Thomas Boylston Adams to Joseph Pitcairn, May 31, 1800

Philadelphia 31 st: May
1800

Dear Sir

On my return last evening from a short journey into
the interior of this State, I received your favor of April 7 th: accompanied with No 10 of Le Precis
militaire. The two last preceding Numbers have not yet come to hand, nor
any letter of a later date than December 3. From my brother I have no
accounts so late as from yourself. Just before my departure from the
City, I rec d: a letter from M r: Jay, dated London, September of the last
year & informing that it was accompanied by the numbers of the
British Mercury, which you had requested him to forward— The three
volumes are consequently complete, and I am happy to have in my
possession, a work of so much merit. 1

I believe you begin to find me an unprofitable
correspondent; at least I think myself to be such, for I have so little
pleasure or satisfaction in dwelling upon the prospects of the times,
that I cannot detail the current events with zeal or spirit.

Take as a specimen of present despondency, my
conjectures relative to the probable turn of political events in this
Country. First, the complete success of the Democrats as to the grand
object of M r: Jefferson’s election— A pretty
sudden & complete change of the administration, both in the persons
& measures of our political rulers— A recall of all foreign Ministers & Consuls to be replaced by the friends & adherents of the
chief magistrate— An attempt, possibly a successful one, to subvert the
funding system— A division of the Continent into three separate
governments—Nothern, Middle & Southern— An intestine war to settle
the boundaries of each, wherein the district or division, likely to fail
of success would resort to foreign aid for assistance, and call in
either french or English to complete the work of confusion.

suppose a momentary and satisfactory adjustment of
our differences with France; a renewal of intercourse on fair &
liberal principles & ca: Our countrymen
engage in an extensive trade—disregarding perhaps, the fair rules &
regulations which have been established by authority—they load ships
with articles contraband of war—British vessels stop, overhawl &
send them in for adjudication. Is or is not such a course of
proceedings, probable?— what results from it? If our ships are
dismantled & our Navy abandoned, there is no security for peace, other than
the benefit to be derived from our trade— The twelve Regiments, which
were to have been raised & to serve for the term of three years or
until a settlement of our variance with France, are to be disbanded the
15 th: of next month at all events; thus,
without any assurance of a favorable result to the negociation begun by
our Commissioners, without a sylable having transpired of their progress
hitherto; upon the strength of the favorable reception of our Envoys
alone, are we reducing our defensive system— This policy I dislike, for
although the army was not likely to be of much effective service, the
disbanding of it, looks & sounds like a premature dereliction of an
imposing attitude—

should present appearances not be eventually
realized—should the same Chief magistrate or one of the same politics be
elected to the chair again—I look for Rebellion, Insurrection & ca: as the consequence. The discontent which
now exists in this Country, which is kept alive & increased by every
artifice which falsehood & wickedness can invent, discovers itself
only in murmurs— the magic of expectation keeps it within these
boundaries for the present, but should disappointment succeed to such
sanguine hopes of an immediate change in the administration—I know of
nothing to restrain the impulse, though perhaps my estimate of this
accrimony may surpass the reality—

The Fed’s have split— Some are resolved to abandon
the present leader while some abide by him and resolve to see it out
with the Anti’s—

Gen l: Pinckney will be
run as V.P. in several of the Eastern States and as President in the
Southern, which according to some calculations will put him into the
chair— All the opinion I can give at present is, that the federal
candidate will not prevail.

Congress adjourned on the 16 th: curr t: and nearly all the
public Offices are removed to the future seat of Gov t: the federal City, where the President has
gone for a visit— Mess rs: Marshall &
Dexter have each accepted the Offices of Secretary of State & of
war, to which they were respectively appointed just before the close of
the Session— This is all the important news within my present
recollection.

Our Commerce is still suffering, partially, under
french & british depredation, and we understand that the English
Cabinet discover little solicitude to enter upon further negociation.
Some late captures and condemnations at Hallifax have excited surprize
on account of the reasons & principles upon which the adjudications were made— viz
that the vessels & Cargoes though confessedly American property at
the time of the late capture, had heretofore, (the vessels) been trading
to an enemy’s post. There is yet some reason to doubt the authenticity
of this reported decision. 2

The internal prosperity of our Country is equal to
any former period—the season has hitherto been very favorable to the
Agricultural interest, but in some of the richest and most florishing
parts of this State there is an unaccountable sourness in the public
opinion— Prosperity abundance & increasing wealth, will be the ruin
of this Country, sooner than a flood of the most afflicting calamities—
I once advanced a similar sentiment, in my correspondence with you, and
though you thought I advanced a paradox—it still remains a portion of
the creed of / Your friend & hble Serv t: —

June 12 th:

I have not found an opportunity to send my letter
direct, and I therefore enclose to M r: King—via Liverpoole— 3 When you write to my brother, please to say that we are all well— 4