The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-19
DOMESTIC.
bfR. AD.flfs'S
CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.

CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.
To TIE Printers Of the Boston Patriot.
SIRs,
The message mentioned in my last let
ter was in these words;
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
The proposition of fresh neCociation
with France, in consequence of advances
made by the French government has ex-
cited so general an attention and SO much
conversation, as to have given occasion to
many manifestations of the public opinion
from which it appears to me. that a new
modification of the embassy win give more
general satisfaction TO the legislature and
to the nation, and perhaps better answer the
purposes wa have in view. 1t is OH this sup
position, and. with this expectation, that I
now nominate Oliver Ellsworth ESQ. Chief
Justice of the United States, Patrick Hen
ry, Esquire. late Governor of Virginia, aud
William Vans Murray, Esquire, our Mi
MISTER Resident at the Hague, to be ENJOYS
Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipotentia-
nv to the French Republic, with full powers
to discuss and settle by treaty all contro-
versies between the u. States and Fance.
1t is not intended that the two former of
these gentlemen shall embark for Europe,
until they shall have received from the Elk
ecutive directory assurances signiiied by
their Secretary of foreign relations, that they
shall be received in character, that they shall
ENJOY all the prerogatives attached to that
character by the law of nations, and that
minister or ministers of equal powers shall
be appointed and commissioned to treat with
them.
JOHN ADAMS.
FEB. IS, 1899.
To these nominations the Senate advised
tal
pared My friend Mr.. Henry declined, on
account of his age. and Governor Davie, of
North Carolina, was appointed in his place.
Durihg all his transaction, no motion was
maze IN Senate, to pass resolution that n
MISSION to France was eXpedient. With the
dispatches from Talleyrand before his ewes
believe no member of the Senate would
have been willing to record his name in IA
Vor OF such resolution, among the yeas and
nays. The deputation of Senator's made no
| remonstrances to me against the mission or
the diplomatic communications on which it
was founded, but only against the missiona-
ry, Mr.. Murray.
sent an invitation to the heads of depart
ments to assemble in my chamber, to consult
upon the instructions to he given to our en-
Voys. They all met me accordingly, & in Sc
verai long evenings entered into very serious
and deliberate discussion of every article that
was to be demanded and insisted on in the
proposed treaty. They were all unanimous
ly agreed upon to my entire satisfaction, and
reduced to writing. / committed them TO
the secretary OF state. to be reduced into pro-
per form, to have fair copy made and trans
mltted to me. for revision, correction or sig.
nature, as there might be OCCASION,
Inc yellow fever was expected, and we
were all Obliged to fly for cur lives: myself &
all my family to Quincy, and the heads OF
departments, with the public Offices, to Tren-
ton.
had repeatedly endeavored to impress
upon the mind of the Secretary of State, the
necessity OF transmitting to me as soon as
possible, his draught of the instructions, that
they might be finished and signed, and eve
ny thing prepared for the departure of the
ENJOYS / waited with much concern, ex-
pecting from day to day, to receive the IN
structons; but no instructions Appeared
AT length, instead of them, received let
ter signed by all five of the heads OF depart
ments, earnestly entreating me to susterd
tie mission.
was astonished at this unexpected, this
obstinate and perseverins opposition to a
measure, that appeared SD clearly to me
TO DE SO essential to the peace and pros
perIty OF the nation, and the honour of the
government at home and abroad / was
not little surprised at the unanimity of the
heads OF departments, for two of them had
always appeared moderate & candid in real.
ton this mission. My instantaneous deter
mInation was to SO to Trenton, meet the gen.
tIemen face to face, to confer with them cool
ly on the subject, and convince them. or be
convinced by hem, if could. On nv way
called upon Chief Justice Ellsworth, at his
seat in Windsor, and had conversation of
perhaps two hours with him. He was per.
hot oh l. Al
termination, he was ready at an hours war
ming to comply. Ifit was thought best to en-
bark Immediately, he was ready. If it was
Judged more eXp9dient to postpone il for n
little time, thoughthat might subject him to
winter voyage, that danger had no weight
with hin. Ii it was concluded to defer it till
the spring, he was willing to wait. I'm this
disposition took leave of him. He gave me
no intimation that he had any thought of a
Journey to Trenton. lodged at Hartford,
not yet purified of the yellow fever, and
there caught something very like it, or at
least almost as bad, a most violent cold, at
tended with Constant fever, which render
ed me tor six weeks more fit for a chamber
and a bed OF sickness, than for uncomforta.
Die journeys, or. much labor of the head or
hands However, I would not consent to be
retarded on my journey, and reached Tren-
ton, where Mr.. Hamilton had arrived d few
hours before me. Governor Davie had been
there some time. Ill as I was, sent for the
heads of departments. Four of them were
there The