Title: To John Adams from Henry Guest, 1 January 1806
From: Guest, Henry
To: Adams, John

Sir
Brunswick, New Jersy 1th. January 1806

I take the Liberty to Send to you a Little Pamphet—That if it is Not Instructive to a Cultivated Mind it May Serve to  an honor in a January Day When Better Company Would be More Agreable—And When read Will you be pleased to Acquaint Me that it Came Safe to your hands Otherwise, you Will perhaps be plauged with Duplicates—These Matters are some Measure is planed to Draw a Line from you, as I have often wished to hear of your health and how the Evening of Age is Likely to Use your Well compact fraim.—Whither the Mind that formerly looks in at a glance the Most obstrous Subjects is yet Likely for the good of Our Country and Mankind to Continue firm to the Laste—Be pleased Sir to pardone this familiar pen and place, it to that point, your Self has raised it by your faithfull services to our Country in Many Affairs that you have been Called to transact for its benefit—
Sir I Also Take the Liberty to Enclose a Lettr. and a pamphlet for the Revn. John Murry the preacher that won’t Consent that Mankind shall be Damned to All Eternity—He I believe Lives some where in New Hamshire. Had I Known how to Direct to him I Should not have troubled you With the request to Direct those Matters to him. As to the postage, it is Covered by a good hand. Nither Mr Murry nor My self would be indebted to the public, if All our Lettr. Should go free.
Wishing you Sir Helth and happyness / I am all that the Most Ingracious fan / Say Yours

Henry Guest


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 January 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy Jan. 3. 1806

I have derived as much consolation in Life, from Horace as from Epictetus. I say
Buvons, ecrivons, vivons, cher Horace, as well as that all our Happiness depends upon ourselves with the Stoick. I thank you for calling Horace to my Aid in your favour of Decr. 28. Alphius was Such a Philosopher as Seneca, who griped the Britons, or as Brutus who was So angry with Cicero when he was Governor of Cilisia because he would, ag not, against all Laws human and divine, compell Brutus’s Debtors in that province to pay him twelves Per Cent a month. The extravagant Praises of a Country Life, are generally as Sincere as those of Alphius. Shenstones delight in his Leasseam which I have Seen, was constantly poisoned with Secret Wishes for public Life. And as much as I am charmed with my Mount Wollaston, I would not wholly forsake the bawling Bar, if my generous Country had not destroyed my organs of Speech, before she turned me loose to get my bread upon a farm. Horace is full of Advice to me and when I received your Letter I was reading his 16. Ode. Book 3.
Crescentem Sequitur cura pecuniam
Maiorumque fames. Iure perhorrui
Late conspicuum tollere verticem. –
Quanto quisque Sibi plura negaverit,
A Diis plura feret. Nil cupientium
Nudus castra peto: et transfuga divitum
Partis linquere gestio:
Contemptæ dominus splendidior rei,
Qam Si, quicquid arat impiger Appulus
Occultare meis dicerer horreis,
Magnas inter opes inops.
Puræ rivus aquæ, Silvaque jugerum
Paucorum, et Segetis certa fides meæ,
Fulgentem imperio fertilis Africæ
Fallit forte beatior.
Quanquam nec Calabræ mella ferunt Apes,
Nec Laestrigoniâ Bacchus in Amphorâ
Languescit mihi, nec pinguia Gallicis
Crescunt vellera pascuis;
Importuna tamen pauperies abest: &c.
Contractâ melius parva cupidine
Vectigalia porrigam,
Qam si Mygdoniis regnum Alyattei
Campis continuem. Multa petentibus
Desunt multa. Bene est cui Deus obtulit
Parcâ quod Satis est manu.
Without particular Inquiry or information I have understood that my Son has Accepted the Professorship upon terms which have been agreed: and that he is looking for a house at Cambridge, as near Boston as possible. The Appointment of Mr Ames will be an encouragement to him. Mr Ames’s manners are popular and his Accomplishments brilliant. I wish you may have all the Satisfaction in him which you anticipate and I have no reason to doubt that you will.  Son will undoubtedly be your Friend, as is his F
J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 8 January 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Quincy Jan. 8 1806

