112201To John Adams from Pseudonym: "A Friend to America and Truth", April 1798 (Adams Papers)
To warn a worthy people of impending danger is surely laudable. Permit me therefore to warn you against the Ninth of May. Be prepared, be courageous, for you will stand in need of all your fortitude to repel the insiduous attacks of domestic enemies. There is a vile plot laid. The prime movers of it are Frenchmen. They imagine themselves secure in their Villainy, and they will (on that day...
112202To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Understanding a marine Department is about to be created, and reflecting, that my former appointment under the Commissioner of the United States in France was principally of that discription, I am emboldened to offer a renewal of my Services. Maritime concerns have been with me objects of particular attention from early life, and so far as they are connected with Commerce may be considered as...
112203A French Faction, [April 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
There is a set of men, whose mouths are always full of the phrazes British Faction, British Agents British Influence . Feeling that they themselves are enlisted in a foreign faction, they imagine, that it must be so with every one else—and that whoever will not join with them in sacrificing the interests of their country to another Country must be engaged in an opposite foreign faction....
112204From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [April 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your last letter. The opinion with regard to the conduct of the President is very important. As to our finances all will be well, if our councils are wise & vigorous; if not, all will go to ruin. I fear there is not among the friends sufficient capaciousness of views for the greatness of the occasion. I send the inclosed because it required correction. AL , Connecticut...
112205April—1798 (Washington Papers)
1. Morning—Smoaky & a little cloudy with the wind fresh from the Southward. Mer. 60—at night 66 & not higher all day. Mr. Law, a Mr. Taylor Lieutt. Walton of the Navy & young Mr. Barry came to dinner & Chs. Alexander junr. came at Night. Young Mr. Barry is probably James David Barry, nephew and adopted son of James Barry. Charles Alexander, Jr. (d. 1812), was the oldest son of Charles...
112206Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 1 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter of the 20th of march which I receiv’d yesterday & for the papers you sent mr otis & Harpers Speeches are much admir’d by one party & their Wit & Satire felt by the other. they “have bar’d the Breasts of those villains who are doing their utmost to ruin & degrade their country & have Strip’d the gilding from the Principle which they wish’d to establish.[ ” ] it had...
112207[Diary entry: 1 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
1. Morning—Smoaky & a little cloudy with the wind fresh from the Southward. Mer. 60—at night 66 & not higher all day. Mr. Law, a Mr. Taylor Lieutt. Walton of the Navy & young Mr. Barry came to dinner & Chs. Alexander junr. came at Night. Young Mr. Barry is probably James David Barry, nephew and adopted son of James Barry. Charles Alexander, Jr. (d. 1812), was the oldest son of Charles...
112208To George Washington from Alexander White, 1 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your favour of 25 Ul[t]o It is with real concern that I am obliged to state the affairs of the Federal Seat in a more unfavourable light than heretofore—The Bill which passed the House of Representatives after having been twice under consideration of a Committee of the Senate was reported without amendment, but with strong symptoms of disapprobation from three of the Members...
112209From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 1 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Mar. 20. came to hand yesterday. you are not aware of the consequences of writing me a letter in so fair a hand, and one so easily read. it puts you in great danger of the office of private secretary at Monticello, which would sometimes be a laborious one. your letter was 11. days coming here, and mr Eppes’s of Feb. 8. was 19. days on it’s way. this shews that there is something wrong...
112210From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 1 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Mar. 13. & to thank you for the trouble you have taken. the result of your observations [impress] me strongly with the belief that the person on whose account I [wrote] to you will be disappointed in his supposed discovery. however he has still hopes, and wishes me to ask you to take the trouble of trying again under certain precautions, which, as...
112211William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 2 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Some lover of your nephews happiness, last thursday added something to the fragment of life, by placing in my hands your agreeable favor of March 20 th. The pamphlet sent me, I give you my sincere thanks. Is not Mr. Pickering the author. As soon as I read it, I thought I could see in it his simple style and forcible reasoning. I had read both Scipio and Munroes view, before I received your...
