 | Letters of Mrs. Adams, |  |
TO MRS. CRANCH.
I wish I had one of my nieces with me whilst I
remain in this country; but it will not be long before
I shall quit it. Not ten days ago I expected to
have taken my passage in the July packet, in consequence
of some intelligence which afterwards wore
a different appearance; things are so fluctuating
upon both sides the water, that it is really difficult to
draw up conclusions. Prussia has treated, Portugal
has treated, and the Emperor's minister has just received
powers to treat also; but, very unfortunately,
the joint commission of the American ministers expired
this month, so that nothing can be concluded
until new powers arrive. Whoever has any thing to
do with courts, must have patience for their first,
second, and third requisites. I wish I was well out
of the way of all of them. My object is to return
to America early next spring, if nothing arises to
a fall passage. Of this, I shall be better informed
in a few weeks. But there is no office more undesirable
than that of Minister of the United States;
under the present embarrassments, there is no reputation
to be acquired, and there is much to lose.
Negotiations with other powers may be and have
been effected; but with England there is not the
least probability of a treaty, until the States are
united in their measures, and invest Congress with
full powers for the regulation of commerce. A
minister here can be of very little service until that
event takes place. It is true, he may be invested
with other powers, and one, more important than
treating with this country, is, making peace with the
Barbary States; but as Mr. Adams foretold, so it has
turned out. Lamb is returning without being able to
effect any thing. The Dey would not even see him,
and the demand for the poor fellows who are in
captivity is a thousand dollars per man, and there
are twenty-one of them. The sum allotted by Congress
is so inadequate to the thing, that we must
look only for war upon us. Unless Congress endeavour
to borrow the sum demanded, and treat immediately,
their demands will increase in proportion
to the captures they make; but of all this they are
regularly and fully informed. You will not, however,
make these matters known till you hear them
from some other quarter. These are dull subjects
for one lady to write to another upon; but our country
is so much interested in these affairs, that you
you can communicate with discretion.
I thank you most sincerely for all your kindness
to my dear sons, and hope they will ever bear a
grateful remembrance of it; the account you give
of their behaviour and conduct is such as I hope
they merit. The idea that their success in life depends
upon their diligence and application to their
studies, and a modest and virtuous deportment, cannot
be too strongly impressed upon their minds. The
foolish idea in which some of our youth are educated,
of being born gentlemen, is the most ridiculous in
the world for a country like ours. It is the mind
and manners which make the gentleman, and not
the estate. There is no man with us so rich as to
breed up a family in idleness, with ideas of paternal
inheritance, and far distant may that day be from
our land; he who is not in some way or other useful
to society, is a drone in the hive, and ought to be
hunted down accordingly. I have very different
ideas of the wealth of my countrymen from what I
had when I left. Much of that wealth has proved
fallacious, and their debts exceed their property.
Economy and industry may retrieve their affairs. I
know that the country is capable of great exertions;
but, in order to this, they must curtail their ideas
of luxury and refinement, according to their ability.
I do not believe any country exceeds them in the
article of dress. In houses, in furniture, in gardens
and pleasure-grounds, and in equipage, the wealth of
France and England is displayed to a high pitch of
the thousands who are starving, and the millions who
are loaded with taxes to support this pomp and show,
I look to my happier country with an enthusiastic
warmth, and pray for the continuance of that equality
of rank and fortune which forms so large a portion
of our happiness.
I yesterday dined at the Bishop of Saint Asaph's,
in company with Dr. Priestley and Dr. Price and
some strangers. The Bishop's character is well
known and respected, as a friend to America, and
justly does he deserve the character of a liberal
man. He is polite, affable, and consequently agreeable.
He has a lady and an unmarried daughter,
both of whom are well-bred, according to my ideas;
according to British ideas, good breeding consists in
an undaunted air and a fearless, not to say bold, address
and appearance. The old lady is both sensible
and learned, quite easy and social; the young
one is modest and attentive. This is a family, the
friendship and acquaintance of which I should like
to cultivate.
Dr. Priestley is a gentleman of a pale complexion,
spare habit, placid, thoughtful countenance, and
very few words. I heard him preach for Dr. Price.
His delivery is not equal to the matter of his discourses.
I dined twice in company with the Doctor,
and was mortified that I could not have more of his
company at our own house, but he was engaged
every moment of his time whilst in London. I believe
I have frequently mentioned Dr. Price; he is a
of spirits which partly arises from the melancholy
state of Mrs. Price, who two years ago had a paralytic
stroke, and has been helpless ever since.
| Letters of Mrs. Adams, | |