James Sullivan to John Adams, 22 November 1784
From James Sullivan
Boston 22d November 1784
Dear Sir
Your favour of the 7th Sepr.1 I had a few days ago, shall Set off for Trenton within three days, and shall not fail to communicate One Paragraph of your Letter, the inconvenience of public parsimony I have experienced So much as gives me a full Idea of your feelings. I rejoice with you that you are again with an agreeable and charming family after so long an absence from domestic felicity, I wish my Compliments may be rendered agreeable to your Lady.
We have nothing here worth Communicating to you— Rhode Island yet Stands out against a Congressional Impost, and as all the other States have agreed to it, and also to the vesting Congress with the powers of regulating the Commerce of america for a certain time, we Shall be obliged to alter our provisos. and agree as Coneceticut has done that our Laws Shall have force, and our grants become perfect upon twelve States agreeing to the measure, it will then become necessary to make Laws prohibiting a Commercial conexion with Rhode Island, however disagreeable this may be there is no way to Support the Feoderal Government without it. the people I think become more and more convinced of the necessity of Stregthening the union2
A few days ago Mr Gerry wrote a letter to the two Houses proposing instructions that their Delegates Should endeavour to prevent all Establishments for Troops in time of peace, Instructions are accordingly given— he also proposed that the Delegates of this State Should be enabled to keep a public Table, this is postponed—3
the General Court have refered to Congress the question whether British Subjects including Refugees Shall recover Interest for their Debts during the War or rather whether this State can consistantly with the 4th article of the treaty of peace pass an act to prevent it.4
We have laid a Claim before Congress to Lands on the Westward of the Hudson, and the first monday in December is the day for appointing the feoderal Court—
Mr Adams holds out well, and is yet the Stanch Whig of 1775. but has his Enemies your old Friends here appear very well and hope once more to see you in your Native Country.
We are much at a loss here to know what the Government of Britian intends with regard to trade their Province of Nova Scotia is almost Intirely fed by our produce and yet they prohibit the provisions being carried in american bottoms while daily insults are offered to our flagg. we might hope for national retaltion if the petty State of Rhode Island did not embarass our Measures
the duty upon oyl does not as yet prevent the exportation of it to London— but our Merchants Say that when they have Shiped what they have on hand they Shall buy no more
the Committee of Congress broke up in a most extraordianary manner (and for this goes by a safe hand I will add) that it is much to the dishonor of the States, the locus in quo became a Serious question, between the Southern and Northern members, and they therefore Seperated. Mr Dana has demanded the approbation of the General Court on his Conduct, and has obtained it, but how far he is to be considered amemable to the State and not to Congress is yet with Some a question, but as the facts are represented here he has no body that is against him.5
I have the Honor to be / with great Regard & Friendship / Your most Obedient Hble / Servt
James Sullivan
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency / John Adams Esqr / Autieul / near / Paris”; internal address: “His Excellency Mr Adams”; endorsed: “Mr. Sullivan recd. / Nov. 1784. / ansd. 11. March. 1785.”
1. Not found.
2. In its May session, the Conn. general assembly passed an act authorizing Congress to levy an impost on goods imported into the state for the purpose of discharging the national war debt but made it effective only if similar acts were adopted by all the other states. During its October session the legislature amended the impost act to make it effective after the passage of similar acts by just twelve states (Charles J. Hoadley and others, comps., The Public Records of the State of Connecticut, 19 vols., Hartford, 1894–2010, 5:326–327, 435).
3. In his 25 Oct. letter to the Mass. senate and house of representatives, Elbridge Gerry reported on his year in Congress, commenting on, among other matters, the establishment of a standing army. On 1 Nov. the two houses agreed to instruct the Massachusetts delegates to make every effort to oppose the raising of a standing army in time of peace (MHi:Gerry Papers; A Journal of the Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts [1784–1785], Boston, 1784, p. 174, No. 18600).
4. The General Court instructed the Massachusetts delegates to Congress to ask for guidance regarding the interpretation of Art. 4 of the Anglo-American peace treaty in an order of 10 Nov. (, 1784–1785, p. 302).
5. After failing to obtain an adjournment of the Committee of the States by vote, delegates Francis Dana of Massachusetts and Jonathan Blanchard of New Hampshire simply left Annapolis on 11 Aug., followed by Samuel Dick of New Jersey later the same day. With only six delegates present—none from north of Pennsylvania—the committee could not assemble a quorum and was obliged to disband. On 9 Nov. the Mass. General Court passed a resolution specifically approving Dana’s conduct with respect to the adjournment (Edmund Cory Burnett, The Continental Congress, N.Y., 1941, p. 609; , 1784–1785, p. 295).