Adams Family Correspondence, volume 10

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 18 June 1795 Adams, Abigail Adams, John

Abigail Adams to John Adams

My Dearest Friend June 18— 1795

I received yours of the 12th. I wish congress may rise by the time you mention. a Gentleman reported here yesterday that he had heard that mr Langdon had said he was determind to oppose the Treaty in every article.1 people are very anxious— the col had letters from Halifax which informs him, that without Libeling the vessel, they proceed to unload her & will not permit the Captain nor a single hand belonging to the vessel to be on Board.2 Mr de Latomb came yesterday to see me, & is to Breakfast here this morning. he looks thin, but I believe considers himself a very fortunate Man to be able to return to America with his Head upon his shoulders— he is very communicative respecting the State of France both when he arrived there, & when he left it Says he has dispatches from our Son to the Secretary of state that he inquired after him of the Commissioners from Holland that they informd him, that the Minister & his Secretary were much respected there—

I was glad to hear that you were well. I hope you will be cautious of the Hot Suns, & the reflection from the houses & that you will get an umbrella— I walkt out yesterday a little way near the middle of the day, and felt such a sensation from the Heat of the Sun as I never before experienced— tho I had an umbrella and the distance was short, I was near fainting. mrs Fitch Sent me home in her carriage. I have had the Head ack ever since. I have often heard of the 455 Brick and stone reflection, but I never felt the force of the Sun in such a manner before—

Mrs Smith & children are well I have not heard again from Quincy

affectionatly Yours

A Adams—

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The vice President of the united / States / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Mrs A. June 18. ansd 19 / 1795”; notation: “Hond by monssieurr / de La Tombe.”

Sen. John Langdon remained steadfast in his opposition to the treaty, including the vote for ratification on 24 June ( Annals of Congress, 3d Cong., special sess., p. 861–863).

Between 1793 and 1812, the British Navy annually seized about twelve American vessels suspected of carrying contraband for France. A number of these prizes were brought before the vice-admiralty court in Halifax, which then ruled to either clear or condemn the ship, the cargo, or both. While the details of WSS’s specific involvement remain unclear, reports of seized vessels appeared in New York newspapers in the spring of 1795 (Julian Gwyn, Frigates and Foremasts: The North American Squadron in Nova Scotia Waters, 1745–1815, Vancouver, 2003, p. 115–117; New York Weekly Museum, 9 May; New York Argus, 25 May).

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 June 1795 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

My Dearest Friend Philadelphia June 18. 1795

Mr Adet was presented to The President on Tuesday and accompanied by The Secretary of State made me a Visit immediately after his Audience. I was not at Home but in Senate. On Wednesday Morning I returned his Visit at Oellers Hotel.1 He is about the Size of Mr shaw, Charitys Husband and looks a little like him: not quite so rosy coloured.

He is not a Friend to Clubbs—announced to The President the entire annihilation of Factions in France. &c

His Excellency Governor Jay returned Yesterday to N. York— He has been very sociable and in fine Spirits. His Health is improving. We have no C. J. as yet nominated.2 It is happy that Mr J. Election was over before the Treaty was published: for the Parties against him would have quarrelled with the Treaty right or wrong that they might give a Colour to their animosity against him.

Some Think We shall rise this Week: but I fear We shall be obliged to sitt some days next Week.

I hope We shall not have many of these Supernumerary sessions.

one of our Senators yesterday, Mr Ross of Pensilvania after walking a great deal about Town went imprudently to a Pump and drank too freely of cold Water in Consequence of which he Was taken 456 very ill at Mr Binghams where he was at Dinner and obliged to go home & be bled and vomited. I hope he will be able to go out to day: but he had a nice risque of his Life.

Mr Bingham lives in great Splender and his Lady shines among the Senators as with all the rest of the World.

Mr Morris lives at Lansdown— seeing Mrs Morris in the House in Town I went in and made my Compliments. she made the usual Enquiries about you.

Kid, has bought the Land at 100£ a foot between the Presidents House and Mr Morris’s House and is building a new House there.3

My Love to all

J. A

Mr Otis’s family goes to their old Lodings in Dorchester after the senate rises

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs A.”; endorsed: “June 18 1795.”

In 1791 Francophile James Oeller opened a hotel on Chestnut Street that was decorated in the French style, employed a French staff, and became the headquarters for Philadelphia’s Democratic-Republican community (Peter Thompson, Rum Punch & Revolution: Taverngoing & Public Life in Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia, Phila., 1999. p. 190, 199).

John Jay resigned his post as chief justice effective 29 June 1795 to assume his duties as the new governor of New York. On 1 July George Washington appointed John Rutledge of South Carolina to the interim post; however, Rutledge’s outspoken opposition to the Jay Treaty irked the pro-treaty press and prevented his confirmation by the Senate in December. Another chief justice was not selected until 1796 ( Doc. Hist. Supreme Court, 1:13, 17, 96–99, 118).

Robert Kid, a perfumer, lived next to the president’s house on Market Street in 1796 and 1797. By 1799 he had become a copper merchant and relocated to a different Market Street location ( Philadelphia Directory, 1796, Evans, No. 30571; 1797, Evans, No. 32868; 1799, Evans, No. 36353).