Title: To John Adams from William Lambert, 15 July 1818
From: Lambert, William
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					City of Washington, July 15th: 1818.

				I have the honor to inclose herewith, two printed copies of abstracts of calculations relative to the longitude of the Capitol, in this City from Greenwich Observatory, in England.—These calculations were entered into, and completed, to lay a foundation for the establishment of a first meridian for the United States of America at the Seat of their government, according to the original plan of Andrew Ellicott, Esq; in which the longitude of the Capitol is marked 0°.0’.It is unnecessary to remind you, that any place on the surface of the Earth may be intended as a first meridian for the kingdom or Country in which such place may be situated; but in order to establish it, the distance between it and some other known meridian, measured or estimated on a parallel to the equator, must be obtained with great accuracy. Occultations of fixed Stars by the Moon, and solar eclipses, are acknowledged to be the best means hitherto devised for the attainment of that object; and altho’ the result contained in the abstracts, may not be strictly correct, for want of corresponding observations at Greenwich, yet it is believed to be a near approximation to the truth.  The American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, to which a manuscript copy had been transmitted about twelve months since, have done me the favor of publishing it, in full, in the last volume of their transactions.You will please to accept one copy for your own use, and to present the other to such seminary of learning, or Scientific person in your Section of the Union, as you may choose, except Mr. Bowditch, of Salem, to whom a copy has been sent.An answer, containing your opinion of the plan, and the calculations founded upon it, will be highly acceptable.I have the honor to be, / with great respect, / Your most Obedt. servant,

					William Lambert.

					It may not be improper to observe, that the work was originally undertaken with the approbation of Mr. Jefferson, and bishop Madison, late president of William & Mary College, Virginia.


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 17 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir
Quincy July 17th. 1818

Mr Otis proceeded to page 198 of this great Work of the great Knight Sir Josiah Child
Proposition Eleventh “That New England is the most prejudicial Plantation to this Kingdom.”
“I am now to write of a people whose frugality, industry, and temperance, and the happiness of whose laws and institutions do promise to themselves long life, with a wonderful increase of people, riches and power: and although no man men ought to envy that virtue and wisdom in others which themselves either can or will not practise, but rather to commend and admire it, yet I think it the duty of every good man primarily to respect the welfare of his native country; and therefore though I may offend some whom I would not willingly displease, I cannot omit, in the progress of this discourse to take notice of some particulars, wherein Old England suffers diminution by the growth of those colonies settled in New England and how that plantation differs from those more southerly, with respect to the gain or loss of this Kingdom, viz.
All our American plantations, except that of New England produce commodities of different natures from those of this kingdom, as Sugar, tobacco cocoa, wool, ginger, sundry sorts of dying woods, &c Whereas New England produces generally the same we have here viz. corn and cattle: some quantity of fish they do likewise kill, but that is taken and saved altogether by their own inhabitants, which prejudiceth our New foundland trade; whereas hath been said very few are or ought according to prudence to be, employed in those fisheries but the inhabitants of Old-England. The other commodities we have from them are some few great masts, furs, and train oil, whereof the yearly value amounts to very little the much greater value of returns from thence being made in sugar, cotton, wool, tobacco, and such like commodities, which they first receive from some other of his Majesty’s plantations in barter for dry cod fish, salt machrel, beef, pork, bread, beer, flour, Peas, &c which they supply Barbadoes, Jamaica &c, with, to the diminution of the vent of those commodities from this kingdom; the great expence whereof in our West-India plantations would soon be found in the advance of the value of our lands in England, were it not for the vast and almost incredible supplies those colonies have from New England.
2. The people of New England, by Virtue of their primitive Charters, being not So Strictly tied to the Observation of the Laws of New Engla this Kingdom, do Sometimes assume a Liberty of trading, contrary to the Act of Navigation, by reason whereof many of our American Commodities, especially Tobacco and Sugar, are transported transported, in New England Shipping directly, into Spain and other foreign Countries, without being landed in England, or paying any duty to his Majesty, which is not only Loss to the King, and a prejudice to the navigation of Old England but also a total Exclusion of the Old English Merchants from the vent of those Commodities in those Ports where the New English Merchants vessels trade; because there being no Custom paid on those Commodities in New England, and a great Custom paid upon them in Old England it must necessarily follow that the New English Merchant will be able to afford his Commodities much cheaper at the Market, than the Old English Merchant: And those that can Sell cheapest, will infallibly engross the whole trade, Sooner or later.
3. Of all his Majesty’s Plantations the American Plantations, his Majesty hath none, So apt for the building of Shipping as New England, nor none So comparably So qualified for breeding of Seamen not only by reason of the natural Industry of that People, but principally by reason of their Cod and Mackrel Fisheries: and in my poor opinion, there is nothing more prejudicial and in prospect more dangerous to any Mother Country Kingdom than the increase of Shipping in her Colonies Plantations and Provinces.
4th The people that evacuate from us to Barbadoes, and the other West-India plantations, as was hinted, do commonly work one Englishman to ten blacks; and if we kept the trade of our said plantation entirely to England, England would have no less inhabitants, but rather an increase of people by such evacution; because that one Englishman, with the ten Blacks that work with him, accounting what they eat, use, and wear, would make employment for four men in England, as was said before; whereas, peradventure, often men that issue from us to New-England.—
To conclude this Chapter, and to do right to that most industrious English colony; I must confess, that though we lose by their unlimited trade with our foreign plantations, yet we are very great gainers by their direct trade to and from Old England: our yearly exportations of English manufactures, malt, and other goods, from hence thither, amounting in my opinion to ten times the value of what is imported from thence; which calculation I do not make at random, but upon mature consideration, and peradventure upon as much experience in this very Trade as any other person will pretend to: and therefore, whenever a reformation of our correspondency in Trade with that people shall be thought on, it will, in my poor judgement require great tenderness and very serious circumspection.”
Mr Otis’s humour and Satyre were not idle upon this Occasion but his Will Served only to encrease the Effect of a Subsequent, very grave and Serious Remonstrance and Invective against the detestable Principles of the foregoing Passages, which he read with regret, but which it was his duty to read, in Order to Shew the Temper, the Views and the Objects of the Knight, which were the Same with those of all the Acts of Trade anteriour and posteriour, to the Writing of this Book: and those Views designs and Objects were, to annul all the New England Charters, and they were but three, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut; to reduce all the Colonies to Royal Governments, to Subject them all to the Supream domination of Parliament, who were to tax Us, without limitation, who would tax Us whenever the Crown recommended it, which Crown would recommend it, whenever the Ministry for the time being Should please, and which Ministry would please as often as the West India Planters and North American Governors Crown Officers and Naval Commanders Should Sollicit more Fees, Salaries, Penalties and forfeitures.
Mr Otis had no Thanks for the Knight for his Pharisaical Complement to New England, at the expence of Virginia and other Colonies who for any Thing he knew were equally meritorious. It was certain the first Settlers of New England were not all Godly. But he reprobated in the Strongest terms that Language can command, the Machiavilian, the Jesuitical, the diabolical & infernal Principle that Men, Colonies and Nations were to be Sacrificed because they were industrious and frugal, wise and virtuous, while others were to be encouraged fostered and cherrished because they were pretended to be profligate, vicious, and lazy.
But my Friend, I must quit Josiah Child / and look for others of Mr Otis’s Authorities,
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy July 18 1818

Will you accept a curious Piece of New England Antiquities. It was a tolerable Chatechism for the Education a Boy of 14 Years of Age, who was destined—in the future course of his Life to dabble in So many Revolutions in America, in Holland and in France.
This Doctor Mayhew had two Sisters established in Families in this Village which he often visited and where I often Saw him. He was intimate with my Parson Bryant and often exchanged with him, which gave me an Opportunity often to hear him in the Pulpit. This discourse was printed, a Year before I entered Harvard Colledge and I read it, till the Substance of it was incorporated into my Nature and indelibly engraved on my Memory.
It made a greater Sensation in New England than Mr Henrys Philippick against the Parsons did Virginia. It made a Noise in Great Britain where it was reprinted and procured the Author a Diploma of Doctor in Divinity.
That your Health and voracious Appetite for reading may long continue is the Wish of your Old Friend and / humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Moses Lloyd Hill, 19 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Hill, Moses Lloyd

Sir
Quincy July 19. 1818

Your request of permission to dedicate to me, your proposed travels and Statistical views whose title promiseth both entertainment and Instruction is too flattering to be refused. Especially as you inform me that I have the honour to be distantly related to you. I shall be much obliged to you if you will inform me through what channels that relation has flowed.
I am Sir though a Stranger your respectful /  humble Servant

John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Owen Tyler, 19 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tyler, Benjamin Owen

Dear Sir
Quincy July 19. 1818

I have recd your favour from Richmond of July 4 I cannot write long letters.
When you visit Boston do not forget Quincy  the residence of your Ancestors for almost 200 years.
Your Grandmother had an elder sister who Married Mr Joshua Bracket and a brother Benjamin. I should be glad to know something of all these for I believe it is twenty years since I have any thing of any of them
When you come to Quincy call upon me and I will direct you to see the seats and tombs of your ancestors.
But you must hot forget that remembrance of ancestors is an aristocratical sentiment we most forget all the Talents Virtues Services Sufferings and Sacrifices even of our heroes Sages, Patriots & Martyrs lest we introduce inequality of birth lest some should  to be well born.
I have not time to add any thing but the esteem of your Cousin

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to William Lambert, 23 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Lambert, William

Sir
Quincy July 23d 1818

I have received your favour of the 15th. with two printed Copies of the Abstracts &c. One Copy I shall give to William Smith Shaw Esqr, Superentendant of the Atheneum in Boston
Your future Communications I shall advise you to make to that Gentleman or to the Corresponding Secretary of the American Aecademy of Arts and Sciences.—You could not have Communicated it more properly than to Mr Bowditch.
The Approbation of Mr Jefferson and Bishop Madison are Sufficient to give it Credit in the World—
I am Sir your obliged humble Servant
John Adams—


Title: From John Adams to John T. Watson, 23 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Watson, John T.