Having lamented for sometime, the loss of my Correspondent at Barneveldt, I was, this morning unexpectedly gratified with your favour of the twenty second of December. I return with pleasure the Compliments and congratulations of the Season. I can sincerely unite with you, in humble Thanks to the Almighty for the Blessings of the past year on you and your Family as well as on me and mine.—But I must live to be older than Methusalem, to see the Miracles wrought which your friendly benevolence so ardently wishes
Captain Ingrahams Journals in four Volumes, which were lent me for a short time were soon demanded and returned: so that they are no longer in my power. There was little more, than that which I sent you, which would be usefull to you, concerning the N. W. Coast. I know nothing of Mr Greys Journal, and Ingrahams former Journal, which he took with him in the Pickering, to compleat some Draughts from the sketches he had made on his Voyage, was lost with him in that unfortunate ship.
As I hate the feeling which We call, Wonder, I have adopted from long experience and reflection, one general rule relative to all such tales as that of the Stone Shower. Je n’en crois rien. I dont believe one Word of the matter. In reading Livy and Tacitus too, whenever I meet with a Wonder even the story of the latter of the Phoenix in Egypt, I cry all this is nonsense or Knavery. I dont believe it. The stones from a Vulcano in the Moon, is almost as absurd as Buffon Earth dashed off from the sun in the form of an ocean of melted glowing glass. All the Powers of Matter in the Universe could not give a whirling motion, a rotation round the Axis a revolution round the Sun, nor any circular or curved motion to this glass or any part of it. Force or Power impressed upon matter impells it in right lines and no other.
I recollect no Authority in Antiquity for Montaignes assertion. Among the Gladiators disciplined like our American Indians to bear torture and smile at it, some might be hired to submit to the operation but I know of no account that they did. They might be bribed to bear this horrid tryal, by an indulgence of Life for some months longer than their sentences allowed, or some might have exalted sentiments enough to purchase priviledges to their Families or friends at this price. But Je n’en Sais rien. Our Accademy publishes nothing but short Pieces. We are in our Infancy and are very poor. The first Volume of the Transactions at Boston sells for two dollars. I would send you one, if I knew of a Conveyance: but I dare not send it by the Post. I take a pleasure in reading Buffons Natural Historical Romances but I place no confidence in his Judgment or Varacity and I care not a farthing about all the Big Bones in Europe or America. Nothing of this kind is to my taste. You should correspond with Jefferson upon these points. To give you a full Revenge upon me, I will give you a subject, which will infallibly make you laugh at me. The Fucus.—I am much engaged in researches concerning the Fucus, and other Plants somewhat resembling it in nature, which grow upon the shores, such as The Soda, The Kali, or The Barilla. There are twelve species of the Fucus, thrown by the Sea upon our shores. I want a description of that Species called Dulse or Dilse, and I want to know whether the Soda, the Kali, or the Barilla, for it goes by all these names as well I believe as the Salicornia, has been ever seen in America. You are at such a distance from the sea that it is hardly fair to ask you any questions about the Vegetables that grow in it or near it. But the question can do you no harm.
As to the Intelligence of the Well, masoned with hammered Stones my only observation is, as it is upon all Wonders, Je n’en crois rien.—,and whether it were true or false I would not care a farthing.
Now you come to a subject that setts me all on fire. “God knows what event threatens poor Europe.”—Here I have a great mind to let my Imagination loose into the boundless regions of Possibility, Probability, Supposition and Conjecture.—What do you think of the Possibility, that America was once civilical and free: all Democracies, then Aristocracies then Monarchies then Empires and at last so intollerably governed as to exterminate one another, leaving only a few Democrats, nearly like savages. How many years would it take to moulder away all their Cities obliterate all the Records and Institutions and leave only a few Savage hunters? I believe a thousand years would do it: But We may allow two or three thousands if We will.
On the other hand the mad Spirit of Democracy in France and in Bohemia and Austria, has ended in Empire a Despotism. It may do the same in all Europe. A few Dynasties of Emperors may succeed, by frequent Convulsions and Wars, till Art Science Liberty Religion Government and all may perish and Europe grow up a howling Wilderness, such as our Ancestors found this Country in the Days of Massasoit and Pokahunta. All this, I believe to be more probable than Buffons Theory of the Earth, or the other Mans Hypothesis of hot stones from a Volcano in the Moon.
I will venture to send you by the Post a Bagatelle which you may call if you please the fourth Volume of The Defence of the Constitutions of the United States of America against the Attack of Mr Turgot.
I remain with old Esteem, your Friend / and humble servant
J. Adams
P.S. In a Letter from Mr V. Marum Secretary of the Society of the Sciences at Harlem, I have received a Diploma as a Member signed by Mr V. Berkhout as President. In my Answer I have accepted the honor of this distinction, with gratitude arising from the recollection of Civilities formerly received in that Country. I am not fond of connections with any of the learned Societies in Europe, because I have neither youth nor any other qualification to be in any manner or degree usefull to them. I have never answered the Letter from the Board of Agriculture in G. Britain, for the reasons just hinted, and because I did not like to have any connection at all with that Country. My resolution has always been to stand on American ground, without courting any Aid from France or England. This ground has been found too weak to support me. This Nation, by my Example have taught their Sons a Lesson, to depend upon foreign Influence, which will one day cost us very dear.


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 25 January 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy Jan. 25th. 1806

