From John Adams to Joseph Brown Jr., 8 November 1791

To Joseph Brown Jr.

Philadelphia Novr: 8th: 1791.

sir

By what accident it happened I know not, but your kind letter of the 6th: of August, never came to my hand till the 7th of this month of Novr: before which time the vacancy in the Office of Collector of the port of Charleston was filled.1 But if even that event had not happened it is probable that no representation of mine concerning a Gentleman in your State, of whose character and accomplishments & connections my knowledge must be very imperfect, would have had much weight with the President in comparison with the gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives from the neighborhood. I thank you Sir for your personal civilities to me. I doubt not America will continue to reward me as generously as she has ever done. For my posterity I wish no other rewards or honors than their talents and virtues may merrit: from a free and enlightened people, and that the same rewards may be obtained by you, and every other worthy citizen, is the sincere wish of Sir, / Your most obedt: / and most humble sert:

John Adams

LbC in TBA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr: Joseph Brown / of Charleston / So Carrolina”; APM Reel 115.

1. Charleston, S.C., merchant Joseph Brown Jr. wrote to JA on 6 Aug. (Adams Papers), reminding him of their prior acquaintance in France, and soliciting the post of port collector. Brown did not prevail. George Washington nominated Isaac Holmes on 31 Oct., and the Senate confirmed his nomination on 7 Nov. (AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara Martin, Hobson Woodward, and others, Cambridge, 1963– . description ends , 3:302, 408–409; U.S. Senate, Exec. Jour. description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., 1789– . description ends , 2d Cong., 1st sess., p. 86, 88).

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: From John Adams to Joseph Brown Jr., 8 November 1791
Author: Adams, John
Recipient: Brown, Joseph Jr.
Date: 8 November 1791

Reference

Cite as: “From John Adams to Joseph Brown Jr., 8 November 1791,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-21-02-0050. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 21, March 1791–January 1797, ed. Sara Georgini, Sara Martin, R. M. Barlow, Gwen Fries, Amanda M. Norton, and Hobson Woodward. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2022, pp. 76–77.]