William Cranch to John Quincy Adams, March 5, 1798

Philadelphia March 5 th. 1798.

I do not know what was the date of my last to you, nor of yours to
me, nor is it material to decide on whose part the last omission happend. 1 You may have learn’d from some of my former
letters, that I was much engaged, that no opportunity presented itself, to determine me
to write at one time rather than another, and that although I have always been extremely
industrious, I have always found something still remaining to be done, which seem’d to
demand a more immediate attention. I have no reason to believe that you have less regard
for me now than at any former period of our lives, and I beg you to be assured that my
attachment to you is still unabated. Indeed, since your marriage I have attached many
new traits to your Character which it did not possess before; I believe you now to be an
Advocate for marriage, since you have become one of us yourself; and I most fervently
invoke all the Blessings of heaven upon you and the dear Partner of your life. It is
unnecessary for me to wish you more happiness resulting from your new Connexion than I
have myself enjoy’d from a similar source.— I am the father of two Boys, and still feel
my Affection for my dear Nancy increasing every hour of my life, and as new Endearments
arise, and new proofs of unbounded Confidence & Love dayly appear, I feel the most
perfect assurance of a continuance of our domestic happiness.— You may have heard that
Mess rs. Morris, Nicholson & Greenleaf have totally
fail’d. Morris & Greenleaf are in prison in this City, and Nicholson only escapes a
similar fate by castleing himself within his own Walls. M r. Greenleaf is about giving up all his Estate, & discharging himself by the insolvent
laws of this Commonwealth, & I came here at his earnest request to consult & advise with him on this subject. I have been here
about ten days, & have resided at the Presidents. Next to my own parents, yours are
nearest to my heart, and possess the strongest Claim to my filial reverence &
affection. The President seems to retain all his vigour, & remains firm as mount
Atlas. I was much pleased with a toast given lately at Cambridge—“John Adams, Pres t. of U.S. the american Terminus,” with a note, that Terminus
was the Roman God of boundaries who swore he would not stir one foot for Jupiter.— 2 The first Dispatches from the Envoys since
their arrival in france were rec d. last Evening, dated
Jan y 8 th. — There is no doubt,
but the Directory have intercepted all former Communications—& this escaped by mere
stealth, being secreted by the mate of a ship which saild from Havre de Grace. 3 Congress has been in session 5 months and done Nothing. A new attack is made upon the Executive under
the name of Amendments to a bill for regulating foreign Intercourse. But a sullen
stillness seems to reign throughout the U.S. which only portends the Gathering Storm.
The Spirit of the People is willing to wait the Event of the Embassy—but it will not
wait long. A Voice is now & then heard amidst the stillness of Suspence—and
distinctly sounds from one End of the Continent to the other.— It will soon be the voice
of thunder.— We are ready to rally round the standard of our Government, and we shall be
able to crush the faction into Dust. The Spirit of the People only wants to be rouzed.
The lion of America has been call’d a mean spirited Beast, but the Lyon which has been
shewn to the world is not an American,—the beast was born in Ireland & has been led
about by a french man. The Dispatches from the Envoys have not yet been made public—
Indeed they are not yet decypher’d. One letter of 8 th. Jan y. incloses the Redacteur of 5 th. which mentions a decree proposed by the Directory to the Council of 500,
that Vessels of Neutrals containing Enemies Goods shall be lawful prize—& that the
french Ports shall be shut against neutral Vessels which have touched at any British
port— The Envoys also say that there is no hope of doing any thing towards accomplishing
the Object of their mission.— We want some bold, and powerful man, whose Abilities can
command Respect in our house of Representatives, to take the lead, & to bring
forward energetic means of Defence,—to call forth the Resources of the Country,—to
permit the merchants to Arm their Ships,—to request the President to see that the
frigates are in readiness,—to put the fortifications—ports & harbours in some
respectable defensive Condition—to order out and review the militia—to
call on the Officers to hold themselves and their Companies in readiness—to examine the
situation of the Magazines, and arsenals, and to put our diplomatic Corps in a
respectable situation. Such a Character, to marshall and concenter the Spirit of the
Nation might retreive its Character.— I shall return to Washington tomorrow. You have
perhaps heard that I have resumed the practise of the Law “ in
all the humility of its first outset. ” The misfortunes of M, N & G have
reached me in some respects. I am answerable for about 3 or 4000 Dol s. on their Acc t. for which it is
very doubtful whether I shall get security. I expect therefore to be plagued & vexed
for some years, unless the Creditors should think proper to treat me with severity,
which would make but short work of it. I wish they may if I should fail of security, for
the sooner it is over the better. 4

M r. Johnson’s family reside in
Georgetown about 3 miles from my house. I was introduced to M r. & M rs. Johnson & two of the ladies, on
their first arrival,—& before they had gone to housekeeping. They afterwards went to
see Gov r. Johnson at Frederick & spent some time
there. 5 After their return to
Georgetown I call’d twice but did not find them at home. I shall call again as soon as I
return.

Believe me that I feel an affection for all who are dear to you,
and that I am most truly your / affectionate friend

W. Cranch