1To John Adams from James Asheton Bayard, Jr., 19 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
I beg you to accept my thanks for the honor conferred on me by the nomination as Minister to the French Republic. Under most circumstances I should have been extremely gratified with such an opportunity of rendering myself serviceable to the Country. But the delicate Situation in which the late presidential election has placed me forbids me exposing myself to the Suspicion of having adopted...
2To John Adams from James Asheton Bayard, Jr., 11 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
The House of Representatives having Set unusually late the last two days I have been prevented waiting upon You according to my intention. I beg You Sir to believe that I appreciate with a becoming Sense the high honor You have proposed to confer upon me. I took the liberty of stating the subject to the Chief Justice who was So obliging as to undertake to request your opinion upon the...