Sir
Quincy July 23. 1818

I thank you, for you for your favour of the 12th. You advise me to write my own Life upon a very extensive plan. But you must give me a lease of another life of 82 Years, before I can undertake it.
When I read the Lives of Doctor Benjamin Franklin and Governor Patrick Henry, my own appears, upon retrospection, a dull, dreary unfruitful Waste. I Should be ashamed to read it, though Written by a Franklin or a Wirt.
Of the interpositions of Providence in our favour I have had abundant Experience; and Such as would not be believed upon my Authority, if, I Should relate them.
There is one point in which you and I are at opposite Angles: Instead of inflaming Prejudices against England, it was necessary to destroy The ignorant biggotted Attachment of the People to Great Britain: And This never has yet been half done.
It would be Silly in me To write upon the Progress of Luxury, for The History of all Ages and Countries, are uniform, that Luxury grows with Population Wealth and Prosperity.
Your Letter Shews you to be a thinking, a deep Thinking Man, but not perfectly informed of the American Revolution.
I am however with much respect for an honest Inquirer / Your Sincere Friend and Well Wisher
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Lucius Horatio Stockton, 25 July 1818
From: Stockton, Lucius Horatio
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Trenton NJ July 25th. AD 1818—

				I take the liberty of introducing to Your acquaintance Samuel Southard Esqr a young man who for his extraordinary personal and literary merit was advanced to the Bench of the Supreme Court of our State at the early age of 28 years. He is son of Henry Southard Esqr one of our present members of Congress. He desires the honour of calling on you and I have but a few minutes notice of his intended departure—I am happy to see that your health and strength still enables you to think of your Country and to act for her—I say act for her for a knowlege that Yu live will have a tendency to Depress the foes of her independence and your counsels &  example excite the Emulation of those who are in the scene of political action—Your Son J Q I rejoice to hear on the most important and celebrated theatres of action shews himself worthy of his Descent—Desiring to be respectfully presented to Your lady & Your son my old friend Thomas I conclude by an earnest prayer that the expiry of your Days may be as peaceful, tranquil, and happy, as the meridian was useful, patriotic and glorious, and that you will accept the assurance that I am with undiminished respect affection and fortitude Dr Sir most sincerely / Your friend & Obedt Servt,

					Lucius Horatio Stockton


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 26 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

               Dear Sir
               Quincy July 26th 1818

            Another Auther produced by Mr Otis was “The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered by Joshua Gee. A new Edition with many interesting Notes and Additions by a Merchant” printed in 1767. This new Edition which was printed no doubt to justify the Ministry in the System which was they were then pursuing, could not be the Edition that Mr Otis produced in February 1761. The Advertisement of the Editor, informs Us that “This valuable Treatise has many years been very scarce, though strongly recommended by the best Judges and writers on Trade, and universally allowed to be, one of the most interesting Books on that Subject. The Principles upon which it was written continue with little variation.” But I am fatigued with quotations and must refer you to the Advertisement in the Book, which will shew past a doubt that this was a Ministerial Republication. The “Feelings, the manners and Principles,” which produced the Revolution, will be erected and renovated by Perusal of this Book as much as by that of Sir Josiah Child. I wish I could fill Sheets of Paper with quotations from it but this is impossible.  If I reccommend it to the Reserch, and Persual and patient Thinking of the present Generation, it is in dispair of being regarded. For who will engage in this dry, dull Study? Yet Mr Otis laboured in it. He asserted and proved that it was only a Reinforcement of the System of Sir Josiah Child, which Gee approved in all things, and even quoted with Approbation the most offensive Passages in his Book, the Scurrilous Reflections on Virginia and Barbadoes. Another writer produced by Mr Otis, was “Memoirs and Considerations, concerning the Trade and Revenues of the British Colonies in America; with Proposals for rendering those Colonies more beneficial to Great Britain.” By John Ashley Esqr. This Book is in the same Spirit and System of Josiah Child and Joshua Gee.—Mr Otis also quoted Postlethwait, but I can quote no more. If any Man of the present Age can read these Authers and not feel his Feelings, Manners and Principles Shocked and insulted I know not of what stuff he is made, all I can say is that I read them all in my Youth, and that I never read them without being set on fire.

I will however transcribe one Passage from Ashley painful as it is—In page forty one, he says. “The Laws now in being for the regulation of the plantation Trade, viz, the 14th of Charles the Second Chapter 11. Sec. 2 3. 9. 10; 7 and 8 William 3. Chapter 22. Sec. 5. 6; 6. George the 2nd. Chapter 13.” are very well calculated, were they put in execution as they ought to be, would in a great measure put an end to the mischiefs here complained of: If the several Officers of the Customs would see that all Entries of Sugar, Rum and Molasses, were made conformable to the directions of those Laws; and let every Entry of such Goods distinguish expressly, what are of British Growth and produce, and what are of foreign Growth and Produce; and let the whole Cargo of Sugar Penneles, Rum, Spirits, Molasses and Syrup, be inserted at large in the Manifest and clearances of every Ship or Vessell under Office Seal, or be liable to the Same Duties and Penalties, as such Goods of foreign Growth are liable to: This would very much baulk the Progress of those who carry on this illicit Trade, and be agreeable and advantageous to all fair Traders.—

“And to all Skippers and Masters of Boats in all the Plantations, should give some reasonable security, and to take in any such goods of Foreign Growth from any Vessel not only duly entered at the Custom-house, in order to land the same, or put the same on Board any other Ship or Vessel, without a Warrant or Sufferance from a proper Officer.—

But you must be fatigued with quotations, and so am I / is your Friend

               John Adams


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 27 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir
Quincy July 27th. 1818

Another Author produced by Mr Otis was “The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain considered” by Joshua Gee. “A new Edition, with many interesting Notes and Additions by a Merchant” printed in 1767. This new Edition which was printed no doubt to justify the Ministry in the System they were then pursuing, could not be the Edition that Mr Otis produced in Feb.1761. The Advertisement of the Editor, informs Us that “This valuable Treatise has many Years been very Scarce, though Strongly recommended by the best Judges and Writers on Trade, and universally allowed to be, one of the Most interesting Books on that Subject.” “The Principles upon which it was written continue, with little variation.” But I am fatigued with quotations and must refer you to the Advertisement in the Book, which will Shew past a doubt that this was a Ministerial Republication. The “Feelings, the manners and Principles,” which produced the Revolution, will be exited and renovated by the Perusal of this Book as much as by that of Sir Josiah Child. I wish I could fill Sheets of Paper with quotations from its but this is impossible. If I recommend it to the Reserch, and Perusal and patient Thinking of the present Generation, it is in despair of being regarded. For who will engage in this dry, dull Study.? Yet Mr Otis laboured in it. He asserted and proved that it was only a Reinforcement of the System of Sir Josiah Child, which Gee approved in all things, and even quoted with Approbation the most Offensive Passage in his Book, the Scurrilous Reflections on Virginia and Barbadoes.
Another Writer produced by Mr Otis, was “Memoirs and Considerations, concerning the Trade and Revenues of the British Colonies in America; with Proposals for rendering those Colonies more beneficial to Great Britain.” By John Ashley Esqr. This Book is in the Same Spirit and System of Josiah Child and Joshua Gee. Mr Otis also quoted Postlethwait. But I can quote no more.
If any Man of the present Age can read these Authors and not feel his “Feelings, Manners and Principles” Shocked and insulted, I know not of what Stuff he is made. All I can Say is that I read them all in my Youth, and that I never read them without being Set on fire.
I will however transcribe one Passage from Ashley painfull as it is. In page forty One, he Says “The Laws now in being for the regulation of the Plantation Trade, viz, the 14 of Charles the Second. Chapter 11. Sect. 2. 3. 9. 10; 7 and 8 William 3. Chapter 22. Sect. 5. 8; 6. George the 2nd. Chapter 13, are very well calculated; were they put in execution as they ought to be, would in a great measure put an end to the mischiefs here complained of: If the Several Officers of the Customs would See that all Entries of Sugar, Rum and Molasses, were made conformable to the directions of those Laws; and let every Entry of Such Goods distinguish expressly, what are of British Grouth and produce, and what are of foreign Grouth and Produce; and let the whole Cargo of Sugar, Penneles, Rum, Spirits, Molasses and Syrup, be inserted at large in the Manifest and Clearances of every Ship or Vessel under Office Seal, or be liable to the same Duties and Penalties, as such Goods of foreign Growth are liable to:” “This would very much balk the Progress of those who carry on this illicit Trade, and be agreeable and advantageous to all fair Traders.—
“And to all Skippers and Masters of Boats in all the Plantations, should give some reasonable security, not to take in any such Goods of Foreign Growth from any Vessel not only duly entered at the Custom-house, in order to land the same, or put the same on Board anyother Ship or Vessel, without a Warrant or sufferance from a proper Officer.—”
But you must be fatigued with quotations, and so / is your Friend

