Papers of John Adams, volume 21
r.
a.
Permit me to introduce to your Notice Mr. Samuel Miller the Son of a much esteemed
Clergyman, late of Dover in the Delaware State, and formerly known to you,
as I understand, there were some Connections between your Families. He has
undertaken a Tour to Boston to learn the political and ecclesiastical State
of your Country, before he settles himself in a Pastoral Relation to any
Church.1 He is a young
Gentleman of a liberal Education, an amiable moral & religious
Character, modest Deportment, & promising Abilities as a Preacher. I
need say no more, to secure to him, from the V. President of the united
States of America, the Attention, which his more important Business will
allow.
I am with the greatest Regard for your public &
private Character / honble. Sr. / your most obedt. / & very humble Servt.
RC (MHi:Adams-Hull Coll.); addressed: “His
Excellency / John Adams Esqr. / V. President
of the United States of America / now at / Boston”; internal address:
“Honble. John Adams / V. President of
the U. S. of America”; endorsed: “Dr Ewing. June 18. / 1792”; notation
by Ewing: “per favr. of / Mr. Miller.”
Ewing (1732–1802), Princeton 1754, presided over the
First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where JA
frequently attended services. Rev. Samuel Miller (1769–1850), University
of Pennsylvania 1789, became a professor of ecclesiastical history at
Princeton Theological Seminary in 1813. His father, Rev. John Miller
(1722–1791), originally of Boston, was minister of the united
Presbyterian churches of Dover and Duck Creek Crossroads (now Smyrna),
Del., from 1749 until his death (
AFC
, 10:261, 290,
321; Madison, Papers,
Retirement Series
, 2:460; Washington, Papers,
Presidential Series
, 13:346; Samuel Miller, The Life of Samuel Miller, 2 vols., Phila.,
1869, 1:16; Philadelphia American Daily
Advertiser, 12 Aug. 1791).
ca.25
June 1792
I had the honor to receive your letter relative to the
house, and have since confer’d with Mrs. Keppele
on the subject. She does not incline to take the lease off your hands, but
is willing to let the house, if a satisfactory tenant shall offer, for a
year after your time. If this can be effected the rent in the interim may be
saved. I have therefore advised your Son by a note yesterday to put a bill
on the door with reference to him, and have mentioned in several companies
that the House will be to let—2 Every thing in my power to 129
promote your convenience and interest on this occasion will be attended
to.
As the franking clause in the post office act requires
all persons receiving letters unfranked within their free letters to deliver
them at the post office with the place from wch.
they came noted on them, I was under the necessity of delivering the letters
for Mrs. Dalton, Mr.
Adams & Brisler marked as from Boston where I presume my letter entered
the post office—3
I have very great satisfaction, sir, in noticing to you a
material Change in the prospects of opposition in the next election— The
situation in which Mr. Clinton is placed, by the
circumstances of the votes which were rejected, has attracted universal
Attention. The greater part of those I have conversed with appear to be very
strongly impressed with the necessity of his resigning, and running the Race
again, but I do not learn that there is any probability of this sort of
Conduct on his part.4 he
owes, in his situation, much attention to personal delicacy, and much to the
undisputed (even if informal) expression of the peoples sentiments, and if
he so far overlooks the obligations that lie upon him, as to enter upon the
office I am convinced a great part of the antifederal interest will think
him unfit for the office of Vice President of the United States. I cannot
believe his prospect of Success was at all probable before, but I think it
much diminished by the event abovementioned.
Mr. Pinckney is to sail this
day in the American Ship Ceres for Dover—5 A fine Vessel on her third Voyage
of about 310 Tons.
It is favorable to his prospects, I think, Sir, that Europe is likely to be much disturbed. GBritain, under all circumstances existing cannot help arming, and the encreasing ardor of Ireland will render her desirous of as strong a force as she can raise & be permitted to maintain without public Murmur.6 I hope in such a Conjuncture we may acquire the posts and an indian peace, when we may leave Europe to itself till it shall have fought its own Battles, and untill we can destroy or repress the evil spirit, which rages at home.
With the greatest respect, I have the honor to be, / Sir,
your most obedt. / & most humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The V. President of the
U.S.”; endorsed: “Mr Coxe.” Filmed at [ante 8 July 1792].
The dating of this letter is based on Thomas Pinckney’s departure from Philadelphia.
Not found.
On 10 Jan. the House of Representatives passed a bill
to establish a post office, which the Senate approved with amendments on
30 January. Congress passed a lightly revised version on 3 Feb., and
George Washington signed 130
the Postal Act of 1792 into law on 20 February. Coxe referred to the
nineteenth section, which clarified the franking privileges of the
executive branch (vol. 20:386; U.S. House, Jour.
, 2d Cong., 1st sess., p. 490, 499, 502, 511;
U.S.
Statutes at Large
, 1:237–238).
In the contested New York gubernatorial election of
1792 between incumbent George Clinton and John Jay, sheriffs failed to
deliver the votes from Otsego, Tioga, and Clinton Counties. Other
messengers tried to submit the ballots, but they were deemed
inadmissible and the votes were disqualified. Clinton won by a scant
majority of 108 votes, and Jay’s Federalist supporters unsuccessfully
challenged the result (Young,
Democratic Republicans
, p.
301, 304, 306).
Pinckney sailed on the Ceres, Capt. Marsh, on 25 June and reached Dover, England, by
2 August. Six days later, he met with George III and presented his
credentials (Philadelphia Federal Gazette,
26 June; London Star and Evening
Advertiser, 2 Aug.; London Diary, 13
Aug.).
The Irish parliament was debating the Catholic Relief
bill, which extended suffrage, the right to bear arms, broader military
and legal opportunities, and admission to Dublin’s Trinity University to
Roman Catholic citizens. The Protestant minority opposed these
provisions, appealing to George III to “maintain unimpaired the
Protestant ascendancy in Ireland” (
Cambridge Modern
Hist.
, 9:695, 696; Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 4 April). For
similar reforms in England, see Thomas Brand Hollis’ 3 March [1791] letter, and note 3,
above.