Papers of John Adams, volume 20

To John Adams from the Boston Marine Society, 3 January 1791 Boston Marine Society Adams, John

From the Boston Marine Society

Sir Boston 3rd. Jany. 1791.

In behalf of the Marine Society of this Town, we have the Honor of addressing you on a subject that has long engaged the attention of that Corporation.— The encouragement & preservation of our Seamen must interest every man who considers how valuable the labours of that class of Men are to a commercial Country, nor will the Interest be lessen’d from the veiw of them, in time of War, as the maritime Barrier of the United States.— From your exalted Rank in the National Government, uniform & ardent attachment to, & extensive knowledge of the best & greatest Interests of our Country, the Society have directed us their Committee to transmit the papers which 458 accompany this Letter for your Consideration.—1 And, if the proposals included in them should meet your Approbation, to request your assistance in Congress on the business. There is an additional Argument, omitted in the petition, which might be urged for the Erection of an Hospital, That sick Sailors are compelled to take up their Lodgings in Houses very illy provided for their accommodation, not to add the variety of gross Impositions they are subjected to. Numbers of them annually perish, whose lives might be preserved were they admitted into a Hospital, where they would find the best medical aid, good nursing & comfortable Lodging & diet on easy Terms.

Should you approve this application, We must beg you to be at the Trouble of conversing with the Gentlemen who represent this State in both Houses of Congress, to whom we have addressed a Letter.

From the partial & flattering Consideration of numbering You among their Members, the Society have been induced to sollicit your Advice & Services in this Business.

We are with sentiments of the most affectionate respect & sincere personal attachment / Dear Sir / Your faithful humble Servants.

Wm Tudor Alexr Hodgdon Aaron Dexter Wm. Deblois— Sheml. Russell— Mungo Mackay W Scollay

The Society are desirous of knowing whether any measures were adopted in consequence of the application of the Merchants to the President of the United States on the Subject of the Pilotage and Regulations of the Harbour of Boston— As you were so obliging as to take charge of those Papers we would thank you for any Information respecting them. The Merchants are equally anxious with the Society on this Subject.—2

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency the Vice President / of the United States.”; docketed by JA: “Marine Society.”

JA, who was a member of the Boston Marine Society, sent this petition to the House of Representatives, which received it on 27 January. Two weeks later, it was referred to Alexander Hamilton. On 17 April 1792 Hamilton presented his report on marine hospitals, advising Congress to establish at least one in the United States, to be funded by a ten-cent deduction from sailors’ monthly wages, as it would benefit trade and protect “a very needy class of the Community.” Disabled seamen and sailors’ widows and children were eligible to draw from the same fund, which would be guided by a board of 25 directors. Congress 459 took action on 14 July 1798 when it passed an act with Hamilton’s terms largely intact. As president, JA signed it into law two days later (Hamilton, Papers , 11:295, 297).

For the lack of piloting regulations, see William Smith’s letter of 12 June 1790, and note 4, above.

To John Adams from John Jay, 4 January 1791 Jay, John Adams, John

From John Jay

Dear Sir New York 4 Jany 1791—

a weeks absence on a visit to my friends at Rye, from whence I returned last Evening, prevented my having ’till then, the Pleasure of recieving your very obliging Letter of the 20 Decr.—

For the Invitation with which you honor me, be pleased to accept my cordial acknowledgements— It is conveyed in Terms which enhance the compliment, & I accept it with that Satisfaction which Politeness united with Sincerity seldom fail to excite.—

The Season of the Year and the objection of being both so long absent from our family, will not permit Mrs. Jay (who as well as two of the Children are but lately recovered from the malignant sore Throat) to favor me with her Company to Philadelphia— I regret this the more as such an Excursion would otherwise conduce to her Health, and as my present official Duties separate us so often and so long. She joins with me in requesting the favor of you to present our best wishes & the Compliments of the Season to Mrs. Adams— Accept the same from / Dear Sir / Your friend & Servt

John Jay—

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

To John Adams from John Redman, 5 January 1791 Redman, John Adams, John

From John Redman

Sir, Philadelphia, Jan. 5, 1791.—

It is with great pleasure I obey the Orders of the Corporation of the 2d: Presbyterian Church, in Arch-Street, by communicating their Resolution of the 29th. Ultimo, appropriating the large pew fronting the pulpit, & the two pews adjoining it, for the use of the Vice-President of the United States, & such members of both Houses of Congress, as choose, during their Sessions, to worship in that Church.—1

I have the honor to be, / With the greatest respect & esteem, / Your most obedient & very humble servant,

John Redman, President. 460

ENCLOSURE

At a Meeting of the Corporation of the 2d. Presbyterian Church on Wednesday 29th. December 1790—

On Motion

“Resolved that the following Pews Vizt. No. 24, 25, & 150 be appropriated for the purpose of Accommodating the Vice President of the United States & such Members of Congress as during the Sessions thereof, may choose to Worship in the said Church, & that the President of the Board give Notice Accordingly.”

Extract from the Minutes

Robert Smith, Secty

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “John Adams, Vice President of the United States, & / President of the Senate.—”

Dr. John Redman (1722–1808) was an elder of Philadelphia’s Second Presbyterian Church and later served as president of the city’s College of Physicians (vol. 3:245; Whitfield J. Bell Jr., “John Redman, Medical Preceptor, 1722–1808,” PMHB , 81:157, 164 [April 1957]).