Title: Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

					Dear Thomas

						Twesday 3 Feb’ry 1801

				The Roads and Weather prevent my leaving this place this day as I had designd; mrs cushing and otis advise me to take lodgings at mr Staell’s in 3d street, Your former lodgings— I shall want a chamber with two Beds and one Bed for a Man servant; I always chuse to have my Maid and susan sleep in the Room with me. She has got the hooping cough. I hope the worst part of it is over.

				when I get to Quincy I can furnish the Letters you request, but have them not here; I inclose to you the Subscription Money for the port folio. I do not however approve all that I see in it; I knew Fabius the Moment I read him in replie to Manlius— I do not expect to get to Philadelphia untill next Week. mr shaw Will advertize you when I leave here— as I have no hand in the approaching election, if it should go contrary to the Wishes of the united Paddies, I hope they will not make a Riot whilst I am in your city at least; I am as perfectly at a loss to conjecture which of the candidates will be the chosen one, as I was the day it was first known that there were two equals
				is it not Jaffer in Venice Preserved who says “oh what dreadfull moments intervene between the Birth of plots, and their last active scene?—[”]
				I fancy our Presidents Elect feel Some of these moments. the vice President made me a friendly visit yesterday in order to take leave and wish me a good journey. it was more than I expected. I thought I would Say Some things to him, provided he was, or Might be, so & so respecting the house, and furniture &c he say’d—as I had mentiond the subject; should he have any thing to do in the buisness, he would be very happy to retain all domesticks that I could recommend, beged me to be assured nothing would so much contribute to his happiness as to be able in any Way to be Serviceable to mr Adams myself or any of My Family— I thanked him, inquired particuliarly after mr J Q A—whether he liked his residence at Berlin &c he never sees me but he inquires with affection after him. I told him frankly, that I expected mr Adams would return to America. I did not tell him I had just read the Secretary’s Letter of leave of absence which was true—
				adieu company below. I must close
				Your Mother

					A A


Title: William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 3 February 1801
From: Shaw, William Smith
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

						City of Washington February 3d 1801.

					Agreeable to my promise in my last, I now inclose to you Mr Jeffersons letter, which I consider to be the counterpart of the letter to Mazzei and which, you must have more philosophy, than I think you possess, to read without bitter indignation—without execrating the author, in the most unqualified terms. The whole letter is in the canting style of the vilest demagogue of our Country.— Throughout insidious—in some places obscure. The letter is supposed to have been written to T. Fairfax of Berkely county in answer to one Mr. J. received from him, requesting him to deny that he was disbeliever of the Christian religion. It is confidently asserted that F. wrote such a letter to Mr. J. and there are good grounds for believing this is the answer.— Is it true, “that the great question which divides our citizens (true democratic dialect) is whether it is safest, that a preponderance of power should be lodged with the monarchical or the republican branch of our government.” No. A man must be politically blind, totally unacquainted with the state of parties in this Country or an infernal rascal who would dare to make so false an assertion. The great question in this Country is whether we shall have a mild government, administred on the mildest principles or anarchy—“the tempestuous sea of liberty.” This is the grand question which agitate parties in this Country. Dont you agree with me?
					Executive “patronage.” This is an old hackneyed subject & has been harped upon by demagogues of all ages. It has been urged as a mighty argument for a reform under a monarchical government and has been made a principal engine of opposition in this. It is a political bugbear, imposed upon the people by insidious and unprincipled men to excite their passions—to make them jealous of and withdraw their affections from their government. Undue executive patronage does not exist in this Country and how is it possible that it should? Comprehending an immense territory, with nearly 8 millions of inhabitants, every one of whom thinks himself fully competent for any & every office in the Presidents power to give? There is no office vacant, however low in rank—however small its pecuniary reward, but

what there ten or fifteen, frequently twenty and thirty and sometimes I have known nearly an hundred, who have sollicited it. All the dissappointed candidates immediately are become embittered against the President and opposed to his administration and it is a certain and well known fact, that you may trace all the principal opposition of this Country to unseccessful sollicitations for office. So that I have solid ground for saying, that so far from the Executive gaining improper patronage by the his constitutional power of appointing to office, he makes himself many violent ennemies without any very warm friends. I say further, that there is scarcely a single power, vested in the Executive, which if he executes with integrity and to its full extent, will not make him as many ennemies as friends. In this Country, under our present Constitution, there is no danger of the a preponderance of the Executive over the legislative branch— but experience has proved, that there is every thing to fear from frequent attempts of the popular branch to usurp the prerogatives of the other and thus destroy the Constitution. “Armies and navies” “useless pageants”!!
					Your letter of the 29th I have received with a sett of the Port folio— If it were not for your brothers Silesian tour I would not give much for all the numbers, but they render them invaluable. This seems to be the general opinion here. No writers beside have appeared of very great merit
					None of the Judges of the S.C. have yet arrived except Judge Cushing & Chace. Judge P. will not be here & it is very doubtful whether Judge More will attend.
					In great haste

