From Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 29 September 1792
From Samuel Allyne Otis
Phila. Sept 29th 1792
What a sad lesson against anarchy is indeed my honored & respected friend to be learnt, in the accts fm France! St Bartholemew with all its horrors is again passing in review & sickens & astonishes the eye— I will not repeat the dismal tale you must have it in all its particulars before this can reach you1 And surely every man not devoid of good policy & humanity will join you in deprecating a mad unbalanced democracy— You observed in a late conversation that our new world, bad as it is, exhibited few or no instances of that love of blood shed which stains the conduct of the old world— Thank God it was a just observation. And Altho there are uneasy, discontented, ambitious and wrong headed politicians sufficient to keep us fermenting, a principle of humanity checks their proceedings, and I hope will continue so to do— I am sure Americans will profit by the troubles of France—
Its extraordinary that this State deriving peculiarly, nay almost monopolizing the advantages of the federal government, should say and do so many things against it, yet so it is— The new representation shews how powerful the antis are. They have carried every man on their list. And altho some of these are exceeding good men the election of Finley & Smilie shew their strength. C Thomson and Bingham were pushed for by the federalists but fell, espesially the latter very short—2 Their Electors will some of them be of the same cast, however I have no idea of their chusing a majority against you— With your other friends, I very much regret your absence, it gives your enimies a handle— But I hope sincerely the resolution communicated in confidence will be retracted— It would be presumption in me to suggest an argument on the subject. I cannot help saying however, that you are not merely accountable to yourself in this business, but to your Country, who wants your aid, your experience & your weight to balance her on an ocean by no means calm, & where agitation under another Congress may be violently encreased agitated— & I flatter myself on a cool contemplation of your determination your good judgment will induce you to give it up—
The gentlemen of Senate begin to assemble, Messrs Langdon Brown & Few are here in addition to the residents—Who will be pro tem:? Izard Langdon & Ellsworth & perhaps Johston will be contemplated— Mr Lee has retired under the weight of years & infirm health—3 I exceeding regret your ill health and that of Mrs Adams—4 Mr Jay has had a very severe illness and is far enough from well—5 The war seems to continue between the two great officers.—6 The President is here and with Mrs W seems to be in very good health & Spirits— Clymer has been amongst the Pittsburg Malcontents & was obliged to disguise himself, Claypole copied a lampoon on the subject, Clymer attempted to thrash master Type & got the worst of it—7 So much for Inspector General— I hear Col. Bur declines being a judge & dont thank Mr Clinton for his promotion—8 The Antis are going to drop Bur & run Clinton— Indeed he seems to be a more important competitor— The List is as follows9
| Kittera | Heisler | Scott |
| Finley | Hartley | Armstrong |
| 2 Muhlenburgs | Gregg | Montgomry & |
| Gen. Erwin | Fitzsimons | Smilie |
I am anxious about your accommodation when you get here, and the more because my house is not large & elegant— For all the purposes of comfort & convenience it is competent and Mrs Otis joins me in a sincere tender of all or such part as may best accommodate you and servants— Our family is small and it will certainly be more agreeable to have my little good wife pour out your coffee than a stranger— I hope you will contemplate this as a serious proposition, & a project that will make us very happy— Mrs O joins me in respects to your Lady & remembrances to all friends—
I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most humble Sert
Sam. A. Otis
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr Otis Septr. 29 / 1792.”
1. Philadelphia newspapers reported a wave of atrocities as revolution intensified in France. According to the press, a mob tried forcing Louis XVI to sign an anticlerical decree passed by the National Assembly; fifteen people were executed for “aristocracy” at Toulon and Saint-Patrice; a group of priests were “inhumanly butchered” in Bordeaux; and an elderly Roman Catholic priest was “cut to pieces” in Limoges. Otis equated the attacks to the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of the Huguenots in 1572 (Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 8 Sept. 1792, 29 Sept.; , p. 169).
2. Irish-born weaver William Findley (ca. 1741–1821), of Westmoreland County, Penn., who garnered 33,314 votes, emerged as the clear favorite in the Pennsylvania congressional election of 1792. Capturing 16,818 votes, Irish-born politician John Smilie (1741–1812), of Fayette, Penn., also won. Both men were Democratic-Republicans. Federalists fared well but narrowly lost. Charles Thomson netted 16,388 votes, and Philadelphia banker William Bingham earned 14,481 votes (vol. 16:20; ; A New Nation Votes).
3. The 2d session of the 2d Congress met from 5 Nov. to 2 March 1793. With JA absent, on 5 Nov. 1792 senators elected John Langdon of New Hampshire as president pro tempore. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, who resigned on 8 Oct., was replaced by Caroline County, Va., lawyer John Taylor (1753–1824), William and Mary 1772 (, 2d Cong., 2d sess., p. 451, 463; ).
4. The vice president felt the physical rigors of his office, writing to AA2 on 29 Oct.: “While I was abroad I had commonly Secretaries to assist me. But now, when my hand shakes and my eyes fail, I have no one even to copy a letter, so that I am obliged to lay aside all pretensions of answering letters” (, 9:317).
5. A sudden and serious inflammation of John Jay’s eyes, coupled with fever and rheumatism, limited his ability to work. On 8 Oct. CA reported to AA that Jay had “been at death’s door but is now somewhat recovered” (, 5:451–452; , 9:313).
6. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
7. Philadelphia merchant George Clymer (1739–1813), who knew JA from their service in the Continental Congress, was the federal supervisor of revenue for Pennsylvania. Philadelphia printer David C. Claypoole (ca. 1757–1849) reported in the press that Clymer, fearing for his safety among opponents of the federal excise, posed first in public meetings as Henry Knox, then as “Smith.” Clymer denied the allegations but also defended the use of a disguise (, 9:178, 10:338; , p. 125, 126, 257; ; Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 20 Oct.).
8. Gov. George Clinton named Aaron Burr as a judge on the N.Y. Supreme Court in 1792. AA perceived a political maneuver, pointing out that Burr supported Clinton’s disqualification of certain votes in the recent gubernatorial election and thus was “rewarded for his opinion upon the Legality of the Election.” Burr declined the appointment (, p. 116–117; , 9:323).
9. Otis correctly identified the Pennsylvania representatives elected to serve in the House from 1792 to 1794: John W. Kittera, Daniel Hiester, Thomas Scott, William Findley, Thomas Hartley, James Armstrong, Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, Andrew Gregg, William Montgomery, William Irvine, Thomas Fitzsimons, and John Smilie (A New Nation Votes).