Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 21

John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 19 November 1794 Adams, John Welsh, Thomas
To Thomas Welsh
Dear Sir Philadelphia Nov. 19. 1794

I thank you for your kind Letter.1 The Elections in Massachusetts have done honour to the Principles and Dispositions of the People. The Error of my old Friend is no surprize to me, for although I know his the abhorence of Jarvis in his heart, I have lately seen his Versatility in so many Instances, that his Character, always Subtle fine and Slippery, is now become lubricated to a degree Susceptible of almost any Refinement in Casuistry. Old Cato Said “Corrupta civitate corruptio est licita” others have Jona. Sewall Said from Mandeville I believe

When it is to combat Evil ’Tis lawful to employ the Devil.2

I could never reconcile those Maxims to my Judgment or my Feelings. But I know a Man who always seem’d to think that the End sanctified the Means.3 Was Boston understood to be the Horse and Dedham the Cart? or was the State Government the Horse and the federal Government the Cart? or was the Town the Horse & the Country the Cart?

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To Day We shall have the Presidents Speech.4 I hope We shall have a peaceable Session. Rebellion is not the Ton, for the Moment, nor is War a la mode, in this Country.

The Sour Fog that I see in the Street and feel even here at my Fireside, almost gives me the Ague. I will never vote again for meeting before the Constitutional Day. a London November is not more Suicidical. All the World on Mountains and in Valleys, in Plains and Cities have had the Ague this Way. Oh that I was out of the Region of it.

I Salute your Fireside & am / as ever

J. A.

RC (MHi:Adams-Welsh Coll.); internal address: “Dr Welsh”; docketed: “John Adams ’94.”

 1.

Of 6 Nov., above.

 2.

In a corrupt city, corruption is lawful. JA quoted from Matthew Prior’s poem “Hans Carvel,” lines 69–70. Jonathan Sewall quoted the same phrase in a 12 Aug. 1775 letter to his cousin Thomas Robie of Marblehead, Mass. ( AFC , 10:180, 182, 270; MHS, Procs. , 2d ser., 10:407, 415, 416 [1895–1896]).

 3.

JA likely meant Fisher Ames ( AFC , 10:275).

 4.

For George Washington’s 19 Nov. 1794 message to Congress, see the Senate’s [22 Nov.] reply, and note 1, below.

 Franco Petrus van Berckel to John Adams, 19 November 1794 Berckel, Franco Petrus van Adams, John
From Franco Petrus van Berckel
Sir, Philad. Novr. 19th. 1794.

In Consequence of Your recommandation of Mr. John Green, I have furnished him with a Letter of introduction to the Governor of Surinam requesting Him to do in behalf of Mr. Green, whatever his duty and the laws which He is obliged to maintain, will admit of.—1 At all events I have no doubt but the Governor will assist him with His best advice.

Being happy to be serviceable to an honest man, I feel at the Same time a gratification in having it in my power to assist a person recommended by You.—

I have the honor to be very respectfully / Sir, / Your very humble and / Most Obt. servant

F: P: van Berckel

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice-President of the United States.”

 1.

Van Berckel, the Dutch minister to the United States, was assisting Capt. John Green, commander of the Empress of China, who had previously applied for access to Dutch Batavia. Juriaen François de Friderici (1751–1812) served as governor general of Suriname from 1792 to 1802 (vols. 18:141, 142; 19:208; David J. Wertheim, ed., The Jew as Legitimation: Jewish-Gentile Relations beyond Antisemitism and Philosemitism, Cham, Switzerland, 2017, p. 86).

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