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Rufus King, 29 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: King, Rufus

Dear Sir
Quincy July 29 1818

Your kind letter of th 12th has greatly obliged me. I had read the Speech before in the public papers and now again more than once, and always with great Satisfaction. It is a Master Piece of a Master Spirit. As far as my information goes and Memory recollets, I have not Seen So accurate and judicious So comprehensive and concise a View of the important Subject.
I admire the Wisdom which dictated your “caution in alluding to the differences that have existed between our political Parties.”
With you, I am astonished at the late rapid Growth of a National Character; a Plant So feeble in its origin, for a long course of Years So Slow in its Growth and So little cultivated.
For a long course of Years, I have almost despaired of the Policy of Themistocles, of Colbert, De Witt and Cromwell, or even of Queen Elizabeth in this Country.
Nothing has wouded my Soul So deeply as to See the Opposition that I have Seen in Massachusetts, and even in the Town of Marblehead to a National Navy.
I have never dared, and I dare not now, to look forward to future Events in America. Your Assurances of Union revive me. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to communicate freely with you on these Subjects: but Mr Adisons faulty figure of the “expiring flame of the dying lamp” is the Emblem of your most / humble Servant and real Friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mordecai M. Noah, 31 July 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Noah, Mordecai M.

Sir
Quincy July 31. 1818

Accept my best thanks for, your polite and obliging favour of the 24th. and especially for the discourse inclosed. I know not when I have read a more liberal or a more elegant Composition.
You have not extended your Ideas of the Right of private Judgement and the Liberty of Conscience both in Religion and Phylosophy farther than I do. Men are limited only by Morals and Property.
I have had occation to be acquainted with Several Gentlemen of your Nation and to transact Buisiness with some of them, whom I found to be Men of as liberal Minds, as much honor Probity, Generosity and good Breeding, as any I have known in any Sect of Religion or Phylosophy
I wish your nation may be admitted to all the Privileges of Citizens in every Country of the World.—This Country has done much I wish it may do more; and annull every narrow Idea in Religion Government and Commerce.— Let the Wits yoke; the Phylosophers sneer.! What then? It has pleased the Providence of the first Cause, the Universal Cause, that Abraham should give Religion not only to Hebrews but to Christians and Mahomitans, the greatest Part of the mordern civilized World.
I am, Sir, though a Stranger, with much Esteem, / your humble and obliged Servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Moses Lloyd Hill, 3 August 1818
From: Hill, Moses Lloyd
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Raleigh August 3d 1818

				Yours of the 19th ulto. I have had the honor to receive. I thank you, for the permission you have so politely granted me of dedicating my work to you. I am making arrangements for the printing, and shall take the earliest opportunity of forwarding you a copy.—In compliance with your request, I have the pleasure to state to you that we are descended from the same Ancester, Mr. Henry Adams, who setted in Massachusetts about the time of the first emigration to this Country. My maternal Grandfather was the late Thomas Adams, of Medfield; with whom I believe you were acquainted. This connexion I ascertained by a genealogical table in the possession of Elijah Adams Esq, of Medfield; and altho’ distant, I esteem myself highly honored by it.Allow me Sir, to Ask of  you information which, I believe it is in the power of no man living, except yourself to give. The proseedings of the last Congress, and some publications which have Appeared since, have excited a very considerable interest in the minds of many relative to Genl St. Clair. Whether he is highly deserving of the attentions of Government, and the gratitude of this generation, is a question which I believe you can answer. In the summer of 1813, in Philadelphia, I fell in company with the celebrated Hugh Henry Brackenridge. He was shortly to set out on the Circuit of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, for Pittsburgh and invited me to a seat in his carriage. As I had proposed to myself to travel in the mail-stage, I accepted his offer. We passed through Carlisle, the late residence of Judge Brackenridge, where I had an opportunity of gratifying my curiosity, by a view of the barracks (by the bye, the only substantial & well planned buildings of this sort in the United States) which I believe were erected under your administration. When we arrived within about 70 miles of Pittsburgh, Judge Brackenridge told me we should soon meet with an adventure which if not gratifying to my feelings, would excite my admiration. We descended one of the most lofty pinnacle of the Allegany, and at length drove up to a cottage, the exterior of which told us that poverty dwelt within. A tall and venerable old man, upon whose head more than seventy winters “had snowed their whiteness” came out to welcome his visitors. “This” said Judge Brackenridge, “is Genl. St Clair” Conceive my surprize at this unexpected interview. To meet this man whom, in my childhood, I had been taught to esteem as a benefactor to this Country, among the lofty precipices of the Allegany, secluded from society, steeped in the bitterest cup of poverty, and without a friend to relieve him was almost too much for my feelings. There is something grand in the contemplation of fallen greatness, and I forgot the awful majesty of the surrounding scenery, in surveying the hero, reduced to indigence and misery. The General enjoyed tolerable bodily health for as man of his years, but his mind had received a wound, that none but his Creator can heal. He talked of but little else than his last expedition against the indians, read to us various parts of the defence of his conduct, and complained much of his Country’s ingratitude.—Seeing me in a military dress (being at that time   in the army) he enquired my rank—“Young man,” said he. “I was once as you are, you see what I am now—beware! the sea you navigate is full of shoals and hidden rocks. In youth provide for old age, and neither trust to individuals nor the cane security for the rewards of your labors.” We left him, and I could not but pity his misfortunes. Whether they are the result of his own conduct or not. I beg you would inform me. If he deserved not the countenance of the government, farther than they gave it him, let his frailties find a more calm retreat in oblivion, than he does in his old age; and if the United States have been ungrateful to him, let him while he lives, have the gratification of knowing that some kind hand will defend his memory from aspersion.I have the honor to be, with profound respect / and esteem, your obliged, humble / Servant.

					M. L. Hill


Title: To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., 4 August 1818
From: Tudor, William, Sr.
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Boston 4th. Augst. 1818

				My Son William who is residing in the Country for Confirmation of his Health says among other Things in a letter of the 1st. instant“I wish very much when you write to President Adams that you would ask him for his Opinion about the Suggestion I made him in my Letter of the 4th. of July. I told him I had long thought of undertaking to write the Life of James Otis, towards which his Letters had drawn so much general Interest, but that I could not venture to do it without his approbation, as most of the Materials would be furnished by him, & I should wish to republish his Letters in the form of an Appendix. Perhaps he has forgotten it, but as I cannot imagine that there was any Thing in my Proposal to offend him, I wish you would mention it to him that I may know his Opinion on the Subject. He will no doubt tell you what he thinks of it.”Your last Letter is of the 30th. July & the Printer is importunate to get it. But I must first be satisfied that I shall get another, that shall state those Truths which “must & will & ought to appear.” And no Truths that come from your Pen will be questioned by the Public who read & Listen with uncommon Satisfaction to whatever you think fit to communicate that conduces to illustrate the History of this first of Countries in all the senses of the Word. I am most truly / your obliged & Affectionate Friend

					Wm Tudor


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 6 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir
Quincy August 6th 1818

