LETTER CCXCIX. President's House, Washington city, MY DEAREST FRIEND, 2 November, 1800. WE arrived here last night, or rather yesterday, at one o'clock, and here we dined and slept. The building is in a state to be habitable, and now we wish for your company. The account you give of the melancholy state of our dear brother Mr. Cranch and his family, is really distressing, and must severely afflict you. I most cordially sympathize with you and them. I have seen only Mr. Marshall and Mr. Stoddert, General Wilkinson and the two commissioners, Mr. Scott and Mr. Thornton. I shall say nothing of public affairs. I am very glad you consented to come on, for you would have been more anxious at Quincy than here, and I, to all my other solicitudines mordaces, as Horace calls them, i. e., "biting cares," should have added a great deal on your account. Besides, it is fit and proper that you and I should retire together, and not one before the other. Before I end my letter, I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof! I shall not attempt a description of it. You will form the best idea of it from inspection. Mr. Briesler is very anxious for the arrival of the man and women, and I am much more so for that of the ladies. I am, with unabated confidence and affection, your LETTER CCC. JOHN ADAMS. MY DEAREST FRIEND, Washington, 16 February, 1801. SATURDAY night, nine o'clock, and not before, I received yours of 13th,' and the letter to Thomas with it, brought here no doubt by mistake. I regret very much that you have not a gentleman with you. The skittish young colt with you is always timorous, but no harm will befall you or her, I trust. The weather and roads here on Saturday, Sunday, and to-day, are the finest we have seen this year. The election will be decided this day in favor of Mr. Jefferson, as it is given out by good authority. The burden upon me in nominating judges and consuls and other officers, in delivering over the furniture, in the ordinary business at the close of a session, and in preparing for my journey of five hundred 'Mrs. Adams left Washington at this time. Mr. Adams followed on the fourth of the next month. The correspondence closes here. miles through the mire, is and will be very heavy. My time will be all taken up. I pray you to continue to write me. My anxiety for you is a very distressing addition to all my other labors. Our bishop gave us a good discourse yesterday, and every body inquired after you. I was able to tell them you had arrived on Friday night at Baltimore. I sleep the better for having the shutters open, and all goes on well. I pray God to bless and preserve you. I give a feast to-day to Indian kings and aristocrats. Ever J. A. APPENDIX. A. - p. 248. EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, 15TH FEBRUARY, 1797. AFTER the consideration of the executive business, a motion was made that the Senate now adjourn; when the Vice President addressed them as follows: GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE, If, in the general apprehension of an intention to retire in that most eminent citizen, to whom all eyes had been directed, and all hearts attracted as the centre of our union for so long a period, the public opinion had exhibited any clear indications of another in whom our fellow-citizens could have generally united; as soon as I read that excellent address, which announced the neces sity of deliberation in the choice of a President, I should have imitated the example of a character, with which I had coöperated, though in less conspicuous and important stations, and maintained an uninterrupted friendship |