Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 10 October 1790 Adams, John Welsh, Thomas

To Thomas Welsh

Dear Sir New York Octr. 10 1790

It would give me great Pleasure to comply with your request, and to be of Service to you, in any Way in my Power: but I am not at Liberty to communicate the most distant hint to any one, relative to the Subject.1

One Anecdote which flatters my Pride, if it does not comfort my Conscience, among the many mortifications of my Social Feelings, which I am obliged to submit to, I will relate to you.

My Friend Count Sarsefield, one of the most learned and Sensible french Noblemen I ever knew, asked me in London to import some Mirror Plates, alias Looking Glasses from France, which he wanted to give in Presents to his friends, under my Priviledge as an Ambassador. I answered him that Although I should be very happy to oblige him, I had never done Such a Thing in any Country, and could not think of doing it.— I expected Such an Answer, Said the Count “Il ne vaut pas, un Sou, d’etre votre Ami.” “It is not worth a Shilling to be your Friend.”— I am afraid that my Friends will all find, as long as I live, that my friendship is not worth a groat.

Whether worth a penny or not, I am however / your friend

John Adams 422

RC (MHi:Adams-Welsh Coll.); addressed: “Dr Thomas Welsh / Boston”; internal address: “Dr Welch.”; endorsed: “Vice President / Octobr: 9 1790”; notation by JA: “Free / John Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 115.

For Welsh’s repeated requests to JA for inside information on the newly established Sinking Fund, see AFC , 9:114–116.

To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst & Nicolaas Hubbard, 11 October 1790 Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business) Hubbard, Nicolaas Adams, John

From Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst and Nicolaas Hubbard

Amsterdam 11. October 1790.

We beg leave to introduce to your Excellency’s acquaintance, the Bearer Mr. Joseph Ceracchi Native of Rome & an eminent Sculptor, requesting your Excellency to render him every Service and civility in your Power, under our assurance of his being well worthy of them, and that your Excellency will thereby particularly oblige those who on similar & all other occasions are with great regard & respect.1 / Your Excellency’s. / Most obidt. & humble Servants

N & J. Van Staphorst & Hubbard

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excelly. John Adams Esqr. Vice President of the / United States.—”

Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ceracchi (1751–1801) arrived in Philadelphia by March 1791. He created terra-cotta or marble busts and medallions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, among others. AA likely donated Ceracchi’s medallion of JA to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1794, but both the medallion and the bust have since been lost ( AFC , 10:284; Oliver, Portraits of JA and AA , p. 211–213; Oxford Art Online).

To John Adams from William Temple Franklin, 13 October 1790 Franklin, William Temple Adams, John

From William Temple Franklin

Sir, Philadelphia, 13, Oct. 1790.

Permit me to inform your Excellency, that in consequence of pressing Letters from my Friends in England and France, urging me to go over immediately with my Grandfathers Papers, in order to derive that Advantage in the Publication of them, which, they say, delay would diminish;—& having likewise some other private Business to transact; I have concluded to go in the Pigou, which will sail for London the latter end of this Month.—1 It will give me great Pleasure, Sir, to be honor’d with yours & your Ladys Commands for that City, or Paris; whither I propose going sometime in January: And if during my stay in Europe I can in any way be useful to your Excellency, I beg you will command me freely, & be assur’d that I shall at all times 423 be happy to prove to you my Gratitude for past Favors, and how sincerely I am, / Sir, / Your Excellency’s / most obedient and / faithful humble Sert:

W. T. Franklin

My best Compliments to your Son.—

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Exy / John Adams Esqr.”

Franklin inherited more than 15,000 documents belonging to his grandfather Benjamin, and he carried 3,000 of them to England. He sailed via the Pigou, Capt. Collet, from Philadelphia on 5 Nov., before the Adamses departed New York. In 1818 he published a London edition of his Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin (Jefferson, Papers , 18:87, 88; Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 4 Nov. 1790; Philadelphia General Advertiser, 5 Nov.).