Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 20

To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 29 May 1790 Marchant, Henry Adams, John
From Henry Marchant
Most respected Friend Newport May 29th. 1790—

’tis done,—’tis done— The Constitution this Day was adopted by Our State Convention, by a Majority of two— Never were Days of more anxiety, Labor and Assiduity, Hope and Fear, than the last six— It is a happy Circumstance that the Convention was adjourned to this Town, where we had the largest fœderal Interest, and little Influence of the Country Anties— The late Act passed by the Senate of Congress was an Instrument which we weilded with much Success and Execution:—Nothing could be more timely—1 It would take a Quire of Paper to give You the entertaining particulars of this Week:— But I know not how soon an Opportunity may offer to New York—Therefore to Business

Congress may soon rise, and may find it necessary to make the Acts proper to the Introduction of this State into the Union, before Our Members may be able to reach Congress— Our Assembly will sit three Weeks from next Monday: The Senators may be chosen then; The Representative cannot be, till four Weeks after:—2 I have 365 therefore inclosed You the Revennue Act of this State; passed as nearly as possible to that of Congress—3 Here you will find all the Ports marked out and well described, and every Thing necessary for forming Your Acts or Bills— Names for Officers I dare say have gone forward in Abundance long ago, and are in the Care and Charge of one Member or another.—4 But if Satisfaction cannot yet be had on that Subject, or not untill Congress should rise,—the Act may provide for this State, that the President have the intire Power of Appointment; at any Rate untill Congress meet again—

I don’t know but I am impertinent in this Business:—but my Wish is to advance the publick Weal, and to give every Aid in my Power, that the Wheels of Government, and Revennue, may be in Motion— What is well You may retain; You have been used to refine;—The Dross You may throw away.—

Upon this happy Occasion I congratulate You Sir,—And thro’ You Sir, I desire to congratulate the President, Our fœderal Head and Father;—Congress and all well Wishers to the building up Our grand fœderal Cause and Government— With sincere Respects to Mrs. Adams, Compts. to the Family and all Friends, without Time to add; having come this Moment out of Convention, and amidst the din & Noise of Bells, Huzzas and Guns, I am most respectfully Your devoted / Friend & Servt.

Hy: Marchant

P:S: Amidst my hurry I had forgot to acknowledge the Honor done me by yours of the 20th. of March, which would have been answerd before, but that I was tired of Conjectures, and wish’d for something substantial to communicate— Part of Yours will hereafter require further Attention—

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr.”; endorsed: “Mr Marchant / May. 29. 1790.”

 1.

For the Rhode Island trade bill, see JA’s letter of 19 May to William Ellery, and note 2, above.

 2.

The Rhode Island legislature appointed Providence lawyer Theodore Foster (1752–1828), Brown 1770, and Col. Joseph Stanton Jr. (1739–1821), of Charlestown, as U.S. senators. Both men joined their colleagues in New York on 25 June. The election for U.S. representative was held on 31 Aug., with six candidates vying for the position. Benjamin Bourne (1755–1808), of Bristol, R.I., Harvard 1775, was chosen, and he took his seat on 17 Dec. (Providence Gazette, 19 June; Biog. Dir. Cong. ; First Fed. Cong. , 1:371, 3:635; A New Nation Votes).

 3.

Marchant’s enclosure, not found, was a copy of the Impost Act of 1789, which levied and collected duties within Rhode Island. It was passed by the state legislature in Sept. 1789. It listed commodities, assigned duties and penalties, identified ports of entry, and itemized collectors’ responsibilities (Evans, No. 22108).

 4.

Under the Impost Act of 1789, Rhode Island was divided into the districts of Newport and Providence. A collector, naval officer, and surveyor staffed each major port, with six additional surveyors left to man a set of smaller ports. In May 1790, prior to ratifying the 366 Constitution, the General Assembly appointed twelve officials to those posts. On 14 June George Washington began making nominations for the Rhode Island ports, replacing nearly all of the officeholders. Foster, who retained his post as naval officer at Providence, wrote to Washington on 26 June, requesting that Ebenezer Thompson assume his local duties (Providence United States Chronicle, 27 May; First Fed. Cong. , 2:80, 83; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 5:557).

 From John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, 1 June 1790 Adams, John Hollis, Thomas Brand
To Thomas Brand Hollis
My dear friend NewYork June 1 1790

Nothing mortifies me more than the difficulty I find to maintain that correspondence with you which when I left England I thought would be some consolation to me for the loss of your conversation.

We proceed by degrees to introduce a little order into this Country, and my public duties require so much of my time, that I have little left for private friendships however dear to me. By General Mansell I send you a small packet which will give you some idea of our proceedings.1 The French seem to be very zealous to follow our example: I wish they may not too exactly copy our greatest errors and suffer in consequence of them greater misfortunes than ours. They will find themselves under a necessity of treading back some of their too hasty steps as we have done.—

I am situated on the majestic banks of the Hudson, in comparison of which your Thames is but a rivulet; and surrounded with all the beauties and sublimities of nature. Never did I live in so delightful a spot— I would give—what would I not give to see you here?— Your library and your cabinets of elegant and costly curiosities, would be an addition to such a situation which in this country would attract the attention of all. In Europe it is lost in the croud. Come over and purchase a paradise here, and be the delight and admiration of a new world; marry one of our fine girls and leave a family to do honor to human nature when you can do it no longer in person. Franklin is no more, and we have lately trembled for Washington— Thank God he is recovered from a dangerous sickness and is likely now to continue many years. His life is of vast importance to us.— Is there any probability of a fermentation in England, sufficient to carry off, any of her distempers? I wish her happy and prosperous, but I wish she would adopt the old maxim—“Live and Let live.” Will there be a compleat revolution in Europe both in religion and government? Where will the present passions and principles lead and in what will they end? In more freedom and humanity I am clear: but when? or how?— My 367 affectionate regards to Doctor Price and all our good friends—and beleive me yours dum spiro

John Adams.

Rhode Island is become one of us on the 29 May.

LbC in CA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Thomas Brand Hollis Esqr / Chesterfield Street Westminster.”; APM Reel 115.

 1.

British Army officer John Maunsell (1724–1795), a veteran of the Seven Years’ War, held land grants to property in New York State and Vermont. He departed New York City on 3 June aboard the British packet Queen Charlotte, Capt. John Fargie, which reached Falmouth, England, on 3 July. JA’s packet for Hollis included congressional journals (Jefferson, Papers , 18:263; New-York Daily Gazette, 2 June; London Public Advertiser, 5 July; from Hollis, 19 Oct., and note 4, below).