						Wm S Shaw

					The Senate have not yet concurred in the J. bill, the foolish conduct of Hillhouse & some others I fear, render it very doubtful whether it will pass


Title: Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 7 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Cranch, Mary Smith

						my Dear sister
						Washington Febry 7th 1801

					I Suppose the reason why I have not had a Letter from You for a long time, arrises from Your expectation that I am upon my Journey; the Roads have been represented to me as so intolerable bad, and I know them to be So, that I have been prevaild upon to remain longer than I designd. I now think I shall stay untill after the 13th of Febry, the great important Day which may in its concequences deside the fate of our Country; I feel as it is so near at hand, as tho I could not quit the city untill I know what, or rather who is to be our future Ruler; never were a people placed in more difficut circumstances than the virtuous part of our Countrymen are at the present Crisis— I have turnd, & turnd, and overturned in My mind at various times the merrits & demerrits of the two candidates; long acquaintance private friendship and the full belief that the private Character of one is much purer than the other, inclines me to him who has certainly from Age Succession and public employments the prior Right. yet when I reflect upon the visonary System of Government which will undoubtedly be adopted, the evils which must result from it to the Country, I am sometimes inclined to believe that, the more bold daring and decisive Character would Succeed in Supporting the Government for a longer time.

						A Sceptre, snatch’d with an unruly hand
						Must be as boist’rously maintain’d as gain’d;
						And he that stands upon a Slippery place
						Make’s nice of no vile hold to stay him up—

					what a lesson upon Elective Governments have we in our Young Republic of 12 years old? what is the difference of Character between a Prince of Wales—& a Burr—? have we any claim to the favour or protection of Providence, when we have against warning admonition and advise Chosen as our chief Majestrate a Man who makes no pretentions to the belief of an all wise and supreem

Govenour of the World, ordering or directing or overruling the events which take place in it. I do not mean that he is an Atheist for I do not think that he is—but he believes Religion only usefull as it may be made a political Engine, and that the outward forms are only as I once heard him express himself, Mere Mummery in short, he is not a believer in the Christian System— the other if he is More of a believer, has More to answer for, because he has gravely offended against those Doctrines by his practise
					Such are the Men whom we are like to have as our Rulers— whether they are given us in wrath to punish us for our sins and transsgressions, the Events will disclose— but if ever we saw a day of darkness—I fear this is one which will be visible untill kindled into flame’s
					My Health is better than it was the first part of the winter; I hope I shall be able to encounter this dreadfull journey, but it is very formidable to me, not only upon account of the Roads, but the Runs of water which have not any Bridges over them, and must be forded— Mr and Mrs Cranch are very well and dinned with me last sunday, as did William and Richard. to day the Judges and Many others with the heads of departments & Ladies dine with me for the last time— My best Regards to all My Friends and acquaintance. with the hope of seeing them e’er long I am / Your truly affectionate / Sister

						A Adams

					Susan sends her Duty She has had the hooping cough, but is getting better—


Title: John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 7 February 1801
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

					My dear Brother.
					Berlin 7. February 1801.

				I received only three days ago your N: 22. dated the 6th: of December, and containing the melancholy tidings of the death of our unhappy brother at New-York. I had been informed of it two days

earlier by a letter from my excellent friend Mr: Murray at the Hague, who had seen an account of it in a New-York Gazette.— Of the situation in which he has left his wife and children you say nothing, but I can too readily imagine what it is— My father—I am persuaded will not abandon them, and I myself wish to contribute as far as my ability will admit to their necessities. Let me know something further of their condition.
				The day before your letter reached me, I had seen by English newspapers the decisive turn of the presidential election by the unexpected vote of South-Carolina— That the issue was not unexpected to me you will have found by more than one of my preceding letters.— The reports from America had indeed at a later period betokened the anticipation of a different result but I had seen no fact which would induce an alteration of the conclusion my mind had previously drawn and I was not at all disappointed at the actual event
				A much more distressing paragraph in the English prints of the same date announced that your father, by the latest accounts from Washington was ill of a fever.

					Woes cluster— Rare are solitary woes.

