Title: From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 30 April 1802
From: Peabody, Elizabeth Smith Shaw
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Sister,
Atkinson April 31st 1802

I have been gratified by receiving two kind letters from you. No circumstance of joy or sorrow that affects my Sisters, can be uninteresting to me; not from an idle curiosity, but a wish to heighten the pleasures of life by participation, & lessen the misfortunes by sympathy & sincere affection. The same kind Parents nurtured our Infant Days, & taught us “all the Charities” of social life. In us, with the ties of relationship are interwoven similarity of Temper, & mental Taste, “A generous Friendship, which no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows—” And upon the arms of our family, should be inscribed, One in many.
I find that my fears were not groundless, that my Sister Cranchs long silence was occasioned by some afflictive occurrence in her family, for she is always so ready, & so good to write her absent friends, that if any length of time intervene, I conclude they are sick. She has indeed had distressing scenes—To perceive the harbingers of Death rapidly approaching, & to behold the last struggles of expiring nature even in a stranger are solemn, painful realities. At which humanity shudders. I rejoice in the recovery of the faithful Partner of her life. She has still to sing of mercy—Few have their affections more united, or lived happier than our Brother—May their lives be protracted an honourable example of connubial Love—
I was glad you hinted to Mr Peabody your opinion relative to the late donation of our Uncle. It might be received better from you, than from me—The good Dr. likewise has expressed his sentiments very freely, respecting my Son, & wishes it might be put in trust for him—I presume Mr Peabody will not hesitate to consent to a thing, we think really a piece of justice, & indispensable—If my Son only proves a useful good man, I can wish for no greater joy on earth—May angels guard him—
I have indeed been in a dissagreeable, dangerous situation, & a very humiliating one—I thought if I could only walk one step, & bear my weight, & not quiver, I should rejoice but if I only walked to the window it would agitate my whole frame, bring on cold sweats, distress for breath, & seem sometimes as if I were dying—Several of those dismal stormy nights I feared I should not see another day—I should sleep a little while, & then wake in universal distress—The Drs. say it is owing to a failure of the nervous fluid—But thanks to a kind providence I am greatly restored, my strength is in some measure recovered, & I can walk from room to room, almost as well as before my fall—
While I was so feeble, it was a comfort to me to have my dear Abby so well, but within a fortnight from the bad cold, & she cannot throw of a disorder like stronger constitutions—I hope it will not leave her, as she was last summer—Any check of upon the pores brings on a febrile heat—The measels is in every family in Haverhill, but have not reached here yet. Abbys  are so weak, that I should be very fearful of her taking it now, but I hope not to be very anxious, our portion is alloted—If my ancle was as well as it was last Fall, I would take Abby in the Chaise, & make the exchange you proposed with all my heart, but I dare not venture at present—
I should admire to have Cousin Susan, she reads well, & is so sensible, that I hope she would behave finely in the Academy—She will have nobody to tell her she is clumsy now—&ca—If you could let my son bring her, & take his Sister, I would endeavour to carry her back, & bring Abby if I am well enough—I should like to know your opinion, on account of fixing her cloathes. David Dexter was at Mrs Fosters, but heard nothing of the box of grafts. I hope we shall not lose them—
With sincere affection, I am your Sister
E Peab


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 4 May 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
Philadelphia 4th: May 1802

Your favor of the 23d: ult: accompanied by one for Mr: Newman, I received a few days since, on my return from Chester Court; where I had been attending the Quarter sessions of Delaware County, four days. A criminal cause of considerable importance, viz an indictment for perjury, was tried, and by invitation of the deputy Atty Genl: I took part on the side of the prosecution. There was room for a defence, and two of our Philada: lawyers were Counsel for the prisoner. I opened the cause on the part of the prosecution; stated the law and the facts we intended to prove. The examination of the witnesses lasted from 11 oClock in the forenoon ’till 11 at night, when the Court adjourned to the morning; the Counsel occupied the whole forenoon in speaking to the cause, and the jury went out between 1 & 2 oClock, where they remained until 10 o’Clock the next day, when they brought in a verdict of Guilty against the prisoner; whereupon his Counsel moved the Court, for a new trial, on several grounds, the strongest of which was a flaw in the Indictment; and the Atty Genl: admitting the exception to be fatal, the verdict was set-aside by the Court, which will put the Commonwealth to the trouble of another trial, provided a bill should again be found. It was formerly much the practise of the City lawyers to frequent the County Courts, but since there are two or three lawyers settled in each County town few of our young men persevere in the custom. Indeed there are some reasons against it, almost conclusive, one of which is, that during the first twelve or eighteen months, a man’s expences will consume more than his earnings, besides the chance of losing business in the City. The benefit’s are, change of scene; wholesome air, exercise &ca: and more frequent opportunities of speaking than are to be found in the City. I intend going this Spring to two other Courts in our neighborhood.
Mr: Joseph Hemphill, a member of Congress in our delegation, whose argument on the judiciary bill of this Session, obtained so much applause; has hitherto resided in the County of Delaware & frequented the Courts in his vicinity. He is a plain young man, both in dress & manners, but though he is usually considered as of the Society of friends, he is in reality of the Church of England. I saw & conversed with him often, and am much gratified by his acquaintance, he purposes coming very shortly to establish himself in the City, and I presume one of his inducements for so doing, is that our last gothick Legislature, has so districted the State as to throw all the federal ones Counties into a scale, with others, where Democracy is triumphant, whereby at the next election, unless a change of opinion be brought about in the mean time, every federalist will be excluded from the Representation.
Two of the Bankrupt Commissioners here are removed; viz Hopkinson & Richd Peters Junr: two others named in their stead; viz Mahlon Dickerson a New Jersey, Jacobin lawyer, who is settled here and Thomas Lieper, an Irish tobacconist, & ignorance personified his chiefest merit.
Peter Muhlenburg is to succeed George Lattimer in the Collector’s Office and all the subordinate offices in that department, will probably be new peopled. Thus you “see how we pippins swim.”
I thank you for the pamphlets you sent me. Bronson has published all the debates in Senate on the Judiciary, and I will send one, to my Mother by the first opportunity, as I promised to do. The publisher has the conscience to ask a dollar for a single copy, in boards.
I cannot divine, who wrote the pamphlet on “the views of a certain party.” It is a sensible work, but I agree with you, that I see no marks about it, of the hand to which it was ascribed. Some Nothern-man, I think, must have done it.
You enquire who writes the lounger in the P.F.? I believe there are several writers, but they are all invisible—Some are the productions of ladies.
Sam: Ewing, who is now leaning in my window, sends his best regards to you. Did you notice, some time ago, a Satire on some toasts which were drank at a feast given by R. Peale, in the Skeleton of the Mammoth? Ewing wrote it, at my instance, and it had a good effect.
With best love to all friends, I am, as ever / Your friend &ca
T. B. Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 16 May 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, John Quincy

Dear Brother.
Philadelphia 16th: May 1802

I received, at Norristown, while attending a County Court, your favor of the 25th: ult: with an enclosure for Old-school, which is already delivered to him. He is thankful for it, as well as for the translation of Bülow, which you will perceive he has begun to publish. The concluding sentence of the Editor’s introduction will excite your smile, as being the first instance, wherein he has indulged, even a complacent expression, in behalf of Republican freedom. He is now fully convinced, that an Editor of a public paper, in this Country, must learn to sooth, if not to flatter, the ruling passions of the multitude; that he must sometimes coax & intreat opinion, even where opposed to his own conviction; because mankind are very little disposed to hear their foibles censured with the severity of a Cato, or their justice, measured by the scale of an Aristides.
Oliver threatens to epistolise you for goodfellowship sake, and I assure him, you are not tardy of reply. His patronage, this year, is not equal to that of the last, though, in my opinion, the merit of his paper is greater. Do you ever discuss the topic, in any of your meetings?
In those volumes of letters, which you found in Holland I recollect many, which would bear publication; and Shaw can do nothing better than copy such as you may designate. What a sly old fox, was that Monsieur Franklin. I never read a more wary diplomatic document than the letter you sent.
I lately received from Mr: Charles Cushing Junr: of Boston, two notes of hand, drawn by the house of Forrest & Stoddert in favor of Mr: Charles House & endorsed by him. Mr: Cushing supposed that the house of Forrest & Stoddert was established in this City & therefore requests me to present the notes for payment.
I have written to him on the subject & requested further instructions, but have yet received no answer. I wish you would take the trouble to see him, and ask what I am to do with the notes. I believe the house of Forrest & Stoddert failed, and think it doubtful whether any thing can now be had from them. I should nevertheless wish to know what disposition I am to make of the Copies of notes. Mr: Cushing informed me, in his letter, that he had other documents in his possession, confessing the debt & promising payment.
With best love to your wife & all friends / I am dear brother / Your’s

T. B. Adams


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Catherine Nuth Johnson, 20 May 1802
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Johnson, Catherine Nuth

My dear Madam
Quincy May 20th 1802.

