Papers of John Adams, volume 21

John Adams to John Trumbull, 31 December 1793 Adams, John Trumbull, John

To John Trumbull

My dear Sir Philadelphia Decr. 31. 1793

As I had promised myself much Pleasure, in a few hours Conversation with you in my Way to Philadelphia, I was greatly disappointed when I found you were absent, and still more pained when I ~~found~~ heard you had been out of Health. your Journey has I hope been of Service to you. I lived in constant hope that We should have the Pleasure to see you in the Course of the last Summer at Braintree: and as I am suspicious You are rather too domestic, injuring your health for Want of active Exercise, fresh Air and the social Countenances and Conversation of your Friends: I hope you will next Summer make Us a Visit at Boston and Braintree where you will be sure to find Friends very glad to see you. The Air which arises from my Rocks added to fresh Breezes from the sea is as salutiferous as the Genius of Boerhaave. I can almost promise you a Cure.

We are surrounded here with Clouds and invelloped in thick darkness: dangers and difficulties press Us on every Side. I hope We shall not do what We ought not to do: nor leave undone what ought to be done. But We may do too much as well as too little. Almost all Europe is confederated against the Republicans of France who are no better than they should be: and We Americans find little more favour with Either than with the Algerines and Indians. I, in my Simplicity, had flattered my self with a rapid Reduction of the national 245 Debt, and with a growing Independence and Prosperity to my Country: but instead of a Kingdom of the Just, I find Republicks of Iniquity: instead of a Kingdom of Priests, Commonwealths of Jesuitical and Machiavilian Politicians: instead of a People all Righteous according to the Promise and Prophecy, all Peoples almost all wicked. God forgive me for the Picture I have drawn if it is too dark.

There is however, to be more candid and more serious, much of an honest and sincere disposition to do what is for the public Good, if that could be discovered, as I hope it will.

I owe you a little ballance, which I will endeavour to Send you and thank you kindly for the trouble you took in settling my vexatious affair.1

I beg you would write to me for your Letters are cordial Drops in a gloomy hour to your sincere Friend and most humble / servant.

John Adams

RC (NjP:Andre De Coppet Coll.); internal address: “John Trumbull Esqr”; endorsed: “Honble. John Adams / Decr. 31st. 1793.”

For JA’s contested account, see his 7 Jan. letter to Frederick Bull, and note 1, above.

Thomas Welsh to John Adams, 6 January 1794 Welsh, Thomas Adams, John

From Thomas Welsh

Dear Sir Boston Jany 6. 1794.

This will be delivered by Dr Appleton who has been my particular Friend ever since we were fellow Students at the University; I shall feel myself greatly obliged if you will be so good as to introduce him to the President.1

The Doctor is able to give you Information of the State of Things here, of the Impression which the Accounts of the Peace procured for the Portuguese made upon the Merchants here; of the State of Electioneering for Governor;2 of the Zeal, Industry, and Progress of The Democratic Club. &c—

Columbus you perceive has been clumsily and feebly I may say hypocritically assailed by Sullivan under the Signature of Americanus. Barnaveld, however has sallyed forth and with trusty weapons is making mortal Thrusts into the Vitals of his Adversary.

The old Patriot remains as motionless as a Statue he has never acted upon Dannery’s Application3

Mr Welsh & I were at Quincy last Friday being the 3d Inst. Mrs Adams is very well. I think I have not seen her Countenance more 246 healthy for three or four Years. my Daughter Charlotte is with her on a Visit.

I am Sr: with great Respect your Humble. Sr

Thomas Welsh

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President of The United States.”

Born in Boston, Dr. Nathaniel Walker Appleton (1755–1795), Harvard 1773, was instrumental in producing the Massachusetts Medical Society’s publications ( DAB ).

For the Massachusetts gubernatorial election results, see Welsh’s 31 March letter, and note 4, below.

Beginning in Nov. 1793, JQA issued several essays in the local press, commenting on domestic and foreign affairs. At first, he wrote five pieces as Columbus, portions of which were widely republished, for example, in the New York American Minerva, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24 Dec., and the New York Daily Advertiser, 17, 28, 30 Dec., 1, 2 Jan. 1794. He resumed the same themes in four essays as Barneveld, which appeared in the Boston Independent Chronicle, 26 Dec. 1793, 2, 6, 16 Jan. 1794. JQA lashed out at the behavior of Edmond Charles Genet, and supported the president’s flexing of executive power to dismiss Antoine Charbonnet Duplaine, the French vice consul at Boston. Massachusetts attorney general James Sullivan replied as Americanus with six essays printed in the Boston Independent Chronicle, 19, 23, 26, 30 Dec. 1793, 2, 6 Jan. 1794. “Columbus and Barneveld were both written with Elegance and Spirit and the poor Wretches who so justly fell under their Lashes were never before nor Since so exemplarily and so justly punished,” JA observed in a 4 Feb. letter to AA.

The debate reignited questions about the status and interpretation of Franco-American treaties and about the chief executive’s power to dismiss a foreign minister. Jean Baptiste Thomas Dannery (1744–1806), the French consul at Boston, appealed to Gov. Samuel Adams and the Mass. General Court, seeking intervention and enclosing an English translation of Genet’s 27 Oct. 1793 letter to Thomas Jefferson stating the issue. Despite mounting political pressure and widepread newspaper coverage, Adams, the “old Patriot,” took no action in the matter ( AFC , 9:469; 10:1, 11, 67; 11:469; Jefferson, Papers , 27:272–274).