Adams Family Correspondence, volume 10
By the Post of Yesterday I received your kind Letter of the 4th. of this month, and, by it, was relieved from a great Anxiety on Account of your health and that of Louisa. The News from the orchard is also very pleasant, I wish I could hear as good News from Hancocks Meadow. A Covering would keep it warm But I leave all to your better Judgment.
No senate Yet.—
Mrs Morris by her son has received “a Gallery of Fashion” i.e. Prints of Ladies Dresses in all the Months of the Spring & summer—1 The House goes on rapidly.— Speculation always ends in Extravagance— I love these People too well to be an uninterested Spectator, of what I fear is not Wisdom— But it is indeed properly Speaking as you’l say, none of my Business.
Mr M. declines the Election as Senator— Tenche Cox or Fitzsimmons or Bingham will it is said be chosen.—2
Our senate is under a Cloud— Two Members Frelinghuysen & Ross are with the Army vs the Rebels—3 Butler Bur & Bradley are absent no body knows why— Several are sick and there are several Vacancies &
Adieu
259 260Col Smith is in Town— He breakfasted with me two days ago & dined with me & the Ps. yesterdy
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Novbr 14 / 1794.”
Niklaus Wilhelm Innocentius von Heideloff’s The Gallery of Fashion, published in London from 1794 to 1803, was the first English magazine focused solely on fashion and contained hand-colored aquatint plates (Alice Mackrell, An Illustrated History of Fashion: 500 Years of Fashion Illustration, London, 1997, p. 100–102).
William Bingham was elected to the Senate from Pennsylvania in place of Robert Morris, who declined reelection (
Biog. Dir. Cong.
).
Sen. Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753–1804) of New Jersey served as a major general in the militia sent to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. Sen. James Ross of Pennsylvania acted as a federal commissioner appointed by George Washington to negotiate with the insurgents (
Biog. Dir. Cong.
;
DAB
).
JA further bemoaned the situation in the Senate to AA in another letter the next day, writing, “My Vote I believe will never be again given for an Adjournment of Congress to an earlier Day, than that which is designated by the Constitution, because I find that Gentlemen cannot conveniently leave their Plantations and Professions in Season to be here Sooner. a Fortnight has been already lost, and We have no Certainty of making a Senate on Monday” (Adams Papers).
r15 1794
I am happy in this opportuntity of thanking you for your kind favor by your sons:1 whom it gave me great pleasure to meet, and to be particularly infomed of your welfare; as well as that of the rest of your Family, which Blessings I most sincerely hope you and they may long enjoy, and that while you are called to Make so great a sacrafise as the parting with so dear connections will occation, that you may continue to receive the very pleaseing satisfaction of their being so useful to society—
I hope that the sattin which I have this opportunity of sending may be approved it is as near the colour as could be found with out haveing it made; but the Variation is now esteemed more fashionable here— the Vessels haveing left this place before the receipt of your Letter: I was fearful that the season when it was wanted might be passed before I had an opportunity of sending it: but am now happy to have heard from our Friend Mrs: Parker who is ever obliging that she could forward it to you, but not haveing seen her sence: am ignorant in what way but trust it will get safe to hand— there being some change left of the eight Guinas receivd from Mr: Adams I have laid it out for a Hankerchief, which as they are very Fashionable for the Head I hope will not come amiss—
haveing but a few moments notice I can only beg yours, and Mr: Adams’s acceptance of the best regards of this Family, and / to beleive me to be Dear Madam / with great esteem / your sincere Friend
RC (Adams Papers).
Not found.