My Sympathizing Heart has borne a part in your sorrows, altho my Hand has been by sickness prevented from assureing of you by my pen; how Sincerely I mourn with you and your Family the recent dispensation of Heaven, which has taken from you the Husband of your Youth; the Friend and protector of your Maturer Years, and the Comforter of your declining Days.
The domestic virtues were all his own. Particuliarly attachd to his Family, his happiness was intimately blended with theirs—and it was evident to all who knew him, when the world shone upon him, and around him, how keenly he felt, and how severely he sufferd, from those combined circumstances, which he could not prevent, and which the injustice of Man inflicted upon him and his Family. To that inward malidy, he fell, an early and premature victim, and we are left to mourn, rather for the living than for him, who is far above the reach of those perplexing cares which rent his Heart assunder whilst living.
Unto that Being who has promised to be a Husband to the widow, and a Father to the fatherless, I commend you my Friend, and your Children, beseaching him to comfort and support you, under the heaviest stroke of his providence with which he hath been pleased to visit you.
whom the Lord loveth he chastneth. in judgement may he remember Mercy, and bind up your bleading heart and heal your wounded mind, is the Sincere and fervent prayer of / Your Sympathizing Friend
Abigail Adams


Title: From Thomas Baker Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 20 May 1802
From: Johnson, Thomas Baker
To: Adams, John Quincy

My dear Sir,
Washington May 20. 1802

General Forest has kindly given in the letter I inclose, his opinion on the doubt you suggest relative to the practicability of your joining in the execution of my Fathers Will. My ignorance of the testamentary laws of the State would not permit me to hazard the expression of any on this subject, & left me no other choice, than that of appealing for information to a friend, on whose experience in the settlement of deceased persons estates, I might rest the propriety of the application. The forms & proceedings in these cases, I am told differ essentially in the different States, & the rigid observance exacted to them by law, of executors, would unavoidably, under existing circumstances, subject you to much personal inconvenience, as well as occasion considerable delay in the preparing & passage of accounts & releases, to which your signature would be required to be affixed. Should this view of the subject, or the obstacles arising out of it, of which you are doubtless fully sensible, determine you to decline the trust, I flatter myself you will rest assured of my perfect acquiescence in, & submission to your decision, whatever it may be, which however I may regret the necessity of, my respect for you will always satisfy me is the most proper & equitable.
When I last addressed you my feelings were too painfully affected by the recent loss I had sustained, to allow me at that moment, to avail myself of your offer of advice since tendered in your esteemed favor of the 7 Inst. on a point in which as it relates more immediately to myself, I have not adopted any resolution by which I mean to be governed. I feel a delicacy in disclosing the difficulty, under which I be, lest, in the event of your entertaining a contrary impression, you should suppose me to be actuated by motives of a personal nature, inconsistent with the respect I owe the memory of my Father, or the consideration due to the interest of those it would henceforth be my Pride not less than my duty to guard from every evil. It is, in sincerity, the uncertainty which way I can best promote this Interest, which occasions the present application; as I am conscious that any hasty decision on my part, might subject me to imputations I never mean designedly to incur, & from which I shall at all times rely on your testimony to absolve me—
My Fathers Affairs have long been in a very deranged & perplexed condition. The relation in which he stood to Wallace & Muir, & the state of their dispute you are already acquainted with. You likewise know that it was on the recovery of this Property, so unjustly withheld by them, that he relied for the extinguishment of his debts, as well as for the support of his family. This reliance was vain; the anguish of mind attendant in the disappointment sent him, I fear, prematurely to the Grave. I am not so vain as to imagine that I could effect a settlement of claims so complicated & dispersed. My pretensions to legal & mercantile information do not qualify me for the task, & tho’ my wishes accord, & every passion of the human heart prompts me to fulfil the wish of my departed Parent, & to see justice done to his helpless family, I cannot help, in a cause where the welfare of so many is at stake, pausing, ere I listen to the dictates of my own untutored judgment. Your friendship for my father, & offer of services to us all, have induced me to solicit your advice on the expediency of my acting as an Executor to the Estate, otherwise no presumption of mine, would have justified the liberty of my referring to you for a solution of my doubts; on the score of personal consideration. The destitute situation of the family too painfully admonishes me of the imperiousness of the obligation, by which I am bound to extricate them from their embarrassments, to suffer me to hesitate, about the means of doing it, did I apprehend those means were commensurate to the object proposed.
Should I have erred in my exception, to joining in the trust I hope you will support any plan you may deem expedient.
Love to my Sister.Your obliged & Affection Sert
Thos. B. Johnson
Dr. Sir
I subjoin the copy of a letter from a Gentleman of the Law to me, with the form of a Renunciation as recommended by General Forest. It must be attested by a Notary Public with the Seal of his Office impressed.


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 23 May 1802
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Thomas
Quincy May 23 1802

William Shaw was here to spend the Sabbeth, and brought with him his Letters from you; he shew me that in which you related the disaster which befell you by a fall from your Horse. I shudderd when I found how narrow an escape you had for your Life, and thank Heaven for your preservation. I was glad that I knew not of it untill you had recoverd; your Brother said not a word of it to me; yet I thought when he asked me if I had received a Letter from you in the course of the week? that it had more meaning than usual in the question—and it frequently recured to me in the course of that day.
I am affraid my dear Thomas that a small share of vanity in Horsemanship might lead you into the danger. you might think yourself equal to manageing a vicious restif animal and the Beast prove too powerfull for you. In future do not trust so bad a Servant.
I am fully of your opinion with respect to your Brother, and have too frequently exprest it, to be implacated as that part of the Family who would acquiese in his being sit up as a Rep to congress. With you I say, whatever the State may think proper to call him to within the State, I wish him to serve them with his best Services and talents—but to give them to the winds, with so little hope of their becomeing a favorable gale, the current & tide sitting against him, I cannot consider it a duty, and I am sure it cannot be his interest Mr Mason it is said will decline going again, and he is talkd of as his successor & will undoubtedly be chosen if he does not prevent it. If there was a probability of his being seconded even in this State the thought would be more tolerable. I shall soon see how hollow the professions of, a Great Man I cannot call him, but of mr Jefferson were, when he told me that if he should be President, nothing would give him more pleasure than to render to me or my Family any service in his power—and the first opportunity he has of manifesting it, will be I doubt not, in removeing your Brother as commissoner, and giving the place to one of his own Sect, for the time is not yet arrived when the only questions will be, is he honest is he capable?
I cannot however but think that cormarants devour him, and that all his better intentions are swallowd up in the intollerant Spirit of Malice and Revenge goaded on by those who hold a Rod over him—There is a little corner of my Heart where he once sit, as a friend whom I esteemed and loved for his real or imagined benevolent propencities, from whence I find it hard wholy to discard him. Notwithstanding I pitty his weakness and abhor those principles which govern his administration—
Since I wrote to you, poor Mr. Johnson is gone Wounded in mind, dejected and deprest he has fallen a sacrifice to the perplexity of his affairs; and has left a helpless distrest family. I feel for them, most Sincerely—nor do I know what will become of them.—
Your Brother, Sister and George are here. She past the week with me. George is a pleasent child, grave as his father, but quiet and looks wise, fine intelligent eyes—runs alone—Susan I have put to a Boarding School in Milton to mrs Cranch. She was B Palmer. Your Brother has gained so much flesh you would hardly think him the same Man. His mind is more at ease—and he will do well. You dont say any thing about becomeing Farmer—yet if you was to see how delightfull the Country looks you would be almost tempted—
We are all in pretty good Health, meazles in the family excepted—We have two of our labouring Men sick with it
My kind Regards to old friends and acquaintance whom I remember with pleasure—
I am my dear / Thomas your affectionate / Mother
Abigail Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Baker Johnson, 27 May 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Johnson, Thomas Baker

Dear Sir.
Boston 27. May 1802.

I received last evening your favour of the 20th: instt. enclosing that of General Forrest, and the opinion of your legal counsel respecting my taking a part in the Execution of your late parent’s last Will—From these papers I observe that by the laws of Maryland, it is utterly impossible for me in my present situation to accept the trust or act in the capacity of an Executor in this case. I therefore now enclose you a renunciation conformable to the directions required. But I repeat again the tender of any assistance or advice in my power to advance the settlement of the estate, and the interest of your family.
As you are desirous that I should express my opinion respecting your acceptance of the trust and undertaking the Execution of the will, I shall give it with candour and sincerity, according to the impressions of my mind upon such information as I possess in the case. I think therefore that it would be most expedient for you to undertake it, and to devote all your assiduity and application of mind towards the accomplishment of it—By some late letters from your mother I observe that the prospect of obtaining a favourable and advantageous settlement of the estate is fair and promising; that it requires only the most unwearied and constant attention, and perseverance. This, no person has so strong a stimulus to bestow, or so good means, of giving to the subject, as yourself and you will have the continual aid of your mother’s advice, whose interest and that of her family is so deeply involv’d in the final arrangement of this business; and who will be with you to take advantage of every circumstance which may occur to promote the final settlement—
So far as questions of law or mercantile transactions may be connected with your transactions you will have the benefit of advice from your relations, and your father’s friends who are perfectly conversant with both, and a regular lawyer may be employed as agent for conducting all the formal parts of the administration—It is however of extreme importance that the business should not be left entirely to the management of a lawyer—The constant superintendence and indefatigable solicitude of some person immediately and strongly interested to obtain a settlement, as speedily and advantageously as possible, is of such imperious necessity in this, and all cases of a similar nature, that the eventual issue must depend upon it, more than upon any other circumstance whatsoever.
Upon taking the administration and proving the will, all the property left in your father’s possession at the time of his decease, will come to your hands—But of all this property you must doubtless render to the orphan’s Court a special and regular account—I presume your mother will be the natural and proper guardian; appointed for your sisters under age—And if it can be done consistently with the laws, I think the estate should be represented as insolvent—This I presume will not prevent the final payment of all the debts, when the settlement shall be obtained, but it will secure some allowance from the estate left, for the support of your mother & sisters, and will prevent your being charged with any debts beyond such property as shall come to your hands.—The sooner your prove the will the better, for untill that is done no part of the property left can be touched or meddled with, without making the person doing so accountable for it afterwards upon the administration.
I am with the greatest regard and esteem, Dear Sir, faithfully your’s
John Quincy Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 June 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Brother
Quincy 13. June 1802