The new Edition of your medical Works, mentioned in your favour of the sixth of this month, have been committed to mr Shaw: my Nephew whom you know, and will be sent to me from Boston in due time. Many of those compositions I have read and shall read again with much pleasure, and shall make them as generally useful as I can among the Physicians in my Neighbourhood: but as I feel as few as I ever did in my life of those Aches and pains which you Say await me and I know must come, I will not anticipate them. Sufficient for the day is its own evil.
I never had the good fortune to meet General Miranda, nor the pleasure to see him. I have heard much of his Abilities and the politeness of his manners. But who is he? What is he? Whence does he come and whither does he go? What are his motives views and objects? Secrecy, Mystery and intrigue, have a mighty effect on the World. You and I—have seen it in Franklin, Washington, Burr, Hamilton and Jefferson, and many others. The Judgment of Mankind in general, is like that of father Bonhours, who says “For myself, I regard secret persons, like the great rivers, whose bottoms we cannot see and which make no noise; or like those vast forests, whose silence fills the soul, with I know not what religious horror. I have for them the same Admiration, as men had for the oracles, which never suffered themselves to be understood, till after the event of things; or for the Providence of God, whose conduct is impenetrable to the human mind.” Without criticising the taste, the piety or decency of comparing a man, successively to a river, a forest, an oracle, and providence, I shall only say that I never had this silence, nor aimed at having it; nor the Admiration of it, of Bonhours; whose images however, scarcely express too boldly, the stupid Wonder of the World, which is excited by it. This quality when well managed, I have known to be worth more to a Man than ten Talents. It must nevertheless be acknowledged, there are times and cases, in which our Duty to God our Neighbour and Ourselves, renders a total silence and an impenetrable secrecy indispensable. I have practiced it myself when I thought it necessary, with as much rigour as any of them: but never for the purpose of giving myself an Air of Grandeur, Depth or “importance.”
In all my communications to Congress, and to my friends while I was a public minister abroad, I held the same language with Miranda, that we had nothing to hope from England or France, but what we Should be obliged to repay with Interest. And that has been my invariable opinion from that time to this. I am ashamed indeed that so many of my Countrymen entertain hopes of great Things from both; some from one, and some from the other. I see not however with Miranda, that We have any thing to fear from either. If our Negotiations are conducted with Skill We need not be afraid. But from the Blunders of such Men as C. Pinkney, Monroe, Armstrong and Livingston, We can never know what is to come.
Whether Mr Pitt has any thoughts of destroying the remains of Liberty in England or not, I neither know nor much Care, believing him as I do an Able Minister I think he has too much sense: but if he has not, it will make little difference to me or my Country, or Mankind. If he tries the experiment he will only ruin himself, and that is nothing to me.
I think with Miranda, We shall have no War.—No thanks however to the Wisdom of our negotiations: and I fear We shall be weakly obliged to pay for peace by the sacrifice of our commerce, and by purchasing at a great expence more causes of European Jealousy and more objects of Contention.
Miranda’s anecdote of Hamiltons Scorn of Washington is no Surprise to me. Those who trumpetted Washington in the highest strains at sometimes, spoke of him, at others, in the strongest terms of Contempt. Indeed I know of no Character to which so much hypocritical Adulation has been offered. Hamilton, Pickering and many others, have been known to indulge themselves in very contemptuous expressions: but very unjustly and ungratefully. His Character as an able General a Wise Statesman and an honest Man, is jusly established, with the present Age and Posterity, beyond the reach of, those railers and all who resemble them in Self Conceit and ill nature. The History, with which Hamilton threatened to destroy the Character of Washington, might diminish some of that enthusiastic exaggeration which represents him as the greatest General, the greatest Legislator and the most perfect Character that ever lived: but could never take from him the praise of Talents and Virtues labours and exertions, which will command the esteem of the wisest and best men in all Ages.
Although I read with tranquility and suffered to pass without Animadversion, in silent contempt, the base insinuations of Vanity, against me, and a hundred lies besides published in a Pamphlet against me, by an insolent Coxcomb, who rarely dined in good Company where there was good wine, without getting silly, and vapouring about his Administration, like a young Girl about her brilliants and trinketts: Yet I loose all Patience, when I think of a bastard brat of a Scotch Pedler, daring to threaten to undeceive the World in their Judgment of Washington, by writing a history of his battles and Campaigns. This Man Creature was in a delirium of Ambition; he had been blown up with Ambition Vanity by the Tories, had fixed his Eye on the highest station in America, and he hated every Man young or old, who stood in his Way, or could in any manner eclipse his laurells or rival his Pretentions, Col Smith Coll Burr Mr Jay, Mr Madison Mr Jefferson Adams and Washington were all en but a part of those who were envied by him. From or some Windows in my House I see, our the Capitol in Boston: not only its Dome and Steeple, but the whole body of the Building: from other Windows the view is obstructed by Trees Houses &c, in other Mens lands and there might be Pallaces and Temples. If I should swear I would cutt down all those Trees and burn all those sacred Temples and gorgious Palaces, in order to clear my View and actually attempt and accomplish some of this destruction, I should be an Emblem of the Bairn of Nevis.
The sudden rise of the public securities, after the establishment, of the funding system, was no misfortune to the Public, but an Advantage. The necessity of that system arose from the inconsistency of the People, in contracting debts and then refusing to pay them. The states would not adopt the five per Cent impost, and there were no means of paying the interest or principal of the public debt. That obstinate and willfull ignorance of the nature of money, and of public Credit which suffered the depreciation of the Continental Currency, effected a similar depreciation of the public Certificates, and is now inforcing a depreciation of the only Currency we have, the bank bills; and when or how this element of Confusion will stop, I know not. Experience is lost upon our People. The Injustice occasioned by these Bills, will be as great, for any thing I can see, as that which arose from Paper Money, or the public Certificates. The Government of the Nation and of individual States will have their hands full of business to prevent greater Evils from this, than arose from the other two causes.
I have no Objection to the respect shewn to Moreau and am pleased with those to Eaton and Decatur: but I mourn over the neglect, of Talbot, Truxton, Little And Decatur the Father. Our Statesmen committed a most egregious, pernicious, and indeed malicious Error in discouraging those officers, and mismanaging the ships. But democratical Ambition and Vengeance, will never Act with more Wisdom, Morality or Decency.
I feel more interested in our public affairs now, than I have for some years, because We seem to be in some immediate danger. The Public ought to know more than they do about our negotiations with England Spain, and France too. If our disputes and difficulties have been brought upon Us, by the imprudence of our Ambassadors, or by the Impolicy of our Government in contending for Points, which can never be obtained and if obtained would be of no Value, We ought to know it. But if our Government and Ministers are not in fault and our Commerce is like to be destroyed, as much as I love Neutrality, I would let our Merchants make reprisals.
You will be surprised to find this much Ado about nothing closed by an a question in natural History. Has the Plant that is called by the name of Soda, by some Writers, Kali, by others and Barilla, perhaps by more, ever been discovered in this Country? It is named Glasswort too, I believe, by the English. I am / dear Sir as usual, with usual regards / from my Family to yours, your / Friend and humble servant