				All these accounts coming within the space of twenty-four hours, did indeed summon me to the use of all the fortitude and resignation I could command.— There is no evil destitute of all consolation but an accusing conscience— I am therefore calm and composed, though not without a deep anxiety concerning my father’s health, and a fervent sympathy with the keen affliction of my family in America, and most especially of my ever loved and honoured mother— I have perhaps been culpable in suffering many months to pass without writing to her— But indeed my letters to you have been nearly as much intended for her as for yourself, and with my public correspondence which of late has been unusually active, have engross’d all the time and all the materials of writing that I could employ— For excepting your letters, I have received only one from our country since last July— Not a single line even from my dear mother; which I am sure must have been owing to the failure of her letters on their passage, and not to her having omitted to write.
				I am glad to find that you had received so many of my letters from Silesia, as well as some which preceded them— I have already written you that I have no objection to your furnishing from them contributions for Mr: Dennie’s proposed literary undertaking— I most cordially hope for the honour of our Country that this Gentleman’s

plan will succeed, and from the opinion I entertain of his genius and talents, I cannot doubt but that it will.— The annunciation of the translation of Gentz’s parallel made me smile— His characterizing the translator as a Gentleman of rank and learning is a good joke enough.— I can be ambitious but of one designation more, and if he will but mention me the next time as a Gentleman of fashion, I shall consider myself fully established in the world’s opinion as an homme comme il faut.
				I have finally concluded to withdraw all the funds I had in Holland, and remit them to America— In consequence of which I have remitted to Mr: King in London fourteen hundred pounds sterling, for which I have informed him I should authorize you to draw.— You will therefore do so accordingly, with attention as usual to take the best rate of exchange that you can obtain— Charge me the usual commission, and place the funds to the best advantage; but not in any institution connected with the continuance of the Union.— I have already so great a proportion of my all placed there, that unless I secure something elsewhere, I shall stand upon melting ice— I should indeed wish you to put all my property upon a basis firmer than that of the federal government. In Massachusetts if possible, and on a foundation more firm than banks or public loans— My whole future dependence for a subsistence will now be in your hands— I trust I need not recommend it to your assiduous and affectionate attention— Your bills upon Mr: King for the monies I empowered you to draw last summer, have been received and paid.
				Most affectionately your’s

					A.

					N.B. I shall enclose this under cover to Mr: King to be forwarded to you. I have lately sent by the way of Holland too, as well as of Hamburg— I believe that in general, through England is the most expeditious way.— Your last letter was sent me by Mr: King— It is now barely two months old. I seldom get letters so recent by the way of Hamburg.


Title: Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 8 February 1801
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear William
					Philadelphia 8th: Feby 1801—

				I have your letters of 30th: ulto & 3d currt: for which I thank you— The letter, which has so copiously extracted your indignation, not without good cause, did not provoke me, however, in the same degree. I do not see for my part, what other notions of Government, Mr: Jefferson could be expected to entertain— It was because he was known to think in the style of this letter, that the people have rewarded him, as far as they could, with the Chief Magistracy— I know not how far Mr: J——n is sincere in these opinions, but he has been so long in the habit of avowing them, that I suspect he believes himself so— Now, I dont think at all worse, of the writer of this letter, than I did before I saw it. I believe, that it necessarily arises out of our Constitution of Government, that men must lose their honesty, or despair of promotion, to the exclusion of the present incumbent. An elective democratic republic, is of all forms of Government, that which admits the greatest latitude of corruption, and in my opinion, necessarily leads to it. We shall swim in blood before this evil will be corrected—
				I believe rather more than you do, in Mr: Jeffersons observation, as to “the great question, which divides our Citizens,” because I can trace the same consequences from this source of division, as you attribute to a different one— When our Citizens shall try the experiment, as I think they will ere long, of giving a preponderance of power to the Republican branch of our government—then I shall look for all the horrors of Anarchy and uproar— This is my notion of, “the tempestuous sea of liberty—”
				It is reported, on what authority, I know not, that Judge Addison, Mr: Kittera & Joseph Hopkinson are applicants for the Office of

federal judge, should the judiciary Bill pass— Either of these men, in my opinion, would be improper— Hopkinson alone would only not disgrace it. The other two, though strong friends of James Ross, are men of less character than ought to appertain to a judge— The President will do right, in all thin[gs,] I am persuaded, where his information will enable him—
				I am, dear William / Your friend

					T B Adams


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

					my Dearest Friend
					Baltimore 13 Fe’by 1801

				I arrived here about half after Six, without any accident, but beat and bang’d enough I do not wish for the present, a severer punishment to the Jacobins & half feds who have sent me home at this Season, than to travel the Roads in the san culot stile just now; the Roads were hard frozen points up, all the way. we were 4 hours making our first stage, and then commenced a voilent snow storm. when we made our 2d Stage which was spurriers, we found ourselves so late that we could not stop but to change our Horses, and came through without taking a mouthfull of refreshment. poor little susan streachd herself upon the floor as soon as she got in and fell fast asslepe—
				I am not so weary however as to have lost my curiosity about the fate of the Election, and would give something to know the result
				I shall rest here tomorrow, and the next day pursue my journey. I wish however mr Cranch could overtake me, which he might do if he sits out on sunday. I shall have some difficulty in crossing the Susquahannah— I think I ought to have a Gentleman with me. it is too bad to travel these Roads without—
				hoping you will find them much men[ded] by the 4th March— I conclude / ever Yours

