Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13
I wrote you on the 14 of February a letter, which I am informed you have received, but to which no answer from you has yet reached me.1 Nor have I since it was written received a line from you.
I must again repeat the request that you would give me immediate information concerning the property which I have entrusted to you.
I have also to request that you would not draw upon Messrs:
222 Willing of Amsterdam, for any further sums on my
account, as I hereby withdraw all power & authority that I have heretofore given you
to draw for money in my behalf.
You will also cease to make any further payments of money belonging
to me to Dr: Welsh.—2 But you will untill further order from me, remit
the interests payable upon my property in your hands, to my mother.
I am still your affectionate Brother.
LbC in TBA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr: Charles Adams”; APM Reel 133.
Vol. 12:400–401.
JQA also wrote Thomas Welsh on 1 Aug., stating that he had learned “by letters from America of the misfortune, which has befallen you” and requesting an immediate report on the property he had left in Welsh’s care. JQA expressed confidence that his property was safe but likewise countermanded Welsh’s authorization to draw upon Wilhem & Jan Willink (LbC, APM Reel 133).
Upon my return from a short excursion to Pottsdam, where we passed
three very pleasant days, I received your obliging letter of the 4th: currt and thank you for the detail respecting
the Hamburger’s accommodations.1 My
voyage I rather think now, will be deferred until after the autumnal equinox say
commencement of October or last of September, because possibly by that time a person may
arrive to relieve me at my post— I would not however forego a good & safe
opportunity, by this delay, though I think it would not be convenient or even
practicable for me to take passage with Mr: S. much as I
should esteem the pleasure of his & his lady’s company. A neutral ship I believe to
be the safest conveyance for us at this time, &
therefore shall thank you for particulars chiefly in that line—
The remarks of Mr: Thatcher & the
reference of Mr: Harper respecting a conspiracy against the
government, will I hope result in some discovery of consequence—a false alarm would be
very hurtful in business of this nature—2
As to the existence of a traiterous correspondence with the french I have no doubt, nor
have had for three years past, and I have thought the government culpable for not using
all the means in its power to detect & expose it. If
a few of our honest scruples are not got over, the enemies
of our Country & Government may organize insurrection & rebellion in perfect
security, fearless of discovery & in defiance of punishment.
Dr: L, who has lately been with you, is
one of the damned— He has come over as a Jacobin Agent Plenipotentiary— he can have no
authority from a majority of the Government—his character
as a State Politician, I know something of—a man of some capacity— popular talents—a
writer, famous in town & individual quarrels &ca:
but supereminently a democrat—3 He is
employed, depend upon it, for the worst of projects against our Government—Hichborn too—
Where is the Livingston deputy— there should regularly be three.
Gerry, we are told, is gone— I have seen his letter to the President, by Gen Marshall, beseeching to be helped out of a scrape into which he had purposely fallen and from which he would be extricated only in his own way.4 He advises also a fresh appointment how often, in the name of God, would he have the experiment tried? There is here no news— Cobenzel is here, but for what?5
I am dear Sir, your’s
RC (OCHP:Joseph Pitcairn Letters); internal address: “Mr: Pitcairn.”
Not found. For TBA’s visit to Potsdam in company with JQA and LCA, see JQA to AA, 8 Oct., and note 3, below.
For George Thatcher’s and Robert Goodloe Harper’s comments on an alleged conspiracy of French agents within the United States, see Francis Dana to AA, 23 June, and note 3, above.
Dr. George Logan did not meet with Pitcairn during his unauthorized diplomatic mission to France, for which see JQA to AA, 14 Sept., and note 3, below.
For Elbridge Gerry’s 16 April letter to JA explaining his response to the Directory’s refusal to allow him to leave France, see AA to William Smith, 26 June, and note 2, above.
Austrian diplomat Count Johann Ludwig Josef von Cobenzl
(1753–1808) was in Berlin on a mission to convince Prussia to cooperate with Austria
and Russia in countering French ambitions. Prussia declined to do so and remained
neutral (
Cambridge Modern Hist.
, 8:645; D/JQA/24, 4
Aug., APM Reel 27; Hoefer, Nouv.
biog. générale
).