William Stephens Smith to John Adams, April 6, 1789

Newyork april 6 th. 1789—

Dear Sir—

M r: Bourne has this moment waited upon me and informs, that
he has been honoured by the senate with the appointment of being the Bearer of their
Dispatches to you, relative to your election as Vice President of the Western Empire,
upon which please to accept of my affectionate congratulations and of my sincere prayers
that Heaven may guide and protect you in this great Career— 1 The Virtuous members of this Government are very
anxious to see you here, they promise themselves great aid in their pursuits from your
Council and influence, and I am sure you will not fail in being here as soon as
possible, your Country expects that your motions will be rapid after you recieve the
official information, and when you consider that during the interregnum, the United
states loose one thousand p r. Diem , I am sure you will haste to shelter them all in your power from greater
loss—

My Calculation is that if this Gentleman travels by Land this will be presented to you
on saturday next but If with a fair Wind he attempts the Water Communication, it may
possibly reach you before— but Calculating on the former, I take the liberty of
supposing that you will finish the Governors Ceremony on monday and rest, tranquilly at
Watertown the same Evening, so that agreable to Contract you will arrive here on the
Monday following, in which case I will meet you 15 or 20 miles out of town and inform
you of the opinions at present Circulating here— 2 I think it will be of service that M rs: Adams should accompany you, for various reasons, both
public & private, which it may be as well not to commit to paper— should you not
leave Braintree before Monday, will you be so good as to write me by sunday’s post
informing me of your arrangements, and intentions, 3 this Letter will reach me the saturday night
before you, and give me some hours to arrange my movements and to meet you prepared to
relieve M rs: Adams from the hurry and Ceremony which will
accompany your reception

for further particulars I refer you to the Letter from M rs: Smith to her Mama 4 and am / D r. Sir, Yours affectionately

W: S: Smith