					A A


Title: Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

					Dear Thomas
					Baltimore Feb’ry 14 1801

				I wrote to you last Evening requesting You to meet me at the susquahanah; but I did not reflect that it was two days Journey. this Evening Leiut Parker has arrived and has tenderd me his services; Mr Evans furnishes me with a carriage to Philadelphia provided we can cross the River if I cannot get over, I must depend upon the chapter of chances— if I can get over I expect to be in on twesday. Supposing You have engaged me Rooms at mrs Staales I shall drive there.
				No President Elect yet—and yet there are two Presidents Elect— they balloted twice yesterday, but no Man was changed. they met Meet at Eleven to day, and play the same Game again I suppose. the Castles can not be stormed nor the Kings taken, tho they have met with check & mates oh what a lesson upon Elective chief Majestrates! it is Said one Member was so apprehensive that the feds would go in the night, carrying members enough from ten states to vote in a President, that he got ten armed Men & Watchd all night in the Capitol—this is no joke. I could name the Member; but he must have had a head of Clay, or he could not have been so stupid. no body can suppose, as Harper Said, that I mean one of that honorable Body— yet they were men in that house; I began this Letter to inform You that You need, not Sit out to meet me; as Leiut Parker will bear me company— I will pay your postage when I arrive yours &c

					A A


Title: Abigail Adams to William Smith Shaw, 14 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear William
					Baltimore Feb’ry 14 1801

				Altho I was much fatigued last Evening, I wrote a few lines to the President to let him know we were safely housed. the Roads were so bad, that the Mail tho two hours before us in the morning did not get in, untill half an hour after us, and there was not any mail from Philadelphia. we took colds all of us; I have a very Soar throat & Louissa a stiff neck— Susan this Morning complaind her stomacke was so Soar that she could not cough, and what Grandmamma makes My neck, just as if it makes a noise, it is so hard I cannot move it— Becky got a kink. I hear no complaint from Betsy; we mean to try the second leaf of the same Book tomorrow Mr Evans has just got home to day, a new carriage, and the Presidents Lady shall certainly have the first ride in it. a Man’s interest will even make him federal; but whether so or not, if they neither break my bones nor pick my pocket; but treat me with the same politeness and attention which I experience here; I shall certainly speak well of them; I had much ado to keep along yesterday. I had so many intreaties, of do Aunt turn back, I am sure this roads cannot be worse in March.— Aunt how could you consent to come this horrid road through this shocking wilderness without some Gentleman with you— Coachman, driver how far is it now? will you get us in before night? pray dont over-set— sometimes I laughd Sometimes scolded, Sometimes braged; that I was too independant to want a Gentleman always at my apronstring—tho be sure it would be very agreable to have one in the way We traveld— yet I had been accustomed to get through many a trying scene, and combat many difficulties alone I was therefore not very timid—
				I heard the result of yesterdays ballot by a Gentleman who left the city at three oclock, just as congress rose— Every days ballot I think but wideens the difference. who shall decide? who shall yeald? are serious and important Questions— write me whether any thing has

been done with the nomination of col smith; to compare small things with great, that has been conducted with as shamefull delay as the Presidential Election is like to be. can any thing be a stronger proof to the world, that the voice of the people, no nor their Hearts neither are in favour of either of the candidates as President— every day, imposes upon us more caution in expressing our sentiments— I hope the P— will be upon his gaurd, and keep Silence, for every word, look, and thought are strickly watchd & scrutinized— tho we have nothing to hope, or to fear, Yet I know it is best, that no advantage be gained of any of us
				I hope to get away in the morning without any ones knowing that I have been in the city.— Judge chase did not come on Yesterday— Judge cushing will be three days getting here— the President will be so much employd that I can scarcly expect a line from him—so you must write me all the news, who & who— Whilst I am in Philadelphia I shall see Thomas’s Letters—so I will not insist upon your writing daily to both—
				Present me kindly to all who inquire after me— Mrs Johnson & Family, Mrs Dexter Marshall and stodart in particuliar— affectionatly Your / Aunt

					A A—


Title: John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 14 February 1801
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

						14. February 1801.

				I last week informed you that I had withdrawn from Amsterdam all the stocks I held there, and had remitted to Mr: King, in London fourteen hundred pounds sterling, for which I authorised you to draw, and requested you to place the proceeds in the most advantageous manner; but not in any institution or fund depending upon our national Union; for the generality of our Countrymen are so far from participating in my sentiments upon this subject, that it is not prudent to rest one’s all upon it— I mentioned my preference that it should be placed in the State of Massachusetts because there is my home, and upon a foundation of more solid materials than paper— I am sensible that this is not so easily done, as merely to purchase a certificate of stock and that it requires much more time and more steady, and uninterrupted vigilance— But you complain in one of your letters that your trouble with my affairs is not sufficient to earn

