Adams Family Correspondence, volume 10
a.May 10. 1794
We go on as Usual—Congress resolving one Thing and the Democratical societies resolving the Contrary.— The President doing what is right and Clubbs and Mobs resolving it to be all wrong.
We had in senate a few Days ago the greatest Curiosity of all. The Senators from Virginia moved, in Consequence of an Instruction from their Constituents, that the Execution of the 4th. Article of the Treaty of Peace relative to bona fide Debts, should be suspended, untill Britain should fulfill the 7th. Article.— When the Question was put 14 voted against it, two only the Virginia Delegates for it, and all the rest but one ran out of the Room to avoid voting at all and that one excused himself.— This is, the first Instance of the kind.1
The Motion disclosed the real Object of all the wild Projects and 172 mad Motions which have been made, during the whole session. Oh Liberty! Oh my Country! Oh Debt and Oh Sin! These Debtors are the Persons who are continually declaming against the Corruption of Congress. Impudence! thy front is brass.
The House is upon Ways and Means, which will take Us the rest of the Month I fear.2 yours as ever
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A.”
Art. 7 of the Definitive Peace Treaty between the United States and Great Britain required the British to “withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons and Fleets from the said United States, and from every Port, Place and Harbour within the same.” The 6 May vote on the bill to suspend Art. 4 of the treaty, proposed by James Monroe and John Taylor of Virginia, was fourteen to two against with thirteen abstentions (JA, Papers
, 15:249;
Annals of Congress,
3d Cong., 1st sess., p. 94;
Biog. Dir. Cong.
).
The House of Representatives debated various bills related to ways and means between 1 and 10 May, then resumed discussion of the same topic from 16 to 19 May. The Senate began its own debates on 19 May. Both houses continued their discussions with a number of bills passing back and forth between the two houses until they finally reached agreement on a series of appropriations between 5 and 9 June that set duties on liquor, tea, snuff, sugar, and numerous other items (
Annals of Congress,
3d Cong., 1st sess., p. 101–132 passim, 616–779 passim, 1455–1461, 1464–1471, 1472–1473, 1478–1482).
May] 11 1794
This day has been our May meeting and without clubs or even Drunkeness, tho we have little purity to boast of in that respect, our Election has been calmly carried, & your Brother chosen.1 it seems the Name is in high estimation, as the Prophet Samll. find himself not only first but second, being Elected by the people both Govenour & Liut Govenour which I believe is the first instance of the kind in this State. the Land I wrote you about was this day sold for more than a hundred pounds as your Brother informs me, and concequently I was out bidden. Dr Phips purchased it, as your Brother Supposes with an intention of Building upon it. the Town have agreed to sell the front seats in the Meeting House for pews—and your Brother has told them that they shall have that in which we sit, for the use of the Aged, at what it will fetch and he means to purchase for you one of the others. I tell him I chuse that upon the right hand. I suppose they will be high, as that of old captain Beals was sold a few weeks ago at 40 pounds— Captain Beal will purchase one of them I presume—2
Dr Bracket of this Town lies dead. he was getting into practise & was much esteemed.3 mr Howard who mareid your Aunt Dyed last 173 Saturday.4 Your Mother I think is better than she was a week ago. we are extreemly dry here, quite as much so as the last spring. we have but little News. if as tis reported Robertspear is absconded from Paris—some important change will take place in their affairs. he may however have a hydra Head5 I see by the N york papers that the Gullotine has been advertized to be seen there.6 I think it should be as “advertized in England, Here is to be seen the Goulotine of the French—and the Wild Beasts”
I begin to expect your return, and one week of expectation will appear longer than a Month when I know you fixt. I am Sorry that the dry weather will give to my labours so unfavourable an appearence
present me kindly to all inquiring Friends and, as ever I am wholy / Yours
RC (Adams Papers); addressed by JQA: “The Vice-President of the United States / Philadelphia.”; endorsed: “Mrs A. April. 11 / 1794.” Filmed at 11 April 1794.
Peter Boylston Adams was elected to represent Quincy for the 1794–1795 term in the Mass. General Court (Mass., Acts and Laws,
1794–1795, p. 145).
For JA’s purchase of a new church pew, see AA to JA, 4 Jan. 1795, below.
Dr. Ebenezer Brackett (1773–1794), Dartmouth 1791, was the son of the tavern keeper James Brackett (Sprague, Braintree Families
).
Lt. Joshua Hayward (or Howard, 1699–1794) of Randolph had married JA’s aunt Bethia Adams Hunt Bicknell in 1777. He died on 10 May (same).
Both the Massachusetts Mercury, 9 May, and the Boston Columbian Centinel, 10 May, reported on Maximilien Robespierre’s alleged flight from Paris. There was no truth to the rumor. He remained in Paris and in control of the Convention and the Committee of Public Safety until his overthrow and execution on 27–28 July (Bosher, French Rev.,
p. lv, 200–202).
The museum and waxwork of New York, located at the Exchange on Broadway and largely supported by the Tammany Society, advertised in March “that from the late & many applications to see the Guillotine, there is a separate appartment provided in the building, and a compleat Guillotine is erected, and a wax figure which perfectly represents a man beheaded.” The guillotine was available for viewing three days a week, and for the squeamish, the museum keeper noted that “it may be seen with the beheaded figure or by itself—when the machine is seen alone, nothing appears horrible” (
New-York Directory,
1795, Evans, No. 28598; New York American Minerva, 22 March).