Russel whose affections to you were I know stronger than is commonly existing in this dissipated country in the hearts of children towards their parents.1 Tho' I have nothing to say that can any wise entertain you yet I would not miss the opportunity of Mr. Adams's return to shew you how much I value Dear Madam your correspondence. I find by the accounts received from America that the plan of Government recommended by the Convention has been accepted already by the majority of the States. we are a little surprised here to find that New England and Connecticut should be the earliest in acceeding. The Town of London has been much amused this Winter in the pompous shew of Mr. Hasting's trial. facts are strong, and much eloquence, has been displayed by the prosecutors; but most people think that his party among the powerful, is strong enough to preserve him from any other punishment than the mortifications attending the trial. The political state of this Country is as usual; for we have gained no virtue by the loss of America, and as the present low condition of the finances of our Neighbors the French and the important undertakings of Russia and Austria give these powers no opportunity to disturb the peace of Europe we believe that our present appearance of felicity will have no end. Pray make Mr. Graham's and my best compliments to Mr. Warren and all friends, particularly our compliments of condolance to Mr. Russel, for the great misfortune he has sustained in the loss of his excellent partner; [and] accept Dear Madam all that is affectte. from Your Sincere Friend And Obednt. Servt. CATH: MACAULAY GRAHAM Mrs. Gregorie whose marriage I believe I acquainted you with in my last begs to be remembered to you. March, 1788. BINFIELD, near, Oakingham; Berkshire. 1 Sarah (Sever) Russell (1757-1787), wife of Thomas Russell. JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN CAMBRIDGE, 26 Aug., 1788 We have had contradictory accounts from N. Carolina. The last Week Russell announced in his paper the rejection of the Constitution by a majority of 100 clear. He was so mortified that he could not help mentioning it three or four times in his paper. Now the story is that the Convention voted by that majority to amend the Constitution, and then adjourned to a distant day, and that they had not then heard of the accession of New York. It is impossible to describe the anxiety of the victorious party in this state upon hearing the first report. They immediately begun to vilify that State as being originally peopled by outlaws and convicts, who were driven from the more civilized parts of the world into the wilds of Carolina, where they had formed a settlement but little superior in morals to the infernal world. . . . JAMES WINTHROP CATHERINE MACAULAY GRAHAM TO MERCY WARREN MY DEAR MADAM, I wish we were nearer together that we might oftener have an opportunity of exchanging sentiments of friendship as I flatter myself it would conduce to our mutual happiness. I find that the National Government proposed by the federal convention is adopted by a majority of the States. To Europeans who are used to the form the parade the expence and all the high prerogatives of monarchy it must necessarily carry the appearance of perfect freedom but you who are used to liberty in its most pleasing Garb and who have so lately and so dearly purchased an independance it must carry a contrary aspect nor do I wonder that the american patriots should entertain apprehensions against a system that appears to give a larger trust to that faithless ambitious animal man but whether there may or may not be grounds for fear and jealousy I think it shews more levity and more of party spirit than I hoped was in America to enter on any new frame of Government by which trust must be reposed and may be abused with such marks of festivity and joy. I am much obliged to you for sending me the reasons of dissent in Pensilvania and the pamphlet circulated in the Massachusets the one is well drawn up and the other is written with spirit and energy. I assure you, Dear Madam, I pay a very anxious attention to the concerns of America and were not my inclinations drawn that way on determined principles my friendship for yourself and family would engage me to interest myself in the welfare of any country of which you were Citizens. Mr. Adams I see by the papers has been long returned to his native Country he is a very warm Federalist and by what I have discerned of yours and Mr. Warren's politicall sentiments and opinions you will not agree quite so well on public matters as you did formerly. I am exceedingly sorry that you have had so many occasions to mourn the hopless hand of Death in your own family the tenderness of youth in female constitution has much to dread from the rigor of your