1. In his short letter to AA of 21 Jan., JA noted that TBA “runs about with his black head and blue Coat among his old Quaker Acquaintances, who all accost him in the friendly style” (Adams Papers).

2. After striking several passages that he believed were overly censorious of Elbridge Gerry’s conduct, JA submitted to Congress on 21 Jan. Timothy Pickering’s report on Gerry’s correspondence with Talleyrand. In the report Pickering argued that Talleyrand’s actions were designed to create the pretense on which France could blame the United States for an ensuing war between the countries. He viewed French overtures to limit privateering in the West Indies as a diversion and concluded that France “from standing erect, and in that commanding attitude requiring implicit obedience—cowering, it renounces some of its unfounded demands. But I hope we shall remember ‘that the tiger crouches before he leaps upon his prey.’” After the report was submitted to Congress, a resolution was introduced to have both the dispatches and the report published. A lengthy debate followed, in which Democratic-Republicans objected to printing Pickering’s report because they viewed it as unnecessary and degrading to Congress. More particularly, Samuel Smith of Maryland insisted that it should not be construed as coming from JA but rather from an “improper interference” by Pickering. The Federalist counterargument was that the report contained pertinent details the public should see. The inclusion of the report in the order for publication passed by a vote of 46 to 36, and the materials were published as separate pamphlets: Message from the President of the United States, Accompanying Sundry Papers Relative to the Affairs of the United States, with the French Republic, [Phila., 1799], Evans, description begins Charles Evans and others, American Bibliography: A Chronological Dictionary of All Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America [1639–1800], Chicago and Worcester, Mass., 1903–1959; 14 vols.; rev. edn., www.readex.com. description ends No. 36551, and Message from the President of the United States, Accompanying a Report of the Secretary of State, Phila., 1799, Evans, description begins Charles Evans and others, American Bibliography: A Chronological Dictionary of All Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America [1639–1800], Chicago and Worcester, Mass., 1903–1959; 14 vols.; rev. edn., www.readex.com. description ends No. 36547. Pickering’s report was first printed in the Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 23 Jan.; Gerry’s correspondence was printed in the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 Jan. (Elkins and McKitrick, Age of Federalism description begins Stanley Elkins and Eric McKitrick, The Age of Federalism, New York, 1993. description ends , p. 614; Timothy Pickering, A Review of the Correspondence between the Hon. John Adams … and the Late Wm. Cunningham, Salem, Mass., 1824, p. 128–132; Amer. State Papers, Foreign Relations description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1832–1861; 38 vols. description ends , 2:229–238; 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 , 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 2729–2740).

3. Shaw was referring to Edward Livingston, who was not present in Congress until 14 Jan. (U.S. House, Jour. description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1789–. description ends , 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 431).

4. Shaw wrote again to AA the following day, enclosing copies of the Gerry dispatches and reporting to AA on a bill in Congress that would further suspend relations between the United States and France (Adams Papers).