From John Adams to Samuel Griffin, 19 January 1797
To Samuel Griffin
Philadelphia January 19th 1797
Dear Sir
I Received this morning your kind Letter of the 12th and thank you for your obliging Congratulations on an Event which although it is not as yet Legally ascertained Seems to be Settled In the Public Opinion when you assure me it was the general wish of The Friends of Order and good Government In Virginia and that I may Rely upon the Support of that State you not only make me a high Compliment But afford me Solid Consulation as far as my Conduct shall be Conformable To the Constitution of the United States and faithfully and industriously Directed To the Public Good I Shall Confidently Rely on the Support of the Sound Part of That State and all others in the Union and upon no other Conditions do I wish for The Support of any—
I am much obliged to you for Proposing To me mr John Griffin to live in my family as a Private Secretary I take this young Gentlemans offer as a Compliment but—I have already Engaged all the assistance of that kind that I Shall want if I Should have occasion for any give me Leave to Reciprocate all your Good wishes For the helth and happiness of my—Family—
we have this Day an Important message from the President upon French—Affairs with the United States which threaten To give Employment to all our Patience Prudence and firmness1 it is Greatly to be Lemented that our Citizens have been So Little informed of the true temper and Character of French Policy towards this Country for twenty, years many important Facts have been Concealed from them— Least they Should Conceive Prejudices or Entertain Doubts of their Disinterested friendship and the whole Character of their Government Since thair Revolution has been tinged with false Colours in the Eyes of our People By french Emissaries and Disaffected americans— The truth may now be forced upon us to our Sorrow I have too much Confidence However in the Sense Spirit and Resources of this Country to be appalled at the Prospect of an approaching Storm we must make fair weather if we Can if we Cannot we must Ride it out like good Seaman
I am Sir with great Esteem / your very Humble Servant—
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Honle: Samuel Griffin Esqr.—”; APM Reel 117.
1. On 19 Jan. George Washington submitted a letter and related documents to Congress addressing the “far from agreeable” state of Franco-American relations, after several years of attacks on U.S. shipping, consular contretemps, and diplomatic missteps. Further, he clarified that Charles Cotesworth Pinckney’s mission in Paris was to “make to that Government such explanation of the principles and conduct of our own, as by manifesting our good faith might remove all jealousy and discontent, and maintain that harmony and good understanding with the French Republic which it has been my constant solicitude to preserve” (, 35:369–370).
JA approved of the action, but expressed great concern that press distortions and party politics would enmesh Americans deeper in the violence of the French Revolution because of their fractured understanding of events. He mentioned the topic often in his private letters in early 1797, as he readied to step into the presidency. Writing to AA on 19 Jan., JA considered Washington’s message and the fate of Franco-American relations in that light: “The Consequences of this Transaction will come up after the 4 of March, and stare at me— I have had a good Education to Patience in public affairs, and can look at a Storm with Some Composure. the approaching one looks black and thick enough: but I have Confidence in the Sense, Spirit and Resources of this Country, which few other Men in the World know so well, have so long tried and found Solid. Confusions, Inconveniences and Distresses enough may await Us. This People want something to awaken them from their golden Dreams “ (Adams Papers).