Adams Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-15-02-0103

Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 13 March 1802

Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams

Quincy March 13th 1802

Dear Thomas

I have received two Barrels of flower but no account of the price either from the Baker or You. be so kind so to forward one to me. also let me know as soon as possible whether my Letters of the 28 of Febry got safe to Hand.1 the Roads were so bad at that time, and the Mails so irregular that I had feard for the letters. I would not Suppose that there is less responsibility in the Post masters than formerly— pray who is this mr Hemphill who makes so respectable a figure in debate from Your State?2 I rejoiced when I saw that a good thing could come out of———from what part of the State is he sent? I understand he is one of the Friends he certainly has done honour to his State and country—but Solomon Said if you Bray fools in a morter, yet will not their folly depart from them, he has not told us what can drive it out of knaves, unless he meant those when he said a word entereth more into a Wise Man, than a thousand Stripes into a foal—3

I find by the papers that the measles is very prevelent in Philadelphia so they are in Boston little George is just breaking out with them—4

Your uncle Cranch Still is confined and low the rest of us are well as usual

Your Brother has been chosen to deliver an oration before the Fire Society—and it seems as if he was to have sufficent proofs of the dreadfull calamity to impress his mind with the horror of that destroying element. Ten stores upon the long Wharff have this week been destroyed by it and vast property—5 He has also been appointed one of a new Board of commissoners upon the Bankrupt act,6 and you will find his name upon the list of State Senators.7 here I shall be Silent, but if once they put him up for congress then will I raise my warning Voice— I only intended you a line, but my pen has run on

adieu yours &c.

A—

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mrs: A Adams / 13th: March / 20th: Recd: / Do acknd.”

1Only one letter from AA to TBA of 28 Feb., above, is extant.

2On 16 Feb. Joseph Hemphill (1770–1842), University of Pennsylvania 1791, delivered a speech in the House of Representatives opposing the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801. Hemphill argued that the act’s repeal would challenge the separation of powers within the federal government and threaten the U.S. Constitution (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States [1789–1824], Washington, D.C., 1834–1856; 42 vols. description ends , 7th Cong., 1st sess., p. 533–545; Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005, Washington, D.C., 2005; rev. edn., bioguide.congress.gov. description ends ; TBA to AA, 14 April 1802, Adams Papers).

3Proverbs, 17:10, 27:22.

4The Boston Columbian Centinel, 10 March, reported that “the measles are rife in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New-York, and in this town.”

5On 28 May JQA delivered an address at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, applauding the society’s efforts and encouraging the use of brick and stone in the construction of buildings. The following day the Boston Columbian Centinel described the address as “masterly” and announced that it would be published as a pamphlet. The first edition was issued on 3 June, and a second edition was issued a week later; JQA’s copy of the second edition, containing a table of contents in his hand, is at MBAt. JQA’s address may have been influenced by a fire that broke out in Boston on 10 March. Starting at Joseph Ripley’s store on Spear’s Wharf, the blaze spread quickly to Long Wharf and burned for between three and four hours. At least ten stores were destroyed, including Ripley’s (JQA, “Address to the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society,” 28 May, Adams Papers; Boston Commercial Gazette, 11 March, 3, 10 June; Boston Columbian Centinel, 13 March, 29 May; D/JQA/24, APM Reel 27).

6On 4 March U.S. District Court judge John Davis appointed JQA to the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Commission under the federal Bankruptcy Act of 1800. He was sworn in later that day and received his first case, to explore the finances of Joseph Ripley, who was declared bankrupt on 5 March 1802. JQA then heard an additional twenty cases through 6 July, after which his commission expired under the Judiciary Act of 1802, for which see AA to TBA, 23 May, and note 3, below (D/JQA/26, APM Reel 29; M/JQA/21, APM Reel 216; Jefferson, Papers description begins The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, James P. McClure, and others, Princeton, N.J., 1950– . description ends , 37:701–702, 44:245).

7In March the Boston press speculated about the upcoming senatorial elections to the Mass. General Court, including possible Federalist tickets for Suffolk County. In a 2 March letter to AA (Adams Papers), William Smith Shaw noted that he had “seen several lists” and that JQA’s name was “upon all of them.” The final ticket included JQA, Peleg Coffin, William Tudor, and Oliver Wendell. In his Diary JQA noted: “I have little desire to be a Senator; for whether it will interfere with my duties as a Commissioner or not, it will interfere with pursuits much more agreeable to me than politics.” On 5 April the election took place and the Federalist ticket prevailed; JQA was sworn in on 26 May. TBA in a letter to AA of 14 April (Adams Papers) noted his pleasure with JQA’s election and expressed a hope that his brother would never leave state government for federal office: “Let him be any thing that he can, where he is, but never suffer himself to be sent away, out of New-England” (Boston Columbian Centinel, 3, 13 March; New-England Palladium, 2, 5, 9, 12 March; Boston Commercial Gazette, 1, 15 March; D/JQA/24, 1 April, 26 May, APM Reel 27; A New Nation Votes).

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