Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN ADAMS. (Confidential.) - The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811)

Return to Title Page for The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811)

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN ADAMS. (Confidential.) - 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.

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.


JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN ADAMS.

(Confidential.)

Philadelphia, 28 September, 1779.

Yesterday, in whispers, the proposal was made to send J. A. to Spain, the balloting for that business being first called for. But Connecticut and Pennsylvania discovered a total abhorrence of the consequences in the second ballot; therefore the plan was dropped, and the ballots were;

A. Lee.New Hampshire.
J. Jay.My colleagues, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Dickinson, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina.

No vote, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, South Carolina.

For the two other commissions, J. A. the only nomination. All the States, but one for Dr. Franklin. If this was not the piddler,1 it might be the oddity of Virginia.

Prior to the choice for Spain, I produced your two first letters as appertaining to the only one point which had ever appeared incontestable against A. Lee. “Je crains M. Lee et ses entours.”2 For the minister, disavowing on February 13th his having adopted prejudices such as were attempted to be inspired in America, and proving his disavowal by an appeal to his conduct to you “ensemble et séparément,” shows either that he meant only avec ses entours, or that he felt convinced he had been drawn into unjust doubts, and intended to show double confidence in future.

The whole members, even Jay, praise “my perseverance;” but he says, in “friendship to Arthur.” Time will show whether it has not been to prevent Congress from an act of injustice, and to maintain the sacredness of the approbation or disapprobation of our united supremacy; which is what the servant of republics should look up to, rather than to salaries and perquisites, which the levity of monarchies makes their servants catch while they can, without striving to deserve them.

I am freed from a load; for I have long practised upon David’s rule. Away with sackcloth and ashes, when evitables become inevitable. J. J. desires me to be as true to him “only while he continues to do honestly.” That I most assuredly will, and to every name that the public choice shall fall on. But I cannot forget the past so far as not to think that if Silas Deane is not stone blind, he may now see from what source he got his fund of advice towards measures apparently his own.

Carmichael, Houston, and Mr. Jay’s brother, Livingston, are talked of as secretaries to the embassies. Gerry tells me Dana may be induced to go with you.

And now, my very dear Sir, as to the main point. America ought not to pardon you, if you put its peace to the hazard of a second ballot. As an individual, I swear I never will. And as to Portia, if I can by my utmost industry find out that only one tear, or even a sigh, comes from her, I will burn all her past letters, much as I now regard them. I will allow her a little regret, if she will not let it amount to a sigh, while she considers with me that you cannot be here to manage the Vermont cause. You must give all possible information to Massachusetts government through some able man or committee, before you go from thence or hence.

I have tired all my pens yesterday and to-day, in conversing with those I love southward and eastward.

Heaven protect you.

James Lovell.

[1 ]Dickinson. The allusion is to Mr. Adams’s intercepted letter, vol. ii. p. 411, note.

[2 ]See page 481.