Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-30

man forever unknown a. the furnlsher of llit
materials Mr.. Cunningham was an omen fede-
ra!ls', Il blood relation nf Mr.. Adams and SON,
their devoted frirud and y Young ,nan nf edu-
catl"a aud distinguished ability The work
was written upon ih"s. materials, and hnrr
the complexion which Mr.. Adams gave 1t,
vSlen ia 1908 Mr.. Cunningham dtscul cred
that Mr. Adams WAS publishing numerous cs-
says Ia the Boston Patriot in DIRECT contra
dicilon of the information he had given him.
Mr., Cunningham was thunderstruck. He inn
media,ely wrote 20 Nir. Adams, approaching
him with his observation-disclosures, ascrihing his
conduct 10 a netc born scheme for the advance
ment o ms son, Jain Quincy, expressing his
indignation at the imposition practisrd on
himself, declaring himself ahsoI,rd from all
obligations of honor to Mr.. Adams, and as
seriing his right Ia d,ug" the whre cores
p"ndencr. This however, he did not do. His
death occurred some years afterwards, and
the correspondence VAS then published by his
snn.-This is the correct outline Of the origin,
progress, and termination uf this cf ,ebrnted
correspondence. But To do justice Ia Mr.. Cum
nngham, tn shcw the extent of the imposition
practlsed upon hih>, III make known the cruel
assasSIndiinns of character nf which he was To
he rade III" ostrusible instrument while the
read hand that struck the blows should remain
forever unseen, II is necessary To ave re-
course tn the letters themselves, aud IN extract
the passages which prove the truth of the
outline which has been strtched.
L;f:r 3, Jsnuary iotk, is0i--Nr. C. 20 NJ. 4.
" have for some beer collecting materials
10 present the pubic with luil at the rba,ac.
ter nm conduct Of Mr.. Jefferson. am informed
~ 80 !" work is preparing 10, Mr.. Colman ot
.New YORK, under the eye of General H,miiion, II
should really find The design IN better hands sbs
rrlnqH3h ~. avn, at present epcoutaypd lac tb,
promlsed nid and patronage OF son,e valuahe friend,
~ sh"uid proceed IN the work. the time most e.
v"rhe i"r effect ~ the ensuing election will he cho
sen for lis appearance.
'' wish to discover arcanuor Tia, would he
o use TO drYelope The true character of the salt noun
tain philosopher. This mountain has increased the
wonders OF the world IN eight and # Mr. Jefferson
would >nk tomb IN part OF II ior himself it might
he"er 'han he'ng mummy, preserve his body and
mrmotv through succeeding ages"
But To return. No man living has so ,horo,ch
knowledge vi Nh JsIcrson's transactions rs you,
set-'lls ne' essary therefore, To the perferon OF
my plan, that should assume the confidence ,o nm
PIN 20 va" Tor some pariIcuiics IL, SIR TO promn,e
my patuo'ic purposes, would refer me In iu,sr
ei"g 'Pr'de"s ~ Mr.. Jef-rspn's career, promise
mos iauhuy, thai intscreop or uniaithiulness in
me shall eSpose OF abuse your goodness"
The candid reader will observe that. Mr.
Cunningham appeaL to the PERSONAL kno,oIedge
Of Mr.. Adams for facts which will enable
him I" draw the true character of Mr.. J.fTrr-
son and that his PROMISE of secrecy applies
I" ms Species of intelligence, correct inCor-
NATION, and no other.
Mr. Adams replies,
Letter :, January Is 1904
" would not advise YOU Io reliuouish The p,o;oc =,
You have IN hand, because another has The same III
the Two persons You are eng,ged ia such n
WORK, You may d"pend upon IL, no rood will come Of
D.. mere VIII he SO many little passions and we
pr'Jldires, 80 iiite caudour aud sincerity in it, thar
the dnllest reader will see through a. You are n,uch
mistaken when YOU say that man living has so
much knowledge 81 Mr.. Jsfetson's transactions as
LA trafl. l. HI.