your commission, and I am willing to relieve your delicacy, by asking you to sharpen your look out for an opportunity to strengthen the security without abating the profits of my property in your hands.— I am sure you have it in your power by this means to earn your commission as vigorously as your heart can wish.
				Do not mistake my meaning— When I use the liberty of urging your care and attention, it is not to be implied that I think that you have always shewn, insufficient. I am perfectly satisfied with your agency and in trusting now to you, every thing upon which I can depend for future subsistence, I give you the strongest possible proof of my satisfaction.
				As I would not have so large a sum kept entirely unprofitable any longer than is absolutely necessary you may place temporarily the money in any state bank or fund either of Massachusetts or Pennsylvania as you shall think most secure and most expedient.
				You will watch as you have hitherto successfully done for a favourable rate of exchange.— I do not exactly understand what the unit of exchange is between Philadelphia and London— The par, you say is 66 2/3 per ct:— But, if so, 72 ½ per ct: is an advantage not of six but of nine per cent— I expect soon your annual accompts and that will perhaps explain the matter, as much as is necessary for me to know.
				I am extremely anxious to hear of my dear father’s health, and my heart bleeds for the afflictions which were in so short a space crowded upon my mother— She has the never failing stay of religion and virtue— God grant they may have supported her in these times of severe trial.— My father has been the benefactor of his Country; and has been treated as the benefactors of their country always are— He was prepar’d for it and will bear it as a natural evil, without resentment, and I hope without complaint.
				Once more, ever yours.

					A.


Title: Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 15 February 1801
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear William
					Philadelphia 15th: Feby 1801.

				Your favors of the 10th: & 11th: instt: are received. We have heard of the proceedings in the Representative chamber as far as the 22d:

ballot, and we have admired that firmness, which puts the issue of the choice upon strength of nerves, rather than numbers. I have but little expectation, that the thing will go through, as it began— Some body will go over to the majority, but it is not easy to say or even conjecture, who this will be. When Dallas came home he had the audacity to say that he had seen a paper signed by Mr: Baer pledging himself to vote for Jefferson; this story was believed here until it was contradicted by the state of the Ballot. It now passes for one of Mr: Dallas’s Reports— Even the recent risk he ran for his life, when the Stage upset with the Cargo of Lawyers, on their return from Washington, did not deter him from circulating this groundless charge against Baer— The Aurora threatens to seize on the public arms and force down the man of the people, upon us—the desperation of the jacobins is almost indescribable, and I know not how soon it may shew itself in acts of tumult and violence— Yesterday I was walking in Chesnut street, in the middle of the afternoon, and passed three men, of whom I took no notice, at the time, but before I was beyond hearing distance, one of them, in a loud voice, said—“that cockade will be very little longer in fashion— It wont last but a few days more— might as well be laid by—[”] Knowing this discourse was addressed to me, I paused a step & turned round to look at my adversaries; they appeared to be sturdy red nosed Butchers, with each a piece of beef in his hand— After making a pretty correct observation of their persons, I walked on and they ceased talking. I have no doubt of being insulted more grossly than this if I continue to wear the Cockade, which I certainly shall do, so long as I have a head to wear a Hat— that is, if agreeable to myself— Therefore let the man, who would dare to tear it out, “look to it.”
				The Subscribers to the PFolio multiply gradually— Between 5 & 600, is the present number— The paper of yesterday has several articles of the Editor’s own—
				I have been looking for my Mother daily, for a week past, but it seems she had not left you on the 11th:—
				I hope you will continue to keep me informed of all tellable matters—
				With true esteem / Your

					T. B ADAMS—


Title: John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 February 1801
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Abigail

					My dearest Friend
					Washington Feb. 16. 1801

				Saturday night 9 O Clock and not before I recd yours of 13th. and the Letter to Thomas with it, brought here no doubt by mistake. I regret very much that you have not a Gentleman with you. The Skittish young Colt with you, is always timorous, but no harm will befall you or her I trust. The Weather and roads here, on Saturday Sunday and to day are the finest We have seen this year.
				The Election will be decided this day in favour of Mr Jefferson as it is given out by good authority.
				The Burden upon me in nominating Judges and Consuls and other officers, in delivering over the furniture, in the ordinary Business at the Close of a Session, and in preparing for my Journey of 500 miles through the mire, is and will be very heavy. My time will be all taken up.— I pray you to continue to write me. My Anxiety for you is a very distressing addition to all my other Labours.
				Our Bishop gave Us a good discourse Yesterday and every body enquired after you. I was able to tell them you had arrived on fryday night at Baltimore. I sleep the better for having the Shutters open: and all goes on well. I pray God to bless & preserve you.
				I give a feast to day to Indian Kings and Aristocrats.
				ever