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 1 February 1806
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir!
1 Febr. 1806

Being again favoured with a new mark of your continued kindness I will not bereave meself of the pleasure in answering your Letter. Long since had I written Sir! had it been in my power, to communicate something, deserving your attention—without it—I thought it improper, to abuse of your indulgence too often. I took hold of the first opportunity—offered by the season, to let you know—that I was yet alive.
Tho I agree perfectly well with you—in rejecting wonders in our days—and am more inclined to laugh, than to adopt absurdities—I love, however, where it is possible, to examine the pretended wonders at the bottom—as something real commonlÿ affords a pretext, upon which they build their  Philosophical dreams—I have not seen the French or German accounts but am inclined to believe—that the tale is adorned—and the groundwork partly false. That a stone shower reallÿ happens, and actually has taken place, I do not doubt, and should make this same conclusion from Livÿ’s reiterated mentioning of similar facts—during a longe course of years, if it had not been proved by eye-witnesses—by violent eruptions from Vulcano’s—from several passages in Livÿ. I do not question—of these showers of burning-stones—were from Œtna or Vesuvius:—I should not take notice of similar reveries of moderns, was  were I not often spurred to it, bÿ the insidious views of some and bad faith of the others. Your remark upon Buston’s theory is, in mÿ opinion—unanswerable. Their greatest number aim oftener, to corrupt the heart, than to enlighten the understanding.
“Ludis circensibus P. Corn. Scipionis Nasicæ et P. Lentuli ædilium curulium sexaginta tres Africanas, et quadraginta ursos et Elephantos lusisse says Livius Lib. XLIV cap. 18—Will you tell me Sir! what is meant by Africanas—I do not understand it?
Another Question, which I expect—you can solve—In what manner died Francis Drake—Some saÿ—he was drowned—others he was devoured bÿ the crabs—armed Cap en pie—others that he died on his bed at Darien—the last is asserted by Hume—the first by Owen—the middle bÿ various Continental writers—Inform me of the truth.—
I flatter meself by your rapport—that the contents of the Boston Transactions must be more castigate—conseq—more valuable—as those of a similar kind in other parts of our continent, where theÿ seem more eager to fill up a volume—than to encrease by others the high opinion of the seventy and high opinion of the judges—But neither this is an American sin, exclusively. Many memoirs are placed in the Royal. Brtt. & French Societies—and Haerlem’s Maetschappÿ, who better deserved a place by the pastry-cook as to afford our posterity a striking proof, that our wise men were as often despicable—as our great men merited scorn and contempt.
Allow me—to accept your frendly offer—as you know Sir! that mÿ circumstances do not permit me the purchase—one or other time you might find a opportunity of conveying them hither—I am longing to peruse these Transactions—tho’ not in a hurrÿ. Thro Dr Morse—married with a Miss Breeze, whoms Brother lives in my vicinity and is a particular frend—to me—or thro Dr Kirkland—or anÿ other—it maÿ come in your power—But Sir! in case you persist in that act of beneficence, I must give you a previous warning, that you maÿ expect—a similar petitions—for the following volumes—
I will solemnly bind meself—the instant I am choosen a President of a Learned Society in the western woods, I will deem it a duty—to submit a copÿ to your inspection and criticism.
You have indeed puzled me with your new subject The fucus—and I would expose meself to—a well-deserved ridicule—if without botanical books in the western woods I should be vain enough to write on the weeds of the sea-shore—which I know only by name—As you have examined the subject thoroughly, and are preparing yourselve to complete its little known and defective historÿ—even a hint maÿ become of use in your hands. I never heard yet of the Barilla the Dulse or Dilse—all the other names do denote the same, or rather varius species of sea-shore plants. Many of these are found on the Mediterranean coast, some on those of Holland, Zeeland and Flanders principally the two latter. Theÿ all belong to the class of the Cryptogamics, as far I know. One is called Fucus serratus—Fucus digitatus—Fucus vesiculosus Fucus nodosus to this last species may be brought, perhaps, the Sea-coral—an excellent herbage—for the table—used green and preserved—the taste a little saltish—a valuable antiscorbutic on the sea coast of Walcheren. The principal species seems to be the Fucus maritimus, or Quercus maritima—which I suppose the fucus vesiculosus—Another distinction is, that some species are creeping along the ground, without anÿ appearing roots others shoot branches and appear small shrubs. Soldanella—brassica marina—convolvulus maritimus—seems to be of the same kind—It is a small plant—its branches creeping along the ground—with round—polished—shining leaves with purple flowers—an antiscorbuticum—of a bitter saline taste—on the sea shores—
Kali (soda) on the sea shores—from one to 2 feet high, spreading its various branches horizontally—an apertive—of a saline taste—having yellow flowers.
Coralline a species of moss—of the same taste—similar if not the same with the Sea-coral mentioned before. This is all—what I can remember to have heard or read on this subject—which I shall be much delighted, in seing it treated by you in full. My friend Mappa tells me, that he supposes the Sargazo to belong to the same genus.
Since your last we have been gratified with the unparalelled victory of Nelson and the glorius naval action of Sir. R. Strachan. Another as that of Nelson might give peace to Europe, and crush a successful robber in the middle of his depredations—The Latter must be a yet more despicable wretch, than I did  consider him, if he did not envÿ Horatio’s fate—Your conjecture about America’s former state, has in mÿ opinion a high degree of plausibility, and manÿ monuments maÿ yet be dugged out from the earth, which should place it beyond doubt—thousand years perhaps might be equal to this destruction—whÿ less here—than in Asia—than in Zenobia’s Dominions who—if the Palmyrenean ruins—had been coverd—by water and earth—would have suspected there the existence of one of the world’s most opulent emporiums—and with the moral destructive causes—mentioned in your Letter—must here be joind—inundations—strong convulsions—vulcano’s earth-quakes &c. I am apprehensive—that your lineaments of future Europe are too prophetically true—It has been long since declining and thro all its limits—and most vital parts—the deadly seeds of corruption are spread—
Accept my thanks for the comm: on that valuable historian—I consider this as a new mark of your regard—I was highly pleased with their first perusal in 1790—Now I shall take leisure, of reading them with attention—
I hope not, that war with England shall be our doom, tho’ I disapprove Gr. Britt. violent conduct—but who can plead for the disingenuitÿ of our Merchants—affording more aid to France—doing more mischief to Eng: than we could do in open war—and is our independence more respected by France or Spain?
Your most obliged st.