climate but it must be some very forcible and unlucky stroke of destiny which could carry of in the flower of his age Mr. Lincoln who appeared a very stout and healthy young man.1 As your friendship inclines you to interest yourself in the concerns of my family I have the pleasure to inform you that Mrs. Gregorie has got a Daughter and that the Mother and the Child are both well. The Turks have made a stand against the German and Russian forces which has surprized all Europe. I believe they owe the present figure they make in arms to the restless ambition of the french court which has carved out work enough to employ it for some time at home, but I cannot leave this subject without paying a tribute of praise to the sensible and intrepid conduct of the French who have disputed rights with a Sovereign backed with above a hundred thousand military men. I Mary, daughter of James and Ruth (Cunningham) Otis married Benjamin Lincoln (1755-1788), son of General Benjamin Lincoln. The young man died January 18, 1788. Mr. Graham joins me in affectionate regards to your self Mr. Warren and family and compliments to all friends who do us the honor to remember us From Dear Madam with an high esteem Your Sincere Friend And Servt CATH: MACAULAY GRAHAM BINFIELD, near BRACKNAL, BERKS., Octbr. 29, '88. I have taken a small Villa in Berkshire about thirty miles from London where I propose to reside chiefly being quite tired of the absurdities of the Capital. JOHN ADAMS TO MERCY Warren BRAINTREE, March 2, 1789 DEAR MADAM, -Your friendly Letter of the third and twentieth of February, I did not receive till Saturday last. To your Friend, who has now been returned from N. York these five Weeks, I have delivered your inclosed Letter as desired. She will acknowledge the Receipt of it, and transmit you the Compliments of her fellow Travellers. our Correspondence has had a short Interruption, it is true, as all others in which I have had any concern have been. I have indeed enjoyed a delightful Rest, tho my Mind has been constantly employed with my private and domestic affairs, which by a negligence of fifteen Years were in such disorder, as would require several Years to rectify. The Period from the 17. June, 1788, to this 2d of March, 1789, has been the Sweetest Morsel of my Life, and I despair of ever tasting such another. This delightful Retreat, humble as it is, I shall quit with great regret. There never was and never will be found for me, an office in public Life, that will furnish the Entertainment and Refreshment of the Mountain the Meadow and the Stream. According to private Accounts from the Southward there is a Majority of Votes for me to be Vice President. But the People of our united America find it much easier to institute Authority than to yield Obedience. They have Smarted Severely under a total oblivion of the two first Principles of Liberty and of Commerce, that Laws are the fountain of Freedom and Punctuality the Source of Credit. Yet there is still room to fear, that there is not enough of the Spirit of Union to insure Obedience to the Laws nor enough of Shame and Scorn of Evasion, to secure that Revenue on which Punctuality will depend. The Resources of this Country are abundantly Superiour to every Exigency and if they are not applied, it must be owing to a Want of Knowledge or a Want of Integrity... JOHN ADAMS KNOX MSS. MERCY WARREN TO HENRY KNOX I acknowledge a Letter has been long due to General Knox, but as I only am the sufferer thereby no apology is necessary for the neglect. Yet I think I could make a very hansome one considering the great events which have since taken place, events too interesting to admit of silence and too Delicate for a Lady to touch upon. But as we now seem to have verged to the entrance of a permanent and I hope peacefull Government, an object which has long been the wish of every good man and woman in America, though they may have varied in opinion relative to some particular points, I feel less timidity than for some months past, even if I should accidentally touch on the subject of politics. Yet in this letter I mean to avoid them and, only after enquiries relative to the Health of Mrs. Knox and Family, ask you to transmit the enclosed to my friend Mrs. Montgomery, if she should happen to have left the continent before this reaches N-York, sure [that] you will excuse the freedom I feel no hesitancy in making the request. . . . I think I should like to look into the Federal City once in the course of my perigrinations, though not that I sigh for the splendour of Courts, or the indulgence of curiosity that might be fed with variety of observation on the dawn of infant empire and the Regalia of Monarchy, but I have still those antiquated feelings about me which seldom approaches the pallaces of kings. I love |