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Philadelphia, 2 March, 1794.
MY DEAREST FRIEND,
THE Senate were obliged to spend the whole of the last week, in a solemn trial of the election of Mr. Gallatin, and I find that a great impression has been made upon the public by the learning, eloquence, and reasoning of some of the senators. The decision has given general satisfaction. That popularity was more courted than truth by a few individuals, I fear will be the judgment of some of the most enlightened and independent spectators.
I have again been unfortunate at sea. The vessel in which I shipped my grass seeds and two barrels of rye flour for you, has been run down and sunk in the river by a large ship. Most of the cargo was saved, but whether my adventure was saved or lost, I have not yet learned. The weather to-day has been very warm, and the snow, which generally covered the earth this morning, is, I presume, nearly gone. The spring will advance with rapid strides, and I shall be impatient to be at home ; but I cannot prevail upon myself to ask leave of absence from my post at this critical time, when we know not what questions or events a day may bring forth.
The new French minister, M. Fauchet, is about thirty-three. He is not quite so unreserved as his predecessor, but he seems to me to be in great distress. He was received by the galleries in the theatre with three cheers, but the people have not ad dressed him or made much noise about him. At the birth-night ball he was placed by the managers on the right hand of the President, which gave great of fence to the Spanish commissioners ; and it is said Mr. Hammond has left the theatre, offended or dis gusted at some partial popular distinctions there. My melancholy anxiety for my mother prevents me from visiting theatres and assemblies, so that I know no thing but by hearsay.
The discussions of last week kept me five or six hours a day in so close a confinement, and the crowd of hearers injured the air so, that I was almost sick ; but a day or two of rest has relieved me in some degree. I long for my home, but that is not to be my felicity for some time.
Yours,
- John Adams
- Source:
- Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife. Edited by His Grandson, Charles Francis Adams, Volume II, 1841