If your two letters of 16 May, and 3. instt: have hitherto remained unanswered you must impute it to a multiplicity of occupations, which for the last month have so entirely engross’d my time, as scarcely to leave me a moment for the pleasure of conversing with my friends either by word of mouth or by epistolary conveyance. The address to the fire Society, you doubtless received as soon as was practicable after its publication, and if you have had the patience to read it, there is no occasion for me to say any thing further to you about it—Of its reception I have no reason to complain. But as owing to the Bostonian love of Orations, which Oldschool told you of, there have been two public discourses delivered there already since my address; this as you will readily imagine is now sunk deep in the vale of Oblivion—
From the 26th: of last month our General Court have been in Session, and you will find the temper of their politics, in the answers of the two Houses to the Governor’s Speech—You will observe I was not upon the Committee of the Senate for drawing up the answer—There was not much debate except upon the clause which declares so decisively in favour of an independent judiciary. This was objected against, as containing an oblique censure upon the famous Acts of the late Session of Congress—The clause was however retained by a large majority 19 to 11.—Indeed out of the 40 Senators there are only 12 of the established political church—The rest are all of the Sect.—In the house of Representatives the majority is likewise decisive, and larger than it was the last year.
The people in general are however warmer than the legislature, and in their disposition of disgust against the federal administration require a curb rather than a spur—If the Majority in Congress continue to drive so like the driving of Jehu—for two years more; they will find it necessary to raise troops, again, and the more or less General, will have occasion for all the precision of his military powers.—Yet hitherto there is not an idea formed of organized resistance, nor is there the remotest danger of any such attempt, unless the Church should continue its career  of violence not merely against the sect, but against the territory—The sentiment that New England is systematically degraded, injured, and contsumed by the federal administration is that upon which our people feel the sorest, and indeed the thing is so obvious and so glaring, that the jacobins themselves can scarcely have the face to deny it—Most of them indeed feel it as much as the federalists, and the church unless it shall reform its practice, will certainly not be able to keep them within the pale.
Thus you see what has become of my resolutions to renounce the career of politics. I must confess it, with some confusion of face—I have again suffered myself to be launched upon the tempestuous sea, contrary to the dictates of my better judgment, and my full conviction that it is all vanity and vexation of spirit—My private affairs must suffer of course, and my professional pursuits will be much impeded, if not altogether arrested.
Oldschool I observe is publishing Bülow’s tour at full length; and from the large portions which he admits into every paper, I presume his assistance from other quarters is very small—I think his cause is irretrievably gone, and question whether he will be able to complete the year—I wish it were in my power to give him more effectual aid, but for the present I find it utterly impossible—He has not publishd the letter from old Franklin which I sent you—I will send on some more as soon as I can, but Shaw is just now so busy that he has not time to copy.
Your’s affectionately.
J. Q. Adams
P.S. I want you to send me by the first opportunity, two copies of Mr: Jefferson’s book, upon the rules and forms of the Senate of the United States—


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 June 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
Philadelphia 13th: June 1802

I received your short note, accompanying the Oration delivered by my brother, before the Charitable fire Association, and thank you for the promptness of your attention in transmitting it. The perusal of it was a rich repast, and though its merit did not surpass, it fully equalled my expectations.
I am yet to hear from you, in answer to some of my late communications. You have certainly lost that Kakoethes Scribendi, which was wont to beset you so easily. I remember to have predicted your recovery from the disorder, at no very remote period, but you were then incredulous. You ought not however, wholly to relinquish the habit of writing to your friends, for they Sensibly feel the loss of your once frequent addresses. I beg of you, if you can give me any private information, to impart it speedily. What have you done with the charge, & the last letter? My destiny is hard & somewhat peculiar. If constancy & perseverance ever deserved to triumph, I think mine one of those cases, which has strong claims to favor and victory. God only knows when. Nil desperandum, is a good motto, in some cases, but nil sperandum is the destiny of a galley-slave. I know not which motto is most appropriate to me.
The newspapers will have informed you, that a work entitled the history of the Administration of John Adams, and an account of the Suppression of the same, by Col Burr, are now selling at New York & at this place.
I have submitted to the drudgery of wading through both of these productions, and I can aver, that I never met with so lame, bald & contemptible performances, on any subject. The Author, (if indeed he deserves the name of author, who has ransacked the Jacobin journals for materials, and no other source, and then dignifies them with the title history) was so well aware of the nothingness of his compilation, that he became the willing instrument of Col Burr who hired him to strangle his own bastard; but falling out, afterwards with his employer—he reveals the murder, which of course never took place, since the original history comes out at the same moment with the account of its death. Now this is a Specimen of Irish logic; but the work was made to sell.
There are hundreds of libellous expressions & passages interspersed throughout, but what is a little Singular is, that Col. Hamilton & General Pinckney are both extolled in character & person. Their Biography is taken from federal newspapers and interlarded, here & there with an abusive or scandalous anecdote. The utmost malignity & scurrility of the writer is directed at John Adams, but there is no word of it, that will be credited by a single human being. The newspaper of last night says, the noted John Wood, author &ca: has absconded.
We have just entered upon Summer–weather here, and we shall have enough before it leaves us—apprehensions of Yellow fever are Stronger this year than ever, on account of the troops in the West Indies.
Friends here are well; remember me kindly to all.
Your’s truly
T. B Adams.


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 20 June 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
ante 20 June 1802

I have done little else but scribble for three weeks past, either letters of business or friendship, and have not found time to write scarcely a line to you.
I made enquiry for Mr. Jenkins, now Lord Hawkesbury’s work, which you wrote for, but cannot procure it here. Yesterday I delivered to Mr: William Sell two of young Charles Jared Ingersolls tragedy, one for you and one for my Mother. Dickins avers that he made up a complete sett of the Port-folio for Mr: Toon: Johnson and sent it by the post, upon the first complaint made by him. I spoke to him about Mr: Mason also.
When you see Mr: Eben: Gay, please to present him my best regards, and assure him that I shall be always ready to reciprocate the kind of favor he conferred on me some weeks ago; whenever I have an opportunity.
It gives me pleasure to hear that you are so eligibly situated in Boston, since I removed my own office & lodgings. I also feel much better satisfied than before. Mr: & Mrs: Rutter often speak of you & desire to be remembered in my letters.
The family in which I dwell is almost entirely dispersed, the lodgers I mean—Dennie lives out near the bettering house, which you know is close by the Hospital, at his Printer’s, and we see him but seldom—Pearce embarked on board a ship bound for Canton & a trading voyage, on Monday last, & I left the house nearly a fortnight ago.
You will have seen a partial report of the proceedings before the Circuit Court, in the case of Hollingsworth vs Duane—in the Port-folio—I know not who is the reporter, & I disavow it because you might mistake it for mine—The Sentence of the Court was highly dignified and indeed the whole conduct of the Judges during a long Session, reflected great honor upon this newly organized tribunal—If you see the Gazette of the United States the Sentence must have met your eye—Duane’s period is nearly expired.
Your friends here are well—Have you read Abraham Bishop’s Oration? If not, get it. Thomas Paine is a fool to him in point of Demagogic—
I am / Your’s

T B. AdamsRemember me kindly to Mr: & Mrs: Foster.


Title: From Hannah Phillips Cushing to Abigail Smith Adams, 25 June 1802
From: Cushing, Hannah Phillips
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My Dear Madam
Scituate June the 25th. 1802.

