Abigail Adams to William Smith, 26 June 1798
Abigail Adams to William Smith
Philadelphia June 26 1798
Dear sir
Since writing to You, respecting Thomas Welch, I have received last week a Letter from mr Adams which wholy discourages me from Sending any person abroad. he states certain difficulties which I do not see can be surmounted, certainely not, as it respects Thomas I cannot but regreet that I did not receive the Letter which is dated the last of Feb’ry sooner, that I might not have proposed the thing.1 I fear it will be a dissapointment to him, under his present situation. The President will give him an appointment in the Navy, or in the Army which is to be raised, which ever he may prefer— The Dr has applied for the place of Loan officers in case of mr Appletons death but it cannot be— private Friendship must not superceed the publick interest and confidence. it may lay in the P——ts power to promote him in his Profession. in that case he will not neglect him, but sir, could you advise to the other would the publick be satisfied with it?
Inclosed are the last printed dispatches. the Letter from mr Gerry to the President, he has layd before Congress as you will see by the papers.2 I would not be in mr Gerrys coat, if the dispatches should reach before he gets out of France. He has too much Charity, to believe all things tho he hopes all things. he is doing more than duty, to stay— Will the orders given him to retire be better relishd by Talleyrand, when he finds “Millions for defence but not a sixpence for tribute” to be the voice of all true Americans?3 I am grieved for mrs Gerry, who will hear many harsh things Said, many things which mr Gerry does not deserve if he is caught, he will have little compassion exercised towards him. it is an insult upon our Government to Chuse out whom Talleyrand pleased to treat with, but treat he will not, and cannot. that will Soon be put out of Question, for money tribute must be the terms—and the Cannons mouth must answer the Demand—
Congress will—not rise sooner than the last year— my kind regards to / all Friends / Yours as ever
Abigail Adams4
Mr Perkins at the Castle will be attended to. mr Perkins son in Law to mr Appleton is strongly recommended to fill his Fathers place5
RC (MHi:Smith-Townsend Family Papers); endorsed: “Philaa. June 26. 1798 / A Adams.”
1. For JQA’s 22 Feb. letter to AA discussing the salary and conditions of employment for his new secretary, see vol. 12:411–412.
2. On 21 June JA submitted to Congress Elbridge Gerry’s 16 April letter to him, covering a letter from Talleyrand to Gerry of 3 April and Gerry’s 4 April reply. Talleyrand’s letter noted that as the other commissioners with “their known opinions,” which had “interposed to the desired reconciliation,” were now departing, he wished to resume discussions with Gerry. Gerry replied that all communication in the future would be with him solely as an individual and not as a representative of the U.S. government. In his letter to JA, Gerry explained that “the Directory will not consent to my leaving France,” and in his mind, it would be “unwarrantable” to risk a breach between the two nations over his departure. Gerry, however, also made clear that he would not negotiate with the French and saw himself without power.
JA also submitted to Congress Timothy Pickering’s 23 March letter to the commissioners with explicit instructions that if they were not officially received and in active negotiations with the French government, they were to return home immediately, and that under no circumstances should a treaty be acquired with the promise of money to France. In his covering message, JA declared, “I will never send another minister to France without assurances that he will be received, respected, and honored, as the representative of a great, free, powerful, and independent nation.” The enclosure has not been found, but JA’s message and the letters were published in the Philadelphia press on 22 June and in Boston newspapers on 27 June. They were also printed as Message of the President of the United States, to Both Houses of Congress, June 21st, 1798, Phila., 1798, No. 34825 (, 2:199–201; Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 22 June; Boston Columbian Centinel, 27 June).
3. This celebrated quotation was first given as the thirteenth toast at a 23 June congressional dinner honoring the arrival of John Marshall and has been attributed to Robert Goodloe Harper (Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 25 June; ).
4. In his short reply of 2 July, Smith updated AA on the progress of the frigate Constitution’s preparations for sea and commented on the open position of loan commissioner (Adams Papers).
5. Col. William Perkins (1742–1802) had commanded Castle William since 1785. After the cession of Castle Island to the federal government, he served as an inspector in the Boston Custom House until his death. JA nominated Perkins’ son Thomas (ca. 1763–1836) to replace Nathaniel Appleton as U.S. loan commissioner on 30 June 1798, and the Senate confirmed the appointment on 2 July. Thomas had married Appleton’s daughter Charlotte in 1789 (Oliver Ayer Roberts, History of the Military Company of the Massachusetts, Now Called the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. 1637–1888, 4 vols., Boston, 1895–1901, 2:133; , 5th Cong., 2d sess., p. 283; W. S. Appleton, A Genealogy of the Appleton Family, Boston, 1874, p. 14; Boston Courier, 24 March 1836).