Adams Family Correspondence, volume 12
Mr Murray of Maryland, your old Friend, with whom you form’d your first acquaintance at the Hague is to Succeed you. That Gentleman has been So long a Member of Congress and has given Such Proofs of Talents, amiable dispositions, and patriotic Sentiments, as qualify him to do honour to the Mission, as well as to his Predecessor. It would have been enough to have Said that he is well chosen to fill the Place: for I have the best authority besides my private opinion, to say that no Place has been better filled than that at the Hague, Since Your Appointment to that mission.
You Sometimes hint an Inclination to return to America. and nothing would give me greater Pleasure, on certain Suppositions. But, my Son, Independence is essential to Self Esteem as well as to command the Esteem of others. and where is your Independence? If you would return to the Bar, you might be independent, I grant. But I would not advise you to return to America yet. Go to Lisbon and Send me as good Intelligence from all Parts of Europe as you have done.
56My Entrance into Office is marked by a Misunderstanding with France, which I shall endeavour to reconcile, provided that no Violation of Faith, no Stain upon Honour is exacted. But if Infidelity, Dishonour, or too much humiliation is demanded, France shall do as she pleases and take her own course. America is not Scared.
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The Multiplicity of Business, in which I am involved is no otherwise irksome to me, than as it may endanger my Health: but I have great Confidence in my Saddle. I pray you to write me, as often as you can.
I am your affectionate Father
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “J. Q. Adams Min. Plen. / to Lisbon.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 117. Tr (Adams Papers).
“Scared” was written in large letters.
JQA also wrote to JA at this time. In a letter dated 30 March he reported receiving the Boston Columbian Centinel, 15 Feb., which confirmed JA’s election, and the discussed the recent French decree on American shipping and the role some of his countrymen were playing in French privateering (Adams Papers).
I am very much concerned, least you as well as your Brother, should think hard of me, for neglecting so long to write to you, but the multiplied Cares and engagements of Life added to indifferent health must plead my Excuse
Mr: Murray is to take the place of your Brother, and Mr. Dandridge is to be his private Secretary, your brother will go to Lisbon, and you I hope will return to Philadelphia as soon as possible My desire is that you would take an office, attend the Courts, do business, and get the Character of a Man of business, All depends upon this in our Country— If a man is once suspected to be a man of Pleasure or an idle man, or an inattentive man he is Lost— I shall desire you to live, that is board & lodge with me, your Mother I Expect here by the latter End of April, and Congress are to meet by the middle of May, You may act as my Secretary, Sometimes, or Not as you please
What is meant by the French Directory, I Know Not, But will discover if I Can, I shall miss your Letters and your Brothers which Contained more Satisfactory information than all the Other Letters from Europe—
57I will Keep the Peace with their High Mightinesses at Paris, if possible, but they Seem to be disposed to assume too much—
I am my dear Son your affectionate / Father
You Say you want Exercise on Horesback, Come & live with me and we will ride out together
LbC in Samuel Bayard Malcom’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Thomas B Adams—”; APM Reel 117.