Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13

Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 6 January 1799 Adams, Abigail Shaw, William Smith

Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw

Dear William Quincy Jan’ry 6 1799

I received yesterday mor’g by Plimouth stage, your Letter of 28th december, together with the Bundle mrs Brisler sent, and two News papers—one by mistake was an old one, the other containd part of the debate upon mr Griswolds Resolution.1 the old clan keep up their opposition, Brainless as it is. I am glad to see them reduced to so small a Number, and as their Yea, must always be suspicious when it is seen upon the side of Honour and Justice, I am content they should keep their station; indeed I think the Majority very Respectable. The Hartford Green House which you have undoubtedly read, describes Gallitin without nameing him, in the following Lines,

Behold! along yon western plains When wild Misrule with Mischief reigns Behold that dark Intriguer steer A devious course, thro’ Faction’s Sphere! Not yet Matured to Freedom’s Sun, His seven short, seasons scarcly run. The brouge still hobbling on his tongue His brows with rank Rebellion hung See him with brazen forehead stand, Among the Fathers of the Land With daring voice her Glory mar & gash her face with many a Scar. 344

these cannot have escaped you, any more than those, beautifull lines addrest to the sons of Columbia, refering to the conduct of their chief Majestrate with respect to France

“Made the behold the just renown of Him, who wears thy laurell’d crown And gave his heaven directed pen New themes in civic Walks of Men which, thro the world shall wafts thy fame Beneath the banners of his Name”2

The Green House this Year is vastly before the Gallitinna of Last year. Joel has got a good blasting in it.3

you inquired of me respecting a Magizine. I did subscribe I believe, or if I did not I agreed to take them. I paid for the three first Numbers when they were deliverd. two were brought when I was not at Home and the other Numbers must have been interupted by the sickness. you will make up the year if they have them they were a quarter of a dollor pr peice.

I hear from your Mother very seldom. if you will inclose a Letter for her to me Frankd by your uncle I will send it from here. I wrote to her last week. do you write to mrs Smith now and then. tell her what is passing, how your uncle does &c she will take it very kindly of you. I shall send a Letter for her by the next post. I will send the addresses by the next post.

o that I could hear that Thomas was arrived— I dont like even the Name of the ship in which he is to embark;

Monday 7th

I do not know why you can wish to have me write frequently I have nothing new or interesting where with to entertain you. the weather has been for four days & still is most intensely cold. snow deep, but fine sleying. mr Whitman is continued here untill march, but the sundays have been so stormy or cold, that we, had almost as good have been without a preacher. people froze their Ears & noses going to meeting yesterday. I know you must have severe weather at Philadelphia. Remember me kindly to my Friend mrs otis & to mrs otis Jun’r

Your affectionate Aunt

A Adams

Let mr Brisler know that I have received my flower

345

RC (DLC:Shaw Family Papers); addressed: “Mr William S Shaw / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Aunt Adams / received 15th Jan 1798 / Ansd 15th”; docketed: “1799 / Jany 6.”

Among the items AA received was likely the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 28 Dec. 1798, which contained the first account of the debates on the Logan Act, for which see Shaw to AA, 28 Dec., and note 1, above.

The Political Green-House, For the Year 1798, Hartford, Conn., [1799], lines 143–148, 261–272, Evans, No. 36133. The Connecticut Wits Richard Alsop, Theodore Dwight, and Lemuel Hopkins wrote the long-form political poem addressed to the readers of the Connecticut Courant ( ANB ).

The “Guillotina, For the Year 1798,” which was published in the Connecticut Courant, 8 Jan. 1798, criticized Thomas Jefferson’s slave-holding and applauded the growing unanimity in Congress. It also commented on France’s attacks on neighboring countries. The Political Green-House attacked Joel Barlow: “From pleading law, and taxing crimes, / To stealing Colonel Humphrey’s rhymes, / From morals pure, and manners plain, / To herding with Munroe and Paine, / From feeding on his country’s bread, / To aping X, and Y, and Z, / From preaching Christ, to Age of Reason, / From writing psalms, to writing treason” (lines 361–368).

William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 6 January 1799 Shaw, William Smith Adams, Abigail

William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams

Philadelphia Jan 6th 1798 [1799] Sunday Eve. My dear Aunt

I have seldom known it to be colder at the Eastward than it is here at present. Although I have a very large fire & my desk almost into it, still my fingers ache & the ink scarcely runs from the pen.

I sent you a few days since Logans address, attempting, like his brother traitors, to vindicate his conduct.1 Thus did Arnold, Munroe & Randolph and thus do all traitors,

“If their purgation did consist in words They would be innocent as grace it self”2

Logans says in his address that he offered not only to answer any question 3 Mr Pickering should ask him but to give up all his papers. This is a lye Mr Pickering told me himself that he made no such offer.

The president received your favor of Dec 21st yesterday morning.4 I was sorry to perceive that you were not in good spirits, I always know & judge of your health by the style of your letters.

Brisler wrote yesterday to Mr Black informing him of his brothers death. The president has ordered him to be buried with decency at his expence. If Mr B wishes any thing done, I will do it with pleasure. I most cordially sympathise with Mr Black, not so much for his brothers death as for his past life.

I spent last Eve very agreeably at the Secy at War’s. I admire Mrs Mc. Henry. She is I believe very sensible, & has a very pretty neice. 346 Mr & Mrs Otis are very friendly to me. I hardly know what I should have done without them. I like Mr. O much better than I expected. He has shown every possible attention to me. I find Mr. Briler to be one of the vainest men in the world, but of all men I ever knew has the most reason to be vain. His geese are all swans. He scolds & says that he rather prepare a dinner for five hundred genn. & ladies than for 26 gentlemen alone.

Mr B——t was here the other Eve—gave Mrs B’s compliments to the president & told him that the first pleasant Eve. she intended comeing to see him. The prest. gave his compliments in return & told him to tell Mrs B. not come without her husband.

I have sent out Cards for a very large party the foreign ministers & their ladies &c to dine here thursday. O how happy should I be if Aunt was here to receive them.

Your affectionate

Wm S S

I have sent you three or four letters which you have never mentioned receiveing I dont know what can have become of them.

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “W S Shaw Janry / 6 / 1799.”

On 2 Jan. Dr. George Logan penned a defense of his actions in France, asserting that he went on his own volition, did not represent himself as acting in any official capacity, and did not meet with any French official in an official capacity. He argued that his only purpose was to express the views of his country in the hopes of aiding reconciliation between the two nations, but he also implied that his conversations with French director Philippe Antoine Merlin facilitated the lifting of the French embargo (Philadelphia Aurora General Advertiser, 3 Jan.).

Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act I, scene iii, lines 54–56.

Shaw wrote the word “true” under the word “answer.”

In her letter to JA of 21 Dec. 1798, AA updated JA on the health of the family and commented on the continued acrimony in Congress. She also enclosed the Boston Russell’s Gazette, 20 Dec., which contained “a foolish Elogium” on Robert Goodloe Harper (Adams Papers).