“Mid the low murmurs of submissive fear and mingled rage my Hambden raised his Voice, & and to the Laws appealed.”
Mr. Otis had reasoned like a Philosopher upon the Navigation Acts and upon all the tyranical Acts of Charles the Second but when he came to the Revenue Laws, the Orator blazed out Poor King William! If thy Spirit whether in Heaven of elswhere heard James Otis, it must have blushed. A Statholder of Holland by Accident or by miracle, vested with a little brief Authority in England, cordially adopting the System of George Downing Josiah Child and Charles the Second for the total destruction of that Country to which he owed his Existence and all his Power and importance in the World! And what was Still worse, joining in the conspiracy, with Such worthy Characters to enslave all  Colonies in Europe Asia and America and indeed all Nations, to the omnipotence of the British Parliament & its Royal Navy.
The Act of Parliament of the seventh and Eighth of King William the third was produced Chapter 22d “An Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade” I wish I could transcribe this whole statute, and that which preceeds it “An Act for the Encouragement of Seamen.” But who would read them? Yet it behoves our young and old yeoman Mechanics and Labourers Phylosophers, Politicians, Legislators, and Merchants to read them. However tedious and painfull it may be for you to read them or me to transcribe any part of these dull Statutes, We must endure the Task, or we shall never Understand the American Revolution. Recollect and listen to the Preamble of this Statute of the 7th and 8th of William the 3d. Chapter 22nd:
  “Whereas, notwithstanding diverse Acts made for the Encouragement of the Navigation of this Kingdom, and for the better Securing and “regulating the Plantation Trade, more especially One Act of Parliament made in the 12th Year of the Reign of the late King Charles the 2d. entitled An Act for the increasing of shipping and Navigation, Another Act made in the 15th year of the Reign of his said late Majesty, entitled An Act for the Encouragement of Trade, Another Act made in the 22d & 23d years of his Said late Majesty’s Reign, entitled, An Act to prevent the planting of Tobacco in England, and for regulation of the Plantation Trade, another Act made in the 25th year of the Reign of his said late Majesty entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of the Greenland and Eastland Fisheries, and for the better securing the Plantation Trades, great Abuses are daily committed, to the Prejudice of the English Navigation, and the loss of a great Part of the  Trade to this Kingdom by the Artifice and cunning of ill disposed Persons: for Remedy whereof for the future” &c.
Will you be so good Sir, as to pause a moment on this Preamble? To what will you liken it? Does it resemble a great, rich powerful West India Planter, Alderman Beckford for example, preparing and calculating and writing Instructions for his Overseers “You are to have no regard to the Health Strength Comfort, natural Affections or moral Feelings or intellectual Endowments of my Negroes. You are only to consider What Subsistance to allow them and what Labour to exact of them will Subserve my Interest. According to the most accurate Calculation I can make the proportion of Subsistence and labour which will work them up, in six years upon an Average, is the most profitable to the Planter.” “And this Allowance, surely is very humane; for we estimate here, the lives of our Coal–heavers upon an average at only two years and our fifty thousand Girls of the Town at three years at most.” “And our Soldiers and Seamen, at, no matter what”
Is there Mr Tudor, in this Preamble, or in any Statute of Great Britain, in the whole Book, the smallest Consideration of the Health the Comfort, the Happiness, the wealth, the Growth the Population the Agriculture the Manufactures, the Commerce the Fisheries of the American People? All these Things are to be sacrificed to British Wealth, British Commerce British Domination, and the British Navy, as the great Engine and Instrument to accomplish all. To be sure, they were apt Scholars of their Master Tacitus whose fundamental and universal Principle of Phylosophy, Religion, Morality and Policy, was that all Nations and all things were to be sacrificed to the Grandeur of Rome. Oh! My Fellow Citizens that I had the Voice of an Arch Angel to warn you against these detestable Principles! The World was not made for you. You were made for the world. Be content with your own Rights. Never usurp those of others. What would be the Merit, and the fortune of a Nation that should never do or suffer Wrong?
The Purview of this Statute was, in the same spirit with the Preamble. Pray read it! Old as you are; you are not so old as I am; and I assure you I have conquered my natural impatience so far as to read it again, after almost sixty years acquaintance with it, in all its horrid deformity.
Every Artifice is employed to ensure a rigorous, a severe a cruel execution of this system of Tyrany. The Religion, the Morality, of all Plantation Governors, of all Naval Commanders of all Custom house Officers, if they had any, and all men have some; were put in requisition by the most solemn oaths; Their Ambition was inlisted by the forfeiture of their offices; the avarice was secured by the most tempting Penalties and Forfeitures, to be divided among them. Fine Picking to be sure! Even the lowest, the basest Informers were to be made Gentlemen of Fortune!
I must transcribe one section of this detestable Statute, & leave you to read the rest. I can transcribe no more.
The sixth section of this benign Law, of our glorious Deliverer King William, is as follows.
Section 6 “And for the more effectual preventing of Frauds, and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade in America, be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that all ships coming into or going out of any of  our the said Plantations, and lading, or unlading any Goods or Commodities, whether the same be His Majesty’s Ships of War, or Merchants Ships & the Masters & commanders thereof & their ladings, shall be subject and liable to the same Rules, Visitations, Searches Penalties and Forfeitures, as to the entering lading or discharging their respective ships and Ladings as ships & their Ladings, and the Commanders and Masters of ships, are subject and Liable unto in this Kingdom, by virtue of an act of Parliament made in the fourteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the second entitled an Act for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses in His Majesty’s Customs: And that the officers for collecting and managing His Majesty’s Revenue, and inspecting the Plantation Trade, and in any of the said Plantations, shall have the same Powers and authorities for visiting  of ships, and taking their Entries and for seizing and securing or bringing on Shore any of the Goods prohibited to be imported  into or out of any the said Plantations, or  which any duties are payable or ought to have been paid by any of the before mentioned Acts, as are provided for the Officers of the Customs in England by the said last mentioned Act made in the fourteenth year of the Reign of King Charles the second, and also to enter Houses or Warehouses, to search for and seize any such Goods and that all the Wharfingers and Owners of Keys and Wharfs, or any Lightermen, Bargemen, Watermen Porters or other Persons assisting in the Conveyance, concealment or Rescue of any of the said Goods, or in the hindering or resistance of any of the said officers in the Performance of their Duty, and the Boats Barges, Lighters or other Vessels employed in the conveyance of such goods, shall be subject to the like Pains and Penalties as are provided by the same Act made in the fourteenth year of the Reign of King Charles the second in relation to prohibited and uncustomed Goods in this Kingdom, and that the “like Assistance” shall be given to the said officers in the execution of their Office as by the said last Act is provided for the Officers in England; and also that the said Officers shall be subject to the same Penalties & Forfeitures, for any Corruptions, Frauds, Connivances, or Concealments, in violation of any the before mentioned Laws, as any officers of the Customs in England are liable to by virtue of the said last mentioned Act; and also that in case any Officer or Officers in the Plantations shall be sued or molested for anything done in the Execution of their office, the said Officer shall and may plead the General Issue, and shall give this or other Custom Acts in Evidence & the judge to allow thereof, have and enjoy the like Privileges * Advantages, as are allowed by Law to the Officers of his Majestys Customs in England.”
This is the second and  last time, I believe that the word “Assistance” is employed in any of these statutes. But the words “Writs of Assistance” were no where to be found; in no statute, no Law Book, no Volume of Entries Neither in Rastall, Coke, or Fittzherbert nor even in Instructor Claricatis or Burns Justice. Where then was it to be found? No where but in the Imagination or Invention of Boston Custom house Officers, Royal Governors, West India Planters or Naval Commanders.
Could it be pretended that the Superior Court of Judicature Court of Assize and General Goal Delivery in the Province of Massachusetts Bay had all the Powers of the Court of Exchequer in England & consequently could issue Warrants like his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer in England? No Custom House Officer dared to say this or to instruct his Counsel to say it. It is true this court was invested with all the Powers of the Kings Bench Common Pleas & Exchequer in England but this was by a Law of the Province made by the Provincial Legislature by Virtue of the Powers Vested in them by the charter.
Otis called and called in vain for their Warrant from “his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer,” Hutchinson himself They had none & they could have none from England and they dared not say that Hutchinson Court, was “His Majestys Court of Exchequer.” Hutchinson himself dared not say it, The Principle would have been fatal to Parliamentary Pretensions.
It was indeed a Farce. The Crown by its agents accumulated Construction upon Construction and Inference upon Inference, as the Giants heaped Pelion upon Ossa. I hope it is not impious or prophane to compare Otis to Ovids Jupiter. But “Misso fulmine perfregit Olympum, et excussit Subjecto Pelio Ossam” He dashed this whole Building to Pieces and scattered the pulverised Atoms to the four Winds and no Judge, Lawyer or Crown Officer dared to say Why do you so. They were all reduced to total Silence.
In plain English by cool patient comparasons of Phraseology of these Statutes, their several Provisions, the dates of their Enactments the Privaleges of our charters the merits of the Colonists &c he shewed the Pretensions to introduce the revenue Acts & this arbitrary and mechanical Writ of Assistance as an Instrument for the execution of them to be so irrational; by his Wit he represented the attempt as so ludicrous and rediculous & by his dignified Reprobation of so impudent an Attemp to impose on the People of America; he raised such a storm of Indignation Hutchinson, who had been appointed on purpose to sanction this Writ dared not utter a Word in its favour, and Mr Gridley himself seemed to me to exult inwardly at the Glory and tryumph of his Pupil.
This, I am sure must be enough, at this time and from this Text, to fatigue you, as it is more than enough to Satisfy / Your most obedient &c
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from James Madison, 7 August 1818
From: Madison, James
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Montpellier Aug. 7. 1818

				On my return two days ago from a Meeting appointed to report to the Legislature of the State a proper Scite for a University, I found your obliging favor of July 22. with its inclosed copies of Docr. Mayhews Sermon. I have read with pleasure this symbol of the political tone of thinking at the period of its original publication. The author felt the strength of his argument, and has given a proof of his own.Your remark is very just on the subject of Independence. It was not the offspring of a particular man, or a particular moment. If Mr. Wirt be otherwise understood in his life of Mr. Henry, I can not but suppose that his intention has been not clearly expressed, or not sufficiently scrutinized. Our forefathers brought with them the germ of Independence in the principle of self-taxation. Circumstances unfolded & perfected it.The first occasion which aroused this principle was, if I can trust my recollection, the Projected Union at Albany in 1754, when the proposal of the Brit: Govt. to reimburse its advances for the Colonies by a parliamentary tax on them, was met by the letter from Dr. Franklin to Govr. Shirley, pointing out the unconstitutionality the injustice, and the impolicy of such a tax.The opposition & discussions produced by the Stamp and subsequent acts of Parliament, mark another stage in the growth of Independence. The attempts to distinguish between Legislation on the subject of taxes, and on other subjects, terminated in the disclosure that no such distinction existed.And these combats against the arrogated authority of the British Legislature paved the way for burying in the same grave with it, the forfeited authority of the British KingIf the merit of Independence as declared in 1776 is to be traced to individuals, it belongs to those who first meditated the glorious measure, who were ablest in contending for it, and who were the most decided in supporting it. Future times will be disposed to apportion this merit justly, and the present times ought to bequeath the means for doing it, unstained with the unworthy feelings you so properly deprecate. Be pleased, Sir, to accept renewed assurances of my / great esteem & best wishes.

