Papers of John Adams, volume 21
y.25
th.1793
You will easily believe that none of your Friends rejoice more heartily than myself, in the Decided Majority, which has secured your Re-election. In spite of calumny, art & intrigue, You have the firm support of Ten States. I congratulate You on the event, but still more congratulate my Country— For nothing can be more favorable to our future prospects than to find, that one of the firmest friends of an efficient [. . .]rnment in the States, is so generally supported against all the efforts of Faction, & the exertions of the Demagogues of Anarchy.
I had the honor of yours of the 31st.
Ult o.
It contains a
hint admirably suited to humorous, & I hope, useful Satire— I shall
probably 181 make use of it in that way. I have
made some enquiries concerning the certainty of the facts, and the nature of
the
non-descriptAnimals, which are satisfactory on both points. I have never written in the
Echo— It is the production of some young Geniuses in this vicinity, whom I am pleased to encourage & patronize.
The Americanis wholly mine. I undertook it for the purpose of communicating to the Public some important facts, of which they were generally ignorant, at least in this quarter. I have reason to believe the Essays have made some impression. Col. Wadsworth can probably furnish you with all the numbers, if you have not seen them— You may trust him as an open & sincere friend.
We hear the Secretary of State is about to resign.1 Can he no longer “Ride in the whirlwind & direct the Storm,” which himself has raised?2 Or does he hope to return in the more formidable character of a Senator or Representative hereafter? Or has the President been so irritated by the illiberal abuse, which the Faction have, with so little policy, poured out against him, as to hint the propriety of retiring from Office?
Hamilton at present appears to triumph over his Enemies. Is there any danger that the next Congress will overturn any of the present measures of Government. Will even the Leaders of the Opposition dare to vote in Congress in conformity with the virulent attacks, they make in the Gazettes? I was pleased to see, that on the Petition of the late Army, they were left alone on bare ground.
In this part of the Union, all is Peace, tranquillity & satisfaction. The Citizens & Citesses of Boston, their civic feasts & Liberty-Stump, are only matter of merriment. Indeed the Jest is grown stale, & we are already tired with laughing at them.
You see Sir, that I have nothing to communicate, &
have made this mostly a Letter of Enquiry. You will answer as many of my
catechetical Questions, as in your Wisdom you shall judge proper— And in the
mean ti[me] believe me to be with the greatest [. . .] / Your most Obedt. Servt.
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice-President of the / United
States— / Philadelphia / Quinsy /
near Boston”; internal address: “Citizen Vice-President”; endorsed:
“John Trumbull Esqr / Feb. 25. ansd March 18 / 1793.”; notation: “Hartford
Feby. 27. / Free.” Some loss of text due
to placement and removal of the seal.
Thomas Jefferson resigned his post on 31 Dec. and
retired to Monticello. Edmund Randolph next served as secretary of
state, from 2 Jan. 1794 to 19 Aug. 1795. Of Jefferson’s exit,
JA wrote to CA: “He goes out with a blaze
of Glory about his head, at least in Southern Eyes for his astonishing
Negotiations with Hammond Genet and Viar. I cannot Say 182 however that I am pleased with
his Resignation. He might have worn off his sharp Points and become a
wiser Minister than he has been sometimes” (
AFC
, 10:2, 3).
Joseph Addison, “The Campaign, a Poem to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough,” line 292.
The inclosed memoir has received no other Publicity than a reading before the Philosophical Society and a few Copies I had struck off for particular distribution: I shall think myself honoured by your acceptance of one Copy.2
Permit me also to avail myself of your Influence with the Accademy of arts & sciences and Humane Society in Boston, to make one acceptable to each of these Institutions, when you return thither.—
I have the honor to be / with perfect Respect & Deference / Sir / Your most obedient & / most humble Servant
aWilliams
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President of the / United States.”
Blank in MS.
Williams enclosed his Memoir
on the Use of the Thermometer in Navigation, Phila., 1792, Evans, No. 25040.
I have recd your favour of
the 19th of october 1792 informing me that my
Number 1026 is entitled to the Premium of one Thousand Guilders.1 This Sum, together with the amount
of all the Coupons inclosed I pray you to ship for me by the first good
Vessell for Boston, to the address of the Honourable Cotton Tufts Esqr of
Weymouth near Boston, either in Spanish or Portugal Gold or in Spanish
milled Dollars. Let it be insured however, if you please. There are Coupons
of 50 Guilders and of 40 each2
I have also recd your Letter
relative to the office of Consul: but I had two years ago interceeded with
The President in behalf of Mr James Greenleaf. I have nevertheless
communicated to The President and to Mr
Jefferson your Sentiments on the subject, with Such Recommendations as my
Esteem and regard for you naturally dictated. The Inclination here is so
Strong however, especially in the Senate in favour of native Americans, that
I believe Mr Greenleaf whose Character and Connections here are respectable
that I believe M will be appointed.3
r Gr he
Your Recommendation of Mr
Blake4 for Falmouth did
not reach me, till several Days after the President had nominated Mr Fox, and I had pronounced the Advice and
Consent of the Senate, to his appointment. His application therefore was too
late.
We are in dayly and anxious Expectation of important News from Europe and your opinions of the Probabilities of Peace or War between England and France, and concerning the Part which Holland will take will be very agreable to, Gentlemen / your very humble and obedient / Servant
FC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messieurs Wilhem and Jan Willink”; docketed by JQA: “To. W. & J. Willink. 1 March 1793.”
The Amsterdam bankers wrote on 19 Oct. 1792 informing JA that he had won the sum of 1,000 guilders in the lottery for the Dutch-American loan obligations (Adams Papers).
Blanks in the MS.
See the Willinks’ letter of 24 May, and note 1, above.
An inadvertence. See William Lake’s 3 Jan. 1793 letter, and note 1, above.