112212[Diary entry: 2 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
2. Morning—very heavy—Wind at No. Et. Mer. 56. Raining more or less from 10 oclk. Wind more Northerly. Mer 40 at Night. Mr. Law & the Gentlemen who came with [him] left this about noon.
112213To George Washington from George Washington Parke Custis, 2 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter arrived by the ordinary course of the Mail which goes by Baltimore and gave me sincere pleasure in hearing that you were in good health and likewise the family. I was somewhat unwell for sometime after coming here owing to the water but that is entirely removed and I am very well again—I am going on the College with the class and likewise the French master who is I beleive very...
112214From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I am in debt for your two favors of the 15th. & 22, the Gazettes of the 3. 67 & 8 Ulto, with a regular continuation to the 22d—two statements from the Treasury Department, and Payne’s letter to the French people & armies. The President’s message is only a further developement to the public, of the violent passions, & heretical politics, which have been long privately known to...
112215From Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 2 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Matthew Cary, & will be obliged to him if he can inform him how to address a letter to his brother John Carey in London, as he does not know the street, number &c where he would be found. RC ( NN ); addressed: “Mr. Matthew Carey 118. Market street.” Not recorded in SJL . According to SJL on 2 Apr. 1798 TJ wrote a letter to John Carey “at mr....
112216From Thomas Jefferson to William Linn, 2 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I could not sooner acknolege the reciept of your favor of Feb. [8]th. because I had to write to Virginia for one of my blank vocabularies, and to await it’s reciept. I now avail myself of your permission to inclose you one. the chief object is that as far as your society may attempt to collect vocabularies of the Indian languages, there may be as much uniformity as they can approach with what...
112217To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 2 April 179[8] (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last I am in debt for your two favors of the 15th. & 22, the Gazettes of the 3. 6 7 & 8 Ulto, with a regular continuation to the 22d— two statements from the Treasury Department , and Payne’s letter to the French people & armies.—The President’s message is only a further developement to the public, of the violent passions, & heretical politics, which have been long privately known to...
112218From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 2 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Jan. 29. and as the rising of Congress seems now to be contemplated for about the last of this month, and it is necessary that I settle mr Short’s matter with the treasury before my departure, I take the liberty of saying a word on that subject. the sum you are to pay is to go to the credit of a demand which mr Short has on the treasury of the...
112219To Thomas Jefferson from John Wickham, 2 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
In reply to your Letter of the 25th. Ulto. I have to inform You that, though generally retained as Counsel for Mr. Welch, I am not his Attorney in Fact, Mr. Benjamin Waller of Wms.Burg acting in that Character, it was solely with a View to serve him that I undertook in his Stead to make the Adjustment which took place between us.—I have inclosed your Letter to Mr. Waller, & doubt not he will...
112220From John Adams to United States Congress, 3 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with the request of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of the second of this Month, I transmit to both Houses, those instructions to and dispatches from, the Envoys Extraordinary of the United States to the French Republic which were mentioned in my message of the nineteenth of March last, omitting only some names, and a few expressions descriptive of the...
112221[Diary entry: 3 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
3. Morning—Raining—Wind fresh from No. Et. Mer. 39. Raining all day—wind in the same quarter. Mer. 38 at Night 42 highest.
112222From George Washington to John Henry, 3 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
As you were so obliging upon a former occasion as to aid me in obtaining Plank from Mr Smith of Vienna, as I am in want of more, & some Scantling; and as my letter to him may not pass through so safe a channel as by committing it to your care, I take the liberty of using this freedom—persuaded you will excuse it. If to relax, & diversify the scene a little, you should find it convenient &...
112223From George Washington to Alexander Smith, 3 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am in want of Plank and Scantling as mentioned below. If you can supply me, the sooner I receive them the more convenient it will be for my purposes; and the money shall be paid on delivery. At any rate I pray you to let me know whether I may depend upon being supplied by you, and in how short a time, if you are able to do it. I am Sir—Your Hble Servant ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW . The...
112224Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I embrace this opportunity by mr Thornton Secretary to mr Liston the British Minister to write too you, and to Send you two Speeches upon the Foreign intercourse Bill, one by mr Gallatin, and one in reply, by mr Harper. I wrote to you last week by Way of Hamburgh: but we are still without a line from you of a private Nature; and have only learnt of your arrival at Berlin from your Letters to...
