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

TO J. MARSHALL, SECRETARY OF STATE. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811) [1854]

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. 9.

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

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TO J. MARSHALL, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Quincy, 30 August, 1800.

Dear Sir,—

I received last night your favor of the 23d. My ideas are perfectly conformable to yours in your instructions to Mr. King, as you state them to me. The explanatory articles, if attainable, are preferable to any other mode. The next most eligible is the substitution of a sum in gross, that sum to be as small as can be agreed to, or will be agreed to, by the British government; but to agree to five millions of dollars, rather than fail of explanations and substitution both, and be compelled to agree to a new board, and all their delays and altercations.

The proposed letters to the governors of Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi, will, I presume, be unnecessary.1 Mr. King’s letter of the 5th of July is a melancholy picture of Britain. Alas! how different from that held up to view in this country, twelve months ago, to frighten me from sending to France! However, Mr. King is somewhat of a croaker at times. He is apt to be depressed by what he thinks a train of unfortunate events. There is enough, however, of likeness in his drawing to give great spirits and a high tone to the French. It will be our destiny, for what I know, republicans as we are, to fight the French republic alone. I cannot account for the long delay of our envoys. We cannot depart from our honor, nor violate our faith, to please the heroic consul.2

[1 ]To request their aid in keeping the peace among the Indians on the Spanish border.

[2 ]Bonaparte.