To John Jay from Benjamin Hawkins, 6 October 1789
From Benjamin Hawkins
Warranton in North Carolina 6th octobr. 1789
Dear Sir,
I have taken the liberty to enclose the letter for Mr. Jefferson to you, it contains some seed of the Dionaea Muscipula,1 which I have procured for him. Our Convention are to meet on the 3rd. monday of november, and it is expected that there will be a majority in favour of the Constitution. The opponants are secret but steady in their opposition2
Our change is owing more to the Character of the president of the United States than to the adoption by eleven States, surely so much never did depend on the life of one man as has and dos depend on his!
I request the favour of you to present my respectful compliments to Mrs. Jay and to believe me with great & sincere esteem Dear Sir, yr. most obedient Servt
Benjamin Hawkins3
The Honble John Jay esqr. Secretary for Foreign affairs
ALS, NNC (EJ: 08617). Enclosure: Hawkins to TJ, 6 Oct. 1789, RC, MHi; , 15: 506–7.
1. A plant of the Venus fly trap genus, the Dionaea Muscipula is native to the South Carolina coast. Hawkins had tried unsuccessfully to send some of these plants to TJ several years earlier. See Hawkins to TJ, 8 Mar. 1787, and TJ’s reply of 4 Aug. 1787, , 11: 201–3, 683–84; 15: 506–7.
2. Since the first North Carolina ratifying convention, which met 21 July 1789, withheld ratification until the incorporation of certain amendments, particularly a bill of rights, a second convention followed the submission of twelve proposed amendments to the states by the first U.S. Congress on 25 Sept. Ratification then carried on 21 Nov.
3. Benjamin Hawkins served in the Confederation Congress as a delegate from North Carolina in 1787. A staunch Federalist, he became one of the two senators first elected to represent that state.