112225Abigail Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 4 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
To know that one Cannot freely say that Black, is Black; even tho it be “darkness visible,” or that white is white, tho the new fallen snow is not purer, is fettering ones faculties, as well as restraining ones pen. Yet in such perilious Times as the present, freely to discuss motives which lead to measures, or to Characterize the Actors “who fret and Strut their hour upon the stage” would not...
112226Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 4 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The eastern post will go out this morning and I take my pen to thank you for your Letters of the 20 & 26th of March. we had received intelligence of the wisdom of Roxbury & Milton, their petitions having reachd their Representitives in Congress. the reply to them may be found in the dispatches of our Envoys yesterday communicated to congress. The publick exegiency of our Country, and the real...
112227The Stand No. II, [4 April 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
The description of Vice , by a celebrated poet, may aptly be applied to the Revolutionary government of France. It is, Unfortunately, however, for mankind, a species of moral pestilence has so far disordered the mental eye of a considerable portion of it, as to prevent a distinct view of the deformities of this Prodigy of human wickedness and folly. It is the misfortune of this country in...
112228[Diary entry: 4 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
4. Morning very thick and misting. Wind high from No. Et. Mer. 38. Misting & sometimes raining through the day. Wind in the same quarter. Mer. 39 at Night & 42 at highest. Mr. Alexander went away after breakfast.
112229To George Washington from Paul Ferdinand Fevot, 4 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
The unexpected Circumstances which have attended my journey to Your Seat force me to trouble Your Excellency with this. I had the honour of imparting to You from New York the reasons of my departure from Switzerland in May last resolved on by me on account of the ungratefulness of the Sovereign of Bern, & the firm persuasion that our Country being not able to withstand an invasion which I...
112230To Thomas Jefferson from William Linn, 4 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I received this day your favor of the 2d instant inclosing one of your vocabularies. The Society here intend to establish a Mission, probably, among either the Western or Southern Indians, as soon as ever they can obtain proper persons. Some have already offered, but we are not yet ready for the execution of our purpose. Your vocabulary will be put into the hands of the Missionaries with...
112231To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 4 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I now take the liberty of inclosing you the papers accompanied with a drawing to obtain Mr: Martin’s patent , having by a reference to the law, discovered the error in having before omited this drawing. Mr: Martin wishes the former papers to be withdrawn or to remain unnoticed, not only on account of this error, but also because several essential improvements have been added by him, since the...
112232Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I last week had to inform you of the Sudden death of my much value’d Freind Mrs Quincy I Now have to acquaint you that last Sunday afternoon in the midst of his Sermon Doctor Clark was struck with an apoplexy & fell down— after he was got into the carriage to be carry’d home he came a little to but Soon seem’d to fall asleep & into a Suoun out of which he never wak’d & ceas’d to breath about 3...
112233From John Adams to United States Senate, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I nominate Edward Prebble of Massachusetts to be first Lieutenant of the Frigate The Constitution in the Place of Benjamin Lee who has declined his appointment and John B. Cordis of Massachusetts to be second Lieutenant of the same Frigate in the Place of William H Wattles, who is Said to be deceased. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
112234To John Adams from Paul Ferdinand Fevot, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency will be surprised to receive a letter from a Stranger unknown to You; But Your high public character makes me hope to be taken some notice of by Your Excellency if Your leasure permits you to peruse my letter. I am a native of Lausanne in Switzerland where I followed the Law 10 years; I had a comfortable situation when the French Revolution broke out; great number of my...
112235To John Adams from John Sevier, 5 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to receive yours of the 6th Ultimo, on the 28th; with the copy of a letter to Lieut. Colo. Butler which you did me the honor to inclose I am perfectly satisfied that you had not given any orders despotic or inimical to the liberties of our Citizens, and on the contrary that you was uninformed that Any transaction of the kind had taken place, until You received my letter of the...
