this country again. You will please therefore issue the Proclamation &c I arrived at McMinnville on the evaning of the 6th inst., thence to Major Chisholms 6 miles west of Sparta on the 7th; on the 8th breakfasted at the latter place, and lodged at Millers 21 miles west of the crab orchard, at which place I arrived 9th inst and thence to this place on the 10th-without the slightest accident or misfortune, horses all traveling much better than when we set out-In fact I never did see horses work more gentle-nor do I believe any man has a sett of horses better broke to the harness than the Blacks-Wilsons horse I think is gaining strength tho he continues weak & sweats but not very considerable-my health thank God continues equal to that which I enjoyed previous to my leaving home &c I propose God willing to leave here early on the morrow for the point of destination, my future movements will therefore form a part of my next, which I expect to write at Knoxville The people seem to enjoy good health as far as I have advanced, and boast of fine crop almost every where. I am told the N. Intelligencer states that Spain has refused & still continues to refuse giving her assent to the Florida treaty, in consequence of which say our statesmen possession must be taken immediately. Pray let me ask you for once, (which I hope will answer always) to tender my sincere esteem to my friends-and believe me to be yours Honl Daniel Graham Secy of State Jos. McMINN. [Box Mc 1, No. 75.] Dear Secy. Knoxville 15 Decr 1819 I arrived here 13 inst and recd your letter on 14th-it is not now before me tho I have not time to say more than that I am in good health in reply to yours My horses continue to do very well and every thing goes on prosperously I have closed a settlement a few minutes past with Capt. Starr, have also obtained all the Kingston military rolls &c and now have nothing to do but progress on my journey, which I propose doing in less than 1-2 hour-I promise a more lengthy ietter in a few days-adieu Secy Dear Secy Jos. MCMINN. [Box Mc 1, No. 76.] 21 Decer 1819 Yours of the 9th was handed me last night on my arrival at New Canton, which place I left this morning at 9 o'clock. I am truly happy that your fears respecting my right hand horses, are not realized, they both perform to admiration, that is the Black is perfectly well of the scratches, and Wilson is gaining courage faster than flesh, in fact I have never seen any of them in any degree wearied, notwithstanding I have run them five miles an hour in a few instances & most generally four, and with much ease and comfort to myself, as I on no ocation have experienced the least cold evan without my cloak-I enjoy very fine health, and every other blessing I can in justice ask for. The Doctor was a few minutes since called to a sick person a Lady about 8 miles distant--and nothing but delicacy prevents me from naming her complaint-If I thought mother could not guess from the above hint I would say that she the sick Lady is in a family way, of which pray advise her by shewing this letter -I propose Lodging in Abingdon God willing tomorrow night. Adieu farewell Jos. McMINN. P. S as I have neglected to forward Haywood revised Laws to Mr. J. Q. Adams must beg the favor of you to forward a copy to me which I will leave with him perhaps it may be much wanted. Honl Secy of State M. I have just read Father James' talk and am more than pleased, as it expresses the warmest wishes of J. M M [Box Mc 1, No. 77.] Dear Secy. Englishes Ferry N. River, I recd your letter dated 11th inst on yesterday evaning as I was joging along the street by the c. h. I knew Grundy would act pretty childish about the Ky. Papers, and from whence he flatters himself with success, is to me unaccountable but as old Mr Brown a very honest old Irishman from N. C. God help him (used to say such an one wanted to be doing, which he applied to good as well as bad acts-and so it is with our friend G on this occasion. I would very much prefer that G. Wilson would content him self in printing the Laws as they may be delivered to him without comment, for altho he may not and I presume not be able to make any impression on the state of Public feeling at home. which will very materially affect the Popularity any memberyet when his paper is read abroad it may become very mischievous, and I have been some time thinking with you, that perhaps we are to be more entangled than has generally been supposed, but am now laboring under the hope that times are past the worst. I will profit by your admonission in the close of your letterEvery part of the Establishment--performs very well indeedThe roads & weather are quite fine and I feel disposed to take all advantages of both--pray remember me &c &c Honl Secy of State Jos. McMINN. [Box Mc 1, No. 78.] Millers Town 100 miles west of W. City 4 Jany 1820 Dear Secy. I arrived here this evaning at sunset in very good health, and thus far without having recd. the slightest portion of adverse fortune on the way -The weather has been very cold or at tolerably so- -The water courses are all frozen over, the ice in many places 6 inches thick, and the snow said to be 12 inches deep, and very considerably drifted, tho the road are well opened, & in most excellent order, Sufficiently so to enable us to travel from 20 to 30 miles per day, at which rate I expect to reach the city about Saturday or Sunday next-previous to which tis probable, I will not write you as I expect to find the news of Murfreesboro at that place out of which I will calculate on extracting the materials of a long letter-Indeed I have not heard from you since the 11th ult, which I noticed in a former letter-I have some turbelent statesmen below stairs, who are quareling about our father's Talk relative to the Floridaes, some for & others against it Your favor of the 31st ult came to hand on yesterday previous to which I had written you, but finding you stand in need of Blank, & fearfull that your might miscarry have thought it best to forward the enclosed and should your Printed ones arrive they shall be returned without delay, I have spent this day say in the forenoon in attending the Episcopelian Church, and the afternoon in attending the Roman Catholic meeting, in both instances, I was very agreeably entertained, more particularly as I had the pleasure of having two seats in my carriage occupied by two young and very beautiful Ladies of whom you shall hear more at Large in my next Present my love to Miss Stokes, say to her that her Pappa is in fine health, and so is your friend Mr Burton-The former being named for the purpose of giving you an introduction &c Our Father asked me very kindly after your health, the other day at Dinner-I recd. a card to take tea on Tuesday evaning next with the highly accomplished Mrs J. Q. Adams and also a card from him self by way of introduction, which I am told is a mark of attention which he has withheld from all the Land Senators since the opening of this session-Pray tell mother how much attention is paid to her friend. [Box Mc 1, No. 80.] Jos. McMINN. Dear Secy Washington City 9th Feby 1820. Yours of the 20th Jany came safe to hand, and am truly happy to learn that our little Republic is moving on so very smoothly. The admission of Missouri, into the union, has at this period excited more public feeling, than any subject which has come. before congress since the close of the Revolutionary War, and what is to be regreted above every thing else is, that a dismemberment of the union is spoken of on the floor of both Houses, and in private circles, as the inevitable result-To this doctrine I do not subscribe nor do I believe that the American people will for a moment entertain or cherish the Idea of a civil War; in lieu of which my own opinion is, and I have constantly avowed it here, that if Missouri adopts the same course which Tennessee did, that it will produce the same result, I mean that they ought to elect their Senators & send them here with their State constitution in one hand, and knock at the Door with the other for admission into the Union, which I feel very conscious would not be denied. Tho I cannot bring my self to believe that the friends, to the restrictions will be able to sustain them, yet as it is undetermined it must be uncertain as a matter of course. Some of the friends of the administration entertain doubts that De-Witt Clinton will be run against Mr. Monroe at the succeeding election, if so I hope that Tennessee will act in unison with |