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Browsing: Adams Family Correspondence, Volume 7
Docno: ADMS-04-07-02-0068
Recipient: Adams, Abigail
Date: 1786-05-24
Thomas Welsh to Abigail Adams
[dateline] Boston May 24th 1786
[salute] Madam
I have wrote your Daughter1 on the Head of common Intelligence. As to political I hardly know how to give a summary
of that; as relates to this Commonwealth however I think that altho the Legislature
of the last Year deliberated long they at last concluded like the Representatives
of a wise People and have taxed smartly.2 This will operate in a few Years to reduce their public Debt greatly.
The People have shewn their good sense in their Elections for the next Year. They
have given 4 Votes in 5 for Mr Bowdoin through the Commonwealth. Many Towns have determined
to send no Representatives upon the Plan of Oconomy. Others have set aside some of
the most troublesome Members three or four have come to my knowledge. Deacon Chamberlin, Mitchellof Bridgewater and Fessenden of Rutland are all omitted3 a saving this of 800 or 1000£ for the next year.
Britain too has done as much for us as we have for ourselves. She has drained us of
our Cash the accursed Mean of Extravagance and Luxury henceforward from Necessity
our Farms must be cultivated our Herds must be increased our Flocks which had been
suffered astonishingly to diminish will be multiplied. These things will make Provisions
and Labour low. Our Fishery supplied low will prove { 196 } proffitable and the Merchant enabled to navigate his Ships at a more moderate Rate
will be encouraged to enterprize which will call for large Supplies from the Farmer
and both find themselves richer in the End by an Increase of their Assiduities.
It was not from a Want of Zeal in our Merchants that their Trade has not been more
productive; it is true that they have been enterprizing in the Path which they and
their Fathers had persued in the Routine of British Remittances, they have been to
the West Indies for Freight for Europe and have almost ruined themselves.
Some of them however have made large Fortunes by other Persuits. Mr Thomas Russell
particularly by the Russian Trade.
I understand by Mr Cranch that Mr Adams proposes that the americans should import
raw Sugars from France and manufacture them. The owners of Sugar Houses in this Town
have been very attentive this two or three Years past to repair their Works so that
there is scarcely one in the Town but what is in better order than has been known
these twenty Years. This is partly the Effect of great Duties on British Loaf Sugr.
These Sugar Houses are owned by able and spirited young Men capable of making the
most of any Project in the Line of their Business.
The Rope Walks are in great improvement and by the Supply of Materials would be able
to furnish the whole Navy with Cordage.
The President of Congress has never gone on altho he has been wrote to in a public
and private Way and has not deigned to make any reply, he was appointed if I remember
right last Novr. Many Acts of Congress long unfinished waiting his Arrival.4
The Time of Mr Ramsay's Election having expired about the 15th. Mr Gorham was appointed
Chairman in his Place.5
If you will be kind enough to procure for Mrs: Welsh 9 Yds: 1/4 of Black lace of a
width of the inclosed and send the Cost thereof to Dr: Tufts I will pay him for it,
and Mrs W. will feel herself once more obliged by you. She desires to be remembered
to you and your's to whom please to present my Compts and accept the same from your's
&–
[signed] Thomas Welsh
PS: I forgot to inform you that Mr I Smith is appointed Chaplin to the Castle.
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Dr Welch May 24th 1786.”
1. Not found.
2. On 23 March the General Court apportioned and assessed a tax of £300,439.1.3 on the
individual towns throughout the commonwealth in order to comply with Congress' requisition
of 27 Sept. 1785; to support { 197 } the state's civil government; to pay the interest on state-issued consolidated notes;
to redeem army notes; and to replenish the state treasury for funds paid members of
the House of Representatives for their attendance at the previous five sessions of
the General Court. The sums appropriated to comply with Congress' requisition were
to be paid on or before 1 Jan. 1787; those due the state were to be paid on or before
1 April 1787 (Mass., Acts and Laws, Acts of 1785, Feb. sess., ch. 74).
3. The town of Chelmsford elected Ebenezer Bridge in place of Aaron Chamberlain; Nathan
Mitchel and Capt. Elisha Mitchel, representatives of Bridgewater, were replaced by
Daniel Howard; Rutland chose not to elect anyone in the place of John Fessenden (Mass., Acts and Laws, Resolves of 1785, May sess., ante ch. 1; Resolves of 1786, May sess., ante ch. 1).
5. David Ramsay of South Carolina was named chairman of Congress 23 Nov. 1785 until such
time as Hancock arrived in New York to assume the presidency. Ramsay served until
the expiration of his term in Congress, 12 May 1786. Nathaniel Gorham succeeded him
as chairman and upon Hancock's resignation was elected president of Congress on 6
June (JCC, 29:883; 30:264, 330).
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2018.
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/