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contribution, as the price of peace; and employd that very money in establishing their late military despotism, they refuse to sign the Treaty, which was a few days protracted, in order to obtain the consent of an Ally, against whom some articles militated with their former engagements. having obtained their consent, the Minister presented the Treaty for signature, and was refused, unless a new gift of a still more oppressive sum was given upon the refusal of his court to comply, the Minister; contrary to the Law of Nations is imprisoned, and portugal threatened with an invasion,

The dispatches from our Envoys which you have undoubtedly read; and which I now send you, will be prooff sufficient, to shew, what a pitch of venality, Rapacity and avarice, the present Rulers of France have arrived at. The confidence with which they boast of a powerfull party in this Country devoted to their views, is daily experienced. their emissaries are scatterd through all parts of this extensive union, sowing the seeds of vice, irreligion, corruption, and sedition. hence has grown up that spirit of party, and of faction within those walls, where wisdom and patriotism alone should preside; where you behold sophistry, substituted instead of argument, and personal Reflections giving place to National Dignity and Decorum. I wish however a veil to be thrown over the disgracefull business which occupied much too large a portion of the present session; and that it may sink into oblivion with the party views which supported it

The Nation appears to be rousing from the Lethargy, which has too long benumbed its powers, and rising to a Sence of its own Dignity, and consequence, with a firm resolution to repell the insults offerd her, too long a habit of humiliation, does not seem a very good preparative to manly and vigorous sentiments. but the reluctance which every American feels to engage in Hostilities with any Nation, and the desire they have to sacrifice all consideration to the preservation of peace, short of their Independance, and Security, has restrained them from expressing the full extent of their Indignation against a Nation, which they considerd as oppressed, and in the early stages of its Revolution, sincerely wished it success in obtaining and securing to itself equal Liberty and social Rights, but when we see them from

being oppressed, become themselves the greatest of all oppressors and usurpers, we can no longer wish them success.

If we become a united people, there is no doubt but we can withstand the storms which threatens us. united we stand, united we are formidable, and sufficient to ourselves, nor need we seek a Foreign Aid, or dread a Foreign Foe.

As Calumny, and abuse upon the Fairest Characters and the best Men in France, was one of the most powerfull engines, employed to overturn one set of Rulers and in sitting up others who in their turn shared the same fate, so have their emissaries adopted the same weapons in this Country and the Liberty of the press is become licentious beyond any former period. the Good sense of the American people in general directs them Right, where they can see and judge for themselves, but in distant and remote parts of the union, this continued abuse, deception, and falshood is productive of great mischief, and tends to destroy that confidence and Harmony which is the Life Health and Security of a Republick.

I write to you, my dear Madam, with the Freedom and confidence of an old Friend, who, I am sure, will unite with me in sincere, and ardent wishes, for the peace security and prosperity of our common Country.

The president desires me to present to Genll. Warren the Remembrance of an old Friend who would be much more at his ease, and happier in cultivating the usefull science of Agriculture with him, than, in the arduous, complicated, turbulant and difficult task assignd him. he will however do his utmost, that the fruits of the Husbandman, and the Commerce of the Merchant shall be protected and secured, and that the Liberty and Independance which we obtaind and secured from the Grasp of one Foreign Nation, shall not be unjustly wrested from us. by any other power. if we are but just to ourselves, and in these endavours he hopes for the aid and countanance of all his fellow citizens.

When I return to Quincy, which I hope may be in the course of the summer, it will give me great pleasure to see and welcome you and Genll. Warren at Peace Field.

My compliments to your son and daughter and to Miss Marcia. From dear Madam your Friend and Humble Servant

ABIGAIL ADAMS

ABIGAIL ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

PHILADELPHIA, June 17, 1798

You and I, my Dear Madam, have trod together, through one Gloomy Scene, of War, havock and desolation; and we have seen our Country rise superiour to oppression, and despotism and take its Rank among the Nations, presenting at this period, the only spectacle, of a Free Republic, which has not been Revolutionized, by the Gormandizing and insatiable thirst of that power, which like the Grave, crys Give, Give, whilst the departed wealth, opulence and Liberty of Batavia, the Cruelly oppress'd Geneva, Genoa, all Itally, and the partitiond and Barterd Venice, with the Barbarously Sacrificed Switzerland, and Bern cry to us with an awefull warning voice, to behold their Fate, and secure ourselves by a direct opposite conduct to that which has proved fatal to them.

