Thomas Boylston Adams to John Quincy Adams, January 15, 1801

Philadelphia 15 th: January
1801.

My dear Brother

Since the date of my last, I have received your whole
series to Number 17 inclusive, with the single exception of N o 15, 1 which yet loiters on the way; but
the order in which they have come to hand has
been variable as the wind.

It may possibly create some surprize, that, without
consulting you, I should have taken the liberty to bestow upon our
Countrymen, through the channel of a correct and elegant weekly magazine,
edited by our mutual friend, M r: Joseph Dennie,
the rich feast of epistolary excellence, which the journal of your Silesian
tour, has enabled us to spread before them.

The Editor of “the Port Folio,” begs me to assure you,
that while he gratefully acknowledges the singular privilege of making his
first appearance upon the pavement of the Capital of America, in the
character of Editor of a literary miscellany, under the auspices of his
friend & former Associate, J.Q.A. he claims the advantage of being the first to present that gentleman with a copy
of his own works , in print.

The Repository, which receives so ample contributions
from your pen, promises to become useful, ornamental and powerfully
auxiliary to the cause of letters.— It is yet, “but of few days,” and the
presages of its infancy are favorable to a vigorous manhood.

You are invited, through me, by its superintendant to
make an exchange of some portion of the contents of your port folio, for the
sum total of his.

I send you by this opportunity three copies of the
pamphlet, which was published from the manuscript you sent me; by another
Vessel you shall have the rest for which you stipulated. I have distributed
a few copies and heard opinions expressed of the work, by some who have read
it; all concur in pronouncing it the most faithful, correct, impartial and
comprehensive, that has ever appeared on that interesting subject.

The critical & historical accuracy of this sensible
foreigner have surprized many of his readers here, and the thanks of all are
due to the active & discriminating native who has taken the trouble to clothe
in the costume of his own Country, this precious specimen of German
literature. I presented a copy of the original and one of the translation to
the Library Company of Philadelphia, who voted thanks to the Donor, which I
now transfer to their proprietor. 2 The Bookseller to whom I presented
the Copyright, is a very young man of native growth & stirling worth— He
surpasses all his compeers in the mystery of
his calling and is now the publisher of the Port Folio, & joint
proprietor with Dennie. It was not in my power to superintend the
publication of the pamphlet and of course those little peculiarities of the
german idiom, which you thought me competent to , Start deletion, correct , End, detect, were not rectified. I
think, all the errors of this or any other kind, that occur in the printed
translation will be found in pages 44–5— 55— 58— in each of which places, I
have made the alterations, which strike me as proper.

I have refrained from writing any thing upon the state of
politics, because I could only confirm the opinions, which my former
communications have authorized you to entertain on this subject. By your two
last letters I find that your anticipations as to the result of our great
election, correspond so accurately with the reality, that the news of the
event will meet you prepared to receive it. At present we are ignorant which
of the two highest and equal candidates will be selected by the house of
Representatives to fill the Presidential chair. The federal party threaten
to vote for M r: Burr in preference to M r: Jefferson merely to vex & disappoint the
Jacobins and the division of States on that question is expected to be
exactly even. This experiment would be hazardous, and I think undignified,
and mischievous if persisted in.

Upon the supposition that M r: Jefferson will prevail, the consideration next in course is—How will he
conduct? We suffer ourselves to believe sometimes that the extravagant
behavior of our Chief Magistrate will not be
taken as a model for imitation, and yet, with such Counsellors, with such a
starving, needy, unprincipled gang about him, gasping for a sop, what can
the patron do but yield to their importunities? The Diplomatic body will be
new modeled—some members recalled—others removed. What do you think is to be
your portion? The Demo’s have talked of your
succeeding M r: King— I hear you are to be
invited to return home in the course of the summer, by another Authority.
You declared a determination to return without a call, in case a particular
event should happen.

The Commissioners from France brought over a Convention, which is now under consideration
before the Senate— We are told it labors hard, and some surmise that it will
undergo modifications before it is ratified. The french government have been
very far from generous in this bargain, but we
were the plundered and our demand of restitution came after the robbers had
consumed the booty. I would never consent to confirm this contract if any
better were to be looked for. Our treaty acquisitions are generally slender
things— I dont mean to affront your Excellency, whose treaty is far better
than any of late date.

I shall transmit you my annual account at the beginning
of the next month, and I have little doubt of your being satisfied with the
state of your affairs. I was apprehensive of a fall of stocks, should the
federal interest fail at the last election, and it happened as I
anticipated; for the news of the result of the South Carolina election no
sooner reached this, than the 8 per cent stock fell from 13 a 15— to from 7
a 9. and in a few days came down to their present level viz. 5 a 5 percent.
I would have sold out at this time, but a quarters interest was just falling
due, and I was convinced the funds would recover gradually after the first
fright was over. They have continued stationary for some time at 5
percent—

I shall wish to be informed as early as practicable,
whether we are to look for your return in the course of the ensuing Summer,
& I think it probable that my means of information will be sufficient to
determine the question in my own mind, sooner than you can be consulted upon
it. I shall not be inattentive to the object you so earnestly recommend,
that of securing you a comfortable dwelling.

I have frequent communication with our family at W——n and
hear that your Louisa’s family are in good health. M r: Dexter is appointed Secretary of the Treasury— 3 M r: Cranch is just made a Commissioner for the federal City; Judge Patterson
will most probably be chief Justice of the US, as M r: Jay to whom it was offered declines it. A Bill is before
Congress to new organize the Judiciary, and if passed into a law will make
many a lawyer a small judge.

I am, most affectionately your Brother

T B Adams