Adams Family Correspondence, volume 15
r:1803.
I received two days ago your kind favour of the 3d: instt: and it was very precious
as containing information of your health, and that of my father, and friends at Quincy.—
I have been and am sensible of the inconvenience there would be in any free interchange
of political sentiments upon the passing events, by a correspondence which must pass
through the channel of the Post-Office— I believe however you will perceive, (indeed you
knew before I came here) what would be the extreme delicacy of my situation, between two
rows of batteries directly opposite to and continually playing upon each other, and
neither of which consider me as one of their soldiers— The effect of being placed in
this situation I have already felt, and expect to feel it during the whole period of my
service— That I should ever come out from it safe, is not to be expected, but it has
always been my opinion that to fall, in a good cause, is as honourable, as to share in
its success, though not so agreeable— Hitherto my conduct has given satisfaction to
neither side, and both are offended at what they consider a vain and foolish presumption
of singularity; or an Ambition of taking a lead different from the 317 views of either— All this I cannot help— Nor can I help its manifesting itself by the
grossest misrepresentations of my conduct, as in the Centinel of the 10th: instt:—from the editor’s
correspondent at Washington— But I have looked all this and much more full in the face
before-hand, and prepare my mind with all the fortitude it can command for the
consequences.
Excepting the Amendment to the Constitution, which has now pass’d, and the Louisiana Treaty, with its first-fruits, which are yet budding forth we have had nothing to excite very warm party feelings, or much public attention this Session. It appears to be agreed, on almost every side, that Congress have very little to do, and may if they please adjourn within a month from this time— Whether they will or not the Time will show.
My wife and family are well— I have a walk of five miles every day in coming to the Capitol and returning home, which I find very beneficial to my health.
Mr: Merry the English Minister has
recently arrived here— Certain questions of rank and precedence are said to have arisen between him and the
Secretary of State; or rather between their Ladies.— The
etiquette has lately been established that the LADIES of Heads of Departments shall in future
precede those of foreign Ministers— Mrs: Merry refuses
submission, and refuses declines to associate on
those terms— What the issue of this great national controversy will be, must be left to
futurity and the wisdom of the Executive— Other causes of personal disgust have been
given to or taken by Mr: Merry, so that the appearance of
the parties on the threshold does not betoken the prospect of much harmony between them
when within.1
My dear and highly valued friend W. V. Murray is no more. He died
after a short illness say the papers, on the 11th: of this
month— But his health has been very low ever since his return to this Country. I had a
letter from him since the commencement of this Session, which flattered me that he was
getting better; but there was the mark of a wounded spirit in it, which made the
intelligence of his death, be less unexpected to me than it would else have been— His
wife’s health is such as to promise little of a longer duration— I have given a cordial
and faithful tear to his memory.2
I shall inclose a copy of Mr: Tracy’s
speech on the final question on what is called the electioneering Amendment—3 It was a speech of great impression when
delivered, and I hope it will have its effect elsewhere— For though I stood firm to my
opinion long before 318 entertained and express’d, that the principle of
discriminating in the electors votes, would really amend the Constitution, yet as the
Resolution pass’d, and in the manner it was carried through, I am very averse to its
adoption, and hope the [legislatu]re of Massachusetts will not adopt it.4
I am ever faithfully y[ours,]
RC (Adams
Papers); internal address: “Mrs: A. Adams.”;
endorsed: “J Q Adams 22 / December 1803.” Tr (Adams Papers). Some loss of text where the seal was
removed.
Two days after arriving in Washington, D.C., Anthony Merry
presented his credentials to Thomas Jefferson as the new British minister to the
United States. Merry arrived at the President’s House on 28 Nov. in formal diplomatic
dress, likely expecting a similar reception. Jefferson, however, greeted the minister,
as Merry later described it, “not merely in an undress, but actually standing in slippers down at the heels, and both pantaloons, coat,
and under-clothes indicative of utter slovenliness and indifference to appearances.”
The encounter sparked a kerfuffle about etiquette in the capital, into which Merry’s
wife, Elizabeth Death Leathes Merry, was drawn during a 2 Dec. dinner at the executive
mansion. With Dolley Payne Todd Madison serving as Jefferson’s hostess, the Merrys
were astonished when the president escorted Madison to the table rather than Elizabeth
Merry. The Merrys were similarly treated at the Madisons’ home a few days later.
JQA blamed Jefferson, writing of his “serious concern” to
JA on 3 Feb. 1804, “Our Executive is conjuring up and fostering with
tenderest Love, every possible occasion or pretence to quarrel with England. … The
external cavils and quibbles of female etiquette are only the bubbles that indicate
the boiling of the waters in the Cabinet” (private owner, 1961). LCA
later reported to JQA on 9 July (Adams Papers) that Elizabeth Merry had “quite won my heart,” managing an
active social presence despite never again attending an event at the President’s House
(Allgor, Parlor
Politics
, p. 35–47; Jefferson, Papers
, 42:154–157).
The death of William Vans Murray on 11 Dec. 1803 at his home in
Maryland was reported in the Washington, D.C., National
Intelligencer, 21 December. In a letter to JQA of 10 Nov. (Adams Papers), Murray wrote of his long
illness, “I beg you not thus totally to forget me. A line from you would be cheering
to me after so long an interval—& I am but just (for ten days only) once more
rising a little into health. … I sincerely rejoice that you accepted a seat in the
Senate of the Union, but fear that all wishes for political success are
vain—desperate!” JQA never replied to Murray, but he made the following
notation on the letter: “This is the last letter I received from my excellent friend;
who died the 11th: of December next after its date. In my
memory and hopes his
existence will cease but with my own.” JQA published a lengthy obituary
in the Port Folio, 4:5–6 (7 Jan. 1804), praising Murray’s
public service and highlighting his humor and writing style. Charlotte Hughins Murray
returned to England following her husband’s death (D/JQA/27,
27 Dec. 1803, APM Reel 30; Clement
Sulivane, “A Sketch of William Vans Murray,” Publications of
the Southern History Association, 5:153 [March 1901]).
Enclosure not found. Uriah Tracy made an extended speech opposing
the 12th Amendment before the Senate approved it on 2 December. The speech, printed in
the Washington Federalist, 21, 23, 28 Dec., argued that
northern states would be denied a voice if the selection of president and vice
president were separated.
On 2 Feb. 1804 the Massachusetts senate voted 19 to 13 against
ratification of the 12th Amendment, and the state’s house of representatives did the
same later in the day by a margin of 132 to 79. Ratification was opposed by
Federalists, who argued that the amendment was aimed at Thomas Jefferson’s reelection.
Massachusetts eventually ratified the amendment in 1961 (Boston Repertory, 3 Feb. 1804; New-England
Palladium, 7, 24 Feb.; Kenneth R. Thomas, ed., The
Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation,
Washington, D.C., 2013, p. 28).