Papers of John Adams, volume 21

Hannah Adams to John Adams, 16 May 1791 Adams, Hannah Adams, John

From Hannah Adams

Sir, Medfeild Massachusets May 16th 1791.

With the most grateful and respectful sentiments I return my acknowlegments for your valuable present. The notice of so illustrious a character does me honor. Your excellent performances afford a source of entertainment and instruction. I had formed an exalted idea of your Defence of the American Constitution; had seen it highly applauded by the Critical Reviewers; and find it exceed my sanguine expectations. It must be a most interesting object to Americans to contemplate their country advanced to such dignity and importance, as to excell the Republics in antient and modern times; 32 while her example animates France to throw off the fetters of despotism, and assert the rights of mankind.

Although I feel myself, Sir, already too much distinguished by the examples of your generous condescension, I have received; yet emboldened by goodness, and urged by powerful motives, I presume to make another request. The revolution in France will, I conceive, effect a change in the religious state of that country, which will be important to insert in my View of Religions.1 I have been unsuccessful in my endeavours to procure intilligence. Your extensive knowledge, Sir, and acquaintance with the most respectable foreign characters qualify you to give the most authentic account, which, dignified with so illustrious a name, will greatly enhance the value of my book. I fear, I am too presumptious, but flatter myself your generosity will plead my excuse. Your compliance with my request, if consistent with the more important concerns of your exalted station, will benefit the public, and lay me under additional obligations,

I am with profound respect, / Sir, / Your much obliged and very humble servant,

Hannah Adams.

RC (Adams Papers).

In the 1801 Boston edition of her View of Religions, a copy of which is in JA’s library at MB, Adams added a summary of the social and political “levelling” of the French clergy that occurred throughout several violent phases in the 1790s. Revolutionaries stripped away titles, suppressed religious orders, seized and sold church property, and provoked massacres when ministers refused to swear oaths of allegiance to the new government (p. 358–359; Catalogue of JA’s Library ).

Henry Knox to John Adams, 10 June 1791 Knox, Henry Adams, John

From Henry Knox

My dear Sir Philadelphia 10th of June 1791

I embrace the occasion of enclosing some letters, to thank you and Mrs Adams for the comfortable accommodation of your house at Bush-Hill.1 While the inhabitants of this City are panting for breath, like a hunted hare, we experience in the Hall at Bush Hill a delightful and animating breeze

The paragrahs in the Connecticut and New York papers relative to your journey indicate envy and blackness of heart. Who the Author of the articles is, I know not & it is quite immaterial. But eminence must be taxed.2

Perhaps the political heresies mentioned in the preface to the American edition of Paynes pamphlett; as coming from a more respectable quarter may occasion some uneasiness. But the author 33 has assured me that the note he wrote to the printer, never was intended for publication, but as a sort of apology for having detained the book which was a borrowed one, longer than the impatience of the printer would admit—3

But if the idea was aimed at your doctrines, it ought not to create a moments pain. Conscious as you are, of the invariable pursuit of the public happiness, regulated by the sober standard of reason, it is not the desutory ebulition of this, or that mans mind that can divert you from your object. For while human nature shall continue its course according to its primary principles there will be a difference of judgement upon the same objects even among good men

The President is expected to arrive here about the 23d or 25th instant But there is no information from him since the 16h of May He has been perfectly received according to the abilities of the places through which he has passed4

The indian Campaign must go forward. We have marched and shall march by the latter end of this month 2800 men This force will be adequate with the addition of the troops already on the frontiers.5

Permit me to Congratulate you and Mrs Adams on the arrival of Colonel Smith6

I am my dear Sir / with the most respectful / Attachment / Your obedient / Servant

Knox

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President / of the / United States”; endorsed: “General Knox. / 10 June. ansd 19. 1791.”

Not found. In the Adamses’ absence, the Knox family spent the summer at Bush Hill (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 8:203).

For the newspaper squibs, see JA’s 29 July letter to Thomas Jefferson, and note 1, below.

Jefferson wrote to Philadelphia merchant Jonathan Bayard Smith on 26 April, enclosing the London edition of Thomas Paine’s newly issued Rights of Man for Smith’s son Samuel Harrison Smith, who planned to publish a U.S. edition. The young printer extracted and twisted Jefferson’s words to salacious effect, praising Paine and condemning JA for the “political heresies” at work in his 1790–1791 Discourses on Davila. Above the book’s dedication to George Washington, Smith inserted Jefferson’s private comments, hinting broadly that the author was a “character equally eminent in the councils of America, and conversant in the affairs of France, from a long and recent residence at the Court of Versailles in the Diplomatic department.” One week later, Jefferson received his copies and was “thunderstruck” to read the unauthorized preface.

The backlash to Paine was swift on both sides of the Atlantic. Under the pseudonym Publicola, JQA wrote eleven newspaper essays attacking Paine’s full-throated support of the French Revolution, which appeared in the Boston Columbian Centinel, 8 June – 27 July 1791. Jefferson initially believed that JA was behind the work, observing on 28 June: “Nobody doubts here who is the author of Publicola, any more than of Davila.” Early British editions of the Publicola essays listed “John Adams, Esq.,” as the author, conflating JA with the true author, JQA, and stoking the debate. Subsequent British editions deliberately repeated the error, for which see John 34 Stockdale’s 16 March 1793 letter, and note 2, as well as JA’s 12 May reply, both below. The ensuing public controversy pitted JA and Jefferson against each other in the highly partisan press, for which see JA’s reply to Knox of 19 June 1791, and Jefferson’s 17 July letter to JA, both below (vol. 20:338; Jefferson, Papers , 20:268–290, 582; AFC , 9:291, 433).

Shortly after his election in 1789, Washington asked JA if it would be “advantageous to the interests of the Union for the President to make the Tour of the United States, in order to become better acquainted with their principal Characters, & internal circumstances.” As a sequel to his New England sojourn of 1789, Washington left Philadelphia on 21 March 1791 and embarked on a tour of the southern states. He made stops in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. Enduring bad roads and rough weather, he was met with cheering crowds and lavish toasts. Washington, who documented the trip in his diary, returned to Philadelphia on 6 July (vols. 19:457, 20:179; Washington, Diaries , 6:96–169; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 7:472–476).

This was Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s expedition to Ohio, for which see JA’s 2 March letter to Henry Marchant, and note 3, above.

WSS departed for England in Dec. 1790 to pursue business ventures. He returned to the United States via the British packet on 5 June 1791 ( AFC , 9:508).