I ought long before this to have acknowledged & thanked you for your excellent letter received at Midn., without the pages having been poluted by the inspection of a Demo. your letters as well as conversation are always very interesting to me; & it is a painful thought that in all probability I shall but seldom enjoy the later. If we resided within five or six miles of each other my friend would accompany me once a week, & pass two or three hours in the society of those we so highly esteem. How many pleasant days have I spent with you at the Seat of Government? (A place that now has no charms for me as such). I sometimes fear that I then intruded too much on your time. I have also passed many happy hours in the company of Mrs. Washington, & Mrs Jay, which cannot be repeated in this life, but their memories will ever be dear to me. It was my determination to have visited Quinsey, & Boston, soon after our return, but I took a severe cold at the close of the journey, which confined me some weeks, & now that pleasure must be defered till October, when Mr Cushings Official duty will call him forth. Many letters have passed between the Judges respecting the last Judiciary Law. The Chief Justice says “Mr Washington states it as his opinion that the question respecting the constitutinal right of the Judges of the supreme Court to sit as circuit judges ought to be considered as settled & should not again be moved.” “I have no doubt myself but that policy dictates this decision to us all. Judges however are of all men those who have the least right to obey her dictates. I own I shall be privately gratified if such should be the opinion of the majority & I shall with much pleasure acquiesce in it; though if the subject has never been discussed, I should feel greatly embarased about myself. I have also received a letter from Judge Chase, whose opinion is directly opposite to that of Judge Washington, but he expresses an earnest desire, which he has requested me to communicate to every member of the bench, that we should meet in Washington, for the purpose of determining on the course of conduct to be pursued, in August next, when he is directed to hold a sort of a dem session at that place.” Judge Chase has sent Mr Cushing a copy of his letter to the Chief Justice. It is very lengthy. I will give you a short extract. “I greatly prefer a personal conference to a communication by letter; & in that case I think it would be proper to lay the result before the President, as our predecessors did in a similar case. I feel every desire to yield my opinion to my Bretheren; but my conscience must be satisfied, although my ruin should be the certain consequence. My Office is necessary for the support of a numerous family; but I cannot hesitate one moment between a performance of my duty, & the loss of Office. If my Brethren should differ from me in opinion & I should only doubt, what conduct I shall pursue, will readily submit my judgment to theirs; which I very highly respect. Without any reserve I will give you my present thoughts; holding myself at perfect liberty to change them, on being convinced that they are erroneous—Mr C reply to Judge Chase I insert although I have not asked his permission for it.
“I received your favor with a copy of your letter to the Chief Justice on the subject of the Judiciary containing much good sense & argument. But can We, after Eleven years practical Exposition of the Laws & Constitution by all federal Judges, now say, that Congress has not power to direct a Judge of the Supreme Court to act with a District Judge in an inferiour Court, with or without a Commission, yet making one of the Supreme bench to hold appellate Jurisdiction? I think we cannot.
“As to being instrumental (by taking the Circuits) in violateing the rights of the Judges & the Constitution, I do not see that it carries that inference. It is not in our power to restore to them their Salaries or them to the exercise of their Offices. Declining the Circuits will have no tendency to do either. We violate not the Constitution. We only do duties assigned us by Constitutional authority. Suppose we apply or represent or remonstrate to the President; what can he say? ‘Gent. There is the Law I cannot control Congress.’ And you & I know We—cannot control the Majority.”
Judge Patersons answer to the Chief Justice on the subject is as follows. “On the constitutional right of the Judges of the supreme court to sit as circuit judges, my opinon coincides with Judge Washington’s. Practic has fixed construction, which it is too late to disturb. If open for discussion, it would merit serious consideration; but the practical exposition is too old and strong & obstinate to be shaken or controled. The question is at rest. If this should be the prevailing opinion, & their be nothing more in the case, our meeting would be of no use.” I might have had the manners to have inserted this before my Husbands; but we must overlook small errours in these times. I am rejoiced to hear thad Judge & Mrs Chranck have arrived. It would give us pleasure to see them here. I hope we shall not be disappointed in a visit from you & Miss Smith this summer. Pleas to present my respects to the President. I am with sincerity your / Affectionate Friend
H Cushing


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 28 June 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
Philadelphia 28th: June 1802

I am desired by Mr: Reed to be instrumental in procuring your services, touching the enclosed draught or order; which, when paid, you may remit, either directly to Reed, or to me; though, as I have no interest in the affair I Should not wish to be any way responsible, in case of failure or accident.
Your favor of the 23d: with the enclosures, has been in hand a few hours—and I have read the report of the Case, which was tried in Rogue Island, Since it came. I can find no language in which to express the emotions of indignation, rage & contempt, which were alternately excited by the perusal of it. While I was at Paris, I saw, at one of the small theatres, a representation of the “Revolutionary tribunal in the time of Robespierre,” and the impression it made on my mind, was revived by almost every page of this Report. It is like no other thing, “that is in heaven above, in earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth.” The howling wilderness does not contain more barbarous & Savage ignorance than fell from the Prince of the Potowatamies, called the Chief Justice of the Court of Com-Pleas for the County of Providence.
I will send you “the history,” by the first opportunity; perhaps by water. Col: Burr never contracted to pay $1000 for its suppression—He may have offered to give something, which never was given, but the rivalship of Clinton must have come out, at all events. The narrative was only a sort of warming pan to the history.
I am pleased to hear, that J. Q. A—was the cause of the failure of the Statue to Washington, by Substituting marble for bronze. I do not believe he intended to defeat the plan, by this suggestion, but I am the better pleased on that account. I am So perfectly disgusted with every attempt, that has hitherto been made to do honor to the memory of Washington, in this Country, that I never will expend a single cent towards a project of this nature, with my own consent, hereafter. I should like very well to speak my thoughts of my Countrymen, with as much freedom as the vagrant Bülow—I would not tell lies as he does, but the truth, plain & unvarnished, is libel enough upon us, God knows. If you find any thing attrabilious in this remark, charge it to the Report you sent me.
I have not time to Say all I wish now—Did N—— seem in usual spirits? What said she of the ——? I am Sometimes half distracted at my cursed hard fate: But then again, I think it is unmanly; unphilosophical; weak; pertaining to human frailty; out of the reach of all which, I ought to be; but which I am not; and I hope & trust in God I never Shall be so long as I live.
In truth & sincerity, / Your’s
T B A—


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 6 July 1802
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Son
Quincy July 6th 1802

My Heart shall not reproach me so long as I live said the ssalmist; alass I cannot say so, for mine hourly reproaches me with not having written to you for a long time; I have to thank you for the volm of debates in Senate upon a Question so interesting to every Lover of Justice, every Welwisher to the Stability of our constitution, that the termination of it, must be considerd as having inflicted a Mortal wound to upon that constitution each Man had Solemnly Sworn to Support: if there Hearts do not reproach them; it must be oweing to the callous state of them; to being given up to blindness of Eyes, or what is worse, willfully and witingly doing injustice, and future legislatures cannot fully remedy the evil, even tho they should wish and desire it—The Stain is fixed, the Mischief is effectual as it respects those who are removed from office—Tho Justice appears to have fled from our Country—She has a permanent Residence in an habitation not made with Hands Eternal and immutable—There we must look for her surrounded with Mercy, without partiality, or Hypocracy.
You have seen and read, and justly appreciated the History of the late administration as it is termed, and the Suppression of it by the vice—The latter I have read, the Booksellers all advertize them, but Sell twenty of the Suppression to one of the History—Burr will be better known by it, and his duplicity become more obvious than ever—neither can possibly injure the late administration in the Eyes of any one, whose opinion is of any value How are we to estimate an other Character, who whilst he professes to have an abhorence to Burr, is permitting a paper Said to be under his immediate direction, to wash the Ethiopian white? Are all means lawfull to accomplish the views of Ambition? So thought Mackbeth, and So acts Buonaparty, but mark the end—Give Religion to the winds—and what tye is found strong enough to bind man to his duty, to restrain his inordinate passions? Honour a phantom, moral principal, feeble and unstable—nothing but a firm belief and well grounded assurence that Man is an accountable Being, and that he is to render that account to a Being who will not be mocked, and cannot be deceived, will prove a sufficient Barrier, or Stem the torrent of unruly passions and appetites, nor are we safe a single moment, when we commit our interests into other Hands.
Mr Shaw sent you the address deliverd by your Brother at the request of the Charitable Fire Society; I knew it must be good. I expected injenuity, polishd stile &c But the manner of delivery far exceeded my expectations, and that of his most intimate Friends. he justly received great applause, and the little work has had a rapid Sale and circulation—
our Friends Judge & Mrs. Cranch and Family are on a visit to their Friends here,. with them came Mrs Johnson and her daughter Caroline. Mr Cranch was obliged to return to attend the courts, but will be here again in Sep’br—
I should be very glad my dear Thomas if it was in your power to make us an annual visit. I am some times led to inquire, why are the Gifts of fortune so unequally distributed!? and to think the world has been very unkind to my Children—but virtue honour and integrity are theres. these are Riches of more value than Silver or Gold—
we are all well. / most affectionaly your Mother
Abigail Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 14 July 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