Although we agreed alwtys very we'll lba,,e mrs mn
close intimacy bsoeen He always progressed ptea,
Hopu'h'p Tor me, even when, as II appears, he
was cOuntenancmg Freneau, B.che Duane and
talltnder against me. No information coud he or
ianedirom n'r sufficient compensate YOU for a
Journey bW, y0n should he in Boston on other A.
lars, riSH from you will he always 3. pree,,le
A"e'dnfs from my memory would certainly he
KNOWN lhrr" are some there only known TO him
ana me, hn hey would noi be believed, and wonld
ne imputed TO envy, revenge, or VANITY I wish hin,
no ~. envy him not shu,lder ~ the caIamities
wh'ch tear his conduci ~ preparing for his comn-
Try, rom meas thirst III popularity, inordina,e
',"'fon, 7nd want OF sincerity ! write in conf
uenrc, ~ Your honor, as we'll your ,liscretio
THIS letter is characteristic in several points
oil view. 1t encourages the young man to write
the lille of Jefferson. II declines communica-
ting any facts in i0riiing. 1t invites Young
Cunningham, by an oblique hint, to come to
Boston, and raises his expectation of hearing
anecdotes, Incredible, tho true, which Mr.. A.
dams carried in his memory, and hich might
be The subject Of oerbat Communications
Mr.. Cunningham went, and the nature of the
anecdotes may be Judged of nv the following
extracts written after MIR. Adams had COM
menced his encomiastic essays upon Mr.. JEFF
terson and the democrats in the Boston Pa
trot.
mr.. C. TO Bfr. 4. June ff.h, 1900
" Ia this paper Boston PaIrioO YOU have unfudeJ
many ci the particulars which you disclosed to me
A rNgn I'd ft.f E.,...
yonr house "a August 1904, and which DreSerrsd To
;,ss'si me in the composition of some OF NV
comparing rs contents with Diy minutes 4 cannot
bot ihnk YOU more courteous than ao 10 being will
ung 10 besuw so much unqualified praise on Mr. JEFF
'"Ts"n. fon strengthen an enconium on this gentle
men by founding IL On 80 az inimue frieydshir for
tre and tCe"ty ye.uS, and by fellowship periians
as long IN public business. According to n,y memo
rAnduUs you mentioned at the interview in 1901 that
MI. Jefferson, while niher nf Tue old COMPRESS
Frequently veoted sarcasnis againsi religion, ami
oaac, IN debate, spoke sneeringiy of the scriptures
which drew you from your seat. The strength and
severity Of your observations iu reply procured ne
acknowledgements from II. III Lee, and two Others
You ackUoWlfhged J If, TO have been student
IN SOM branches OF learning, hut thought hiai su-
Pefhcn'y acquainted with the sciruce of civil role
You gave minute account Of the framing of the
DFciaialiou OF Independence, and why, and to What
extent, 1-'soY had - hand ~ IT, Ard yon told me
that whrn Mr. Jefferson appointed ambassador
10 L ''nce, he informed you fbu he would moi em-
bark "hOnt ms wife, and th Il he would not he ex
posed, with his family, 10 British nun IF trar for
III 'bis world. All these p'riicmars, hnt wifhum
t5f most slant alluson - be source whence dP,iV-
ed meet have been Incorporated into nv poluicnl
sps 1'h'ons and have rsposed upon you for my
0Hthoriy.'
Again. trorn Vr. C. 10 ~. H. Dse. 2o.s, 1909.
T" " lnprars by your eucrs ia me ~ tue years
I8O3-4 that you Il. Ca 81 vours"lf ~ possession OF
CERTAIN facts u-efning Mr.. j a. rson, whch Tor
the rea-nns Won assigned. you were nvcrse to COM
numbering Ivy ie'tsr d'1i you encopy1ged me 20
arralgr a. the " Br Of Rssou Hr administration