Adams Papers

From Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 31 May 1793

From Samuel Allyne Otis

Philada. May 31st 1793

Dear Sir

I am obliged for your favor covering the Clerks accounts.1

The affairs of Europe are changed since the last autumn and indeed are daily assumg a new-face. Tis generally supposed that Dumorier is filed off, whether with or without an army is not yet ascertained. The next Ship from England must bring important accounts.

We are disturbed here with the bickerings of French and English Sailors and every riot seems more alarming. The magistracy make efforts to keep the peace but you know how strong a Pennsa Executive is—

Enclosed is a paper which makes mention of you and your son, and seems to hold up the Combination in a light truly formidable, how far his the authors opinions are just I pretend not to determine.2 I think however if a peace could be brot abt on any tollerable terms it would be for the general interest. I rejoice however and am disappointed in the general spirit of neutrality in our Country. Not because tis not the dictate of reason and judgment, but because there are madmen in all Countries—

Our new minister from France you see composes & sings songs. How far he will compose the minds of this people remains to be determined. Tis whispered at the first public dinner given him, the head of a pig was cut off and handed round as the head of an Aristocrat— Also that the new Consul of Pennsylvania is at the head of a Jacobin clubb in our City, and who are amongst other things to denounce all such of their Countrymen as are not true Frenchmen. They are trying to cook up another dinner for the minister. How that will be garnished we shall hear—3

My old friend Major Jackson has had a meeting for the first time with Mr W— Brother B——m has employed him to go to Europe to sell land, whence returning, he is to take the hand, as he seems to have gained the heart of Miss W.4

I regret Mrs Adams’s indisposition and with Mrs. Otis beg our best remembrances and am / Sir / With respect & esteem / Your most Obedt & huml ser

Sam. A Otis

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President of the UStates.” Filmed at 21 May 1793.

1. Not found.

2. The enclosure, not found, may have been an anonymous essay republished in the American Daily Advertiser, 30 May, that cited JA and JQA as favoring British constitutionalism over that of France.

3. Edmond Charles Genet entered Philadelphia on 16 May to roaring crowds, celebratory cannon, and pealing church bells. The city’s Democratic-Republican society held two dinners in his honor at Oeller’s Hotel. The first feast, held on 18 May, included lavish toasts and a public performance of the French anthem La Marseillaise, with two additional stanzas composed by Genet. Guests took turns passing and wearing a liberty cap, favored by the sans-culottes. A second reception for Genet took place on 1 June. François Dupont, who had served as French consul at Philadelphia since 25 May, hosted the festivities (Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 16 May, 3 June; Philadelphia National Gazette, 18 May; Philadelphia General Advertiser, 21 May; 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 , 10:456; Madison, Papers, Congressional Series description begins The Papers of James Madison: Congressional Series, ed. William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, and Robert Allen Rutland, Chicago, 1962–1991; 17 vols. description ends , 15:112).

4. Maj. William Jackson (1759–1828), of South Carolina, married Elizabeth Willing (1768–1858) in 1795. She was the daughter of Philadelphia banker Thomas Willing (1731–1821) and sister-in-law of the Philadelphia land speculator William Bingham (vols. 3:56, 11:207; LCA, D&A description begins Diary and Autobiographical Writings of Louisa Catherine Adams, ed. Judith S. Graham and others, Cambridge, 2013; 2 vols. description ends , 1:28; 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 , 2:2, 5:336, 9:168).

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    From Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 31 May 1793
    Author
    Otis, Samuel Allyne
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    31 May 1793

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From Samuel Allyne Otis to John Adams, 31 May 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-21-02-0154. [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. 209–210.]

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