Fr. Adr. vander Kemp.


Title: From John Adams to John Marshall, 4 February 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Marshall, John

Dear Sir
Quincy February 4th 1806

I have received from you, three Volumes of the Life of our late General and President Washington in a condition of convenience and ornament, which has not yet been exceeded by any of the Arts or Artists of our Country, nor indeed much inferiour to any in the most refined Countries of Europe.
I pray you, Sir to accept my best Thanks for this elegant present.
Exegisti monumentum ære perennius. As it is certainly a more rational, I hope and believe it will be a more glorious and durable Memorial of your Hero, than a Mausoleum would have been, of dimensions Superiour to the proudest pyramid of Egypt.
I wish you, Sir, Health and long Life: and less rancorous Enemies and less treacherous Friends than have fallen to the lott of your Sincere Friend and most obedient Servant

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from David Humphreys, 17 February 1806
From: Humphreys, David
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir:
Boston, (Monday Morng) Feby 17th 1806

I had fully intended to have paid my personal respects to you on Saturday last, had not the unfavorable change in the state of the roads prevented. That mode of communication having failed, I have now to offer the best homage of Mrs Humphreys & myself to Mrs Adams & yourself, and to request the honour of your company at dinner with us, on Saturday next, it being the anniversary of the Birth of Genl Washington. We propose to dine by about 3 O’Clock, and expect but a small number at Table...most or all of whom, we flatter ourselves, will be your particular Acquaintances.
The bearer will attend your answer—And I shall ever remain, / with sentiments of the highest respect & esteem, / Dear Sir, / your most sincere friend & / humble Servt
D. Humphreys.


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 20 February 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dr Sir
Quincy Feb. 20. 1806