					James Madison


Title: From John Adams to Seventy-Six Association, 8 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Seventy-Six Association

Gentlemen
Quincy Aug 8. 1818

I thank you for your favour of 24th: July & the oration enclosed. The respected name of the orator excited high expectations which upon repeated perusals have not been disappointed
To point out the beauties of this composition would be to transcribe it but the animated Eulogium on the Heroes of the last war by sea & by land made the deepest impression on my head and heart.
Allow me to present you a production of Massts I shall not make a comparrison least I should be suspected of partiality for South Carolina
Thatt Mr: Pinkney and Mr: Everett will meet hereafter in the service of their country I doubt not. That they may be cordial friends in support of the Union prosperity and Solid glory of their country is the sincere Wish and hope of Gentlemen
Your most obliged & humble Servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 August 1818
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

Dear and respected Sir!
Olden barneveld 8 Aug. 1818.

What an era has elapsed Since I was not gratified with one Single line from Montezillo! more than three mounths—and yet now, and then I amuse my Self—in reading again the Last Letters, with which I was honoured by you and mrs Adams—of march 10 and Apr. 28. Yet I am pleased to Suppose that health, remains your Share—otherwise I Should have been informed of it. Was I not fully persuaded, I Shall not be forgotten by Them, who favoured me with their affectionate regards—during Such a number of years! I Should hesitate—to write again—as I knew—I can nothing communicate very interesting—except my unabated attachment is So considered—My health Seemed to have been Somewhat impaired by three months hard work in my garden—So that my Strenght was nearly exhausted—and my appetite entirely gone—but Since four weeks I called to my aid—Some Nitric acid, and a fourfold dozes of bark and Steel—and, ere long, I expect that my vigour Shall be renewed—My gardens look Charming and the vegetables—numerous and Superior—So that I am well rewarded—but Since May, I was compelled, to lay the Records aside—which task I hope to resume ere Long. I completed one vol—about 460 pag. in Folio—
That my Dear Frend! enjoys health—otium cum dignitate—I concluded—from his many Published Letters—in the Utica—Albany—Baltimore papers—to Parthiam—Medes—Elamites &c—I mean to Le Raÿ—George—Brinley mr Wirt—Niles. What a gratification would I have received—had I met a Similar Letter—on any historical Subject—Say—James Otis—addressed—to the Olden barneveld Recluse—Then the wise folks in the neighbourhood might begin to Suspect—that He must be Something more than they knew—being taken notice of him in Such a public manner. If it is Sin to foster the ambitious wish—laudari a Laudato viro—I plead guilty.
I thank you once more cordially, now I have perused—these—for the Third—vol. Part. i & ii of the Transactions—I have often made Similar experiments with mr. Webster on the Dew—and am Satisfied, generallÿ, about their correctness—although a few experiments more might have developed the whole truth. How long did the prejudice was embraced—that all Dew was distilled from the clouds? but was not the Same the case with the manna, before its discoverÿ of being a gum. I was pleased Kindall’s account of the Dighton rock P. 165 and his proposal for removing it (Pag. 191) to the manner of its removal by Sawing might be added that of Splitting—as is often put in practise in Germany and France—to obtain mill-Stones—or Splitting large rocks—by driving wooden wedges—thoroughly dried by the fire, So that all the humidity is exhausted—I Should not be Surprised, if by a more rigid examination—from this—the inscriptions mentioned by Pallas on the Genesei River—it was found—that all these had the Same origins—and did belong to the Same hordes; then Judge Davies attempt to explain—it would acquire yet greater plausibility. Do you possess Morel’s  fictin poem on N. England? Is the whole equal to the two lines—inserted Pag. 202? Do you possess it?
Could I now add one Single line—to pay you for the trouble of the perusal of this—except you kindly deem it So, when I renew my assurance of my high Sense—of the many kindnesses bestowed upon me—I Should be Satisfied—May I Suppose, that you—wer unacquainted with the endeavours of the N. Engl. men to make a Settlement above Albany, in which they failed, to interupt the fur trade of the Dutch Boers—about the middle of the 17th century—that a Free-intercourse with foreign Nations was not lawfully established in N. Engl. in 1660—although encouraged by the Dutch—that N-England taxed itself in 1661—and Spread the Same principles in N. Netherland. But I may do So freely—that the Dutch about 1660 Send Seeds—plants—and Herbarums—to encourage the beginning of a—Botanic garden—that they established Pot-ash and Salt works—at the Same time—and created a fund for a Latin School at N. Amsterdam—and Engaged a Learned Professor of Lithuania, Crobus, to instruct the youth in that Language.
Permit me now to recommend me in your continued remembrance and I remain—with high respect / your affectionate and obliged frend!

Fr Adr. vanderkemp

P.S. Set me a right, when I am wrong, I Supposed, that L.L.D. was the highest privilege bestowed upon men of Supereminent deserves—I See Since—that it is given to clergy men—Physicians &c—was this practise followed with D.D. Should not one of the Sons of Aaron, kindled by wholy zeal, ejaculate—"Throw not the pearls to the Swine"!


Title: To John Adams from John Warren, 8 August 1818
From: Warren, John
To: Adams, John

					   Boston, August 8th 1818.—

				 Dr Warren presents his best respects to President Adams; and has taken the liberty of enclosing a sketch of the life of General Joseph Warren, for the President’s perusal.—He would also take the liberty of requesting the President to make any alterations or additions, which he may judge necessary or proper.—


Title: To John Adams from William Eustis, 10 August 1818
From: Eustis, William
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir,
					Boston August 10th: 1818:

				Among the first objects of my intention on my arrival in this country was that of paying my respects to you. From causes not under my controul I have been dissappointed, and now I am called to make a melancholy visit to new Hampshire. On my return I hope to be gratified, and am in the mean time with the greatest respect, / your obedient Servant

					William Eustis.


Title: To John Adams from Joseph Milligan, 10 August 1818
From: Milligan, Joseph
To: Adams, John

					Dear sir
					Georgetown August 10th 1818

				At the request of Mr Jacob Gideon Jr: printer of Washington I have Sent you a copy of a new Edition of The Federalist which he has just printed & published; I have bound it and we beg that you will accept the book as a mark of the esteem we have for your public & private character

					Joseph Milligan;for Jacob Gideon Jr& for himself


Title: To John Adams from John Thornton Kirkland, 12 August 1818
From: Kirkland, John Thornton
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir,
					Harvard College 12 Augt 1818.

				Mr. Boylston in his institution of prizes for elocution at our University has appointed as follows viz“The Corporation shall in each & every year select five gentlemen, who have been themselves distinguished for their elocution particularly, either at the bar, in the pulpit or in the Senate, who, together with the Corporation or a major part of them shall be the judges of the elocution of the competitors & shall award the prizes:—The Hon. John Adams, & his son the Hon. John Quincy Adams, as the relatives of the Founder, shall be considered during their lives (when resident in this state at the time) members of the Board of Judges, & a less number may at such times be selected accordingly.”Agreeably to this Institution of Mr. Boylston, I mention to you that the exhibition is to take place the day after Commencement in the meeting-house at Cambridge at ten oC. A.m. to continue an hour & a half, & that the Judges viz the Corporation Hon J. Adams, Hon H G. Otis, Hon. Jos. Quincy Revd W. Gordon & Professor Frisbie are requested to meet on friday of this week at the Philosophy Room at 4. oC. P.M;—Mr Prof Frisbie is appointed under the condition that the Secretary of State shall take his place if in the Commonwealth at the time.—The Corporation ask you to dine at the College rooms on friday as above at two oC.—It will give us great pleasure, venerable friend, to find you present, if you shall think it will not be too fatiguing—or if you Shall not be at the exhibition, if you can join us at the previous meeting of the Committee Board of Judges, who on friday, who are to be together to agree upon preliminaries & rules of proceeding, we shall be glad. With the greatest respect / & regard, I have the honor to / be, Dear Sir / Your most obt Servt

					John T. Kirkland


Title: To John Adams from John T. Watson, 12 August 1818
From: Watson, John T.
To: Adams, John

