[1094] McHenry to John McHenry, May 20, 1800; Gibbs, ii, 348.
[1095] According to McHenry, Adams's complaints were that the Secretary of War had opposed the sending of the second mission to France, had not appointed as captain a North Carolina elector who had voted for Adams, had "eulogized General Washington ... attempted to praise Hamilton," etc. (McHenry to John McHenry, May 20, 1800; Gibbs, ii, 348; and see Hamilton's "Public Conduct, etc., of John Adams"; Hamilton: Works: Lodge, vii, 347-49.)
[1096] Gore to King, May 14, 1800; King, iii, 242-43; also Sedgwick to Hamilton, May 7, 1800; Works: Hamilton, vi, 437-38.
[1097] Adams to Pickering, May 10, 1800; Works: Adams, ix, 53.
[1098] Pickering to Adams, May 11, 1800; ib., 54.
[1099] Pickering to Hamilton, May 15, 1800; Works: Hamilton, vi, 443.
[1100] Adams to Pickering, May 12, 1800; Works: Adams, ix, 55.
[1101] Sedgwick to Hamilton, May 13, 1800; Works: Hamilton, vi, 442.
[1102] Adams to Rush, March 4, 1809; Old Family Letters, 219.
[1103] "There never was perhaps a greater contrast between two characters than between those of the present President & his predecessor.... The one [Washington] cool, considerate, & cautious, the other [Adams] headlong & kindled into flame by every spark that lights on his passions; the one ever scrutinizing into the public opinion and ready to follow where he could not lead it; the other insulting it by the most adverse sentiments & pursuits; W. a hero in the field, yet overweighing every danger in the Cabinet—A. without a single pretension to the character of a soldier, a perfect Quixotte as a statesman." (Madison to Jefferson, Feb., 1798; Writings: Hunt, vi, 310.) And [Adams] "always an honest man, often a wise one, but sometimes wholly out of his senses." (Madison to Jefferson, June 10, 1798; ib., 325.)