The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-16
JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, April %, 1902.
7oMc Printers Of the Bositsn Patrioi.

.., SI2S,
l. gentlemen of the Senate infora,ed
me, that they Came to confer with me on
the subject OF the nomination of MIR. MURRAY
to France that there WAS a considerable.
dissatisfaction with it, and they desired to
know tor what reasons ] had preferred MIR.
Murra: TO so many others abroad and at
nome My answer to the gentlemen was,
that thought MIR. Murray gentleman OF
talents, address and literature, as we 4 as Of
great worth and homer, every way well QUA
lined Tor the service, and fully adequate to
all that should require OF him, which would
be strict compliance with his instructions,
~h'ch should take care TO provide for him
on all points in terms that he could not mis-
understand. That my motives for nominal
ihg him in preference to others. were simply
because the invitation from the French 20
Veinnant had been transmitted through him,
AMI because he was so near to Paris, that
be might be there in three or four DAYS, and
because his appointment would cause s. very
t:Iiting additional expense.
ncy tnen cnquired why had not norni-
mated Mr.. King? l answered thar IL Mr..
hIng had been an Holland, certainly should
not nave thought of any other character.
Bat he was our Ambassador in England then
at war with France, and it would be consi
dered by france as an insult to send them
AN ainhassador, who, as soon as he had &C
chmpilshed his business, was to retura to
England ard carry with him ell the inf0r-
nation he might hare collected in Paris.
That the French government would suspect
me CT q design TO send them d spy for the
CoHrt OF st. James. That presumed, Mr.,
hing at that time would not be D ceased to
be removed from England to France, for
peTpetuity or permanence. Besides, thac
the d,ihcrity Of communication between,
England and France. would necessarily &C.
casion an indefinite delay in procuring thS.
necessary passports, and that much depend.
cd upon the pronlpttude and dispatch viii,
which the negotiation should be conducted.
he gentlemen asked why / had not no
minated our minister pleuipotentiary al
Berlin !-Neither the remarks with wh;cIs
they accompanied this question, M dis
sons which gave them in answer, nee,
be detailed to tile public.
added. gentlemen, / maturely conside
all these things before nominated MIR. Nd
ray and considered another gerltlen
"hom you have not mentioned, Mr. III,
phries at Madrid: but the Same obiccti
OF distance and delay account in his case
well as that or Mr.. Adams The gem
men all agreed that there would have/b!
no advantage III nominating hial more thai
MIR Murray.
The gentlemen then enquired why had
not nominated commission of three or five
III preference to single gentleman The
answer was, that had long experience of
ten years in this kind of business, and had
often acted in commissions with various other
gentlemen, and had three times been COM
m'SsiG:.cd alone. That had found in general
that business could be better done by ona
than by many, in much less time and with
much less pcrplexity. That the business
to DC done by Mr. hlu ray would be nothing
more than obedience to his instructions, and
t"at would be performed as we'll by one rs
by three. That the delay must be GREAT in
schding gentlemen from America, and the
eNpence greatly augmented. That very
much depended upon the celebrity of the en-
tcrprize.
The gen:ieTen thought that commission
wouid be mc"e satisfactory to the Senate and
TO the public. / said although this wns,
not perfectly consonant to my own opinion.
could in such a case easily give up my
own to the public, and If they advised il,
would send another message and non,i+aSf
commission of three; but Mr.. Murray woulC
be one, for after having brought his namcV
before the public, never would disgrace
him by leaving him out. The gcntlemea
acqmcsced, and one OF them, whom took
to be their chairman, was pleased TO say.
9 alter this very enlightened explanation of
TIE whole business, am perfectly satisfied"
he Others appeared TO acquiesce, and took
their leave. The next morning | sent arc
ther message, which shall appear in nay nesa
letter.
JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, ItrH Dc, 1909.