					Honoured Sir,
					Germantown 12 Augt 1818—

				I felt myself too much gratified with the receipt of your letter, not to have been Very thankful for the polite manner of your reply. I had not thought to have trespassed more upon your attention, although I felt a wish to express a few sentiments in reply return: but reflecting now, that a few moments may be sufficient for you to run over these lines, & there being no occasion in them for your writing to me again, I have ventured once more to impose myself upon your notice—I frankly confess myself ill informed respecting the american Revolution—It was in part the consciousness of this, & the paucity of facts to be referred to in books, that has made me more than once deplore the difficulty of attaining such knowledge as a love of historical truth, led me to covet; this influenced me in part to presume to stimulate you to leave us your testimony of personal & political Events—Sir I was only born at the termination of the Revolution & can therefore know nothing of Public men & measures but by report.Your good opinion, made me desirous to remove a misconception concerning me—I can heartily concur with you, from a deep sense of the fact, that we have an “ignorant biggotted attachment to Great Britain still”—I have witnessed this again & again, with concern & shame: but I had believed nevertheless, that during the War of the Revolution, many acts of the British were exaggerated, for the purpose of exciting popular indignation & the prompter services of the people. This I have regarded as a common practice of combattants—I had supposed the British had too many motives to assay to conciliate the affections of a part of the people & to endeavour to divide us by affected moderation, than to have carried on War in all that sanguinary manner, which it has some times been the practice of some Demagogue Orators to assert they did—Respecting some of these alledged cases of extreme savage warfare, I thought you must have Known many facts to the contrary—That they all felt at heart a most sovereign contempt for us  as “rebels” I have no doubt—Sir, I do assure you, however you may think it an herculean or needless task to leave to posterity some of your observations, you may usefully employ your pen with very little trouble to yourself—The very sentiment which I have just been discussing amply proves this. I actually regard it as a great declaration from your Pen: “that there has been an ignorant bigotted attachment of the People towards Great Britain & that it is not now half destroyed”. The Public prejudice I am conscious, has not allowed such sentiments to have been yours—Whether you will write for the Public, or not, the Public will be sure to write respecting you: & how very much, Your own opinions, even if written on fragments of paper, or isolated in your various correspondence, may inform the Public mind I will leave you to judge. These opinions whether wrote with aphoretical point, or oracular brevity, cannot fail to gratify the Public & to benefit society—Your Son who wrote the tour in Silecia has the faculty, which could make the world an interesting Posthumous work, from such aphoretical materials—Pardon me Sir, for my ardour in a cause, which I am well aware some dull minds, would scout as trifling—I am thankful I am capable of such emotions—I confess to you, I felt my mind deeply affected to read from such a man as you “that your life on retrospection appears a dull dreary unfruitful waste”—such a declaration from one who has made “the most of life” would furnish fine subject for the moralist—Is this indeed the view of greatness! “And is this all”? cry’d Ceasar at his height disgusted”!. . . “The first in famesham’d at the disproportion vast, betweenThe passions, & the purchase, he will sighAt such success, and blush at his renown.”This how like Napoleons Egyptian letter to his brother: “buy me a Retreat—I am weary of renown—at the age of 30 I have exhausted every thing”!Revelations has exposed the Cause—of our dissatisfaction—and Wise is he who credits its Report—it forced me to regard you as on the utmost verge of life & made me sigh an involuntary wish, that your immortality might be more glorious.  Your words forced me to the remembrance of another Patriarch, beautifully & pathetically expressd  “Few & sorrowful are the days of the years of the life of thy servant”! I pray you to bear with me as a young man who cherishes the sensibilities of a generous nature, not yet blunted or obliterated by the sense, that there are evil men of Bactian minds obtuse who will not tolerate what they have never felt—I am Sir most respectfully / Yr very obedt

					John T Watson

   there is also another noticed below


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 16 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir
Quincy August 16th 1818

We cannot yet dismiss this precious statute of the 6th of George the second. Chapter 13.
The second section I must abridge, for I cannot transcribe much more. It enacts that all the Duties imposed by the first section, shall be paid down in ready Money by the Importer, before landing.
The third section must be transcribed by me or some other Person because it is the most arbitrary among Statutes that where all arbitrary, the most unconstitutional among Laws which where all unconstitutional.
“Section third. And it be further enacted, that in case any of the said Commodities shall be landid or put on shore in any of his Majesty’s said Colonies or Plantations in America, out of any Ship or Vessel, before due Entry be made thereof at the Port or Place where the same shall be imported, & before the Duties by this Act charged or chargeable thereupon shall be duly paid, or without a Warrant for the landing & delivering the same first signed by the Collector or Impost Officer, or other proper Officer or Officers of the Custom or Excise belonging to such Port or Place respectively, all such Goods as shall be so landed or put on shore, or the Value of the same, shall be forfeited; & all & every such Goods as shall be so landed or put on Shore, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, shall & may be seized by the Governor or Commander in Chief for the Time being, of the Colonies or Plantations where the same shall be so landed or put on Shore, or any Person or Persons by them authorized in that behalf, or by Warrant of any Justice of the Peace or other Magistrate (which Warrant such Justice or Magistrate is hereby impowered & required to give upon Request) or by any Customhouse Officer, Impost or Excise Officer, or any Person or Persons him or them accompanying aiding & assisting: and all & every such Offence & Forfeitures shall & may be prosecuted for & recovered in any Court of Admiralty in his Majesty’s Colonies or Plantations in America (which Court of Admiralty is hereby authorized, impowered & required to proceed to hear & finally determine the same) or in any Court of Record in the said Colonies or Plantations where such offence is committed, at the Election of the Informer or Prosecutor, according to the Course & Method used & practiced there in Prosecutions for Offences against penal Laws relating to Customs or Excise; & such Penalties & Forfeitures so recovered there, shall be divided as follows; viz. One third Part for the use of his Majesty, his Heirs & Successors, to be applied for the Support of the Government of the Colony or Plantation where the same shall be recovered; one third Part to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the said Colony or Plantation, and the other third Part to the Informer or Prosecutor who shall sue for the same.”
“Section 5 contains the Penalties on Persons assisting in Such unlawful Importation
“Section 6. Fifty Pound Penalty on molesting officer in his duty. Officer if sued may plead the General Issue. Fifty Pound Penalty, on officer conniving at such fraudulent Importation
“Section 7. One hundred Pound Penalty, on Master of Ship &c permitting such Importation..
“Sect 8 The onus probandi in suits to lie on the owners.
“Sect 12. Charge of Prosecution to be borne out of the Kings Part of seizures Forfeitures and Penalties.”
George the Second was represented & believed in America to be an honest well meaning Man: and although he consented to this statute and others which he thought sanctioned by his Predecessors, especially King William, yet it was reported and understood that he had uniformly resisted the Importunities of Ministers Governors Planters and Projectors, to induce him to extend the system of Taxation & Revenue in America by saying that “He did understand the Colonies, he wished their Prosperity. They appeared to be happy at present & he would not consent to any Innovations the Consequences of which he could not foresee.”
Solomon in all his Glory could not have said a Wiser Thing. If George the third had adopted this Sentiment, what would now be the State of the World? Who can tell? or who can conjecture?
The Question now was concerning the designs of a new Reign? And of a young Prince. This young King had now adopted the whole System of his Predecessors, Stewarts, Oranges and Hanoverians, and determined to carry it into Execution, right or wrong; and that by the most tyranical Instruments that ever were invented Writts of Assistance. What hope remained for an American, who knew, or imagined he knew, the  Character of the American People? To borrow a French Word so many Reminiscences rush Upon me that I know not which to Select and must return, for the present to Mr Otis. By what Means this young inexperienced King was first tempted by his Ministers, to enter with so much Spirit into this System, may be here after explained.
Mr Otis analysed this Statute 6.G.3.C.13 with great Accuracy. His Calculations, may be made by any modern Mathematician who will take the pains. How much Molasses for Example was then subject to this Tax. supose a million Gallons, which is far less than the Truth. Six Pence a Gallon was full one half of the Value of the Article. It was sold at market for one Shilling, and I have known a Cargo purchased at a Pistareen. The Duties on a million Gallons, would then be two hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling a year. A Fund amply sufficient,  and more than sufficient  to pay all the Salaries of all the Governors upon the Continent and all the Judges of Admiralty too. Mr King formerly of Massachusetts now of New York, in a late luminous and masterly Speech, in Senate page 18, inform us, from sure Sources that “We import annually upwards of Six million Gallons of West India Rum.” The Lord have mercy on us! “more than half of which comes from the English Colonies! We also import every year, nearly seven millions of Gallons of Molasses; and as every Gallon of Molasses, yeilds by distillation a Gallon of Rum, the Rum imported, added to that distilled from Molasses, is probably equal to Twelve Millions of Gallons, which enormous quantity is chiefly consumed by Citizens of the United States” Again, I devoutly pray, the Lord have mercy on us!
But calculate the Revenue at this day from this Single Act of George the Second. It would be sufficient to bribe, any nation less knowing and less virtuous than the People of America, to the voluntary Surrender of all their Liberties.—
Mr Otis Asserted this to be a Revenue Law; a taxation Law; an unconstitutional Law; a Law Subversive of every End of Society and Government; it was null and void—It was a violation of all the Charters and Compacts with the Colonies; and if carried into Execution by Writts of Assistance and Courts of Admiralty would destroy all security of Life, Liberty, and Property. Subjecting all these Laws to the Jurisdiction of Judges of Admiralty, poor dependent Creatures; to the forms and Course of the Civil Laws without Juries or any of the open noble Examinations of Witnesses or Publically of proceedings, was capping the Clymax; was clenching the Nail of American Slavery.
Mr Otis roundly asserted that this Statute and the preceeding Statutes never could be executed. The whole Power of Great Britain would be ineffectual, and by a bold figure which will now be thought Extra Exageration, he declared that if the King of Great Britain in Person were incamped on Boston Common at the head of twenty Thousand men, with all his Navy on our Coast, he would not be able to execute their Laws. They would be resisted or eluded.
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Charles G. Haines, 18 August 1818
From: Haines, Charles G.
To: Adams, John

					Hon. Sir,
					New York 18. Aug. 1818.

