Papers of John Adams, volume 20

To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 January 1791 Jefferson, Thomas Adams, John
From Thomas Jefferson
Sir Philadelphia. Jan. 17. 1791.

I have the honour to enclose you a Postscript to the Report on Measures, Weights & coins now before your house. this has been rendered necessary by a small arithmetical error detected in the estimate of the cubic foot proposed in that report. the head of Superficial measures is also therein somewhat more developed.1

Nothing is known, since the last session of Congress of any further proceedings in Europe on this subject.

I have the honour to be with sentiments of the most profound respect sir / Your most obedient / & most humble servt

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC:Jefferson Papers); internal address: “The honourable the President of the Senate.”

462 1.

Adhering to a 15 Jan. 1790 resolution of the House of Representatives, Jefferson set to work in April drafting a uniform system of weights and measures meant to regulate trade and currency. He worked on the project with singular focus for several months, battling intense headaches caused by spending long hours on complex calculation. Along the way he consulted Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Philadelphia watchmaker Robert Leslie, and astronomer David Rittenhouse. Jefferson sent the final report to the House on 4 July, and it was printed in several New York newspapers during the first week of August. Sensing popular interest in Jefferson’s great effort, George Washington urged Congress to take action on 7 Dec. and again on 25 Oct. 1791, but it was not until 1792 that senators began to debate the report (Jefferson, Papers , 16:604–607, 614–616).

To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 17 January 1791 Warren, Mercy Otis Adams, John
From Mercy Otis Warren
Sir. Plimouth Jan 17th 1791

An unsealed letter from you came to my hand this day.1 for the letter I thank you. as it contained expressions of regard & esteem which I have been used to receive from your pen. for the manner I own myself at a loss—

Dos not an unsealed letter from you sir appear like a diminution of that Confidential intercourse that long subsisted? and Conveyed warm from the heart the strong expressions of friendship in many a close sealed packet.

Was you sir apprehensive that your own reputation might suffer by an attention to any one of a family you had been used to hear spoken off with respect and affection by all? only, the public first inspected the Correspondence. Yet perhaps you might mean to do me honour by leting the world see your polite encomium on a late publication.

Indeed I feel myself flattered by the Compliment. & yet more by its being in the stile of my old friend.—

I acknowledge I stand indebted to the vice president for one letter before his of the 26 Decmber.—2

But You must permit me to say some expressions in that letter appeared so irreconcilable with former sentiment that I was impeled much against my inclination to consider it as forbiding any further interruption.—

Delicate friendship Confines as its own disinterested attachment is easily wounded.— I might perhaps feel too sensibly some former impressions that may hereafter be explained.— but I can never tax myself with a voluntary neglect of punctuallity: or the want of attention in any other instance towards friends I thought unimpressable by the Ebullitions [. . .] party or political malice.—

A Copy of the work you informed me you had just received I forwarded immediatly in publication. I knew not what should thus long have retarded its passage.

463

Nor can I inform you sir from whom you received three other Volumes. but Could I have supposed as you obligingly intimate that you Could have disposd of so many with pleasure & advantage. they should have been much at your Service from the hand of the author.—

Mr Warren returns both friendly and respectful regards.— You will present me also to Mrs Adams.

I am Respected Sir with Sincere Esteem / Your most Obedit / Humble Servant

M Warr[en]

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Honble / Mr Adams / Vice president of the / United States”; endorsed: “Mrs Warren”; notation by CFA: “Jany 14th 1791.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed. Filmed at 14 Jan. 1791.

1.

Of 26 Dec. 1790, above.

2.

JA had previously written to Warren on 29 May 1789 (vol. 19:483–484).