I would hope that the destroying Angel may not be commissioned to visit us in wrath, but that he may visit us on an errand of Love, to warn us against those contaminating principles and abominations, which have made all Europe one Golgotha.

May the God of our Fathers protect us, and if we must be scourged, remember Mercy for us.

"You observe, That Providence has deposited a high trust in the Hands of the President, and that it is optional, with him, from the confidence reposed in him by the people, to abuse his power, or to continue the object for which our Country has made such costly sacrifices."

Hastening to that period which in Scripture is termed the Life of Man, having every thing at stake which can render the remnant peacefull, or the future happy, reputation and honour, Life Liberty, and property, is it possible to have a wish or desire which is not interwoven with the present and future prosperity, freedom

and independance of united America? it depends upon the people to say that they will remain a free and happy Republic.

Permit me to transcribe a sentance from an answer to an address presented by the inhabitants of the County of Otsego in the State of New York.

upon

"Your reliance on the good sense fortitude, and integrity of your fellow citizens, I trust will not deceive you. all depends these virtues. if these fail us, we are lost, our constitution and administration all depend upon them. our Government without these aids has no power at Home, or abroad: we have no other principle of union, or capacity of defence."

In an other replie, to the people of Potts Town in (Penn) are these words, "Your confidence, that I will not surrender the rights of the Nation, shall not be betrayed. If the Nation were capable of such a surrender (which it is not) some other Hand must affix the signature to the ignominious deed”

With these sentiments will my Friend live and with these sentiments he will like the Brave avoyer, Steiguer of Bern,1 meet death if decreed to him.

The stay of our envoys in France is protracted to an allarming degree for their personal safety, and I had almost said for our National honour. The Decree of the Directory respecting Neutrals and the declaration of Talleyrand, that we could only Buy it off, ought to have been the signal for the departure of our Envoys The cup of Humiliation was full, what has since happend, are its overflowings. they have Borne it! but the indignation of their Country spurns it. I inclose to you the last dispatch Heaven Grant, that it may be the last.

The testimonials in Approbation of the measures persued by the Chief Magistrate of the Union, with respect to France, which as you observe, have poured in from all quarters of the Union, are indeed an incourageing, and gratefull reward, for his Labourious and hazardous exertions in the publick Service; whilst the rising Generation, upon whom the hopes and expectations of all America is fixed, for their Security, and Defence are zealous, and sincere, with their profferd Lives, and fortunes, Their Fathers 1 Nicolas Frederic de Steiguer (1729-1799).

may be permitted to repose; having performed their Routine of active Duty, and spend the remnant of their Days, in devoute suplications for the success of their offspring.

The president directs me to reciprocate the Kind wishes of his Friend Genll. Warren, and to assure him that he retains a pleasing remembrance of the past they have acted together in the defence of the Liberties of their common Country.

Mr. and Mrs. otis the Elder and junr. are both well, were with us last evening. I most ardently long for a visit to Quincy, the Green fields, and shady Groves would be a pleasing contrast to the Brick Walls and crouded streets of philadelphia, particularly so, if I could shut out all the political clouds which darken our horizon

With a kind remembrance to every Branch of your Family particularly the Little Marcia I am, my dear Madam, your Friend and Humble Servant,

ABIGAIL ADAMS

ABIGAIL ADAMS TO MERCY WARREN

QUINCY, October 5, 1799

As I have an opportunity by the Lieut Govenour I send you a late publication by the Abbé Barruel,' which will remove I presume all doubts from your mind, respecting the existance of such a person as wishaupt: 2 when you have read the Books, you will oblige me by returning them to Judge Cranch's. the Abbé was the writer of the History of the French Clergy. you will perceive that he is a Bigoted Catholick, but a man of science, and great industery, the system which he discloses freezes one with horror. it was reserved for wishaupt to put in practise, the principles of Voltair, and the whole junto of French phylosophers, aided by Frederic the Great as he is call'd.

1 Augustin de Barruel (1741-1820), whose Mémoires sur le Jacobinisme appeared in 1797 and was translated into English and published in London in 1797-98.

2 Adam Weishaupt (1748-1830), founder of the Order of the Illuminati.

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