That showers of hot stones or cold stones may have fallen, in the neighbourhood of Volcanoes, is not impossible, nor improbable: but it is impossible that, any projectile force of exploding Mercury or any mixture of Sulphur Nitre and carbon, or any Vapour, could drive these stones to any great hight in the air, or ever ballance them in the Air so as to allow them to sail about in it like Clouds rain or hail. The gravitation on the stones and the Resistance of the Air would prevent any such Exersions. The stones must have fallen near the burning mountains and in a short time after the explosion and projection.
I cannot tell you what is meant by “Africanas” in Livy. Can you tell me what is meant by “Afra Avis,” in Horace? Perhaps livy might mean “Aves Africanas” or possibly “Mulieres Africanas” “Femmes Africanas” or “Puellas Africanas,” or in modern American English “sixty three “African Black Sallys.” The  Phylosophers Stoicks as well as Epicureans, might have a curiosity and a fancy too, to speculate in such Rarities: and Scipio and Lentulus might recommend themselves more by such Exhibitions than by Elephants or Mammoths, or Panthers: nay more than by writing Comedies for Terence or even conquering Carthage.—But I pray you to pardon this obscene and prophane Sally.
To be serious. Africanæ, absolute, dicuntur Pantheree, que et Variæ Africanæ, quidem, quoniam in Africa, sunt frequentes. Variæ, quoniam, macularum varietate sunt spectabiles. Plin. L. 8. c. 17. Senatus Consultum fuit vetus ne liceret Africanas, in Itatiam  advehere Primus autem scaurus aedilitate sua, Varias centum quinquaginta universas misit.
You ask me in what manner Sir Francis Drake died. The Writer of his Life in the Biographia Britanica, says he died of Chagrin. The Death of his Friends Sir John Hawkins, Sir Nicholas Clifford, Mr Brute Brown &c and a Disappointment in an Enterprize against Panama, and the ill success of all his Efforts this year made such an impression on his Mind that it threw him into a lingering Fever, attended with a flux, that he died. He lived by the sea died on it and was buried in it.
The Dictionaire historique says, that in returning from Porto Bello, he terminated his glorious Career the 28. January 1596: Son Corps n’eut d’autre tombeau que la mer, le theatre de ses exploits, which occasioned this Epitaph.
Quem timuit savis etiam Neptunus in Undis,
Et redut toto victor ab oceano.
Fædi fragos pellens pelago prostravit Iberos
Drakius: huie tumulus æquioris emda fuit.
The first who sailed round the World, he laid the foundation of the English Commerce in the East and West Indies. He was a public spirited Man in Parliament and in his County of Devonshire, where I have seen an Aqueduct by which he carried, from a distance of fifteen miles a supply of fresh Water to the Town of Plymouth.
Old Fuller, seems to think his death, less beautifull than his Life. “Besides We see how great spirits, having mounted up to the highest pitch of performance, afterwards strain and break their Credits in striving to go beyond it. Lastly God leaves oftentimes the brightest Men in an Eclipse, to shew that they do but borrow their lustre from his reflection.”
Where are Sodom and Gomorrah? Where Tyre and Sidon? Where Babillon Where Carthage? The spots where they stood are no more to be seen or known with any certainty than the site of the Garden of Eden.
Democracy will infallibly destroy all Civilization, and leave no men alive but the haters of Pen and Ink, who must live by hunting and become savages. In Jack Cades Code of Laws, reading and writing were high Treason: and the fugitives from Justice on our Frontiers, had rather meet a Panther or an Indian than a Man who can read. All things are tending to Democracy in Europe, the only cure for which is an Emperor and a Despot. The Destruction of priviledged orders in Europe, is taking away all the limitations of Despotism. And France without the restoration of those orders will be no less a Despotism than Turkey or Morocco.
If Bonaparte has been wounded the Magic Charm of his Divinity and Invincibility is broken.—The Mystery is dissipated.
England, I fear will give Us trouble. She is quite in the Wrong in her present pretensions. She is very unwise, to renew the resentments of America, and transmit a hatred of her and her Power to Posterity. But she has always seen this Country through a Mist. She will never see it clearly, till she feels it.
Our Government moves with moderation, and I hope will not fly out in a passion with Spain or England. But Our honor, and a sense of their own Power, in the Minds of the People must be preserved. But what have I to do with Politicks?
I am &c

J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Henfrey, 22 February 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Henfrey, Benjamin

Sir,
Quincy February 22d: 1806—

I received, yesterday, your favour of the third of this month. It is not in my power at present to inform you, whether your Communication to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences of your discovery of a mode of producing light and heat from inflammable air, and of your invention of an Apparatus for applying the discovery to various usefull purposes, has been received or not. All such communications, as claim the Premium of Count Rumford, were commited to a Select Number of Members at a time when I was absent: and this Committee have not yet reported. If Mr: Dearborne, who is a Member, of much Curiousity and Ingenuity, received these papers from you I have no doubt, but he laid them before the Academy, and of course that they are now in the hands of the Committee. I shall make a more particular Inquiry into this matter, and in the meantime will communicate your Letter to the Secretary or the Committee—
It is very true that Democratical Governments are not generous Patrons of Arts and Sciences: It might be said indeed that they are as hostile as Jack Cade and his followers were to Pen and Ink. Men who can read and write are a priviledged order: and although priviledged orders are the only adequate Defence against Despotism, the present disposition of Mankind in Europe as well as America, is to the destruction of them all. Mistake me not to mean an hereditary Nobility. Such a priviledged order is only necessary as a Barrier against an hereditary Executive Magistracy.—I am not able to inform you Sir, of Count Rumfords Address. The last Account I heard of him was that he was married to a Lady of great fortune in France.—
I wish you Success in your Researches for natural Knowledge and / have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble Servant.


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 9 March 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Quincy March 9. 1806

