Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From Samuel Adams

From Wilhem & Jan Willink
Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 26 November 1790 Jefferson, Thomas Adams, John
From Thomas Jefferson
Dear Sir Philadelphia Nov. 26. 1790.

From a letter received from the President mr̃ Lear is satisfied he cannot be here to-day and doubts even the possibility of his arrival tomorrow.1 of course our expedition of to-day would be certainly fruitless, and is therefore laid aside agreeably to a message I have received from Genl. Knox & the attorney Genl.

Your’s affectionately & respectfully

Th: Jefferson 440

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice-president of the United / States / at / Bush-hill”; endorsed: “Mr Jefferson / Novr 26. 1790.”

 1.

Tobias Lear (1762–1816), of Portsmouth, N.H., Harvard 1783, was George Washington’s private secretary from 1786 to 1793. Explaining to Lear that he had been repeatedly delayed by the “most infamous roads that ever were seen,” the president reached Philadelphia at eleven o’clock on the morning of 27 Nov. 1790. Jefferson and other members of Washington’s cabinet postponed their plans to escort him from Gray’s Ferry into the city ( AFC , 8:380; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 6:689, 690; same, Confederation Series , 3:600; Jefferson, Papers , 18:78; New York Daily Advertiser, 1 Dec.; Boston Independent Chronicle, 9 Dec.).