					J. A


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

					my dearest Friend
					Philadelphia Febry 19 1801

				I reachd this city on twesday Evening. at Baltimore Leiut Parker came in to see Me, and offerd his service to me; I had engaged a carriage of Evans to take Me here with good horses and a carefull driver, for which I was to give him 80 dollors—or in proportion if I could not get across the Susquahannah I offerd Mr Parker a seat with me. he was very usefull to me and exerted himself very much or I should Still have been at the River; when we got there on sunday Evening, we found the River frozen over, but not hard enough for any but foot passengers, horses having fallen in attempting to cross. we sent over to See if Horses and a Carriage could be procured upon the other Side, but received for answer, that the Demand had been so great the week before, for Washington, that double Stages had run down all the Horses— the Night was cold, and mr Parker rose before the sun & tried Sending a Horse over. as he did not break through, he got spars fixd under the carriage, and Men to draw it over; some at the pole Some holding the Spars, & Some pushing behind. having effected this, the Horses were all led over, and then they put us in a boat, and drew us over the Same way; the Ice however breaking near the shore and letting the Men in above their Boots, I was thankfull for our Success. it Soon began to thaw, and no horses could pass in one hour.— we got on, and lodge’d at Christiana, Sit off early in the morning, with better roads than I expected. it began raining hard about two hours before we reach’d the city, continued through the Night, and all day yesterday, a mere flood. I rejoiced, that we had got through all the Creeks, which must now be impassible Townsend got to Baltimore on saturday night. the Horse very lame but I do not see that travelling has much increased it—but it would not answer to draw him. the Roads to N york are bad as possible after this Rain— I shall send him off to day to Make the best of his way home; whilst the baggage at mr staal was carrying upstairs, Townsend went to carry his horses to the stable. he put his portmanteau into the entry, but when he returnd it was taken off; and an umbrella belonging to one of the Gentlemen Lodgers— in his portmanteau he had put all his Money thinking it safer than in his pocket. that which mr Brisler gave him was also in his pocket Book, for I had paid his expences upon the Road; he had notes of hand to

the amount of 200 dollors, and all his Cloaths beside; the poor fellow lookd as if he had lost all his Friends. Mrs staal says She has lived Six years in the House, had the baggage of all the travellers who have come to the house frequently left for hours in the same place; and never lost any thing untill last week a pr of Boots were taken from the passage.—
				I intend Sitting out tomorrow if Mr Adams can be ready. the Roads are so bad that he has determined to accompany me to Nyork—
				I hear this morning the result of Monday twesday. I wish the Gentleman much joy and happiness with his Bride. I fear she will prove a very vixen to him; I Shall write to You as soon as I get to Nyork
				Yours affectionatly

					A A—


Title: Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 19 February 1801
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

					Dear Shaw—
					Philadelphia 19th: Feby 1801.

				We have been rejoycing with exceeding joy at the news of the result at Washington— Now we hope the Gentlemen will do something. I got your letter of Monday & at the same time was informed that the choice was finally made. Our former suspence was so uncomfortable, that any thing would have been considered a relief— It comforts me that New-England would not yield, but the rest have done better than nothing.
				I shall accompany my Mother to New York, where I may probably remain three or four days— You need not cease writing however, nor will I—
				Your’s

					T B Adams—


Title: William Smith Shaw to Thomas Boylston Adams, 19 February 1801
From: Shaw, William Smith
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

					City of Washington Feb. 19th 1801.

				I gave you the earliest information of Mr. Jeffersons election. Last night a mob of about fifty collected about the houses near to the capitol and compelled the inhabitants to illuminate them in honor to Mr. J. This passive submission of the federalists to the will of a rascally mob is in my opinion degrading in the lowest degree. I never would have submitted I would have died first. No menaces of the swinish multitude shall ever compell me to give me testimonials of approbation of men or measures, which I do not approve, but despise from my soul.— Much probably will be said and much clamor excited against the federalists for allowing Mr. Jefferson to be elected President, but I am not certain that they are not perfectly justifiable in leaving the ground which they had taken, when we consider that Mr. Burr did not cooperate in the least with their exertions or make any interest to be President in preference to Mr. Jefferson. So far from it, that he wrote a letter to Gen Dayton, received last Saturday, in which he asserts in the most unequivocal manner, that he would not be President to the exclusion of Jefferson.
				The President has nominated the judges for the four first circuits Mr Ingersoll is nominated chief Judge of the third circuit. The President wishes you to give him immediate information—so that if he does not accept, another gentleman may be appointed before the third of March. Mr Griffith & Gov Basset are the other judges for the 3d circuit. The Attorney General—Mr Kee and Taylor are nominated for the fourth Circuit. Judge Lowell is app nominated C. J. for the first circuit— Mr Wolcott one of the Judges for the 2d. Davis in place of Lowell & Otis in place of Davis. The Consuls to France are also nominated to the Senate Barnet for Bourdeaux, Forbes for Havre, Waldo for Nantes—Lee for Marseilles Griffith for Rouen. &c. &c. The house have been busily occupied on the bill for making appropriations for the ensueng year the since the decision of the election. Nothing decisive respecting Col Smith.— I send you one of Mr Blodgets pamphlets, which is not without considerable merit and which you will please to accept.
				I hope my Aunt has arrived in Phila. before this. Excepting the first day the weather was extremely pleasant and the roads must have been tolerably good they were better here than they had been any time this winter. I shall write to her by the next mail—but the fact is

that almost every moment of my time for these few days past has been busily occupied in official duty.
				Yours

