Abigail Adams to William Cranch, 4 February 1800
Abigail Adams to William Cranch
Philadelphia Febry [4] 18001
Dear Sir
I received by the post of Yesterday, Your kind favour of
Jan’ry 28th and
I am the more solicitious to reply immediatly to it, in order to rectify a
mistake which mr shaw must have made, if he said, that I had determined
never to go to Washington. So far from it, that I know not any thing, which
would give me more pleasure than visiting that city, and Many Towns in its
vicinity. Mr shaw may have heard me express a doubt whether I should go the
next session of Congress— for reasons which must be obvious to you,
circumstances may take place, which might oblige me to make a jouney home in
the Month of March, the worst in the Year for travelling, or remain there in
a situation which would be Dissagreable— I have never askd the President his
intentions, nor shall I advise him to resign, or to continue in office. His
Duty I trust will be pointed out to him, and that in so plain a Manner that
he cannot mistake it— He has never been inattentive to the voice of his
Country.2 I shall
certainly consider it My duty, as it will be my inclination to follow accompany him in any situation in
which he may be placed—3
The accounts you give of the general satisfaction which prevails in our Country, with the Government; and the administration of it, affords me real pleasure, and corresponds with similar assurences from other quarters.— virgina appears to be an exception. the government of that state has fallen into hands, hostile to the National government and the politicks of some parts of this state are not more favourable4 the late revolution in France has stagered the faith of some of the most Sanguine. they appear to be so astonished, as not to know, what to say or think of Republican France. Specters of Royalty haunt their Dreams. it is indeed very difficult to see how the present change will opperate. there is one consolation, that no change can be for the worse. from present appearences, it may prove advantageous, and lead to a general Peace— Buonaparta is more critically Situated than when contending with the Arabs—
I have mentiond to mrs Cushing your request. the Judge will befriend You. he has mentiond You to judge Paterson, but as Mrs Cushing informs me; there are recommendations in favour of some other person. the Judge advises that you write a Letter to each of the Judges during their present Sitting least as he says, they should think themselves neglected—5
I have heard from Quincy the last Week. our Friends were all well. Your Mamma much engaged in promoting the settlement of mr Whitney. the ordination is to be on Wednesday the 5th, 45 years from the Day on which mr Wibird was ordaind
Present me kindly to mrs Cranch, and to Your Little Family. I know you will be glad to hear that by late Letters from Berlin, mr and Mrs Adams were in good Health the last date was the 30 october—
It will always give Me pleasure to hear from you. I hope you will be successfull in Your present application, but if you should not, be not discouraged. Time & Chance happen to all Men. I am my Dear Sir / affectionatly Your / Friend
A Adams
RC (Bryn Athyn Historic District Archives at Glencairn Museum:William Cranch Papers, on deposit at MHi); endorsed: “Mrs. A. Adams / feb. 4th. 1800— / Ansd. / March 19th. / 1800—” Dft dated 3 Feb. (Adams Papers).
1. The dating of this letter is based on Cranch’s endorsement.
2. In the Dft AA added: “No private consideration of ease profit or Pleasure have tempted him to exhange the arduous task assignd him for more than thirty Years and altho at his period of Life retirement may be the most desirable to his ease and comfort, Yet if his country calls him to continue longer in Her Service, I doubt not that he will be obeident to her Voice—”
3. AA concluded the Dft with
the following: “nor have I Yet wholy determined not to make even the
Short Visit of next Winter, tho I own I am Somewhat discouraged from the
account of Roads, and from the account of the Presidents House which is
represented so enour very large and
like to be uncomfortably cold—situated from all Society, without
furniture for What is containd in this House, tis said will be lost in
that— into that House the President is detemined to go & a part of
it I hope may be got ready So as to accommodate him for the
Session—”
4. On 17 Jan. Democratic-Republicans who controlled the Virginia legislature passed an act that changed how the state determined its electoral votes. Previously votes were divided between candidates based on the districts they carried, while under the new system the statewide victor received all the electoral votes (, 4:348; , 17:415–416). For Pennsylvania, see TBA to JQA, 25 Feb., and note 8, below.
5. On 3 Feb. TBA also wrote to Cranch on the subject of the clerkship of the U.S. Supreme Court, recommending that he write to Justice William Paterson (OCHP:William Cranch Papers). AA in a 12 Feb. letter to Mary Smith Cranch reported that she had spoken with both Paterson and William Cushing about William Cranch’s possible appointment (, p. 232–233). The other candidate for the position was Elias Boudinot Caldwell, for whom see TBA to William Cranch, 15 Feb., and note 2, below.