Papers of John Adams, volume 19
Give me leave to introduce to you Col Smith and his Lady, two Persons in whose Welfare I am in an high degree interested.
Mrs Smith as a young stranger will Stand in need of the Candour and benevolence of the Citizens of New York, and as your Excellencies Example and that of your Family has great Influence, let me recommend her to your Protection and Patronage and to the Friendship of your Family. They will arrive in New York probably but a few days before I shall arrive in Boston.1
There is no present Prospect but of Peace: tho the duration of it, is very precarious. a long War between the three Empires is expected, and the other Powers seem to be in a temper, not to be idle Spectators, at least for a long time.
It is expected in Europe that the new Constitution for the United States will be soon adopted by all. it is a general Opinion that the old one, stood in great need of a Reform, and that the projected Change, will be much for our Prosperity. a fœderal Republick of independent sovereign states was never known to exist, over a large Territory. innumerable Difficulties have been found in those which have been tried in Small Countries. The Question really Seems to be, whether the Union shall be broken; or whether all shall come under one sovereignty.— The Union is an Object of such Magnitude: that every Thing but constitutional Liberty should be sacrificed to it.—What is switzerland? What is Holland. What was Lisia, Achaia or Tuscany, in Extent & Numbers, Wealth & Power to what our states are or will be in a very few years?— But I must restrain myself and subscribe / with great Respect & Esteem, your Ex / cellencies most obedient sert.
RC (NN:Thomas Addis Emmett Coll.); internal address: “His Excellency / Govr Clinton.”
Despite their political differences with the Antifederalist Clinton, AA2 and WSS socialized easily with the New York governor and his family. AA2 wrote that “he is a man of no decided character, no one who sees him will say. To me he appears one whose conduct and motives of action are not to be seen through upon a slight examination” (
AFC
, 8:273).
I have only Time to introduce to you and Mrs Jay, my Daughter Smith and to recommend her to your Patronage and Mrs Jays Friendship.1
I shall embark in Six or Eight days. I am just returned from a cold Journey to the Hague and Amsterdam, where I met Mr Jefferson very unexpectedly. He has persuaded me, to open another Loan, which he will transmit to Congress. I am very anxious least it should be taken amiss by Congress. But it will be neither Profit nor Pleasure to me. The Character of the U. states demanded it.
Europe is in an ill temper. Fear Jealousy and Hatred, prevail to a great degree: and War tho it may be delayed a Year, or Two cannot be far off. in Holland all is quiet: but a deep Resentment and discontent rankles in the Minds of many. The first steps taken by Monsr de st Priest after his arrival at the Hague,2 will afford a Clue to unravel the Politicks of the French Cabinet and of all Europe.— England is not complaisant to Prussia, more than to France. and the stocks labour to a degree that shows all is not well in the apprehensions of the Speculators.
My Reception in Holland was very flattering: but I must delay Sending Copies of my Memorial and the answer of their High Mightinesses, till my Arrival in America. a Letter from the Prince of orange to Congress I shall send by Coll smith.3
I am my dear sir with every sentiment / of Esteem, your Frd & sert
RC (NNC:John Jay Papers); addressed by AA2: “His Excellency John Jay. / Secretary of State for the Department / of Foreign Affairs / New York—”; internal address: “His Excellency / Mr Jay.”; endorsed: “Mr Adams / 26 March 1788”; notation by AA2: “favourd by / Mrs. Smith.”
JA wrote a second letter of the same date to Jay, separately recommending WSS as a “very intelligent” observer of European affairs who was in need of patronage. “I wish he may be employed in some station or other in which his talents and address may be useful to his Country.— as I have so many reasons to value your friendship to me, I
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naturally wish you to extend it to him and his,” JA wrote (
Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789
, 2:833).
AA2 and WSS sailed for America via the British packet Thyne, Capt. Wolf, on 5 April, reaching New York on 21 May. A week later, they dined in a large company with Jay and his wife, Sarah Livingston. AA2 found him to be “a most pleasing man, plain in his dress and manners, but kind, affectionate, and attentive; benevolence is portrayed in every feature” (
AFC
, 8:263, 265).
These were the “first steps” of diplomatic labor taken by Francois Emmanuel Guignard, Comte de St. Priest (1735–1821), of Grenoble, France, who had served as French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1768 to 1784 and was briefly based at The Hague beginning in late May 1788. The Comte de St. Priest presented his credentials on 2 June, but he was rebuffed by protesters who heckled him and his servants for refusing to wear Orangist colors. He left The Hague for Paris in December and joined the French ministry. He weathered the waves of political instability until 1791, when he fled to exile in Stockholm (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale
; Jefferson, Papers
, 13:192–193, 221;
Repertorium
, 3:126).
WSS delivered William V’s 11 March 1788 letter honoring JA’s diplomatic service. Jay laid it before Congress on 23 May (PCC, Misc. Papers, Reel 73, f. 379, 381;
JCC
, 34:178).