Request for Preparation of Documents Recalling John Quincy Adams from Foreign Service
Document 1801Asks the Secretary of State to prepare appropriate letters to the King of Prussia recalling John Quincy Adams as minister to that country and thank him for the kind treatment the younger Adams has received. Asks that several copies be sent through different nations; notes that he would prefer J.Q. Adams to continue as a European minister, but the only acceptable posts (as minister to France or England) are either unsuited to him or unavailable, hence the decision to bring him home.
Dear Sir I request you would cause to be prepared letters for me to you, to the king of Prussia, recalling Mr. John Quincy Adams, as Minister plenipotentiary from his land. You may express the thanks fo the President to his Majesty for the obliging reception & kind treatment this minister has Strike-through text met with Strike-through text at his court & may throw the letter into the form of leave to return to the United States. You will look into the forms in your office of former instances of recalls. I wish you to make out one letter to go by the way of Hamburgh – another by Holland a third by France a fourth through Mr. King in England & a fifth if you please by the way of [undecipherable] or any other channel most likely to convey it soon. It is my opinion this minister ought to be recalled from Prussia[?]. Justice would require that he should be sent to France or England if he should be continued in Europe. The [undecipherable] to St. James’s is perfectly well filled by Mr. King – that to France is no doubt destined for some other character. Besides it is my opinino that it is my duty to call him home. With great regard, I am Sir your most obed. sert Washington Jan 21 1801 Secretary of State
Machine transcription not yet available for this document.