From John Adams to Tench Coxe, 8 December 1793
To Tench Coxe
Philadelphia Decr 8. 1793
Dear Sir
By the last post from Boston I recd your Letter of Nov. 18th.— I have before recd one at Quincy and another at Boston.1 I thank you sir for these friendly Communications, although I have not had opportunity to answer them particularly. I was very Sensible of the Importance of Congress Sitting in Philadelphia if it could be done with Safety and accordingly as soon as I was convinced if this Point I ventured to sett the Example of coming the first that I knew of, into Town.2 I now Congratulate you on the comfortable Prospect We have not only of remaining in the City but of a calm Session.—
The English will not willingly Add America to the Number of their Ennemies at present. We have an Influence in England and Holland, which would give no little Trouble to their Governments, if We were in the War and Add no Small Quantity of Feuil to the Republican Fire in France.
It is the Business of Philosophy to extract as much good as possible out of inevitable Evils. While We lament the Calamities in Europe which We can neither prevent nor assuage, We may derive some Consolation from a Reflection that the Powers from whom We have most reason to apprehend Hostilities, are exhausting their Resources to such a degree that they will not soon be in a Condition to molest Us.
I am sir with much Esteem your most / obt
John Adams
RC (PHi:Coxe Family Papers); addressed: “The Honourable / Tench Coxe Esqr / Philadelphia”; internal address: “Mr Coxe”; endorsed: “Philada. Decemr 8th. 1793. / John Adams—”
1. These were likely Coxe’s letters of 6 and 11 Nov., both above. He wrote again to JA on 18 Nov., assuring him that with the yellow fever epidemic at an end any political appeals to return Congress to New York City would fail. Coxe added that his European intelligence indicated that Great Britain desired to maintain peace with the United States (Adams Papers).
2. For American physicians’ efforts to end the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 4, above.