From Thomas Welsh to John Adams, 6 May 1794
From Thomas Welsh
Boston May 6th 1794.
Dear Sir
Your Favor of the 7th Ulto: stands ’till this Moment unacklowdged.1
I did not like the Method of electioneering which you so justly deem improper; but it seemed in sum Sort justifiable at the Moment to counteract the Effects of the Promoters of it. but I hope it will not in future be persued. Mr Adams, the Secretary informed me last Eveng, will probably be chosen by three fifths of the Voters. the Returns being nearly compleated excepting those from the County of Berkshire which have not been received. there will be no choice of Lieut Governor Mr Gill Mr Gerry Gorham and I think Phillips. will be the Candidates.2
The Humane Society has been called upon at different Times during the Session of Congress both by individuals and in the public Papers to promote by their Recommendation the obtainment of a Contribution for the Relief of the American Prisoners in Algiers this the Trusties thought might have a Tendencey to interfere with the Views of Congress and therefore declined encourageing. last Evening at the Monthly Meeting of the Trustees the Subject was again brought up and a Proposal made for the Trustees to petition the General Court or the Executive of the State to issue a Brief to procure a Contribution for the Relief of the Prisoners from Captivity or if the Sum collected was not sufficient for this Purpose to render their Situation more comfortable. but this proposal was waved. and a Committie appointed to consider the Propriety of such an Application
The Comee. consisted of Mr Russell Ja Mason senr Mr Balch Dr Howard and myself.3 Mr Balch observed that he had a Cousin a Prisoner and he had consulted you upon this Subject and that your Advice was not to do anything at present as the Subject was before Congress. The other Gentlemen of the Comee: therefore desired me to write you and to take your Sense upon the Propriety of the Application. or in other words whether such a Measure will in any Way injure the Arrangements of Congress there will be sufficient Time for your Reply as the Committee have ’till the first Monday in June to prepare a Report.
I was at Quincy last Saturday I saw Mrs Hall your aged Mother and I fear she will not tarry with us through the Summer I saw her when she was taken in Feby I then thought she might recruit. but it appears to me that her Lungs are materially affected and that her Complaints are hectic. her understanding remains uninjured by the Malady.4
I am Sr with much Respect Your Friend &c
Thomas Welsh
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Dr Welsh May 6. / ansd 13. 1794.”
1. Not found.
2. For the results of the Massachusetts gubernatorial elections, see Welsh’s 31 March letter, and note 4, above. Samuel Phillips Jr. (1752–1802), a former state senator from Andover, Mass., was not successful (, 8:61).
3. Congress had repeatedly delayed action in liberating the American prisoners in Algiers, for which see Thomas Barclay’s 17 July 1792 letter, and note 3, above. When the trustees of the Massachusetts Humane Society met on 5 May 1794, they appointed a committee to investigate the possibility of supplying aid. The committee, led by Boston merchant Thomas Russell, who served as the society’s president, ultimately deferred any further action (History of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, 1876, p. 9).