayor of New York City, approached George Washington on 20 July 1790 about sitting for a portrait to be placed on display at City Hall. Trumbull, who had just completed a smaller full-length portrait of the president intended for Martha Washington, reported to Benjamin West in late August that he was nearly finished with the city council's commission. Trumbull described the painting as “near seven feet high compos'd with a Horse, & the background the evacuation of this Place by the British at the Peace.” The artist completed a similar full-length portrait of George Clinton, governor of New York, the following year (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series
, 6:102–103; Theodore Sizer, The Works of Colonel John Trumbull, Artist of the American Revolution, rev. edn., New Haven, Conn., 1967, p. 26, 82).
In 1789, France abandoned absolute monarchy and formed a National Assembly, which adopted a constitution on 26 August. This new constitutional monarchy, overseen by the moderate National Assembly and sanctioned by Louis XVI, proceeded to pass a series of measures in late 1789 and 1790 that sought to reorganize and reform French society—but simultaneously rendered it increasingly unstable. During this time, there were occasional episodes of mob action, rioting, and violence both in Paris and in more rural areas throughout the country.
American newspapers reported regularly on the sittings of the National Assembly and other events in France. The New York Daily Advertiser, 28 Aug., published a report from France noting “the people incline to the most cruel executions. On Monday two men accused of theft were hung without any form of law.” According to the New York Gazette of the United States, 14 Aug., “Paris has lately been troubled by some insurrections; happily a few only, who deserved it, became victims to them. In twenty-four hours peace was restored to this town.”
Lucy Paradise Barziza gave birth to a second son, Filippo Ignacio, in 1796 at Venice (Archibald Bolling Shepperson, John Paradise and Lucy Ludwell of London and Williamsburg, Richmond, Va., 1942, p. 456).
For Angelica Schuyler Church, see vol. 6:10.
For the appointment of Ciprião Ribeiro, Chevalier de Freire, see vol. 8:368.