CHAPTER VII.

Neutral Rights - Admiralty Law-Literary Journals - Political Parties-Jefferson and Burr-Duel-Popularity Fickle-Study of Law-Introductory Letters-Floridas - President Adams's Remarks-Yellow Fever College.

1801, Jan. 20. From Walter in Boston. "The last news from Europe is singular and important. Singular, because Russia was the ally and apparent friend of Great Britain; now, she is the determined enemy. Important, because the great question of neutral rights is to be determined by serious war. The Northern Powers have long seen with jealousy, that the English have been triumphant on the ocean. With their united forces and the navies of France, Holland and Spain, they will endeavor to enforce their opinions. As an American, I think the present law of nations is unfavorable to our extensive commerce, unprotected as it is by a respectable navy. But the present national law is more equitable, and better founded on the nature and constitution of individual and civil man, than the one that is advocated by the Northern Powers. As to the event, I have little doubt that the English, by their great preponderancy on the ocean, will soon

break to pieces the apparently formidable coalition. All the leagued powers are brave and determined, but the English are superior in experience, and equal in numbers.

"I like Gifford on Pindar. There is in the present age, a spirit of egotism, which obscures the brightness of the best productions. It is so with the present pamphlet; was the case with the Pursuits of Literature, and other productions of the last year. I have lately seen a magazine edited by Bisset. It contains a life of Pitt, and another of Fox. They are very handsomely delineated, I presume by Bisset himself. He has published a second enlarged edition of Burke's life, with original letters and a more full account of his early life."

Jan. 21. T. B. Adams in Philadelphia to Shaw in Washington. "The exertions which you have made for the diffusion of Dennie's paper, are gratefully acknowledged by him. He will attend to your suggestions, and supply his subscribers with punctuality.

"I have just met with a small work, purporting to be a translation from the Italian, called 'Romans in Greece.' It was sent to Dickins by Nancrede from Boston. It is worth your reading, if you never saw it. I shall send you one. The object of it seems to be to point out the affinity and striking resemblance of the scenes, which are acting in our day, to those of remote antiquity, and the parallel between the conduct of the Romans in Greece, and the French in Italy, Holland, Germany, Egypt; in short, wheresoever their armies have successfully

penetrated. It is drawn with precision and ability.

"Samuel Harrison Smith has, I find, taken up his Congressional observatory in the upper gallery, by being brushed off from the lower floor. He is very provoking to the honorable Speaker. I could not help laughing at the keen satire he vented on one occasion, when he said that, for his part, he did not profess to understand the Speaker always, when he heard distinctly all he uttered."

Jan. 29. J. Wagner to Shaw. "Enclosed are extracts of Mr. King's Letters to the Secretary of State, respecting General Miranda's' project. I have carefully searched for, and do not find, any letter from the latter to the President."

Jan. 29. T. B. Adams in Philadelphia to Shaw in Washington. "I enclose you another set of the Portfolio for distribution. The Journal of the Silesian Tour is considered here as the most interesting of all the contents. No. 5, is a beautiful and classical letter from the same hand. Our lawyers are gone off to-day for the city. Mr. Ingersoll will give in his resignation. I hope Mr. William Tilghman will be his successor. Lieut. Parker, of the Navy, is going to-morrow, and I give him a line for you."

Jan. 30. From Richard Peters, Jr., in Philadelphia. "Let not my long silence argue a want of love for you. I have been projecting and am now preparing a work for the press. Start not. It is but a collection of law tracts. There is no method, say the best writers, so beneficial in impressing a

1 To revolutionize the South American provinces.

subject on the mind as writing on it. I wish to study and obtain an intimate acquaintance with admiralty law. I intend, therefore, to collect and write upon that subject. Many have been the changes in our political hemisphere since I saw my friend. Calculation has closed her book on her politicians, and a torpor prevails universally. The publication of the Portfolio must give you, as a literary man, much pleasure. Dennie has resumed his preaching garb, and wears it with grace. You may promise yourself a dish of entertainment of various kinds, even seven days, for the number of correspondents are great. The Gazette, United States, has another edition of ancient and tried principles, and throughout the Union there appears a general resurrection of literature and political truths. You will rejoice at this. You will join me in the wish, that the sun of reform, which now only appears above the edge of the horizon, shedding a few rays through a troubled and cloudy atmosphere on our thirsty land, may proceed to its meridian. splendor."

Jan. 30. From Charles Chauncey, jr. "I thank you for your frank, spirited and ingenious cornmunication. The hurly-burly of politics, and the strange and astonishing disorder of things in our country, is sufficient to sicken at the first glance of the subject. What shall we not say, when the people are so cheated as to exchange rulers of excellence for others far inferior? Shall we not conclude that our government is a baseless fabric? Efforts are making to revive the drooping character of our

literary journals. The Portfolio, it is hoped, will be respectable. The New England Palladium, under the direction of Mr. Dutton, and the Gazette of the United States, conducted by my friend Mr. Bronson, promise to be effectual in the cause of sound principles."

Feb. 4. Rev. John Lathrop of Boston to Shaw in Washington. "Yours of the 28th December, I had the pleasure to receive, for which I beg you to accept my thanks. I feel with you the mortification, which the most valuable part of the people in the United States feel, in the decision of the important election. Sincerely do I join in the pious request, that the all good God will still continue to shower down his blessings, as the dew of heaven, on our beloved country.' There is certainly no man on earth, for whom I feel a higher esteem, than I do for President Adams. I am proud that the New England States gave him every vote. He will retire with dignity. At his tranquil abode, he will be esteemed as the friend of religion, of rational liberty, of good government, and of man. I send you a copy of my Century Discourse."

Feb. 8. From Dr. Cotton Tufts at Weymouth. "The issue of the late election is far from being pleasant, even to the jacobins amongst us. It seems to be anticipated here, that Burr will obtain the vote in the House of Representatives; but at this distance from the seat of government, we can form but a slender conjecture. Time, however, must determine this, as well as the future administration of government, whether it will be such as has been