I have never doubted, that America would be added to the vast Catalogue of Nations, who would not be Saved by Precepts nor Examples. Nothing but a ballanced Government can Save any nation from the Tyranny of the many the few or the one, and no Nation ever was long united in understanding or preserving a ballance. England has preserved it longer than any nation ever did before, and England but imperfectly and there is reason to fear that her’s is approaching to its End, to be Succeeded by a short Donimatio Plebis and then by an Emperor.
Davila does not appear to have understood the nature of a free Government any better than Turgot, Neckar, Franklin or Priestly. He makes no such nice distinctions as you imagine between Authority and Power. He Sometimes attributes all Authority to the States General and Sometimes all Power. In the Same manner he Attributes at other times all Authority to the King and at other times all Power. Indeed there is no such distinction in the Roman Civil Law, the Roman Cannon Law, the Common Law of England, or of any regular Monarchy in Europe. Non possurnus quod, Jure, non possurnus. Impossibile, quod lege Impossibile. Impossibile quod jure non patrist fiori are maxims of all these Laws. There is however in nature a distinction between Authority and Power: but surely neither the Germans or the Gauls, nor Davila, ever meant lawless Power when talking of the Power of Kings and Parliaments. The Legislative Power is the Sovereign Power, and wherever it resides there is the Sovereignty. If in a King it is a Monarchy or Despotism, if in a Senate an Aristocracy, if in the People a Democracy. The Legislative Power therefore in France, that is the entire Sovereignty could never reside in the States General, and the King at the same time.
When I was in France I looked into Boulainvillieres, and Abby Moreau and Abby de Mably upon this subject among many others. Volumes upon Volumes have been written on this matter, and after all it is in total darkness. There is no Record or History or Tradition or fact, which can ascertain whether the Legislative Power was in the States General or the King. After many Ages and innumerable Wars in the time of Louis the fourteenth the Question was  aside, the point given up by the Nation and the King acknowledged Sovereign Legislator. A Semblance only of a Claim against Despotism was retained by the Parliaments, in a right of registering Laws before they could be executed.
you ask me, Whether there is in human nature simply benevolence, or an Affection for the good of others? I answer there is. This is my opinion, Settled to my satisfaction fifty years ago and never once doubted Since. I have read Hobbes and Mandevilles and Rochefaucault and Tacitus and considered all their Arguments. Rochefaucault I think is of my opinion for he thinks a Man is most Selfish when he is most benevolent. Can any Man read Sterne’s Tristram Shandy and still doubt whether there is simple benevolence in human Nature. Is there a human bosom that does not swell? Is there a human Eye that does not fill, in reading the traits of And touches of humanity that is are there read? Shaftesbury, Hutchinson and above all Bishop Buttler have I think demonstrated against Hobbes that there are social affections as well as selfish. I have never read of a Character in which I could not discern traces of benevolence. Nero Caligula Domation, Caesar Bergia, Cateline Maral Robespierre, Tom Paine and Calender. The Devils alone, as they are represented to us, are destitute of it. The Controversy between St. Austin and Pelagius, I have not read, but I have read many of the Calvinists and Treatises on original sin, and they have not convinced me of the total Depravity of human Nature. They go farther than to Say that human nature is destitute of Benevolence. They say it is possitively malevolent. Altogither malicious and malignant. Je n’en crois rien. By the way, Dr Johnson says that in Shakespeare’s time, the Controversy had not arisen concerning the original Benevolence or Malignity of Human nature. What can he mean? If Austin and Pelagius lived and disputed long before that Age.
The Institution of the Cincinnati was not a digested Plan. It was better calculated to exasperate the People against all distinctions than to establish any permanent one. No hereditary orders and distinctions of Ranks can be, or ought to be introduced into this Country. The Circumstances of the Country forbid it. There can be no hereditary Nobility without an hereditary King: nor any hereditary King without an hereditary Nobility. The first would be an hereditary Aristocracy and the last an hereditary Despotism. But the geographical situation of this Country as well as the genius of the People render both utterly unreasonable and inadmissible. But Distinctions there are and must be. Are there not distinctions of rank in our Army from a corporal or Drummer up to Major Generals and a Captain General? in the Navy from a Boatswain up to a Commodore, and even up to Admiral. Jefferson who was lately Advanced to that Dignity by Captain Murray, by hoisting the Admirals Flagg, when the President set his foot on board and lowering it again when he descended to the Barge? Are there not distinctions of degree established by Law and daily observed in our Courts of Law, from arising from Labourers yeomen, Gentlemen Esquires, and up to Honourable And excellent Esquires. The American People, cannot refrain from giving Titles, one of our Cambridge Scollars, whose name deserves to be recorded for this single trait, wrote a Letter to President Jefferson, and Sent it by the Post with this Superscription “To His Excellency Thomas Jefferson Esqr President of the United States, Summum Bonum.” The Name of this great Scollar and consummate Politician, my Playmate at school and Contemporary at Colledge was Azariah Faxon, now alass deceased to the great loss of his family and Country. I must tell you however, what was the Source of his Patriotism. It was my refusal or rather neglect to make him Collector of the Tax upon Wheel carriages, which he personally requested of me, because I knew him to be not worthy to be trusted with twenty dollars of the public money. But to return, I ask you, whether We do not degrade in the Eyes of all Mankind by applying to our first Characters and Nations the Title Honorable, which is given to every younger son, of every noble family in Europe, and to our President the Title of Excellency, which is given to every Commander of a fleet or an Army, and to every Governor of a Province in Europe. I say Give proper Titles or none.—George Washington Thomas Jefferson, without any Addition would be understood and respected, but His Excellency George W. or Thomas J. cannot but create a smile of Contempt upon every human Countenance. Forms, Ceremonies, ranks, of Some kind or other as if in which the multitude, understand and to which great numbers can conform are essential to society.
You are pleased to recommend to Us me to write, after the Example of Sully Memoirs of my own Life. Infandum, Amica, jubes renovare dolorem. What,! begin with the History of my Family, paint the Portraits of my Ancestors, my School Mistresses, Schoolmasters, Tutors at Colledge, Preceptors and Patrons at the bar, my offices of Surveyor of High Ways and Select Men of the Town of Braintree, Representative of Boston, my Colleagues Hancock Adams &c my Antagonists Bernard Hutchinson & then & to Congress, and the Army, Portraits of Franklin, Lee Deane, Jay, Jefferson &c. The twelve Books of the Aeneid the twenty four of the Iliad, and all the Odyssey, the forty Volumes of Thuanus would not be enough. I should be dead before I had written one Volume of it.

J. AdamsYour Friend Mr Mappa will look in vain for Elegance in any of my Writings. If there is Such a Sparcle to be found, it was fortuitous, not by design. I never had time to measure dactyls and trochees in Prose.


