Papers of John Adams, volume 21

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).

Tench Coxe to John Adams, 15 June 1791 Coxe, Tench Adams, John

From Tench Coxe

Sir Philadelphia June 15th. 1791.

I have had the honor to inform you of the payment of several sums of money to your Steward. You will find enclosed an acknowledgment from him, that he has received from me the whole five hundred dollars, which you were pleased to leave in my hands. I shall be much obliged, Sir, by your covering to me the receipt I gave you for this money.1

I had great pleasure in meeting my friend Colonel Smith on the 12th. instant immediately on his getting out of his carriage from New-York. He spent the day with a few friends who were collecting at the moment to dine at my house. I am very happy to find from him that the British public speak a language different from what they did when you were at their court. The Government appears however to act in a manner not at all variant from their former mode of proceeding, as to their commercial regulations. The late total prohibition of our piscatory articles, the advance of the importing prices of grain, and the prevention of the discharge of vessels, which arrive when their ports are not open for that article, are as perfectly in the spirit of commercial monopoly, as their antecedent regulations.—

It is much to be desired, that some very capable person in Massachusetts, who is well acquainted with the details of the exportation, sales and consumption of the various piscatory articles would make out the best possible statement of the manner in which the whole quantity of each of the articles is usually disposed of. I have 35 ventured on the liberty, Sir, of delineating a plan of the statement contemplated on a separate paper that you may, if perfectly convenient, put it into the hands of some suitable person for the purpose of procuring the answers.

I have the honor to be, / with the highest respect, Sir, / Your most obedient, / & most humble servant

Tench Coxe

ENCLOSURE

1st. An account of the whole quantity of each article drawn from the fisheries of the United States, which is brought into our markets; (this may be obtained from the Treasury records) and of that which is carried directly from the scenes of the fisheries to foreign markets.

2d. An account of the whole quantity of each article drawn from foreign fisheries, which is brought into the United States—to be added to the foregoing.

(This may be obtained from the Treasury records.)

3d. An account or estimate of the portions of each article consumed in the United States—with the manner in which it is consumed (that is whether as aliment, in manufactures &c.) and the places in the United States in which it is consumed, expended, or sold.

4th. The quantity of each article, whether native or foreign, exported to foreign countries, the place to which exported, (the Treasury records will furnish that,) the manner in which the several kinds are supposed to be consumed, or expended.

The object of this statement is to shew the manner in which our piscatory articles are applied, for the purpose of enabling us to judge, which of them may be extended, and the manner in which it may be most easily or advantageously effected. The consumption of oil in lieu of tallow candles, the application of it in the leather branch, the consumption of whale fins in whips, stays, umbrellas &c. and other facts of that nature would be brought to view in a way, that would be instructive.

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President / of the United States”; docketed by JA: “Tenche Coxe / June 15. 1791. / Mercy on him.! / If possible.”

John Briesler Sr. and his wife, Esther Field Briesler, oversaw the Adamses’ household in Philadelphia ( AFC , 9:index). His enclosure has not been found.