Adams Family Correspondence, volume 14
r.26. 1800
I have yours of the 2d.—1 before this, you have Seen
the Treaty with France. The full assurance of your Newspapers, has been
wholly disappointed.2 Mr Jefferson and Mr
Burr have equal Numbers 73.— Which will be Chief? I Shall be in Quincy as
early in the Spring as the Roads and Weather will permit. The only Question
remaining with me is what I shall do with myself? Something I must do or 502 Ennui will rain upon me, in Bucketts.
A Frenchman would Say Ennui pleuvra a grosses gouttes. Will Books and Farms
answer the End? I must go out on a morning and evening and fodder my Cattle,
I believe, and take a Walk every noon to Pennshill—Pother in my garden among
the fruit Trees and Cucumbers, and plant a Potatoe Yard with my own hand.—
If I had money enough to Spend upon my farms I might find Employment enough.
But what shall I do for that? Shall I go to the Bar again? I have forgotten
all my Law and lost my organs of Speech, and besides that have given my
books away. If I had them, I might possibly educate a young Gentleman or
two, for the Profession.
As to the farms, Burrell may continue. But French’s farm shall lie common rather than be treated as it has been.— Belchers farm I will keep in my own hands possitively, that is the Land. French’s House shall be let, seperately to a Number of Tenants unless We can get one good one to give a sufficient Rent. Belchers House, with the rest of French’s Land, may be let with the Barns on shares or for a Rent. And whoever has it shall be confined to plant but four Acres of Corn and one of Potatoes. French’s House shall not be Useless to me as it has been these five or six and twenty Years.
With hearty Love and Friendship to you and / all your family I am
RC (MHi:Misc. Bound Coll.); internal address:
“The Hon. Cotton Tufts Esq”; endorsed: “President Adams / Washington
Decr. 26. 1800.” LbC dated
28 Dec. (Adams Papers); APM Reel 120.
Not found.
The Boston press carried reports in late November
predicting JA’s reelection, and the Massachusetts Mercury, 2 Dec., printed a state-by-state tally
that estimated 71 electoral votes for JA and 67 for Thomas
Jefferson (Massachusetts Mercury, 25 Nov.;
Boston Columbian Centinel, 26 Nov.).