John Adams to John Quincy Adams, February 25, 1804

Quincy Feb. 25. 180 3 4

My dear Son

I will write to you, if it be only for the Pleasure of giving you a
Proof under my hand, that I am alive.— We have had no Topicks this Winter but Banks,
Insurance offices, Toll Bridges and Turnpike Roads, till lately a Manifesto has appeared
of the Republican Democrats against Governer Strong, made up partly from Dallas’s and
partly from the Connecticutt one which Mr Tracy answered. 1 Your quondam Brother Senator M r Bidwell has the Reputation of the Composition, and if We may
judge by the internal Evidence of dispassionate and deliberate Sophistry and
Misrepresentation, not without reason. M r Sullivan for
Governor instead of M r Strong. M r Heath for Lt. Gov r against Mr Robbins. As my
Master Gridley used to Say, Non vult fac. 2

I leave the national affairs to The Administration and to Congress.
Shall We have Such a declaration from the Republicans in Congress, concerning the future
Election of President And Vice President?

The Inquiry into M r Chace’s Candor and
Frankness proceeds but Slowly. 3 So do the
Louisiana Bills and the Seamans Bills. The latter is a more difficult matter to manage
than the former. The Right of the English to impress British Seamen on board of our
Ships in their own Ports Harbours and Rivers, is difficult to deny, unless We deny the
Right of impressing their own Seamen in any Case, which We perhaps have no business
with. But upon the high Seas, I never could comprehend their right to impress any
Seamen, even Deserters from their own Navy. Upon what Law of Nations, upon what Treaty,
upon what Law of Great Britain can Such a Claim be founded.? I had, when any thing
depended upon me, great difficulties upon this Subject. None of the English Writers not
even Judge Foster, has asserted a Right of impressing Seamen, from their own Merchant
Ship in any of the Ports of their own Colonies, or any where upon the high Seas. 4 Considering the Relations between the U.S.
and the British Dominions, this is a Subject of great delicacy and Importance: and there
is more danger from irritations of temper, than from the Magnitude
and Intricacy of the Subject. More is to be dreaded too, from the Same Source, in M r Munroes negotiations of a new Treaty, than from any other
cause. 5

Our Countrymen will find Ettiquette a more important Subject than
they ever thought it. No People under Heaven have quicker feelings of this kind than our
Men and Women. They never knew themselves till now. If Briton Should Send their Dukes as
Ambassadors as they ought to do, I Suppose, Ministers of State and Senators too would
give Way. Perhaps the Vice President too. 6 But the President ought not, tho the Prince of orange does, or did. To be Sure, there
is Some difficulty in keeping up the Reverence in the Minds of our own People for their
Secretary of State and his Lady, living upon 5000 dollars a year and a foreign Minister
living on 4 or 5000 Sterling with a Service of Plate of 3000 Guineas. But this will be
remedied in time. Our People have as much Pride as English or French, and when this
pride takes a turn as it will whenever the ruling Party becomes strong enough to banish
its fears, Provision will be made for Pomp enough to Satiate the Hauteur of a Virginian
Democrat which is little less than that of a polish Palatine. My Love to Your Wife and
Children to M rs Johnson and hers, and M r Helen and his.

Do the President and Mr Madison preserve their health under all
their fatigues. M r Gallatins pale face will never be made
paler by any application to Business or Study. His Constitution is hardened to both by
habit,

The entire Confidence I have in your Candor and Integrity, and the
certain knowledge I have of your Talents and Information, place me at much ease on your
Account. I do not disapprove of your Conduct in the Business of Louissiana. I think you
have been right, though I know it will become a very unpopular Subject in the Northern
States, especially when they See the accounts of Expences which must be occasioned by
it. 7

In the Supream Court I know you have Some Business and I hope you
have more than I know of. 8 My kindest
regards to the Judges if you have a natural oppertunity.

Your Brother has been taken Notice of by the Government without any
Solicitation of any kind, and he is the means of a more agreable soicety than We could
have without him. 9 He is close to his
Studies and will do very well.

I am, my dear son, with my best Wishes and / Prayers for Blessings
on you and yours, your / affectionate Father

J. Adams