Papers of John Adams, volume 21

Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 6 May 1796 Otis, Samuel A. Adams, John

From Samuel Allyne Otis

Sir Philada May 6h 1796

Agreeable to promise I do myself the honor to inform you that the Senate have elected Mr Livermore Pres pro tem. 13 out of 19—1

In regard to accommodating you the next winter I have not yet made my own arrangements. I have some expectation of removing from the house I now possess; Yet I know not to what house I shall remove. Add to this the difficulty of engaging & retaining good servants, makes it almost impracticable to arrange ones family to our wishes.

With our best remembrances to Mr Adams & [. . .] friends / I am / Very respectfully / Your most humble Sert

Sam A. Otis 474

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President / of the United States.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

JA departed Philadelphia on 6 May and reached Quincy on 14 May after visiting AA2 and CA in New York. New Hampshire senator Samuel Livermore (1732–1803) served as president pro tempore of the Senate in JA’s absence until the 1st session of the 4th Congress ended on 1 June ( AFC , 11:596; Biog. Dir. Cong. ).

Caleb Strong to John Adams, 10 May 1796 Strong, Caleb Adams, John

From Caleb Strong

Dear Sir Philadelphia May 10th. 1796

I arrived at this place the Evening before you left it and found when I came into the Senate that our first Business was to choose a President pro Tempore— We chose Mr. Livermore—

Yesterday the Senate advised the President to ratify the explanatory Article which had been sent them while you was here,1 and this morning I have been preparing to return homeward by the Thursday Stage when behold Mr. Langdon has made his Appearance with whom you may remember I paired off, he too complains that he was sent for and how long we shall stay here is uncertain— The Doorkeeper has handed to me the inclosed Letter to be returned to you—2

Be kind enough to present my Respects to Mrs. Adams & beleive me to continue with sincere Respect & attachment / your obedt. & Hb̃le servt

Caleb Strong

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President—”

With protracted debate over the Jay Treaty coming to a close, the British chargé d’affaires Phineas Bond drew attention to a potential conflict between Art. 3 of the Jay Treaty and Art. 8 of the Treaty of Greenville, which would have called for British merchants to seek special licenses from the U.S. government in order to trade with Native peoples. A new explanatory article, introduced by the president and ratified by the Senate on 9 May, mandated that “no stipulations in any treaty subsequently concluded by either of the contracting parties with any other State or Nation, or with any Indian tribe, can be understood to derogate in any manner from the rights of free intercourse & commerce secured” by Art. 3 (Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 20:100–101).

The enclosure has not been found. Irish-born James Mathers (1750–1811) served as doorkeeper of the U.S. Senate from 1789 until his death ( AFC , 11:151).

Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont to John Adams, 19 May 1796 Chaumont, Jacques Donatien, Leray de Adams, John

From Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont

Sir Paris may 19 1796—

The Bearer of this is my most intimate friend Mr Robineau de Bougon & the friend of my whole family. This worthy Gentleman has always enjoyed the esteem & respect of every one who knew him, he was one of the warmest friend the american Revolution had, & being nearly connected with the late Count de Vergennes he has been 475 able to be usefull to that cause which he had always much at heart. Full of confidence in its success he joinded my father as early as 1777 to lend a Sum somewhat considerable to the United States.1 However by Some mis understanding the agent did Complicate this Simple bussiness in such a manner that the true owners are not yet in possession of their due, & now it is become an object of importance to Mr Bougon who by the chances of the french Revolution has experienced the loss of his fortune, by the destruction of two Capital Estates, one near Nants by the Vendeens & the other in Hispaniola by the same cause, a civil war.

That Mr. Bougon may met in the United States a Kind & welcome reception which he deserves So well, is my most ardent wish; & to attend this I cannot do better than to recommend him Strongly tou you, Sir, & whatever you Will do in my favor to contribute to the Succes of his views is to render his Stay agreable in America will be warmly felt with a due Sense of gratitude by me.

I am with Regard / Sir / Your most obedient / & humble servant

LeRay

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams / Vice President of the / united States.”

Joseph Michel Félicité Vincent Robineau de Bougon (1773–1862) was a French politician who defended Nantes during the civil war of La Vendée (Edgar Bourloton, Adolphe Robert, and Gaston Cogny, eds., Dictionnaire des parlementaires françaises, 5 vols., Paris, 1889–1891).