ever have thought of implicating the government in so indecent and hostile a frolic. We have had an incessant struggle all the winter to restrain the intemperate ardor of the people out of doors and their too accurate representatives in both houses. Too many of our good federalists are carried away at times by their passions, and the popular torrent, to concur in motions and countenance sentiments inconsistent with our neutrality and tending directly to war. But I hope we shall be able to make a stand against all fatal attempts. I long to be at home, but I dare not ask leave to go. The times are too critical for any man to quit his post without the most urgent necessity. Ways and means must be provided to defray the expenses incurred, and I expect this will be put off till May. I shall be very uneasy through this whole month, but I must take patience. I hope Mr. Adams, of Boston, the lawyer, is full of business and making his fortune. I hear so seldom from him, that I must suppose him busy. Tell my dear mother that I hope to have the pleasure of seeing her in the month of May. Love to my brothers and sister and cousins, &c. I am most tenderly yours, J. A. LETTER CCXXV. MY DEAREST FRIEND, Philadelphia, 3 April, 1794. THE post of the day brought me your kind letter of 26th ultimo. The more I am charmed with your bravery and activity in farming, the more I am mortified that my letters in answer to yours are so insignificant and insipid. I must leave all your agriculture to your judgment and the advice of your assistants. I sent you more grass seeds with the furniture, which I hope has arrived before now. The times are so critical and parties so nearly balanced that I cannot in honor, nor consistently with my duty, abandon my post. There are so many wild projects and motions, and so many to support them, that I am become of more importance than usual, in the opinion of the soundest part of the community. We have very disagreeable business to do in finding ways and means for the expenses we have already incurred. It grieves me to the heart to see an increase of our debts and taxes, and it vexes me to see men opposing even these augmentations, who are every day pushing for measures that must involve us in war, and ten times greater expenses. But the inconsistencies and absurdities of men are no novelties to me. I have pleased myself with a hope that I should get home in April, but the general opinion is, we shall be obliged to remain here till the middle of May. I have little expectation of seeing you before election. You are so valorous and noble a farmer that I feel little anxious about agriculture. Manure in hills if you think best, but manure your barley ground and harrow it well. I have now the pleasing hope of seeing my honored mother again in comfortable health. I have suffered many melancholy hours both on her account and yours, and I think myself indebted, under Providence, to your tender care and indefatigable assiduity for the prolongation of her life. If the yellow fever should make its appearance here, we shall soon fly; but there is no symptom of it as yet. I am sometimes obliged to give critical votes, which expose me to the passions of parties; but I have been wonderfully spared this session. They find it best to let me alone, for I get credit by their abuse. I am, most sincerely and most kindly, LETTER CCXXVI. Your J. A. Philadelphia, 5 April, 1794. MY DEAREST FRIEND, THE weather is cooler, and the minds of men are calmed by the enclosed communication; but a soured party will plunge us [in war] if possible. The most uncandid, the most hypocritical part is acted, to take us in. Protestations against war by those who are pushing every thing that can force war, are not the worst. The southern men have art enough to dupe northern ones to bring forward measures, that the northern part may have the odium of bringing on a war. In short, the knavery of some is so abominable, and the stupidity of others so contemptible, that I am almost brought to Raynal's wish.' The old debtors to Britain uniting with those who are bribed to France, and both operating upon the populaces of our great towns, will devote this country to calamities as unnecessary as they will be dismal, unless the vigilance and patience of those who have no object but their country's good is supported by the sound part of the people out of doors. My good and worthy son, I presume, sees all I send you. All my hopes are in him, both for my family and country. Yours, most affectionately, J. A. "Raynal prayed that, rather than men should always be knaves and fools, the species might be annihilated. At present it seems in a fair way to be so. I love them too well, with all their faults, to be glad to see their present rapid progress towards destruction. All that I have and all that I am would I cheerfully give to prevent it; but I see no means. Havock must have its perfect work, and then eyes will begin to open." Extract of a letter, alluding to the French revolution, dated 15 March, not published. LETTER CCXXVII. Philadelphia, 7 April, 1794. MY DEAREST FRIEND, YOUR favor of the 28th ultimo arrived this morning. Before this time I hope you have received your furniture. We are still endeavoring to preserve peace; but one' moves a series of commercial regulations, another, a sequestration of debts, a third, to prohibit all intercourse with Britain, a fourth, to issue letters of marque against Algerines, all tending to excite suspicions in Britain that we are hostile to her, and mean ultimately to join her enemies. One firebrand is scarcely quenched before another is thrown in; and if the sound part of the community is not uncommonly active and attentive to support us, we shall be drawn off from our neutral ground and involved in incomprehensible evils. In danger of a war that will be unnecessary, if not unjust, that has no public object in view, that must be carried on with allies the most dangerous that ever existed, my situation is as disagreeable as any I ever knew. I should have no fear of an honest war, but a knavish one would fill me with disgust and abhorrence. |