Dear Mother
Philadelphia 14th: July 1802

I have received and thank you for your favor of the 6th: currt. This day, twelve months ago, I left Philadelphia to visit my friends, in N. England, but however strong my inclination to see them often, I must forego that gratification for the sake of bettering my condition here. Should any serious cause occur, such as the yellow fever, (of which we have already had some alarm), which should make it dangerous to abide here, I shall then set my face towards a more healthful dwelling, and perhaps renounce the design, to which I have hitherto so pertinaciously adhered, of making this City my permanent residence.
You notice the jealousies, which are daily disclosing themselves, between the chiefs of the prevailing Sect. They are indeed worthy of remark, as they have a tendency to display the characters of principals, no less than of subordinate agents. Here is that John Wood, who falls out with Duane, and they begin to expose each other’s villainy, in print. There is that J T Callender, who wrote “the prospect before us,” so much praised and extolled by the Jacobins, and who disagreeing with his employers about the wages of his Sins, now comes out, with his “secrets worth knowing,” which for your amusement I herewith enclose. This unprincipled Scoundrel, who was actually caressed by Jefferson, until he became importunate for his recompense, may be believed when he testifies against himself, however unworthy of credit on other Subjects, and when he confesses his own venality, we must suppose that he knew to whom he was indebted for the bribe. The low & dirty malignity of this transaction, if Jefferson was really guilty of it, ought to blast his name & fame to all eternity. But what else can we expect from “a man of the people”?Burr & Hamilton are alike inimical to my father; and though they could agree in nothing else, they are both glad to see & hear him traduced.  Woods testimony goes thus far.  There cannot be a coalition between their adherence, and if the breach with Burr & the Republicans widens, Clinton or McKean will throw him out.  It seems that Jefferson thinks Burr ought not to be travelling about, so much, and it begins to be understood that Burr would have willingly been chosen President, by the Representatives.
There is an abusive paragraph in the Aurora of the 13th. currt: partly aimed at JQA, and partly at the junto. I knew not whence Duane got this, unless from some of the Boston correspondents—He did not write it. It made me angry when I read it, and heaped one more coal of fire upon that miscreants head. The defeat of the bronze Statue of Washington, is attributed to JQA’s amendment, and the paragraph says there was zeal & activity displayed on the occasion by the mover—You will have a better idea of the matter from reading the paper itself, which I send you, with my best love to the old woman.
Your’s
T B Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 25 July 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Brother.
Quincy 25. July 1802.

In point of form I know not how the balance of epistolary correspondence between you and me stands; and it is altogether immaterial, having at present some leisure and the prospect of more, I cannot employ it to better advantage than in adding to the frequency of communication with you.
My wife has recently received a letter from you, and has answered it within these two days, with an invitation to you to come and spend the remainder of the summer with us. She gave this invitation in my name as well as her own; but I cannot be easy without repeating it under my own hand—If the fever at Philadelphia should really disappear, as from our latest accounts we have some reason to hope, you had much better be here amusing yourself between Boston and Quincy, than boiling upon that grid-iron of Penn—If it should spread, you cannot stay there, and surely you can have no retreat preferable to my house—At least you will find none by the choice of which you can confer so much pleasure.
I am obliged to Oldschool for the handsome manner in which he has spoken of the address; and I am sorry to see that his paper is so rapidly dying of a consumption—So totally destitute of all support from sources which tend in this country to circulate periodical prints, his day must be fixed; and a short one too—I wish it were in my power to prolong his life.
You told me in one of your late letters, that Rule-New-England, was a sentiment as obnoxious to Pennsylvania federalists, as Rule Virginia—I can readily conceive that; but there is a still stronger objection against it—The sentiment is fundamentally wrong—It is substituting a part for the whole—It is making one great interest, the slave or the tool of another, and every system of administration founded upon such a principle, must in its nature be oppressive—But it must be confess’d that the Pennsylvania federalists have been so active, so industrious and so successful in support of the common cause, they are even now sacrificing themselves with so much devotion, and making such powerful and disinterested exertions for it, that the mere idea of New-England’s rule, would be unjust beyond measure.—New-England shews three states where the honourable and just principles of federalism have at least maintained their ground; where the State Legislature’s and Executive’s have not sacrificed to the Gods of delusion and democracy—where the men and the measures which have produced the present prosperity of this Country, are still held in honour, and where the federalists have not in a selfish and lifeless despair abandoned the public and its interests to political impostors and United Irishmen—to the lying fifty-dollar men, and their paymasters—When the sturdy spirit of New-England federalism shall be so far subdued and degraded, as to suffer all these things without daring to utter a sigh against them, without presuming to vote for a candidate of virtuous mind and manners against some staggering Silenus of democracy—then! then my good friends and fellow-citizens who call yourselves Pennsylvania federalists, New-England if she will take my advice shall come to you for rulers—Then! at least she will disclaim all pretension to rule, herself, for she will have no principles to rule by.—Pray how stands the prospect of your election for Governor?
You see my letter is dated from Quincy—It has become almost a necessary of life for me to come out on Saturday in the afternoon, and breathe a little fresh air untill Monday morning—The tranquility of the place affords me relaxation and relief from the perpetual agitation and hurry of the week. The wharf below gives me an excellent opportunity for the sea-bath, and I pass the leisure time of the day in the library reading the moral treatises of Plutarch in Amyots old french translation, or the letters of Madame de Sevigné—I am now writing in it; and if all my poetical ideas were not irrecoverably drown’d, the prospect from the window where I sit, and the music of the birds upon every tree, would inspire such thoughts as the Muses are wont to impart, as effectually, as were this delicious pasture the vale of Tempe, the rippling stream I hear, the waters of Helicon, and those feathered songsters the sweetest nightengales of Arcadia.
Whitcomb and his wife are out here upon a visit, and the sight of her portly person as she passes along reminds me of your question some time since, how they come on? Whitcomb is doing very well in his business, and making money fast—So that he thrives in all sort of ways
Your mother has just shewn me a letter from you, noticing among other things a paragraph in the Aurora pointed partly against me—I wonder that it should have had a sting, in your estimation, for when I first read it, I was indebted to it for a hearty laugh.—It was such a whimsical compound of lies and blunders, such a hotchpot of mistake and wilful falsehood, and withal so free from all mixture of wit as well as truth, that it gave me not a little diversion—I hope the wholesale dealer in slander gets such paragraphs as that dog-cheap, if not thrown into the bargain— Else his œconomical reputation will stand but a poor chance in the long run.
The old rope that bound together the faggots of democracy has not been able to stand the wear and tear of a single year—It has broken asunder by its own rottenness, and we are to see what substitute will be found to gather up and tie the bundle again—The Country will not suffer by the dissolution of the faction—Her only danger is from its Union—You observe truly that the New-York Caesar and Pompey, as well as the bank-bill philosopher, all appear to have taken equal delight in seeing the object of their common hatred libelled—but there is another observation which the late disclosures have impress’d with equal force on my mind, which is that all that infamous ribaldry poured upon him in such torrents for such a series of years, is thus ascertained to have been purchased and paid for by his personal enemies and rivals—Whether the people will see and reflect upon this is of no consequence—At least posterity will not be duped by the smiling villains of this age, and eternal Justice though late will assert her rights.
Your’s faithfully


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, July 1802
From: Adams, John
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

Dear Thomas
Quincy July 1802

I am much alarmed at the Intimations in the public Prints of the Appearance and prevalence of the Fever in Phyladelphia. Anxiety for the public in all our great Cities as well as in Philadelphia, is not So easily removed as our concern for your Person may be by your own discretion, in removing immediately from the Scene of danger. It will be a favourable moment to make a Visit to Us. I long to See you and to converse with you on various Subjects: but especially on your future prospects. Come to N. York by the Stage and to Providence by Water, which you may do in a few days and you will not only be out of danger of the Pestilence, I hope, but will See prospects of Life as well as of nature more pleasing than you can have in Philadelphia.
affectionately yours
J. Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 August 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, John Quincy

Dear Brother
Philadelphia 5th: Aug: 1802

I received yesterday your cover dated the 30th: ult: enclosing a packet for our friend Oldschool, which made his heart right glad, and he begs a further supply, which may be addressed to him directly, or under cover to me, until I inform you of my determination to evacuate this place. I am to Set out tomorrow morning for the little excursion, which I  mentioned to you in my last, and in my preparations shall provide for the worst that may happen, during my absence.
I can, at any time, sell your Shares in the Bank of North America for the price I paid, but your Bridge Stock is at present, an unsaleable commodity—The prospect of an increase of Shares being necessary to accomplish the undertaking, is, I am told, certain, and whether this can be done, so long as the present Stock is below par, is very uncertain. I am rather fearful that my zeal for the improvement of the Country, in this instance, has involved us in an unprofitable Speculation. I hold on my own account twenty Shares, twenty which belong to my father & as many of yours; my advice would be to hold on, for it we attempt a Sale now, we must make a great Sacrifice. The Company made no dividend for the last Six months—
It would be out of my power to make immediate arrangements for quitting this City, with an intention not to return, but you may be assured I will not run any risk, should the Sickness be general. You are doubtless greatly alarmed for our Safety, but though people do die rather suddenly, there are not many more instances of mortality than usual, at this Season. This is what some people say, by way of consolation. I am very sure, that the yellow fever is here, and am very desirous to be out of its reach, which I expect to be before five oClock tomorrow morning. I Shall get your letters, wherever I may be.
You will see that Oldschool has published the letter from Franklin, at last, and he delayed it so long that he might have a Stock from the Same source to go on with—He still hopes for more.
Present me kindly to all friends, and please inform my mother, that I will write to her next, having at present no more time than to assure you of my love.
T B Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 August 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Brother.
Boston 10. August 1802.

