Papers of John Adams, volume 21
I received this morning your Letter of the 26th. of February, and while I feel for you under
the Misfortune of your gallant son, I regret that it should be so little in
my Power to assist him, in obtaing Some Consolation for this honourable
Wound in the service of his Country.1 The request you make is however
easily granted, and if any thing Should be done in the House of
Representatives I shall not fail to attend to the subject when it comes
before the Senate, and if any thing in my Power consistent with Justice,
could contribute to forward his Request, it would give me great Pleasure to
do it.
I will take an opportunity to Speak with my Honourable Friends Elsworth and Wadsworth and endeavour to learn from them the particulars.
In these Days of unexampled human Calamity, it will require much Wisdom, Patience and firmness to keep this Country in Tranquility: but, although there are numbers sufficiently thoughtless to endeavour to plunge Us, as deep in guilt and misery as any of the European Powers, yet with the Blessing of Providence and the generous support of the sound and prudent part of the Community We hope to be able to preserve our Neutrality.
Those who are ever clamouring about our present Debt, Seem to be very ready to adopt Measures, which must necessarily increase it ten fold.
I am sir with much respect and Sincere / Esteem your most obedient
RC (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York); internal address: “The Honourable Thomas Seymour”; endorsed: “John Adams.”; docketed: “while Vice President.—”
Thomas Seymour of Hartford, Conn., wrote to
JA on 26 Feb. (Adams Papers), seeking compensation for his son William, “for
relief in the total loss of his leg, above 268 the knee, at the Storm made by
the Brittish Troops” during the 1781 Battle of Groton Heights. Seymour’s
request echoed those of many Revolutionary War veterans who had been
appealing directly to the federal government for pensions and aid,
although the system of payment lagged in distributing funds. Seymour was
granted his pension on 14 Feb. 1795 (vol. 12:92;
U.S. Statutes at Large
, 1:243–245; Hamilton, Papers
, 11:282–287; U.S. House, Jour.
, 3d Cong., 2d sess., p.
327).
Your Favor of 23d Ulto: came duely to hand1 The Inhabitants of this Town you
see by the result of the Town Meeting are fully impressed with the Propriety
of pacific Measures. but notwithstanding they are extreamly irritated by the
Capture of their Vessells by Great Britain how long they will continue to
preserve restrain their Resentment
I know not they think if this Practice is persisted in of taking their
Vessells that it would not be worse for them to be in an actual State of
war.2
They have in general a firm Confidence in the Wisdom and Integrity of their Members and will acquiesce in their Decissions. but they hope that effectual Measures will be taken to restrain the Algerines from their Depredations convinced that unless this is done our Trade to that part of the world is destroyed. besides it furnishes great Cause of Complaint and some Murmuring against Government that Steps have not been taken.
But it seems that this Conduct is not confined to the British with respect to the Americans but that the French do the same with our Vessells and that both French and British treat the Vessells of other neutral Powers meaning the Danes and Sweeds in the same way.
How would it do for the United States to concert with Sweeden and Denmark Measures that may be mutually assisting similar to the Measures taken by the neutral Powers last war?
I am sir with great Respect your humle / St
RC (Adams Papers).
Not found.
Welsh described the 13 Feb. town meeting that
convened at Faneuil Hall, where Boston residents debated the future of
the carrying trade and planned to draft resolutions intended to “have a
proper influence on our representatives in Congress, to induce the
passing of such Acts, as may tend to guard, protect, and regulate the
American commerce in general” (
AFC
, 10:79).