					Wm. S. Shaw


Title: Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1801
From: Adams, Abigail
To: Adams, John

					My Dear Sir
					[21 February 1801]

				I write You once More from this city. the Trenton River is impassable, and has prevented my Sitting out. we hope however that the Rain may clear it. I sent Townsend of to day; I have heard Some of the Democratic rejoicing Such as Ringing Bells & fireing cannon; what an inconsistancy Said a Lady to me to day, the Bells of Christ Church ringing peals of rejoicing for an Infidel President! the People of this city have evidently been in terror, least their Swineish

Herd should rise in rebellion and Seize upon their Property & share the plunder amongst them; they have permitted them really to overawe them; I foresee some day or other that N England will be obliged to march their Militia to preserve this very state from Destruction—
				There is great uneasiness with the Merchants. they Say the senate by rejecting the article in the convention to which they have excepted, have plunged them into great difficultys— that they know not what to do— that a better convention as it respects Commerce could not have been made and why it should be hazarded by the senate they cannot conceive the difference Mr Breck told me it would make to this Country in one year, would be nine Millions of dollors— the Chamber of commerce meet this Evening, and send off an express tomorrow to the Senators of this state, hopeing that Something May yet be done; that the President May be requested to return the convention to the senate with his reasons, and by Means give the Senate an other opportunity of accepting it. the Mr Breck says that he wrote the Sentiments of the Merchants of this city to mr secretary otis requesting him to communicate them to mr Bingham & others, Whilst the convention was before the senate; they regreet that they did not exert themselves more
				I could not help smiling when Mr Breck told Me he had conversed with mr Wolcott, but could get no satisfaction, only mr Wolcott Said that there was no faith to be placed in French promisses treaties or conventions
				I have shall leave this city tomorrow I believe there is scarcly a Lady who ever came to the Drawing Room but has visited me, either old or young—and very many Gentlemen; as to a return of their visits, they cannot expect it; I believe they have made a point of it; who publishd my arrival in the papers I know not, but the next morning by ten oclock rainy as it was, they began to come and have continued it by throngs ever since— I thank them for their attention & politeness, tho I shall never see them again—
				adieu My dear Friend— I wish You well through the remainder of Your political journey— I want to see the list of judges— pray tell all who inquire after me
				With Love to William / yours affectionatly

					A A


Title: William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 25 February 1801
From: Shaw, William Smith
To: Adams, Abigail

						My dear Aunt
						City of Washington Feb 25th [1801]

					I have had the pleasure to receive your very kind letter of the 14th of Feb. at Baltimore, for which I pray you to receive the grateful offerings of an honest heart. I should not have neglected answering it, till this late date, had I not been uncommonly occupied in business, and had nothing to tell you, but what I wrote to Mr. Adams, whose letters I presume you have seen
					Soon after you left us the election was decided in favor of Mr. Jefferson for President. A majority of none of the New England States were in his favor. To be obliged to vote for J. or B. was, to be sure, placing the Legislators of our Country in a very responsible and delicate situation—not unlike a man in the chamber of a house that is burning—if he runs down stairs, he will probably be burnt in the flames, and if he jumps out of the window, he will clearly break his legs.— When Stewart announced the election in his paper, at the head of the paragraph, the eagle was reversed, with the motto e pluria uno. I ask’d him what he meant by it. His answer was

						[“]the eagle’s flight
						Is out of sight.”

					Gentlemen here speak confidently of the men to fill the executive departments. Sam Smith gives it with his own signature, that Maddison will be Secretary of State—Gallatin Secretary of Treasury Dearborn Secretary of War—and Levi Lincoln Attorney General. He told the Secretary of the Navy Mr Stoddert that that department had been twice offered him but that he could not accept—that Mr. J. would not receive his refusal and said, if he could not have men, for his ministers of the most respectable character and first talents the Country afforded, he would not accept of t[he] office of President.— I understand the democratic members of the house give a dinner this day in honor of Mr. J. They gave one to Duane on friday last.
					No laws of national importance have been enacted since you left

us. A bill has passed the house respecting this district, which I understand to be a mere system of judicature, only. The Senate have at last agreed to Col Smiths nomination, 18 & 8. The malice which Mr. H. has discovered on this occasion and the mean and unfair manner, which he has conducted through the whole business, deserves and ought to receive the most unequivocal scorn & contempt of the whole family.
					The President sen is very well—desires his best love to be presented to you—is so occupied in business that he cannot find time to write and if he could, says he should not dare to do it. We leave this city very early on Wednesday morning. Shiply & his wife go Tuesday
					With every sentiment of gratitude and respect / I am my dear Aunt / your dutiful nephew

