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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO SECRETARY JAY. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO SECRETARY JAY.

Grosvenor Square, 16 December, 1787.

Dear Sir,—

Two days ago, I received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 16th of October, with its inclosures.

The approbation of my conduct in Europe, expressed in the resolutions of congress of the 5th of October, does me honor, and demands my acknowledgments. The permission to return to America, and the termination of my commission in Holland, having removed all difficulties, it is my intention to embark, with my family, in the month of March. It would give me great pleasure, sir, to accept of your polite and friendly invitation to New York; but, as the health of my family is very tender, and their apprehensions of the sea very great, it will be necessary for me to embark for Boston. Mr. Smith and his family will embark for New York. As congress have not transmitted him any orders relative to another minister, or to a chargé d’affaires, at this Court, the presumption is that it is either the intention of congress to have no diplomatic character here, or that other persons are destined to fill it; in either case, Mr. Smith’s road is as clear as mine to return home.

You have, before this time, received from Colonel Smith his own account of his journey, arrival, and reception in Portugal. His reception was more flattering than could have been expected, and was in every respect, I presume, fully satisfactory to him. But the mission has been attended with consequences affecting his health, which, there is reason to fear, he will have cause to remember for some time. A bilious fever or tertian ague, contracted in Portugal or Spain, has left him in a delicate state of health, which, I fear, he will not fully remove till he arrives in America.

The public mind cannot be occupied about a nobler object than the proposed plan of government. It appears to be admirably calculated to cement all America in affection and interest, as one great nation. A result of accommodation and compromise cannot be supposed perfectly to coincide with every one’s ideas of perfection. But, as all the great principles necessary to order, liberty, and safety, are respected in it, and provision is made for corrections and amendments, as they may be found necessary, I confess I hope to hear of its adoption by all the States.

Two days ago, a great consternation was spread in the stock exchange by a report of a quadruple alliance of the two empires with France and Spain. Whether this is any more than an artificial circulation, to turn the tide of popular terror and vapor, like the revived conversations about an invasion of England, I know not. France undoubtedly has the power to form alliances, if she will, which will bring the existence of Britain and Prussia into question. But the revival of states, general and provincial, and the contests which are likely to arise out of them, will give the French government business enough for some time.

Most perfectly do I agree with you, that America has nothing to fear but a want of union and a want of government. The United States now stand in an elevated situation, and they must and will be respected and courted, not only by France and England, but by all other powers of Europe, while they keep themselves neutral.

It is suspected by some that the additional troops, now recruiting for the army, are intended to be sent to Canada and Nova Scotia; their ostensible destination is to the West India Islands.

No answer is made to any of my memorials or letters to the ministry, nor do I expect that any thing will be done while I stay. There are reports of an intention to send a minister to America; and a Mr. Liston, I think the name is, now at Madrid, is mentioned. But nothing has been said to me, upon that subject, for some time.

With great esteem, &c.

John Adams.