Papers of John Adams, volume 21

Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 29 September 1792 Otis, Samuel A. Adams, John
From Samuel Allyne Otis
Phila. Sept 29th 1792

What a sad lesson against anarchy is indeed my honored & respected friend to be learnt, in the accts fm France! St Bartholemew with all its horrors is again passing in review & sickens & astonishes the eye— I will not repeat the dismal tale you must have it in all its particulars before this can reach you1 And surely every man not devoid of good policy & humanity will join you in deprecating a mad unbalanced democracy— You observed in a late conversation that our new world, bad as it is, exhibited few or no instances of that love of blood shed which stains the conduct of the old world— Thank God it was a just observation. And Altho there are uneasy, discontented, ambitious and wrong headed politicians sufficient to 144 keep us fermenting, a principle of humanity checks their proceedings, and I hope will continue so to do— I am sure Americans will profit by the troubles of France—

Its extraordinary that this State deriving peculiarly, nay almost monopolizing the advantages of the federal government, should say and do so many things against it, yet so it is— The new representation shews how powerful the antis are. They have carried every man on their list. And altho some of these are exceeding good men the election of Finley & Smilie shew their strength. C Thomson and Bingham were pushed for by the federalists but fell, espesially the latter very short—2 Their Electors will some of them be of the same cast, however I have no idea of their chusing a majority against you— With your other friends, I very much regret your absence, it gives your enimies a handle— But I hope sincerely the resolution communicated in confidence will be retracted— It would be presumption in me to suggest an argument on the subject. I cannot help saying however, that you are not merely accountable to yourself in this business, but to your Country, who wants your aid, your experience & your weight to balance her on an ocean by no means calm, & where agitation under another Congress may be violently encreased agitated— & I flatter myself on a cool contemplation of your determination your good judgment will induce you to give it up—

The gentlemen of Senate begin to assemble, Messrs Langdon Brown & Few are here in addition to the residents—Who will be pro tem:? Izard Langdon & Ellsworth & perhaps Johston will be contemplated— Mr Lee has retired under the weight of years & infirm health—3 I exceeding regret your ill health and that of Mrs Adams—4 Mr Jay has had a very severe illness and is far enough from well—5 The war seems to continue between the two great officers.—6 The President is here and with Mrs W seems to be in very good health & Spirits— Clymer has been amongst the Pittsburg Malcontents & was obliged to disguise himself, Claypole copied a lampoon on the subject, Clymer attempted to thrash master Type & got the worst of it—7 So much for Inspector General— I hear Col. Bur declines being a judge & dont thank Mr Clinton for his promotion—8 The Antis are going to drop Bur & run Clinton— Indeed he seems to be a more important competitor— The List is as follows9

Kittera Heisler Scott
Finley Hartley Armstrong
2 Muhlenburgs Gregg Montgomry &
Gen. Erwin Fitzsimons Smilie
145

I am anxious about your accommodation when you get here, and the more because my house is not large & elegant— For all the purposes of comfort & convenience it is competent and Mrs Otis joins me in a sincere tender of all or such part as may best accommodate you and servants— Our family is small and it will certainly be more agreeable to have my little good wife pour out your coffee than a stranger— I hope you will contemplate this as a serious proposition, & a project that will make us very happy— Mrs O joins me in respects to your Lady & remembrances to all friends—

I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most humble Sert

Sam. A. Otis

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr Otis Septr. 29 / 1792.”

1.

Philadelphia newspapers reported a wave of atrocities as revolution intensified in France. According to the press, a mob tried forcing Louis XVI to sign an anticlerical decree passed by the National Assembly; fifteen people were executed for “aristocracy” at Toulon and Saint-Patrice; a group of priests were “inhumanly butchered” in Bordeaux; and an elderly Roman Catholic priest was “cut to pieces” in Limoges. Otis equated the attacks to the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of the Huguenots in 1572 (Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 8 Sept. 1792, 29 Sept.; Bosher, French Rev. , p. 169).

2.

Irish-born weaver William Findley (ca. 1741–1821), of Westmoreland County, Penn., who garnered 33,314 votes, emerged as the clear favorite in the Pennsylvania congressional election of 1792. Capturing 16,818 votes, Irish-born politician John Smilie (1741–1812), of Fayette, Penn., also won. Both men were Democratic-Republicans. Federalists fared well but narrowly lost. Charles Thomson netted 16,388 votes, and Philadelphia banker William Bingham earned 14,481 votes (vol. 16:20; Biog. Dir. Cong. ; A New Nation Votes).

3.

The 2d session of the 2d Congress met from 5 Nov. to 2 March 1793. With JA absent, on 5 Nov. 1792 senators elected John Langdon of New Hampshire as president pro tempore. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, who resigned on 8 Oct., was replaced by Caroline County, Va., lawyer John Taylor (1753–1824), William and Mary 1772 (U.S. Senate, Jour. , 2d Cong., 2d sess., p. 451, 463; Biog. Dir. Cong. ).

4.

