Papers of John Adams, volume 21

437 Richard Harrison to John Adams, 16 December 1795 Harrison, Richard Adams, John

From Richard Harrison

Dear Sir Decr. 16. 1795

According to an Opinion of the Attorney General, taken some time since, your Salary, as Vice-President of the United States, is to commence from the day on which you left home for the Seat of Government, after your first Election—

Being now about to state your Accot. to the 30th. Septemr. last I take the liberty of requesting information from you when that day was, no record of it appearing in the Journals of the Senate.1

With sentiments of great Respect & Esteem, I have the honor to be / Dr sir / Y. obed & very hble S

R. Harrison

RC (Adams Papers).

Harrison wrote this letter just a week into the new attorney general’s term. George Washington nominated Virginia lawyer Charles Lee (1758–1815), Princeton 1775, for the post on 9 Dec., and the Senate confirmed him the next day. JA replied to Harrison on 17 Dec. (private owner, 1937), recollecting that he left Braintree for New York City on 13 April 1789 (vol. 18:148; AFC , 11:167; U.S. Senate, Exec. Jour. , 4th Cong., 1st sess., p. 25).

Hezekiah Balch to John Adams, 21 December 1795 Balch, Hezekiah Adams, John

From Hezekiah Balch

Sir, philada.— Decembr. 21st—95

Learning in our country has been hitherto Sadly neglected— Those of us who wish to promote it, are very poor—Providence has inclined the hearts of a number to help us— I intend to wait on the members of Congress with our Subscription—1

We have understood, that you, Sir, are very friendly to the promotion of learning—

Your name at our Subscription, would be of unbounded Service—

I am, Sir, with profound respect your most obednt. & very humble Servt.

Hezekiah Balch—

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice President of the united States”; internal address: “The Vice President / of the United States—”; endorsed: “The Reverend / Hezekiah Balch”; notation by JA: “The President subscribed an hundred Dollars and / I subscribed twenty which is in the Proportion of / our Salaries. I pd the Money on subscription.”

Presbyterian minister Hezekiah Balch (1741–1810), originally from Deer Creek, Md., Princeton 1766, toured the eastern states from 1794 to 1796 soliciting funds to establish Greenville College near Greenville, Tenn. He raised $1,352 in cash and $350 in subscriptions ( Princetonians , 1:545, 546–547, 548).

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