Susanna Lee to Abigail Adams, December 16, 1800

Boston. December—16 th: 1800

With the most timid respect do I address M rs: Adams on a subject so interesting to me that
I tremble while I write from a doubt of the propriety of the step, however
solicitude for an affectionate Husband and our young family outweighs my
scuples and prompts me to the measure. I must therefore rely upon the noble
generosity of a character I have known and revered from my infancy, to
pardon any impropriety there may be in requesting she will honor me so much
as to aid with her influence an application which M r. Lee has made to the President of the United States for the
Consulate of Bourdeaux. Letters of recommendation which have been deposited
in the Office of the Secretary of State for upwards of two Years, will show
he has some pretensions— they are testimonials from , Start deletion, some , End, a number of our worthiest Patriots
which procured at the time they were lodged there such encouragement from
M r Pickering as induced M r. Lee to wait the event of the pending
negotiation with France. 1 the
prospect of the favorable termination of the Mission has brought forward
other and new Candidates it is from the Apprehension that the length of time
which has elapsed since M r Lee’s application may
have in a degree effaced the impression made in his favor by the
recommendation of his friends, with a hint we have received that should he
be thought of the Arts of the Hamiltonian faction (a Member of which has
lately been elected Senator from this State) will be used to prevent his
Nomination, in order to assist some favorites of their own; 2 has induced me to endeavor to
obtain by this Method that which has become of much importance to the future comfort of our family, and has
for two Years past been the sole Object of our pursuit.—

Should our great and good President find it indispensible
otherwise to dispose of the Consulate of Bourdeaux by the honour of M rs. Adams patronage this fact will be so fully
evinced as greatly to Mitigate the pain of the disappointment.

Requesting M rs. Adams will
have the goodness to suffer me to plead a Mothers anxiety as an apology for
thus intruding on her time—I have the honour to be with the most profound
respect her most devoted Servant

Susanna Lee