Your’s of the 2d: and 5th: instts: have come to hand. We have been so anxious on your account since the appearance of the yellow-fever in Philadelphia, that we are very glad to hear you were so near leaving the City as when you last wrote—Direct and send the within, where you sent my two last enclosures.
I observed that Oldschool had at last published Franklin’s letter—I will send him some more from the same source; but I regret the statement of circumstances which you mention—For I do believe his case would still be retrievable, if he would attend industriously and punctually to the business; but in this more perhaps than almost any other occupation, a man must make his business his pleasure, to obtain success.
I believe I have already written to you, to procure me a copy of the translation from Gentz, and the letters of Phocion—If you can also send me both parts of Callender’s “prospect before us” I will thank you.
But you will not think of going into Philadelphia, again until the fever shall disappear, which I am afraid will not be for some months.
My Bank and Bridge Stock may remain for the present—I wished it sold only in case you determined to quit Philadelphia finally.
Your’s truly.
J. Q. Adams


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 27 August 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear Brother,
Boston 27. August 1802.

I duly received your letters of the 21st: enclosing the pamphlet of Gentz, and likewise the post-note, with your account—This last I have not yet examined, but I presume it to be substantially correct.—I am again to repeat my thanks for your attention to my affairs.
I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you soon here, though I hope also that the tremendous menaces of malignant yellow fever at Philadelphia, have permanently subsided—The weather here for a fortnight past has been very oppressive, and with strong putrid tendencies—We hope and pray for the best.
My family and our father’s, are generally in average health—Your mother continues at intervals to be very unwell—My child suffers by the season, and at this critical time is cutting several large double teeth—
You have seen two letters from your father to S. Adams, written in 1790, lately published in the Newspapers—They have been attacked with characteristic violence and bitterness, by the fifty-dollar men at Washington, Worcester and Boston—They are defended in the Boston Gazette—The first publication was to defeat the basest misrepresentations, which were circulating here by the paid slanderers, who  had seen them, by the treachery of the old prophet, and who were affirming that the letters in so many words urged the establishment of an hereditary monarchy and nobility in this Country, and named the families of which this nobility was to be composed—Judge how much the publication has exasperated these fellows, by taking the lie out of their mouths, and holding it up to the public view—They are flouncing, and foaming and spouting, and dashing with the tail at a furious rate; but the harpoon is in them—they shall have their full length of rope to plunge downward; and then if they are not drawn up, cut up, barreled up and salted tried  down for the benefit of the public, say to all the world that I am the disgrace of New-England whale-men. Your’s faithfully.
J. Q. Adams.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Walter Hellen, 31 August 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Hellen, Walter

My dear Sir
Boston 31 August 1802.

I have too long omitted to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 4th June, which was brought by Mrs. Johnson, as well as one of a later date from Mr. Thomas Johnson, from which I learnt with much satisfaction, that you had concluded to act as Executor of Mr. Johnsons will.
I have looked over Mrs. Johnsons papers upon which you suggested a question whether there would not be some demand against Calef & Chuter but I can find none Their demand was for premium of insurance upon the Indian chief & that ship having been finally acquitted, her voyage must be considered as not illegal. Therefore the underwriters were liable to the risque & are entitled to the premium. So at least it appears to me unless some other circumstance, not apparent from the papers should affect their rights.
Nothing could give me more pleasure, than to have it in my power to give you assistance or render you service in your views of business.—I believe most of our trade in the article of flour is at present with Philadelphia, but perhaps it might be advantageously opened with Georgetown or Alexandria—If you can make it convenient to pay us a visit here, you might obtain better information upon this matter than it is in my power to give you. At any rate it will give us sincere pleasure to see you
The Ladies with my little George are all on a visit to Quincy at my fathers house the child has suffered much lately with teething and the great heat of the weather. I hope Mrs Hellen and both your young representatives are well. Begging to be remembered to them and the rest of the family with you in the most affectionate manner, I remain, Dear Sir, very faithfully your friend & Servant


Title: From John Adams to William Smith Shaw, August 1802
From: Adams, John
To: Shaw, William Smith

August 1802

It has been often said, and as often denied, that there are men in this country attached to democracy, simple democracy—to a government in every State, of a single assembly of Representatives, without a Senate and without a Governor; to a government of the nation in a Congress of Delegates in one House, without a Senate and without a President. The charge is supported by the declarations of numbers from Shays’s rebellion and the votes of county conventions, down to the letter to Mazzei, to the efforts in the House of Representatives to set aside the treaty with England, and many other actions and declarations of individuals to this day. Whether the writer of the remarks is capable of comprehending it or not, there is a distinction between an attachment to monarchy, and an opinion that it will, in some nations and at certain periods, prevail; and that no human wisdom or virtue in existence can prevent it. Cato was never suspected of any attachment to monarchy. His death was a full proof of two points. 1. That he detested and dreaded monarchy more than death. 2. That he was fully convinced, that monarchy in the person of Cæsar, could not be prevented in Rome. Men’s opinions are not always conformable to their wishes. Some have understandings as well as affections.
Abstract opinions in favor of monarchy or democracy may exist without injury to the state. Plato and Aristotle declare freely in their writings a veneration for kingly government. Yet, in the most democratical governments of Greece, they were not persecuted. An end will be put to all liberty of thought as well as speech, if Duane, Callender, Lyon, Cooper, Cheetham, Wood, in short, all the dogs of the mob are to be let loose upon every man who dares to speculate upon principles or systems of government. The change of the last administration was in a very small degree affected by any sentiment that there were men in the government whose views were subversive of republicanism; because the very men, who endeavored to propagate such a sentiment, did not believe themselves, and were not credited by others. Many of these men were known to be more inclined to monarchical opinions, than those whom they accused. Many of these men were known to have often declared their opinions, that the Constitution of the United States was defective, because it had not an hereditary President and an hereditary Senate. Others had been known to declare that no form of government was worth any thing, but that of king, lords and commons. Some had even said that we ought to have a monarchy in this country in the person of one of the princes of England. This kind of speeches and opinions has been oftener uttered by those who are called republicans, and are now possessed of power in the States, than by federalists. The change of administration in this country was effected by the federalists themselves; not by any change in favor of republicanism in the people, nor by any opinion that the new President was more of a republican than the former one. But this is a subject that may be developed hereafter.
Are our court gazettes then prepared to say that “liberty has vanished from France”; that the first consul is an usurper; that “the French nation have submitted every political right to the mercy of the sword”; that “the republic is subverted and monarchy has returned”? This language is as remote from any tendency to preserve the friendship between this country and France, as it is from the truth. The government of France is at least as republican now, as it ever has been since the death of the king, or since the subversion of the monarchy, or indeed since the meeting of the Assembly of Notables in 1786. It answers the ends of government in preserving personal liberty, private property, and the peace, order, tranquillity and happiness of society, better than any republican constitution that nation ever has enjoyed, and as well as any it will probably ever have. This mighty transformation has been effected without violence or contention, by the voice of the people, by the general sense, and the public opinion. The people of France are weary of blood, disgusted with murder, and indignant at rapine. They have seen and felt, and are at length convinced with an unanimity that is very remarkable, that democracy, without control, would depopulate and desolate France. They have stopped in their career of enthusiasm and delirium, and are restored in some measure to their right minds.
What connection there is between the returning reason of the French people and the publication of these letters, it is not easy to imagine. These letters are calculated, in every sentence and every word of them, to preserve the Constitution of the United States from deviating into monarchy on one hand, and democracy on the other. If the balance of our government was destroyed and the weight all placed in the democratical scale, nothing is more certain than that all the confusions and horrors of France, for fifteen or sixteen years past, must be our lot, and nothing could relieve us from them but a civil war, or a victorious army; unless the people should suddenly recover their reason and restore the equilibrium of the government. These letters were written twelve years ago, from an apprehension that the contagion of a French delirium might seize the passions of the American people, and excite them to destroy their present constitution, annihilate the President’s office, the Senate of the United States, the Governors and Senates of the individual States, and the independent judiciaries in all of them.
The publication of these letters is another affair. They had been long forgotten, and would probably have never been again read or seen by the writer, had he not been informed, that last winter certain persons in Boston were handing them about, showing sentences or half sentences, and misrepresenting them, not only in democratical clubs, but to lawyers and judges during their terms. This information alone occasioned some old letter books to be searched, and these copies to be published. They contain no sentiments which the writer ever concealed. He held them in 1776, when his letter to Mr. Wythe was published. He held them openly and publicly in 1779, when in the Convention which formed the Constitution of the State of Massachusetts. They run through the three volumes of his Defence of the Constitution of the United States, and have been frankly professed and avowed, in public and private, on all occasions for six and twenty years. A greater falsehood cannot be committed to writing, than is contained in these words: “Hitherto they have courted the obscurity of a rigid concealment.”


