Adams Family Correspondence, volume 10

Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 3 May 1794 Adams, Thomas Boylston Adams, John

Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams

Dear sir West Chester 3d May, [1794]

The return of some Gentlemen of the Philadelphia Bar gives me an opportunity of droping you a few lines; The Court has been engaged in many important trials, & contrary to their expectations are obliged to meet this day— Mr: Ingersoll however intends making part of the Journey, to Lancaster this afternoon; To prevent an interference of the Court of Com Pleas & the Supreme Court in Lancaster Coun[ty.] the arrangement is such that the Supreme [Cour]t passes Lancaster for York, & returns to Lancaster a week afterwards

I have passed a pleasant week— the County of West Chester is cheifly inhabited by Quakers, but I do not find that their doctrine of forbearance, has much tendency to diminish the number of Law suits, for I am told that in proportion to numbers there is as much business here as in any other long settled County— Most of the trials in County Courts are concerning Lands; a majority of trials this Court have been Ejectments. The Country about this place is very delightful—the Season of the year is uncommonly favorable to 164 inspire pleasing impressions; but independant of this, there are natural properties such as richness of Soil—situation &ca: sufficient to justify my admiration. If the expression is alowable I would say that the Country is uniformly uneven, Verdant Hills, & cultivated Dales are the prominent figures of a variegated Landscape, and if I were not fearful of growing Poetical I would endeavor to enlarge the description; the land is said to be in general good— I have viewed it in almost every direction from this place a few miles round & I never was in a Country that pleased me more— U[pon] average I am told Land in this Count[ry costs?] 6 or 7 Pounds; just round the town a Lot [sells?] for £100 Pr Acre, but this is no rule for finding the value of a whole Plantatation. As to the town itself, nothing very striking or observable differ’s it from other towns where there is a Court House five or six taverns, a Jail & from 40 to 50 Houses— it is situated high, and is said to be very healthy—

I must not forget my little Mare, whose merits are so great that I am much in love with her— she travels well—is perfectly sure footed, & by no means vicious; I hope her virtues may increase as they have allready expanded upon acquaintance—

I shall be at York Town next week, where a Letter from you would be particularly agreeable to / Sir / your dutiful Son

Thomas B Adams

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice President of the United States / At Mr: Otis’s / High Street / Philadelphia”; internal address: “Vice President.”; endorsed: “T.B.A. 3. May / Ansd. 6. 1794.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 5 May 1794 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

My dearest Friend Senate Chamber May 5. 1794

I have this moment recd your favour of 25. April.— If you want more Money before June borrow it of the General whom I will repay when I return. The freight of the furniture was in Mass. L. M.— The Farm goes on admirably well— I am well Satisfied with all you do.

The Weather is terribly hot and dry for the season. Yet the Country looks charmingly. I hope to be at home by the first of June. Thomas is upon the Circuit.

Mr Jay is to immortalize himself over again by keeping Peace—This will depend on the Valour of the french. I begin to rejoice in 165 their Successes more than I did. The English have treated Us very ill.—

We must Send a new Minister to France and another to Holland.1 Mr Fauchet begins to grace our Democratic Societies with his Presence. This must not be carried very far. These Assemblies are very criminal.

Oh that I was with you!

J. A.2

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A.”

Gouverneur Morris, the U.S. minister to France, was replaced by James Monroe, at the time a senator from Virginia. Morris had angered the French revolutionary government with his support for a constitutional monarchy and his involvement in an attempt to help Louis XVI escape. His recall was also part of a quid pro quo for the French recall of Edmond Genet. William Short, minister to the Netherlands, was already in Spain as a joint commissioner with then U.S. chargé d’affaires William Carmichael, attempting to negotiate a commercial treaty. After Carmichael’s recall, Short became the minister resident to Spain, clearing the way for JQA’s appointment as minister resident to the Netherlands ( DAB ).

JA wrote another short letter to AA on this same date, reiterating that his presence in Philadelphia was still necessary: “Those whose Principles are the same with mine whose Views of Public good coincide with mine, Say that if We keep together We shall succeed to the End of the Session as we have hitherto, done, in keeping off all the most pernicious Projects.” He particularly noted the budget bills under discussion in the House of Representatives and their potential to “accumulate a perpetual Debt, and lead to future Revolutions” (Adams Papers).