				I take the liberty of sending you my pamphlet concerning the Great Western Canal, written at the request of the New York Corresponding Association for the Promotion of Internal Improvements.I cannot but congratulate a Statesman, so distinguished as your yourself, among the Fathers, of our Republic, that you have lived to see the day when your toils, your anxieties, and your sacrifices are repaid, by the unparalleled prosperity and happiness of the Nation to whose existence and welfare you have so largely contributed.With high considerations of respect, / I have the honor to be, / Sir, / Yr. Obt. Servt.

					Chas. G. Haines.


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 20 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir
Quincy August 20. 1818.

Mr: Otis quoted another Author “The political & commercial Works of Charles D’Avenant LLD Vol 2 Discourse 3 on the plantation trade” I cannot transcribe 76 pages but wish that americans of all classes would read them; they are in the same strain with Downing Childs Gee Ashley Charles 2 James 2 William and Mary William the 3rd: Ann, George’s 2nd: & 3rd: All conspiring to make The people of North America Hewers of wood and drawers of water to plantation governors Custom House officers Judges of Admiralty Common Informers West-India planters Naval commanders in the first place And after all these worthy People should be amply supported nourished encouraged & pampered if any thing more could be Squeezed from the hard earnings of the Farmers the merchants the tradesmen & Labourers of in of America it was to be drawn into the exchequer in England to agrandize the British navy.
Mr. O. proceeded to another species of statutes relative to our internal Policy even our domestic manufactures and Fire side comforts I might say our homespun Blanketts & Woolen Sheets so necessary to cover some of us if not all of us in our Slumbers in the long nights of our frozen winters I shall refer to these statutes as they occur without any regard to order and shall not pretend to transcribe any of them. Furs of the Plantation to be brought to Great Britain 8 Geo 1. c 15 ss 24.
Hatts not to be exported from one plantation to another 5 G—2nd: c 22 Hatters not to be      have more than 2 Apprentices 5 Geo. 2 c 22 ss. 7 Slitting mills Steel furnaces &c not to be erected in the plantations 23—G 2. -c 29 ss 9. No wool or woolen Manufacture of the Plantations shall be exported 10 & 11 W 3 c 10 ss 19. Exporting Wool contrary to the regulations Forfeiture of the ship &c 12 Geo 2 c 21 ss 11.
I cannot search for any more of the mincing Laws Mr. Otis alternately laughed & raged against them all. He said one member of parliament had said that a hobnail should not be manufactured in America and another had moved that Americans should be compelled by act of Parliament to send their horses to England to be shod He believed however that this last was a man of sense & meant by this the admirable Irony to cast a ridicule on the whole selfish partial Arbitrary & contracted system of Parliamentary Regulations in A——a.
Another statute there is & was quoted by Mr O by which woll was prohibited to be waterborne in A——a in consequence of which a fleece of wool could not be conveyed in a canooe across a River or a Brook without seizure or forfeiture. But I am wearied to death by digging in this mud with searching among this Trash Chaff Rubbish of Acts of Parliament. If that Parliament which declared it had a right to legislate for us as sovreign absolute and Supreme in all cases whatsoever. But I deny that they ever had any right to legislate for us in any case whatsoever And on this point We are and were at issue before God & the world. These righteous Judges have decided the question & it is melancholy that any Americans should still doubt the equity & wisdom of the decision. Such were the bowells of compassion such the tender mercies of our pious virtuous our moral & religious Mother country towards her most dutiful & affectionate children Such they are still & such they will be till the United States shall compell that country to respect this. To this and poor & destitute as I am I would chearfully contribute double my proportion to of the expence of building & equipping 30 ships of the line before the year 1820. Mr: Otis asserted all these acts to be null & void by the Law of nature by the English laws and by the American charters because A——a was not represented in Parliament. He entered into to the history of the Charters James 1st & Charles 1st: could not be supposed to have ever intended that Parliament more hated by them both than the Pope or the French King should share with them in the government of Colonies & corporations which they had instituted by their Royal prerogatives "Tom Dick & Harry were not to censure them & their counsell.” Pym Hambden Sir Harry Vane & Oliver Cromwell did not surely wish to subdue a Country which they sought as an Assylum to the Arbitrary jurisdiction of a country from which they wished to fly. Charles 2nd: had learnt by the doleful experience that parliaments were not to be wholly despized He therefore endeavoured to associate Parliament with himself in his navigation act and many others of this despotic projects even in that of destroying by this unlimited licentiousness & debauchery the moral characture of the nation. Charles 2nd: courted Parliament as a mistress his successors embraced her as a Wife at least for the purpose of enslaving America Mr: Otis Roundly asserted this whole system of Parliamentary regulations & every act of Parliament before quoted to be illegal Unconstitutional Tyranical null & void Nevertheless with all my admiration of Mr: Otis & enthusiasm for his characture I must admit he was not always consistent in drawing or admitting the necessary consequences from his Principles one of which comprehended them all Viz that Parliament had no Authority over America in any case whatsoever. But at present we must confine ourselves to his principles & Authorities in opposition to the acts of trade and writts of Assistance. These principles I perfectly remember The Authorities in detail I could not be supposed to retain through will recollecting the names Vattel Coke & Holt I might have found them again by a dilligent search. But Mr: Otis himself has saved that trouble by a publication of his own which must be the subject of Another letter from your humble servant.

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Moses Lloyd Hill, 21 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Hill, Moses Lloyd

Sir
Quincy August.—21st 1818

Your first Ancestor in America lies buried in Quincy under a rough North Common Granite.
I lament the hard Case of General Sinclair a Gentleman of Letters Taste and Sense, a Soldier and Scientific Officer, but unfortunate; and you know Success secures Fame and Fortune Sometimes when Merit, without it, cannot.
“Careat Successibus Opto
Quisquis ab eventu, Factu notandu putat” was written in under a Portrait of Oliver Cromwell; but whether it was intended as a Compliment or a Sarcasm I know not.
Any provisions that has been or may be made for the Comfort of the Generals advanced Age, will be very grartifing to me
His advice to you, to look to your own Independence, and trust it to no Individual or Commander Community is founded in eternal Wisdom as well as in the Experience of General Sinclair and your / humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Joseph Milligan, 21 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Milligan, Joseph,Gideon, Jacob, Jr.

Dear Sir
Quincy August 21st 1818

I beg you will accept my thanks for your obliging letter of the 10th & that you will present the name to Mr Jacob Gideon Junr for the present you have sent me of the Federalist which I gratefully accept, as a mark of his, and your esteem; I have not yet recieved the book but presume it is on its way, and will arrive in due time. But should it miscarry your, and Mr Gideons kind intentions will not be less thankfully recieved by his, / and your obliged humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 21 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Sr.

