Adams Family Correspondence, volume 10
Your Letter of the 7th relieved my Mind, from a great Anxiety and Depression on Account of my dear Daughter.1 My Apprehensions foreboded very melancholly Things from the Strange Accident, of which you apprised me— A strict Enquiry ought to be made into the Conduct of that Apothecary.
The State of New York never behaved well— it has always been a fluctuating, injudicious selfish and unaccommodating Member of the Union— Always intriguing against the Eastern states with all their Ennemies whom they could either find or make among the southern and middle states. It is no great Wonder to me that they are to send Us Six Democrats as you Say.2
The Senate will be more fœderal next year than it has ever been, 380 and will not be warped into Measures essentially wrong by your six democrats.
You have represented the Absurdity, of Mr Jays Criticks and Censurers, with a good deal of Wit and Spirit. The Language you have put into their Mouths is as manly decent and delicate as any they have Used, a long time, in Conversation or in Print.
Keep me informed from Day to Day of your sisters Health and her family.
I know not whether I can get away from Philadelphia before the 4 or 5. or 6th. of March as Mr Jays Treaty will be hourly expected and Although the Constitution allows me no Vote in any possible Case of the Ratification of a Treaty I suppose it will be expected by my Friends that I should say and see how they vote.
In Senate We have had the calmest Session I ever knew— The Waves are smoothed and the roughness even of light Airs polished as if Franklin had Sprinkled his Oil from the Head of his Bamboo Cane over the Pool.3
When will your Electioneering Campaign begin? Mr Burr is as lively as a Sparrow— His Eyes glister and his Cheek glows, perhaps both with Ambition and Love. He hops about from spray to Spray and chirps and chatters like a Canary Bird. Will Mr Jay be Governor or Mr Burr?
I am, dear Charles your Affectionate / Father
RC (MHi:Seymour Coll.); internal address: “Charles Adams.”
Not found.
During New York’s Dec. 1794 election, the Democratic-Republicans claimed six of the state’s ten congressional seats. The incumbents Theodorus Bailey, Jonathan Havens, and Philip Van Cortlandt were returned. John Hathorn reclaimed the seat he had lost in 1792, and Edward Livingston and John Williams were newly elected (Young, Democratic Republicans,
p. 419–422).
One of Benjamin Franklin’s many scientific experiments involved testing the calming effect of oil on water. Having first tried the theory on a pond in Clapham, England, in the 1760s or early 1770s, Franklin thereafter “contrived to take with me, whenever I went into the Country, a little Oil in the upper hollow joint of my bamboo Cane, with which I might repeat the Experiment as Opportunity should offer; and I found it constantly to succeed” (Franklin, Papers,
20:463–474).
Mr Wilcocks a Son of Mr Wilcocks a respectable Lawyer of this City is bound to Hamborough and from thence intends to go to Holland where I hope you will Shew him as much Civility as you can. He will be able to tell you all the news we have.1
Congress has had the most Serene Session I ever knew. We are waiting for Mr Jays Treaty and hope it will Settle all disputes with England and quiet many Animosities in America. The Senate for the next two Years will be the most decidedly for Peace & order of any which has ever Served under the Constitution.
I am under Some concern for American Credit in Amsterdam, on Account of the political Situation of the House of the Van Staphorsts. You will embrace every Opportunity to write, through Mr Jay and Mr Pinkney or some other Person in England as well as by other direct or indirect Conveyances: for the Benefit of your Services to the Publick, and the Interests of your own Reputation will depend upon the frequency and Punctuality of your Correspondence with the Secretary of State. Your first Letter, the only one as yet received gave good Satisfaction. I have not yet recd any from you and only one from your Brother.
Your Mother Brothers and Sister with her Children including a Daughter are all well. Charles is in good Business and is, as Mr Burr Says a Steady Man of Business.
Col Humphreys and Mr Cutting arrived here this Week: but upon what Enterprizes or Adventures I know not.2
Our Insurrections and Jacobin Clubbs are all en bas, at present.
I Shall be at Quincy by the Middle of March and remain there probably till the middle of November.
Write me some Account of my old Friends and present my cordial regards to them.
Jarvis rules the House in Boston but cannot get into Congress, as yet.
I am my dear son, with as much / Esteem as Sincere and tender Affection / your Father
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “J.Q. Adams Esqr”; endorsed by TBA: “The Vice President of the U. S.— / 11 Feby 1795 Philada: / 29 April Recd / 4 May Answd.”
Likely Benjamin Chew Wilcocks (1776–1845), who was later important to developing the U.S.–China trade. He was the second son of Alexander Wilcocks (1741–1801), College of Philadelphia 1761, a respected lawyer and the recorder of Philadelphia (Charles P. Keith, The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania, Phila., 1883, p. 331–332; Jean Gordon Lee, Philadelphians and the China Trade 1784–1844, Phila., 1984, p. 44).
Diplomat David Humphreys had been charged in March 1793 with negotiating the release of American hostages in Algiers. By Nov. 1794, the Dey of Algiers appeared open to negotiations, but Humphreys felt obligated to travel to the United States to discuss settlement terms directly with the state department. He arrived in Philadelphia on 10 Feb. 1795 (Hamilton, Papers,
18:14–15;
Sibley’s Harvard Graduates,
17:538–540; Philadelphia Gazette, 12 Feb.).
Humphreys’ companion on the journey was Nathaniel Cutting, who had received the dual appointments of consul to the Port of
382
Le Havre de Grâce and secretary to Humphreys during the Algerian mission, in Feb. and March 1793, respectively (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series,
12:189, 190, 456; Jefferson, Papers,
25:470–471).