The vice president felt the physical rigors of his office, writing to AA2 on 29 Oct.: “While I was abroad I had commonly Secretaries to assist me. But now, when my hand shakes and my eyes fail, I have no one even to copy a letter, so that I am obliged to lay aside all pretensions of answering letters” ( AFC , 9:317).

5.

A sudden and serious inflammation of John Jay’s eyes, coupled with fever and rheumatism, limited his ability to work. On 8 Oct. CA reported to AA that Jay had “been at death’s door but is now somewhat recovered” (Jay, Selected Papers , 5:451–452; AFC , 9:313).

6.

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.

7.

Philadelphia merchant George Clymer (1739–1813), who knew JA from their service in the Continental Congress, was the federal supervisor of revenue for Pennsylvania. Philadelphia printer David C. Claypoole (ca. 1757–1849) reported in the press that Clymer, fearing for his safety among opponents of the federal excise, posed first in public meetings as Henry Knox, then as “Smith.” Clymer denied the allegations but also defended the use of a disguise ( AFC , 9:178, 10:338; Slaughter, Whiskey Rebellion , p. 125, 126, 257; DAB ; Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 20 Oct.).

8.

Gov. George Clinton named Aaron Burr as a judge on the N.Y. Supreme Court in 1792. AA perceived a political maneuver, pointing out that Burr supported Clinton’s disqualification of certain votes in the recent gubernatorial election and thus was “rewarded for his opinion upon the Legality of the Election.” Burr declined the appointment (Isenberg, Fallen Founder , p. 116–117; AFC , 9:323).

9.

Otis correctly identified the Pennsylvania representatives elected to serve in the House from 1792 to 1794: John W. Kittera, Daniel Hiester, Thomas Scott, William Findley, Thomas Hartley, James Armstrong, 146 Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, Andrew Gregg, William Montgomery, William Irvine, Thomas Fitzsimons, and John Smilie (A New Nation Votes).

Rufus King to John Adams, 30 September 1792 King, Rufus Adams, John
From Rufus King
Newyork 30. Sep. 1792

By accounts from England as late as the 23d of August we learn that on the 10th of that month the national assembly suspended the King, removed the ministry, and took on themselves the Executive powers— they have since decreed that the primary assm̃blies should meet on the 26. of august, to appoint Deputies to a national convention, to be convened on the 20. of Sepr. for the purpose of deciding on the Forfeiture of the Crown, and prescribing the manner in which the executive powers should in future be executed—

Towards the close of the day on which the King was suspended, the mob demanded to repete the Transactions of the 20th. of June— they were opposed by 700 Swiss who were about the royal Family— the Mob prevailed, having armed themselves with cannon from the Arsenals, they massacred the swiss Guards, plundered the Palaces, overturned the Statues of their former Kings, and Effaced every Vestige of Royalty— the King & royal family Early in the Tumult, escaped through a Garden to the national Assembly, from whence they were removed by a decree to the Temple, a building detached, & surrounded by a wall— the custody of the King & royal Family is given to Pétion the mayor of Paris—

We have no accounts from the Army since this bloody Transaction— all accounts concur that the Austrians & Prussians would inter France about the middle Of August, so that Our next intelligence will be pretty decisive respecting this Revolution conducted with so much barbarity & Ignorance—1

From the state of the affairs of Poland towards the end of July, it is probable that the Poles have been compelled to abandon their Constitution, & to return under their former Government—2

England it would seem is not inclined to interfere, since the parliament which stood prorogued to the last of August, has been further prorogued (Since the Affair at Paris,) to the last of November—3

With the Greatest Respect, I am Dear sir / Your Obt. Servt

Rufus King

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr King. Sept. 30. 1792 / ansd. Octr. 11. 1792.”

1.

Events were unfolding quickly in France, as political turmoil deepened and new foreign conflicts broke out. On 20 April the French Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria 147 and Prussia. Louis XVI received a manifesto from Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, commander of the joint Austrian and Prussian forces, on 28 July. The duke threatened retaliatory action against the people of Paris if the royal family suffered harm. Louis XVI published it on 3 Aug., stirring violent protest. Prussian forces invaded France on 16 Aug., quickly followed by Austrian troops three days later. Meanwhile, a revolutionary commune formed in Paris and the royal family was arrested on 10 Aug., ushering in the Reign of Terror.

As the French Revolution’s bloodiest chapter began, lawmakers scrambled to rewrite the government’s powers and protocols. The Legislative Assembly decreed that a new National Convention, elected by universal male suffrage, would replace the constitutional monarchy. On 3 Dec. the National Convention yielded to popular rage and accused Louis XVI of treason. The royal family remained, nominally, under the protection of French lawyer Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve, the mayor of Paris (Bosher, French Rev. , p. xix, xx, 168; New York Diary, 1 Oct.; AFC , 9:308).

2.

For the cultural and political reforms in Poland, see William Gordon’s letter of 15 Sept. 1791, and note 6, and Thomas Brand Hollis’ letter of 26 Oct., and note 15, both above.

3.

Parliament adjourned on 15 June 1792 and was repeatedly prorogued until 3 Jan. 1793 (London Public Advertiser, 16 June 1792; London Diary, 1 Sept., 16 Nov., 14 Dec.).