Papers of John Adams, volume 21
The letter, which Mr. Adams
delivered to me from you, was truly acceptable, as well from its friendly
style, as the opportunity, which it presented, of an Acquaintance with
him.1 When he was first
contemplated for the Hague, my mind readily embraced the idea, under the
influence of his own merit. I must be permitted at the same time to own,
that the public services of the father strongly confirmed the pretensions of
the son. He will therefore find in me, that mode of conduct, which will mark
my respect and esteem for both.
Mr. Adams will inform you,
that we are upon the eve of a great crisis. He knows all the circumstances;
or I would, notwithstanding my pressure, snatch a moment to detail them.2
In all situations, sir, I shall ever be / with real
esteem and regard / yr. mo. ob. serv.
RC (Adams Papers).
Not found. JQA arrived in Philadelphia
on 9 July to meet with George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and
Randolph as preparation for his mission to the Netherlands. Following in
his father’s footsteps, JQA was instructed to maintain the
Dutch-American loans. He was also to report any changes in Dutch foreign
policy toward revolutionary France. JQA spent ten days
reading six volumes of JA’s dispatches from Europe,
compiled by John Jay (vol. 19:125;
AFC
, 10:208, 211,
222, 224;
Bemis, JQA
, 1:50).
This “great crisis” erupted into the final
confrontation of the Whiskey Rebellion, a powerful uprising of western
Pennsylvania citizens who protested the 3 March 1791 tax on distilled
spirits by assaulting excise collectors, burning their homes, and
clashing with local militia. On 8 May 1792 Congress passed another
excise tax. Opposition to the new tax blossomed on the frontier, where
farmers grew corn and rye, which were used to make whiskey that was sold
commercially. In western Pennsylvania, the antagonism grew fierce.
Fruitlessly, Washington called for enforcement of the legislation and
recommended protection for the excise collectors. The violence escalated
on 16 July 1794, when armed men attacked John Neville, the regional
supervisor for collection of the federal excise in western Pennsylvania,
and then burned his estate. At least three people were killed. On 7
Aug., Washington called out the militia to suppress the rebellion. For
the insurgency’s conclusion and consequences, see the Senate’s [22 Nov.] address to Washington, and
note 2, below (vol. 20:xxxii;
AFC
, 10:xii–xiii, 187,
222, 224,
486;
U.S. Statutes at
Large
, 1:267–71; Washington, Papers,
Presidential Series
, 15:275–277).
I am desired by Mr J
Cartwright, whom I beleive you know by his writings, a firm honest &
inflexible man in the cause of Freedom & a sincere friend to the true
interests of America, by him I am requested to introduce two young men to
some persons in America it 305
occurred to me that your disposition & situation in life might be of
service to them. Mark & Robert Denison. Their Father “Mr Denison is concerned in a large cotton
manufactury at Nottingham: a large cotton mill of his has been infamously
attempted to have been destroyed this event & I beleive the general
complexion of things in this country have determin’d Mr Denison to remove his whole family to America whither his two
eldest sons, Mark & Robert are now about to embark on board a ship from
London: They proceed to Philadelphia & thence in the spring to Baltimore
New york & Boston. in order to look out for an eligible situation for
their future establishment.”1
major Cartwright assures me it is a family among whom he knows not an individual but is worthy of esteem & affection they are persons of considerable property & the circumstance of their fleeing from this country to take refuge in America is a practical comment on the two governments which he saies [“]places them in a just light.”
“Mr Denison carries on the hosiery trade at Nottingham to a large extent as manufacturer & merchant & his two eldest sons have been with him ever since they completed their education. they are a very valuable & virtuous family amongst whom as much affection & concord is to be observed as perhaps in any family in this Island. The mother is a most sensible & amiable woman but suffers extremely from ill health”
you will observe the account of this deserving family is
from Mr Cartwright & he is to be depended on
therefore from their worth I wish your protection & encouragement which
I shall esteem a favor & obligation. I need not remind you that America
is the only Asylum but it is to be hoped it will not long stand alone profit
therefore of the times.
I cannot write more at present being streigthend as this must be sent directly away.
hoping you are well in health & that my amiable
friend mrs Adams has recover’d hers
I remain Dear Sir / with great regard / yours very sincerely
Robertspierre is taken of & the Nation is Quiet & active.3
RC (Adams Papers).
John Cartwright (1740–1824) was a political reformer
from Marnham, England. JA was familiar with his major work,
The People’s Barrier against Undue Influence
and Corruption, London, 1780. The eldest sons of Robert Denison
Sr. (1745–1826), Robert Jr. and Mark, 306
were en route to visit the United States (vol. 9:399;
DNB
; John F. Sutton, The
Date-Book of Remarkable and Memorable Events Connected with
Nottingham and Its Neighbourhood, 1750–1850, London, 1852, p.
211).
This is Hollis’ last extant letter to the Adamses. The British antiquarian died in 1804. Three years later, his heir Rev. John Disney contacted JA regarding publication of their correspondence, and JA replied: “Had not the French Revolution prevented; you would have found a more numerous Collection of Letters from me to Mr. Hollis.— That terrible event and the furious spirit of Party which it diffused through, rendered all Correspondence useless and in my situation dangerous both to me and my Friend” (vol. 19:251; from Disney, 24 Aug. 1807, Adams Papers; to Disney, 9 Nov., LbC, APM Reel 118).
On 27–28 July 1794 (An. II, 9–10 thermidor) French
Jacobin leaders, including Maximilien Robespierre, were violently
overthrown by the National Convention. Robespierre’s manipulation of the
Terror, which targeted former allies within the Paris Commune, led the
Jacobins to sacrifice the small amount of power they had wielded in the
National Convention. Along with 82 other Jacobin leaders, Robespierre
was arrested and guillotined, ushering in the Thermidorian regime (
AFC
, 10:xiv–xv; Bosher, French
Rev.
, p. xxi, 202, 203).