Dear Sir.
Quincy August 21st. 1818

Mr Otis quoted another Author “The political and Commercial Works of Charles D’Avenant, L.L.D. Vol 2. Discourse 3. On the Plantation Trade.” I cannot transcribe Seventy Six Pages, but wish that Americans of all Classes would read them: They are in the Same Strain with Downing; Childs, Gee, Ashley, Charles 2. James 2, William and Mary William The Third Ann, George The Second and George The Third; all conspiring to make The People of North America, Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water, to Plantation Governors Custom House Officers, Judges of Admiralty, Common Informers, West India Planters, Naval Commanders in the first place; And After all these worthy People Should be amply Supported, nourished encouraged and pampered, if any thing more could be Squeezed, from the hard Earnings of The Farmers The Merchants, The Tradesmen and Labourers in America it was to be drawn into the Exchequer in England to Aggrandize the British Navy.
Mr. Otis proceeded to another Species of Statutes, relative to our internal Policy, even our domestic Manufactures and Fire Side Comforts; I might Say Our homespun Blanketts and Woolen Sheets So necessary to cover Some of Us, if not all of Us, in our Slumbers in The long Nights of our frozen Winters. I Shall refer to These Statutes as they Occur without any regard to Order; and Shall not pretend to Transcribe any of them.
“Furs of the Plantations to be brought to Great Britain. 8. Geo. 1. c. 15 Ss. 24.”
“Hatts, not to be exported from one Plantation to another. 5. Geo. 2d. c. 22.”
“Hatters in America, not to have more than two Apprentices. 5. Geo. 2. c. 22. Ss. 7.”
“Slitting Mills, Steel Furnaces &c, not to be erected in the Plantations. 23. Geo. 2. c. 29. Ss. 9.”
“No Wool, or woolen Manufacture of the Plantations Shall be exported. 10 & 11. W. 3. c. 10. Ss. 19.”
“Exporting Wool, contrary to the Regulations, Forfeiture of the Ship. &c 12. Geo. 2. c: 21. Ss. 11.”
I cannot Search for any more, of these, mineing Laws. Mr Otis alternately laughed and raged against them all. He Said One Member of Parliament had Said, that a Hob Nail, Should not be manufactured in America; and another had moved that Americans Should be compelled by Act of Parliament to Send their Horses to England to be Shod. He believed however that this last was a Man of Sense and meant by this admirable Irony, to cast a Ridicule on the whole Selfish partial Arbitrary, and contracted System of Parliamentary Regulations in America.
Another Statute there is, and was quoted by Mr Otis, by which Wool was prohibited to be Waterborne in America: in conseque of which a Fleece of Wool could not be conveyed in a Canoe across a River or a Brook, without Seizure and forfeiture.
But I am wearied to death by digging in this Mud; with Searching among this Trash, Chaff, Rubbish of Acts of Parliament. Of that Parliament which declared it had a Right to Legislate for Us, as Sovereign absolute and Supream in all Cases whatsoever. But I deny that they ever had any Right to Legislate for Us, in any case whatsoever. And on this point We are and were at Issue; before God and the World. These righteous Judges have decided that Question; and it is Melancholly that any Americans Should Still doubt the Equity and Wisdom of the Decision.
Such were the Bowells of Compassion; Such the tender Mercies of our pious virtuous, our moral and Religious Mother Country, towards her most dutifull and Affectionate Children! Such they are Still; and Such they will be, till the United States Shall compell that Country to respect this. To this end, poor and destitute as I am, I would chearfully contribute double my proportion of the Expence of building and equipping Thirty Ships of the Line before the Year 1820.
Mr Otis asserted all these Acts to be null and void by the Law of Nature by the English Constitution and by the American Charters, because America was not represented in Parliament. He entered into the History of the Charters. James the first and Charles the first, could not be Supposed to have ever intended that Parliament, more hated by them both, than the Pope or the French King, Should Share with them in the Government of Colonies and Corporations which they had instituted, by their Royal Prerogatives, “Tom Dick and Harry were not to censure them and their Counsell.” Pym, Hambden, Sir Henry Vane and Oliver Cromwell did not Surely wish to Subject a Country which they Sought as an Asylum; to the Arbitrary Jurisdiction from of a Country from which they wished to fly. Charles the Second had learned by dismal, dolefull Experience that Parliaments were not to be wholly despized. He therefore endeavoured to associate Parliament with himself, in his Navigation Act, and Many Other of his Despotick Projects even in that of destroying by his unlimited Licentiousness, and Debauchery, the Moral Characters of the Nation. Charles the Second Courted Parliament as a Mistress; his Successors embraced her as a Wife, at least for the purpose of enslaving America.
Mr Otis roundly asserted, This whole System of Parliamentary Regulations, and every Act of Parliament before quoted to be illegal, Unonstitutional tyranical, null and void. Nevertheless, with all my Admiration of Mr Otis and Enthusiasm for his Character I must Acknowledge, he was not always consistent in drawing or admitting the necessary Consequences from his Principles, One of which comprehended Them all, to Witt, That Parliament had not Authority over America in any Case Whatsoever
But at present We must confine ourselves to his Principles and Authorities in Opposition to the Acts of Trade and Writts of Assitance. These Principles I perfectly remember. The Authorities in detail I could not be Supposed to retain, though with recollecting the Names Vattel, Coke and Holt, I might have found them again by a diligent Search. But Mr Otis him self has Saved that Trouble by a publication of his own, which must be the Subject of another Letter from your humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John F. Watson, 21 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Watson, John F.

Sir
Quincy August 21. 1818

In your favour of the 12th. you Say that you had believed, “that during the War of the Revolution, many Acts of the British had been exaggerated.” This may have happened; but I know not in what instances, on the contrary I know that one half their Cruelties and brutalities had not been told, or if told has not been believed.
If you Suppose, that the British were influenced, by “any Motives of Conciliation,” You have been grossly deceived. They never manifested any Such Motives, through the whole History of this Country for two hundred Years. They ever felt “a most Sovereign Contempt for Us,” as Puritans, Dissenters, Schismaticks, Convicts, Redemptioners, as Irish, Scotch, Germans Dutch and Sweeds more than a Century before they had a Colour or Pretext to call Us Rebells
If “the public Sentiment, or Prejudice, has not allowed Such Sentiments to have been mine” I have only to Say that the Publick has never known me my Character or Sentiments, which have all been overwhelmed by Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous Misrepresentations, Abuses Lies and Slanders, chiefly from the Pens of Vagabond Foreigners.
I pray you, Sir, not to misunderstand me. I acknowledge with humble Gratitude to God that he has granted me an happy Life, through all my Tryals. My greatest Grief is that I have not done more for my Country and my Fellow Men.
I am, Sir, respectfully, your, most obedient / humble Servant

John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to Isaac H. Jackson, 21 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Jackson, Isaac H.

Sir
Quincy Aug. 21. ‘18

I have no Remembrance of the “Address to a Provincial Bashans”
I should conjecture that Governor Bernard was meant by the Bashans.
The Author I know not. It is possible it might be Doctor Benjamin Church. It might be from One of Several Other Poets of that Age. But it never Attracted the Attention / of your humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 22 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

My dear Sir
Montezillo Aug. 22 1818

I thank you for your favour of the 16th. My Health is that of the quivering Flame over the dying Lamp.
I am very much interested in your Records. I wish you would inform me, whether the Dutch in New York hanged or banished any Quakers? hanged or pressed to death by the Paine forte et dure, any Wiches as our New England Ancestors did? I wish you would enquire, Whether Virginia did not persecute Quakers, Baptist and all Dissenters from the Church of England and the Act of Uniformity, as Severely as the Yorkers and Yankees? Why Should We not honestly and candidly investigate the Errors and Crimes of our Ancestors, that We may correct, reform and avoid them? If I were young I might write you a letter and compare our Otis, our Samuel Adams &c &c &c with your Brederodes Barnevetds and De Witts. But what a poor figure Should We make? What were the Sufferings of our Patriots in comparison with yours? I might compare our Washington with your William the first. Or Samuel Adams with your Brederode. But how immense is the difference in your Favour, in point of Suffering for Patriotism? James Otis is an exception from all Rules. I would Suffer the Fate of William the first, of Barneveldt, of John De Witt or Cornelius De Witt, than that of James Otis. But your Grotius and your John De Witt have left litterary Monuments of their Glory, that America could not rival nor equal nor approach.
Bishop Watson has proved by Experiments that in the driest times, Water ascends from the Earth to the Surface and produces a Part of the dew. But these are Subjects, to which I cannot attend.
The Dighton Rock is a Bauble, for which I care not a farthing.
Splitting Granite Rocks with Drills and Wedges is perfectly understood in Quincy, and is rapidly Sending to Boston many Solid Parts of the Town.
I know nothing of Morel’s Poem on N. England Justice to the Hollanders for their Merit in propagating Letters Science, Navigation Commerce, Patriotism, Liberality Tolleration; has never been done
Has Justice ever been done in this World to any Nation any Event or any Man?
Sure I am that Justice has never been done, to you by your old Friend / and most humble Servant
John AdamsMrs Adams will write Soon to her very good Friend, mr Vanderkemp.


Title: From John Adams to Joseph Milligan, 23 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Milligan, Joseph,Gideon, Jacob, Jr.

Gentlemen
Quincy Aug—23 1818

I must repeat my thanks to you for the Volume of the Federalist. The paper the type the execution the elegance of the binding as well as its solidity are proofs of the improvement of the Arts at the seat of Government.
This great & excellent national work will be esteemed in America as a Classical productional as long as our National Constitution & the language in which it is written shall endure. I mean not by this however to approve of everything in it.
It shall be placed among the choisest books on my shelves and shall be a constant Memento of the thanks that are due to you from your most obedient & humble Servant

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Charles G. Haines, 23 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Haines, Charles G.

Sir
Quincy Aug 23 1818

I have received the letter you did me the honour to write me on the 18th. I have not yet received your pamphlet but doubt not it is on its way. The great western Canal does honour to the state of N. York and her govenor I sincerely wish & fully believe that the success will equal the grandeur of the conception.
Accept my thanks for the Pamphlet though not yet / received & for the politeness of your Letter to your obliged Friend / because the friend of all men & humble Servant

John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to William Tudor, Jr., 28 August 1818
From: Adams, John
To: Tudor, William, Jr.

Dear Sir
Quincy August 28th 1818

your kind Letter of July 4th. ought to have been answered sooner. my apology would be long and tedious.—
I highly applaud your design of Writing the Life of Mr Otis, a man whom none who ever knew him, can ever forget.—
In what I have written of Mr Otis, I have not written to Sagadahock and the Provence of Maine; to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucked; to Hampshire and Birkshire; to Barnstable Plymouth or Taunton; or to Worcester Middlesex or Essex, for information. If I had I might have received answers that nothing was remembered but the Admiration and Astonishments of my Correspondents.—
But I have appealed to printed writings published by himself; to Acts of Parliament and printed Authorities produced and quoted by himself; with very little from my own memory. This last will be believed by my Friends and those who know me. The name of Otis is no more to me than that of Chandler of Leonard, Stoddard Pynchion or Dwight, Endicott Winslow or Winthrop or Saltanstall or Johnson.
you may make what use you please of my Letters to your Father, Subject only however to his discretion.—
I am with much Esteem your / Friend and Servant
John Adams