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 13 September 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Shaw, William Smith

Dear William
13th: Septr. 1802

Accept my hearty thanks for the flattering account your letter contains of my Mother’s promised recovery—It is indeed grateful intelligence and serves to console me under the painful prospect of being obliged soon to fly from this now infected City. You will see, that the Board of health, which in my opinion ought rather to be styled a board of pestilence have at last come out; after being threatened by Duane that he would report if they did not, and they confirm all our terrors respecting the prevalence of the fever.
I may have the pleasure, God willing, of meeting you ere long. Mean time I am / Your’s truly
T B Adams


Title: From John Adams to Abigail Amelia Adams Smith, 26 September 1802
From: Adams, John
To: Smith, Abigail Amelia Adams

32
My dear Daughter.
Quincy Septr: 26. 1802

I received last night your favour of the 17th and thank you for the pamphlets you sent me—I had read these before. Most of the pamphlets are sent me by one or another, as well as the newspapers. To read so much malignant dulness is an odious task; but it cannot well be avoided—I have the History too of my Administration.—Good God! Is this a public Man sitting in Judgment on Nations? And has the American People so little Judgment, Taste and Sense to endure it? The History of the Clintonian Faction as it is called I should be glad to see. The Society he asserts to exist and which you say has not been denied I fear is of more consequence than you seem to be aware of. But to dismiss this Society for the present, there is another sett of beings, who seem to have unlimited influence over the American People—They are a detachment I fear from a very black Regiment in Europe which was more than once described to me by Stockdale of Piccadilly whom you must have seen at my house in Grosvenor Square—“Mr Adams,” said this bookseller, “the Men of learning in this town are stark mad. I know one hundred Gentlemen in London, of great learning and ingenuity, excellent writers upon any subject; any one of whom I can hire at any time for one guinea a day to write upon any theme, for or against any cause, in praise or in defamation of any character.” A number of the most profligate of these have come to this Country, very hungry, and are getting their bread by destroying all distinction between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, virtue and vice.
You speak of “moderate people on both sides”—If you know of any such, I congratulate you on your felicity. All that I know of that description are of no more consequence than if there were none.
Commerce will decline, and the revenue fail—What expedient the Government will have recourse to I presume not to conjecture.—I mourn over the accumulated disgraces we are bringing on ourselves: but I can do nothing.
The prisoners from Saint-Domingo, will be dangerous settlers in the Southern States—The french care very little whether turning them loose is insult or injury; provided we will cordially receive or tamely connive at them.
My health is good, and my Spirits would be high if the Prospect before us did not present clouds, portending bad Weather.—My love to Coll: Smith and the children.—The young Gentlemen I hope, think of Greece and Italy.—I am your affectionate father.


Title: From John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 5 October 1802
From: Adams, John Quincy
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

My dear brother.
Boston 5. October 1802

The apt and excellent quotation from Horace’s epistles, in your letter of 26th: ulto: made me turn over all the editions and translations of the old poet, that came within my reach, to find the context—When once a man takes up Horace, it is not easy to lay him down again—So in turning over the leaves I stumbled by the strangest accident imaginable upon the fourth Ode of the second book—But what is yet more surprizing, and indeed almost incredible to myself, is, that upon opening the book again, the enclosed imitation drop’d out from between the leaves—I send it you for your opinion with regard to its authenticity; and also of its merit as an imitation—It strikes me that if it be really genuine, Pain’s poetry is better than his prose—The great difficulty seems to be that the tender tale of Sally has not yet been long enough known to have made its way across the Atlantic, and back again—But indeed Pain being so much in the philosopher’s confidence may have been acquainted with the facts earlier than the American public in general—In short I cannot find my way out of the critical labyrinth, and leave it to your taste and ingenuity to discover the clue.
I have read the life of Gifford, in some of our newspapers, extracted from his book; and it gives me a very favourable opinion of the man—The tale of Genius bursting into light through the petrified shell of poverty and neglect, is always pleasing, and few instances of the kind, so extraordinary as that of Gifford have ever come to my knowledge—His Juvenal I shall certainly purchase as soon as it shall undress itself enough to meet the level of my finances—I have been so much used to find myself out-done in poetical translation, that I shall feel no mortification, at being once more excell’d by him—Sotheby has made me callous upon that score; and if my Vanity wanted a back-door to retreat from, it would immediately suggest, that my translation was a hasty and unfinish’d production, not intended for publication, and his, by his own account the labour of twenty years.—I am willing to impute it therefore to your indulgence or partiality that you thought the American version would in any respect bear a comparison with the other.
The whale-oil for which you write is too rank, because too stale to send you—Political disquisitions like those in our newspapers, are flowers of a day, and turn to mere chaff and straw, unless you catch them at the hour of their bloom—The pieces to which I refer appeared in the Boston Gazette, nearly a month ago—They are therefore dead and gone—Nor shall you misspend your time so much as to read them—The National Intelligencer has republished a garbled extract from the last number only, (there were 6 in all) but he has taken special care not to publish the two first numbers, which contained his dressing—He thinks the author a verbose critic, and complains that he liberally quotes the antient poets, and proves everything from them—Poor thing—If the enclosed Ode should ever meet his eye, he will find more proved from the antient poets than will be welcome to him.
Our friends here and at Quincy are all well—My George only excepted—He breeds his teeth with much pain and difficulty; and for the last four months has scarcely had a week’s respite—We are not without some cases of malignant fever here; but as the season is advancing we hope it will very speedily subside wherever it has appeared upon the continent.
Bradford the printer, I observe, advertises a subscription for a complete edition of Burke’s works—Ito be comprized in eight volumes octavo—I want you to put my name down as a subscriber—
Ever faithfully your’s
This letter was prepared to be sent you by Mr: Walter, a young Gentleman who has just completed his course of legal studies, and is going to make a tour of some weeks, as far as Washington—He bears a very good character as a scholar, and is a particular friend of Shaw.—But he goes off very early in the morning, and perhaps I shall miss the opportunity by him—In that case I shall send it by the mail—


Title: From Abigail Smith Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 10 October 1802
From: Adams, Abigail Smith
To: Adams, Thomas Boylston

Dear Thomas
Quincy October 10th 1802

I have not written you a line since I received yours from the yellow Springs, For some time I knew not where you were, and began at last to feel not a little anxious untill I was releived by your Brothers informing me that he had Received a Letter from you, dated at Philadelphia. there again I thought you had too soon return’d, as the weather of Sep’br. and chiefly since october came in, has been intensely Hot, and the fever which has been in Boston, tho chiefly confind to one Street, has been uncommonly fatal. Scarcely one seiz’d has recoverd—In Quincy we have been more healthy than for several years past. we had upon the Farms six weeks ago a malignant dysentery but it was confined to a few families, all of which with one exception, recoverd. I now despair of seeing you here as the Season is so far advanced. I hope you have derived some benifit from your excursion through the Summer; We have past an agreable one here; your Brothers Society, and that of his family have added much to our enjoyment. he usually comesout on Saturdays, and returns on mondays. his family sometime pass the week with us. George is a lovely Boy, chatters like a magpye. it would have given me sincere pleasure to have had a visit from you, but journeying is expensive, and you are the best judge whether you could afford it—Judge Cranch jun’r and family have been upon a visit to their Friends ever since June. they leave us this week, as well as Mrs Johnson. they will go to NYork by water and from thence by land, so that you may possibly see them in Philadelphia, unless they should take a vessel at Newyork for Washingtown—What a scene is opened there? have Americans any feeling left? can they submit to the Government of Duane Cheetham Wood, Lyon, Jones, and Callender? fellows who ought to have been long ago exalted—is there any American Blood in Pensilvana? or can you only make a bluster and do nothing? We are indeed a degraded people unworthy of the blessings we have enjoyed, and thrown away: You see by the papers that they are bringing your Brothers Name foremost upon the federal list, and there is no saying them nay, tho he has opposed it. I am averse to it, as you know but what can you say against the solicitation of Friends. the urgency and what they term pressing necessity of the case You sir are the only Man we can bring forward to unite the Federal votes &c &c Here I am, sacrifice me for the public, as you have done those who have gone before me. I have only one hope that they will even fail to carry him, for I cannot see any prospect of producing any good. True there is yett a Year to run and the present Administration may not have a Hydra Head—but the Labour of a Hercules will not restore to this people what they will lose in the short period of four years. I see no chance for quiet no hopes for Social Harmony. the bitterness of party thirsts for more than the cooling Stream—the Spirit of party, is blind and deaf, but not dumb.
Where we are to land I know not—how mean does Dallas appear with his prostituted name to the address. Prostituted it must have been now, or when he united with the Bar in his petition to arresst the repeal of the Judiciary—I am ready to ask is there any principle? any honour, any thing like what I call virtue in a Jacobin? The Rogues have fallen out, but will honest men obtain their Rights? What a Scene does Callender unfold, if still a Lyar, he has the art of wearing the plain unvarnishd tale of truth when writing against the former administrations, he call’d not upon his adversaries to deny his assertions. he dared not challenge them to the contest. He skulked in the dark, and scatterd his poison only amongst those whom he knew it would opperate upon—I have not a worse, nor so bad an opinion of him, as of his baselow mean employer; out upon him, let him be accursed amongst men and his name a reproach. I have removed every vestage of him out of sight.
You will be weary of my reproaches I have done. I pray you to present my Regards to all the good people of my acquaintance and be assured of the /  affection of your /  Mother
Abigail Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, 20 October 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, John Quincy

Dear Brother.
Philadelphia 20th: October 1802.

