Papers of John Adams, volume 21
The Bearer of this is my most intimate friend Mr Robineau de Bougon & the friend of my
whole family. This worthy Gentleman has always enjoyed the esteem &
respect of every one who knew him, he was one of the warmest friend the
american Revolution had, & being nearly connected with the late Count de
Vergennes he has been 475 able
to be usefull to that cause which he had always much at heart. Full of
confidence in its success he joinded my father as early as 1777 to lend a
Sum somewhat considerable to the United States.1 However by Some mis understanding
the agent did Complicate this Simple bussiness in such a manner that the
true owners are not yet in possession of their due, & now it is become
an object of importance to Mr Bougon who by the
chances of the french Revolution has experienced the loss of his fortune, by
the destruction of two Capital Estates, one near Nants by the Vendeens &
the other in Hispaniola by the same cause, a civil war.
That Mr. Bougon may met in
the United States a Kind & welcome reception which he deserves So well,
is my most ardent wish; & to attend this I cannot do better than to
recommend him Strongly tou you, Sir, & whatever you Will do in my favor
to contribute to the Succes of his views is to render his Stay agreable in
America will be warmly felt with a due Sense of gratitude by me.
I am with Regard / Sir / Your most obedient / & humble servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams / Vice President of the / united States.”
Joseph Michel Félicité Vincent Robineau de Bougon
(1773–1862) was a French politician who defended Nantes during the civil
war of La Vendée (Edgar Bourloton, Adolphe Robert, and Gaston Cogny,
eds., Dictionnaire des parlementaires
françaises, 5 vols., Paris, 1889–1891).
r.President and Gentlemen of the Senate of the United States,
d.1796.
We have the Honor to inform you that we are within the walls of your Chamber, ready to produce, to you papers to prove, that we have been duly and legally elected Senators to represent the State of Tennessee in your Body— And that State haveing a right to be represented in the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States; in all respects whatever; our Duty compels us to demand that we be now admited to our Seats.—1
m.Blount
W
mCocke
RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); docketed: “Letter signed / Wm
Blount & Wm Cocke / claiming a seat in
the / Senate / from the State of Tennessee / May 23d / 1796. / 4th
Con / 1st Sess.”
Newly elected senators William Blount (1749–1800), of
Windsor, N.C., and William Cocke (1748–1828), of Amelia County, Va.,
presented their credentials. However, since they were selected by the
Tennessee legislature prior to the state’s admission to the union,
Congress barred them from taking their seats until 6 Dec. (
Biog.
Dir. Cong.
; Tennessee Timeline,
www.senate.gov/states/TN/timeline.shtml).