Adams Papers
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John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 22 December 1803

John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams

Washington 22. Decr: 1803.

My dear Mother.

I received two days ago your kind favour of the 3d: instt: and it was very precious as containing information of your health, and that of my father, and friends at Quincy.— I have been and am sensible of the inconvenience there would be in any free interchange of political sentiments upon the passing events, by a correspondence which must pass through the channel of the Post-Office— I believe however you will perceive, (indeed you knew before I came here) what would be the extreme delicacy of my situation, between two rows of batteries directly opposite to and continually playing upon each other, and neither of which consider me as one of their soldiers— The effect of being placed in this situation I have already felt, and expect to feel it during the whole period of my service— That I should ever come out from it safe, is not to be expected, but it has always been my opinion that to fall, in a good cause, is as honourable, as to share in its success, though not so agreeable— Hitherto my conduct has given satisfaction to neither side, and both are offended at what they consider a vain and foolish presumption of singularity; or an Ambition of taking a lead different from the views of either— All this I cannot help— Nor can I help its manifesting itself by the grossest misrepresentations of my conduct, as in the Centinel of the 10th: instt:—from the editor’s correspondent at Washington— But I have looked all this and much more full in the face before-hand, and prepare my mind with all the fortitude it can command for the consequences.

Excepting the Amendment to the Constitution, which has now pass’d, and the Louisiana Treaty, with its first-fruits, which are yet budding forth we have had nothing to excite very warm party feelings, or much public attention this Session. It appears to be agreed, on almost every side, that Congress have very little to do, and may if they please adjourn within a month from this time— Whether they will or not the Time will show.

My wife and family are well— I have a walk of five miles every day in coming to the Capitol and returning home, which I find very beneficial to my health.

Mr: Merry the English Minister has recently arrived here— Certain questions of rank and precedence are said to have arisen between him and the Secretary of State; or rather between their Ladies.— The etiquette has lately been established that the LADIES of Heads of Departments shall in future precede those of foreign Ministers— Mrs: Merry refuses submission, and refuses declines to associate on those terms— What the issue of this great national controversy will be, must be left to futurity and the wisdom of the Executive— Other causes of personal disgust have been given to or taken by Mr: Merry, so that the appearance of the parties on the threshold does not betoken the prospect of much harmony between them when within.1

My dear and highly valued friend W. V. Murray is no more. He died after a short illness say the papers, on the 11th: of this month— But his health has been very low ever since his return to this Country. I had a letter from him since the commencement of this Session, which flattered me that he was getting better; but there was the mark of a wounded spirit in it, which made the intelligence of his death, be less unexpected to me than it would else have been— His wife’s health is such as to promise little of a longer duration— I have given a cordial and faithful tear to his memory.2

I shall inclose a copy of Mr: Tracy’s speech on the final question on what is called the electioneering Amendment—3 It was a speech of great impression when delivered, and I hope it will have its effect elsewhere— For though I stood firm to my opinion long before entertained and express’d, that the principle of discriminating in the electors votes, would really amend the Constitution, yet as the Resolution pass’d, and in the manner it was carried through, I am very averse to its adoption, and hope the [legislatu]re of Massachusetts will not adopt it.4

I am ever faithfully y[ours,]

John Q. Adams.

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs: A. Adams.”; endorsed: “J Q Adams 22 / December 1803.” Tr (Adams Papers). Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

1Two days after arriving in Washington, D.C., Anthony Merry presented his credentials to Thomas Jefferson as the new British minister to the United States. Merry arrived at the President’s House on 28 Nov. in formal diplomatic dress, likely expecting a similar reception. Jefferson, however, greeted the minister, as Merry later described it, “not merely in an undress, but actually standing in slippers down at the heels, and both pantaloons, coat, and under-clothes indicative of utter slovenliness and indifference to appearances.” The encounter sparked a kerfuffle about etiquette in the capital, into which Merry’s wife, Elizabeth Death Leathes Merry, was drawn during a 2 Dec. dinner at the executive mansion. With Dolley Payne Todd Madison serving as Jefferson’s hostess, the Merrys were astonished when the president escorted Madison to the table rather than Elizabeth Merry. The Merrys were similarly treated at the Madisons’ home a few days later. JQA blamed Jefferson, writing of his “serious concern” to JA on 3 Feb. 1804, “Our Executive is conjuring up and fostering with tenderest Love, every possible occasion or pretence to quarrel with England. … The external cavils and quibbles of female etiquette are only the bubbles that indicate the boiling of the waters in the Cabinet” (private owner, 1961). LCA later reported to JQA on 9 July (Adams Papers) that Elizabeth Merry had “quite won my heart,” managing an active social presence despite never again attending an event at the President’s House (Allgor, Parlor Politics description begins Catherine Allgor, Parlor Politics: In Which the Ladies of Washington Help Build a City and a Government, Charlottesville, Va., 2000. description ends , p. 35–47; 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 , 42:154–157).

2The death of William Vans Murray on 11 Dec. 1803 at his home in Maryland was reported in the Washington, D.C., National Intelligencer, 21 December. In a letter to JQA of 10 Nov. (Adams Papers), Murray wrote of his long illness, “I beg you not thus totally to forget me. A line from you would be cheering to me after so long an interval—& I am but just (for ten days only) once more rising a little into health. … I sincerely rejoice that you accepted a seat in the Senate of the Union, but fear that all wishes for political success are vain—desperate!” JQA never replied to Murray, but he made the following notation on the letter: “This is the last letter I received from my excellent friend; who died the 11th: of December next after its date. In my memory and hopes his existence will cease but with my own.” JQA published a lengthy obituary in the Port Folio, 4:5–6 (7 Jan. 1804), praising Murray’s public service and highlighting his humor and writing style. Charlotte Hughins Murray returned to England following her husband’s death (D/JQA/27, 27 Dec. 1803, APM Reel 30; Clement Sulivane, “A Sketch of William Vans Murray,” Publications of the Southern History Association, 5:153 [March 1901]).

3Enclosure not found. Uriah Tracy made an extended speech opposing the 12th Amendment before the Senate approved it on 2 December. The speech, printed in the Washington Federalist, 21, 23, 28 Dec., argued that northern states would be denied a voice if the selection of president and vice president were separated.

4On 2 Feb. 1804 the Massachusetts senate voted 19 to 13 against ratification of the 12th Amendment, and the state’s house of representatives did the same later in the day by a margin of 132 to 79. Ratification was opposed by Federalists, who argued that the amendment was aimed at Thomas Jefferson’s reelection. Massachusetts eventually ratified the amendment in 1961 (Boston Repertory, 3 Feb. 1804; New-England Palladium, 7, 24 Feb.; Kenneth R. Thomas, ed., The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, Washington, D.C., 2013, p. 28).

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