Mr: Walter who had been in the City Several days, while I was absent, called at my dwelling & left your favor of the 5th: instt: yesterday. I am sorry, that he proceeded to Washington without my Seeing him, but he promises me this pleasure on his return.
I have now returned to my old haunts for the Season, and though we cannot yet boast of perfect health in the City, there is reason to believe, that no epidemic lurks among us. People will believe, in Spite of Sense & reason, that our fevers are imported, and whatever creed may be the true one, flight from our Cities, during the Autumnal months, seems to be the best chance for longevity.
I have examined and compared with the original, the facetious imitation, enclosed in your letter. It would make a good figure in the Recorder, where I have Some thoughts of letting it make its first appearance. Dennie is absent, and the Port Folio comes out So irregularly, that the ode, or rather the subject of it, might grow Stale ere it came out. If I conclude to Send it to Richmond, I will take a copy of it and retain the original. It Signifies nothing to disclose and ridicule the scandalous characters of the Sect now in power. Their infamy only assimilates them to those by whom they are promoted; and I verily believe, that the present favorites of the people of this Country, are their most legitimate & fittest representatives. I hope you are not Suffering yourself to be a candidate for Such company; but the newspapers Say, that Such is the fact. I cannot undertake to judge of your motives, but unless they are more cogent, than Such as present themselves to my mind, as inducements to the acceptance of a preferment of this nature, I must think, that you are a convert to the sentiment of Dr Jarvis, respecting the love of popularity.
I know it is the fashion in Boston to nominate persons for office in the newspapers without asking their leave, and it is not customary for those designated, publicly to decline. The knowledge of these facts induces me to think, that you reserve to yourself the privilege of declining, at a fit Season, whatever honors the populace may, in their abundant generosity, confer upon you, without your solicitation. I am thus pointed on this subject, because I have undertaken to pledge myself to Several people here, that you will not go to Congress, and I am So firmly persuaded in my own mind, that you have no wish to go, that even Should my expectations fail, I Shall not attribute to choice any determination you may make to the contrary.
Our State, City & general elections have gone in favor of the Irish interest. Duane was one of the judges of the Election, to decide upon the qualifications of voters. Between four & five hundred Irish were naturalized only three days before the election, in this City alone, and their votes turned every election in favor of the Jacobins. The Delaware Election was carried in the Same way, by the Same means, and though a few native Democrats See and pretend to lament this foreign influence not a man of the party would dispense with these its aid. We are such weathercock politicians in this State, that we Shall never have a clear sky again until a breeze Springs up from some other point of the Compass. If the Same rabble were Suffered to vote in New England as under the Constitution of Pennsylvania, I Should Soon expect to See an end to Steady habits there.
I beg pardon for writing a political letter to you. One would think from my display of zeal, that I was making my fortune by an adherence to federalism; when the contrary of this is in fact the case.
I have already Subscribed for Bradford’s meditated edition of Burke, and Shall thank you to relieve me from my Subscription by taking the work yourself. It is not certain that it will go on. The life of Washington is likely to prove the death of Bradford’s project.
I never obtain a Sight of a Boston newspaper unless it be the Palladium, which I do not like. Those numbers you speak of, I must See, and therefore you may as well Send them to me. If I had received them in Season, I would have made them republished. Bronson & Chauncey will do me a personal favor, if requested. You have doubtless read A J Dallas’s fulmination in the Aurora, just preparatory to the triumph of lunacy here; and I Should like to Know what you thought of it. Your Yankee Jacobins are timorous animals in comparison with ours.
With best love and affectionate remembrance to all friends / I am, dear Brother / Yours
Thomas B Adams


Title: From Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 21 October 1802
From: Adams, Thomas Boylston
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My dear Mother
Philadelphia 21st: October 1802

I have at length returned to the City for the purpose of remaining in it during the rest of the Season. We do not yet pretend to be free from cases of autumnal fever, which have been particularly malignant and fatal; but those, who, like myself, are believers in domestic origin, may return without apprehension.
From my brother I have had accounts, from time to time, of the health of our family & friends, but in one of his letters he mentioned your occasional attacks of disorder, which has given me considerable uneasiness. By his last letter, however, I am happy to learn, that you were in tolerable health. Since my exile from the City I have been, for the most part, a resident at those springs and the vicinity of them, whence I wrote you last. I know not whether the letter reached you as I have not since heard directly from you. My time was spent agreeably, in the pursuit of health, of which I have gained a tolerable share. I never knew a finer Autumn than the present, and the Country about the spot I pitched upon for a retreat was particularly beautiful. I have gathered but few memoirs of the Yellow springs, in addition to those I wrote you. From an old friend, whose age borders upon four score & ten, I learnt, that these springs have been resorted to by invalids, before his time; so that we may easily conjecture, that they have been discovered a century & upwards. The situation is truly romantic, and though not more than five or six miles from the Lancaster turnpike, the cross road which conducts to them is of the roughest and most frightful order. The accommodations too, at the place, are of a piece with the roads; yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks & discouragements, scarcely any watering place is more frequented. Some of my friends here are quite astonished at my partiality for this spot, as they were with me there, when the floor and a single blanket was the only substitute for a bed I could obtain. I have tried to persuade my friend Judge Jones to purchase the place and make me his tenant; but the price is too extravagant, he says, and the land about it too mountainous to cultivate with profit. I passed nearly a week with this old gentleman before my return, and witnessing the independence & plenty in which he lives, I could not refrain from coveting his situation. His wife is a sister of Mrs: Rutter, with whom I live, and this was sufficient to insure me the most hospitable reception at her house.
The papers will inform you of the fate of our elections in this State. We are now completely subject to Irish renegade’s. I have done with the Aurora and therefore am no longer a politician.
With best love & duty to my father & the family / I am, dear mother / Your Son

T. B. Adams.


Title: From Elizabeth Palmer Cranch to Abigail Smith Adams, 30 October 1802
From: Cranch, Elizabeth Palmer
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

Madm
Milton Octr 30th 1802.

As the vacation draws near—and consequently the time to settle who are to form our family for the winter Term, I wish to know whether you intend Susan shall stay—I am resolved to keep no other so young—but her Abilities are so good and her constitution so firm, that it will be a pleasure to have her with us if you wish it—She will then have a double advantage as she will be with the older Misses—and the whole time under my daughters immediate care in school hours—One little one, will be but little additional care, but when there are three or four of an age—the attention they require especially in winter; is more than I will ever again undertake. we mean to keep from Six to eight thro the winter and the opportunity those will have for instruction is decidedly in their favor—not only on account of the Smallness of the number, but from the long winter evenings being devoted to their improvment intirely. we reckon Six as engaged—perhaps the young lady Mrs Greenleaf mentiond would like to come—if she realy wishes to improve, it would be the best time—if she only (like many) wish for a pretty Summers retreat—she had best not come.—
Mr. Cranch and myself most sincerely join in heart, the Festivity of the day—I am not in the habit of looking on long life as a blessing—but that Spirit of Patriotism which I imbibed with my first breath compells me to implore Heaven to protract to a long period lives so devoted to their country—and so extensively useful.
I remain Madm: with perfect respect / Your Obt: Servt
Eliza Cranch.


Title: From William Smith Shaw to Abigail Smith Adams, October 1802
From: Shaw, William Smith
To: Adams, Abigail Smith

My dear Aunt
Boston Oct 1802

Some time since Andrew Foster, a relation of Mrs. Otis, applied to Mr. Otis for admission as student of law in his office—Mr. O. told him, that he then had his full number, the bar having limited themselves to three students at one time—that he could not then admit him, but that probably on Mr. Adams return, I should prefer studying in his office, and if so, Foster then might fill my vacancy. These facts Mr. O. mentioned to me yesterday, saying, that if I chose to continue with in his office he should prefer it to my leaving him, but that if I intended studying with Mr. A. or whatever might be my final determination, he should wish to know it immediately, as Foster is anxious to established himself in some office as soon as may be. After an intimation of this kind from Mr. O, wholly unauthorized by me, for I never suggested any thing of the kind to him or to any other man, it would be unpleasant to me to continue longer in his office. If Mr. Adams, on his return, would allow me to read in his office with him, it would only be adding to the many favors which I have received from him and to the innumerable obligations received from the whole family. Should my request be granted, my name will be immediately out of Mr. Otiss office, Foster may enter, and Mr. O does not to wish me to leave him, but continue with him, student of Mr A, till he returns and opens an office.
On this subject I have written to you fully and will submit entirely to the better judgment of my dear Aunt, the propriety of mentioning my request to Mr. Adams—Whatever is done I should wish an answer to this as soon as convenient.
With sentiments of respect and gratitude / I am &c.
Wm S Shaw