112236To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 5 April 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I recd your note and delivered the enclosure to Fenno who will publish it with its Successors. I hope it will do good, for if the Country cannot be roused from the Lethargy into which it fell in consequence of the miserable conduct of Congress last Summer, the Government will not in one year be worth defending. The papers relative to the Negotiation which has been attempted with France have...
112237[Diary entry: 5 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
5. Morning—Heavy & misting, Wind at No. Et. Mer. 42—The same through the day. Mer. 46 at Night & no higher.
112238From George Washington to Edmund Jennings Lee, 5 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 30th Ulto was presented to me yesterday. The apology you have offered for breaking the Seal of my Nephews letter, to me, is perfectly satisfactory. The like has often happened to myself. I hope I shall see General Lee before he leaves this part of the Country. The enclosed for Mr Corbin Washington, I request the favour of you to be caused to be delivered to him before he...
112239From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 5 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d Ulto addressed to the care of Mr Edmd Lee has been received, & I feel obliged by your endeavours to discover the genealogical descent from Lawrence Washington, the younger brother of our Ancestor John; and for your enquiries after flour barrel Staves. If any material information should be obtained relatively to the first matter, I shall be oblidged by the communication...
112240To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your favour of the 26th. ultimo, & now enclose you an insurance & a letter for Mrs. Madison, to whom I beg you to present me with much respect. You have seen that on the 19th. of the last month the president sent to us a message, & that in consequence of a request from our house his instructions, & all the despatches from our commissioners were sent to us confidentially —for...
112241To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. ult. since which I have no letter from you. These acknolegements regularly made and attended to will shew whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. The nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe...
112242From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. ult. since which I have no letter from you. these acknolegements regularly made and attended to will shew whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. the nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe...
112243From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 5 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. of Mar. since which yours of the 26th. of March is recieved. Yesterday I had a consultation with mr Dawson on the matter respecting Skipwith . we have neither of us the least hesitation, on a view of the ground, to pronounce against your coming forward in it at all. your name would be the watchword of party at this moment, and the question would give opportunities...
112244Notes on a Conversation with Benjamin Rush, 5 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Apr. 5. Dr. Rush tells me he had it from mrs Adams that not a scrip of a pen has passed between the late & present Presidt. since he came into office. MS ( DLC : TJ Papers, 102:17525); entirely in TJ’s hand; on same sheet as Notes on Senators’ Comments about House Impeachment Committee, 12 Mch. 1798.
112245From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 5 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph’s letter of Mar. 26. informs me you are all well at Belmont. my last news from Eppington was of Mar. 20. when all were well there. I have myself had remarkeably good health through the winter, since the cold which I took on my way here. the advance of the season makes me long to get home. the first shad we had here was Mar. 16. and Mar. 28. was the first day we could observe a...
112246To Alexander Hamilton from Francisco de Miranda, 6 April [–7 June] 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Celle-ci vous sera remise, mon Cher et respectable Ami, par mon Compatriote D. Pedro Josef de Caro, chargé des Depéches de la plus haute importance pour le President des Etats Unis: il vous dirà Confidentiellement ce que vous voudrez apprendre sur ce Sujet. Il paroit que le moment de nottre emancipation aproche, et que l’etablissement de la Libertè sur tout le Continent du Nouveaumonde nous...
112247To John Adams from James McHenry, 6 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a report, and documents, in the case of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Rochfontaine Commandant of the Corps of Artillerists, and Engineers. I am Sir / with much the greatest respect / Your most Obedient / Humble Servant— James McHenry War Department 6th: April. 1798— To the President of the United States. The Secretary of War respectfully reports. That certain Charges...
112248To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honour to represent to the President of the United States. 1st. That Theophile Cazenova has on behalf of Robert Morris Esqr. vested and transfered in the Books of the Bank of the United States Two hundred & five Shares of the Capital Stock of the said Bank which shares stand in the name of The President of the United States for the time being in trust &...
112249[Diary entry: 6 April 1798] (Washington Papers)
6. Morning—Sun rose clear, but cloudy notwithstanding. Wind at No. Et. & Mer. at 46. Clear afterwards Wind still Easterly but moderate; Mer. 54 at Night—58 at highest.
112250To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. Still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. The first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....