						Wm S Shaw

					I have received a letter from Dr Tufts inclosing the [bill] from Frothingham, you requested, which I have recorded on the book. Friends at Quincy and Weymouth were all well on the 8th of February—


Title: Editorial Note
From:
To:

       The two documents which follow are virtually all that have survived pertinent to Adams’ early law studies, except for accounts in his diary. Document I, a fragment entitled “Ld Cokes Sayings,” cannot be dated with certainty, but the content suggests that it is some kind of epitome made by Adams during his early reading of Coke on Littleton.
       Document II is Adams’ Commonplace Book, a compendium of hypothetical cases and bits of legal wisdom arranged on a topical plan. In October 1758 Adams recorded in his diary that Peter Chardon, a rising young lawyer, “transcribes Points of Law into a Common-Place Book on Locks Modell.” The “Modell” was a plan devised by John Locke for arranging quotations under topical headings. Some time thereafter Adams began to keep the small notebook printed here. It has been tentatively dated 1759, partly on the basis of the Chardon remarks, and partly by the fact that it contains references to Adams’ neighbors in Braintree at this time, and to his father, who died in 1761. Moreover, the handwriting is the same as that of Adams’ diary entries of 1759.
       Adams did not collect quotations in his Commonplace Book, but what appear to be abstracts of pertinent passages drawn either from his reading in legal works such as Doctor and Student, Instructor Clericalis, and the reports, or from the notebooks of others at the bar. These abstracts Adams occasionally enlivened with hypothetical cases in which he substituted the names of family, neighbors, and acquaintances for the Does and Roes of the law. The passages are arranged alphabetically under key words; thus, an abstract involving more than one point of law may appear in several places in the book, perhaps in slightly different form each time.
       The topics covered are a revealing portrayal of the interests of a young lawyer fresh from the traditional struggle with Coke and other repositories of the law of real property and common-law pleading. Of the abstracts only a smattering deal with property and allied problems. There are numerous passages dealing with the sufficiency of pleadings, but the bulk of these, and indeed of the whole book, involve matters of contract—sufficiency of consideration and the nature of the actions of debt, covenant, and assumpsit. Adams also devoted much space to the Roman-law concepts of bailment and pledge, which in refined form were an important element of England’s developing commercial law. Whether Adams’ interest in these matters was purely practical, or marked the beginning of his later serious study of the civil law, their presence in his Commonplace Book suggests an awareness that the life of the law is less reason or experience than trade. That commercial matters were his principal field of study is confirmed by the complete absence of anything relative to torts outside of this area, or to criminal law.


Title: Adams’ Student Notes: Ca. 1758
From: Adams, John
To:

       Nunquam prospere succedunt Res humanae, ubi negliguntur divinae.
       Sex horas somno, totidem des Legibus aequis;
       Quatuor orabis, des Epulisque duas.
       Quod superest ultro sacris largire Camenis. Co. Lit. sec. 85.
       The student must know how to work into, with Delight these rough Mines of hidden Treasure.
       En la Ley. There be diverse Laws within the Realm of England.

       1. Lex Coronae.
       2. Lex et Consuetude Parliament!. Ista Lex est ab omnibus quaerenda, a multis ignorata, a paucis cognita.
       3. Lex Naturae.
       4. Communis Lex Angliae, or Lex Terrae.
       5. Statute Laws.
       6. Consuetudines. Customs reasonable.
       7. Jus Belli. The Law of Arms, War and Chivalry, in Republica Maximae Conferoanda, sunt Jura Belli.
       8. Ecclesiastical or Canon Law, in Courts in certain Cases.
       9. Law Civil, in certain Cases, not only in Courts Ecclesiastical, but in the Court of the Constable and Marshal, and of the Admiralty; in which Court of the Admiralty is observed, la ley Olyron. An. 5. R. 1, because it was published in the Isle of Oleron.
       10. Lex Forestae.
       11. The law of Marque and Reprisal.
       12 Lex Mercatoriae.
       13. The Laws and Customs of the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey and Man.
       14. The Law and Priviledge of the stannaries.
       15. The Laws of the East, West and Middle Marches, now abrogated.
       A prescious Collection of Cokes sayings.
       Nullum simile quatuor Pedibus currit. Utile per Inutile non vitiatur. Qui ex damnato Coitu nascientur, inter Liberos non computentur. Cujus est Solum, ejus est usque ad Caelum. Nescit generosa Mens Ignoratiam pati. Certum est, quod certum reddi potest. Ex Diuturnitate Temporis, omnia presumuntur solemniter esse Actae.
       Verba relata hac maxime operantur per Referantiam ut in esse videntur.
       Ipsae Legis cupiunt ut jure regantur. Ubi eadem Ratio ibi idem jus.