Papers of John Adams, volume 21
th1797
I Received this morning your kind Letter of the 12th and thank you for your obliging
Congratulations on an Event which although it is not as yet Legally
ascertained Seems to be Settled In the Public Opinion when you assure me it
was the general wish of The Friends of Order and good Government In Virginia
and that I may Rely upon the Support of that State you not only make me a
high Compliment But afford me Solid Consulation as far as my Conduct shall
be Conformable To the Constitution of the United States and faithfully and
industriously Directed To the Public Good I Shall Confidently Rely on the
Support of the Sound Part of That State and all others in the Union and upon
no other Conditions do I wish for The Support of any—
I am much obliged to you for Proposing To me mr John Griffin to live in my family as a Private
Secretary I take this young Gentlemans offer as a Compliment but—I have
already Engaged all the assistance of that kind that I Shall want if I
Should have occasion for any give me Leave to Reciprocate all your Good
wishes For the helth and happiness of my—Family—
we have this Day an Important message from the President upon French—Affairs with the United States which threaten To give Employment to all our Patience Prudence and firmness1 it is Greatly to be Lemented that our Citizens have been So Little informed of the true temper and Character of French Policy towards this Country for twenty, years many important Facts have been Concealed from them— Least they Should Conceive Prejudices or Entertain Doubts of their Disinterested friendship and the whole Character of their Government Since thair Revolution has been tinged with false Colours in the Eyes of our People By french Emissaries and Disaffected americans— The truth may now be forced upon us to our Sorrow I have too much Confidence However in the Sense Spirit and Resources of this Country to be appalled at the Prospect of an approaching Storm we must make fair weather if we Can if we Cannot we must Ride it out like good Seaman
I am Sir with great Esteem / your very Humble Servant—
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Honle: Samuel Griffin Esqr.—”; APM Reel
117.
On 19 Jan. George Washington submitted a letter and
related documents to Congress addressing the “far from agreeable” state
of Franco-American relations, after several years of attacks on U.S.
shipping, consular contretemps, and diplomatic missteps. Further, he
clarified that Charles Cotesworth Pinckney’s mission in Paris was to
“make to that Government such explanation of the principles and conduct
of our own, as by manifesting our good faith might remove all jealousy
and discontent, and maintain that harmony and good understanding with
the French Republic which it has been my constant solicitude to
preserve” (Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick,
35:369–370).
JA approved of the action, but expressed great concern that press distortions and party politics would enmesh Americans deeper in the violence of the French Revolution because of their fractured understanding of events. He mentioned the topic often in his private letters in early 1797, as he readied to step into the presidency. Writing to AA on 19 Jan., JA considered Washington’s message and the fate of Franco-American relations in that light: “The Consequences of this Transaction will come up after the 4 of March, and stare at me— I have had a good Education to Patience in public affairs, and can look at a Storm with Some Composure. the approaching one looks black and thick enough: but I have Confidence in the Sense, Spirit and Resources of this Country, which few other Men in the World know so well, have so long tried and found Solid. Confusions, Inconveniences and Distresses enough may await Us. This People want something to awaken them from their golden Dreams “ (Adams Papers).
Col. Wadsworth, upon my inquiring after your health gave me the most agreable and favourable Account of it I have heard for a long time. It rejoiced me very much: and the Information he gave me of your present occupation, in preparing for the Press a new Edition of your Writings, gave me more pleasure than any thing I could have heard of you next to the perfect restoration of your health and your return to your Business and the World.1
I should be glad to do any Thing in my Power to procure you a generous Subscription and I hope you will avail yourself of the Laws of your Country to make your literary Property productive to you.
I have of late years arrived at Hartford in the night, after you were, probably, abed and departed in the morning before you was up, so that I have been deprived of the Pleasure of seeing you. But I hope it will not be very long before I shall see you once more.
What think you of the Politicks of France and Spain? Is the System of Brigandage, towards our American Commerce to become universal? And what should be our Conduct under it, or to avert it or to avenge it? It is Mortification and Humiliation to Submit to it. But Sometimes, before honour is humility. Pray what is the meaning to this Proverb? Is it that Humility is more valuable and excellent than honour? or is it that Humility commonly preceeds honour? or in other Words that honour always or commonly follows humility?
537I wish you the compliments of the Season and am your Friend and / humble Servant
RC (NjP:Andre De Coppet Coll.); internal
address: “John Trumbull Esq”; endorsed: “John Adams VPrest. US / Jany.
1797—” LbC (Adams
Papers); APM Reel
117.
Trumbull was finalizing The
Progress of Dulness; or, The Rare Adventures of Tom Brainless,
Carlisle, Penn., 1797, Evans, No. 32943.