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 15 March 1806
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

My dear & excellent friend
Philadelphia March 15th: 1806

I avail myself of the first leisure hour I have had since the Conclusion of my lectures to acknowledge your last favor. I shall begin my Answer to it by answering the question with which you concluded it. The Barilla is a native of the seacoast of the United States. It is to be found on the shores of Massachusetts, and of the Delaware states.
From the interest you have kindly taken in my principles and fate in medicine, I shall take the liberty of transcribing the a part of the farewell lecture with which I concluded my labors in our University a few days ago.
“I am aware Gentlemen (said your friend) of the import of the declaration, that I have taught a new System of medicine. The declaration has been forced upon me by its enemies from whom it first received that odious and unpopular name. It has since been given to it by its friends in different and remote parts of the World. The fate of this system of medicine has been a singular One. Upon its first appearance, it was considered as a sickly brat that would perish as soon as it was exposed to the inclemency of a cold or rainy day. Contrary to calculation, it lived through several stormy seasons, but in great weakness and penury. For many years it rambled up and down the Streets of Philadelphia like a little beggar boy, without a friend, and without any other shelter than the scanty one afforded by its father. A few gentlemen of the faculty (whose names will ever be dear to me) admitted him into their houses, and assisted me in feeding and cloathing him. But a great majority of the Physicians of the City scouted him from their doors. Some of them did more: They either hired the Vagabonds of the city to pelt him with stones, or they rewarded them liberally for doing so, by their friendship and patronage. In spite of this unkind and cruel treatment the boy has lived to be a man, and has acquired such marks of strength and vigor, that he is now admitted and cherished in the families of his greatest former enemies. It is true they have changed his name, & endeavoured to disguise his person by a new dress, but his voice his features, and his manners discover his descent from his lawful father.”
“Among the many painful Circumstances that have attended the propagation of the new System of medicine I have taught you,—my being Obliged to oppose the System of Dr Cullen, was not the least. He was very dear to me as a master, and I shared largely in his friendship. I am reconciled to my Conduct only by reflecting, that our Objects  were the same, and were it possible for his departed Spirit to meet me in my study, or in my an evening walk he would say to me ‘Go on my son. Continue to exercise the freedom of inquiry with which it was my pride & pleasure to inspire my pupils. If the empire of death has been lessened in a single instance f by your rejection of any part of my principles of medicine, I shall rejoice in the successful issue of your labors.’—Yes!—venerable Shade!—I am sure you do,—for your whole life was animated, not less by the love of our Science, than by the most sublime, & disinterested benevolence to your fellow Creatures.”
“The dead sometimes call upon us from their tombstones and say‘as you are now—so once was I—as I am now—so shortly,—you shall be.’—I fancy I hear the same awful words voice issuing from the tomb of my beloved master. It seems to say to me—‘in the progress of our Science towards perfection, your System of medicine must follow share the fate of mine. Future discoveries in anatomy—physiology—natural history and Chemistry will consign a part of it to the Oblivion of the grave, and render Alterations necessary in every other part of it.’ Delightful intelligence! I anticipate its acomplishment with pleasure. Perhaps I am now addressing the gentleman who shall, from the Chair I now occupy, or from the press, expose the errors of my System of medicine. Did I know who was to be that person,—I would take him by the hand, and cordially wish him Success in his noble Undertaking. Perish my name, & the memory of my labors from the records of time, provided the Science I have loved, and cherished be advanced and perfected in the world.”—
The length of this extract from my lecture has I am afraid so far tired you, that I you will hardly have patience with me when I add that our governor has lately promoted my brother to the be Judge of the first district in the state, by which means he will be restored to his the official rank and situation in Philada from which govr Mifflin had removed him. This appointment was unsolicited and unexpected. It has added much to my happiness.
What is to be the fate of our Country—of Europe—& of the Globe—from the operation of the events which have lately taken place in every part of them?—The Calculations of the philosopher, and the Wisdom of the Statesman—and the energies of the patriot are all prostrated by the arms and ambition of the new Emperor of France.—Our only refuge now seems to be in the prayer of the Church “Save us good Lord! for there is no other fighteth for us—but only thou O Lord!”—
With affectionate regard to Mrs Adams in which my dear Mrs Rush and all my young folks join I am Dear Sir ever your obliged / and sincere friend

Benjm: Rush


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Hall, 28 March 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Hall, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy March 28.—1806

I have received your favour of March 14th. and have not sent you an answer. It is not from any feelings of resentment or disaffection to the interest of the Canal corporation; but from necessity, that I consent to the advertisement of of and sale of my shares. I may candidly assign the true reason of this consent as well as not. I have not money to pay the assessments, and I know not that I have credit to borrow it. If I had I should not think it prudent to make use of it, for my finances are not adequate to the support of this interest and therefore I abandon it to its legal fortune.
I am Sir / Your friend & hble servt.


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 2 April 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy April 2. 1806

Your favour of March 30th I received last Evening. The Subject of it is of great importance
I have been absent from my Country and my home for So great a part of the last two and thirty Years, that I have never had an opportunity to be intimately Acquainted with the Affairs of the University or the Characters of the Gentlemen who have the immediate or mediate Government of it. This I have seen on days of Ceremony and formality only; occasions which will never let a Man into a precise Knowledge of the Virtues, Talents or Accomplishments of any body. I have therefore studiously and from principle abstained from any interference, or giving any Advice or using any influence. I Should have acquiessed had Mr Pearson been chosen: So I Should had Dr Kirkland been elected: So I did when Mr Ames was appointed.
Mr Webber is now elected and confirmed, and has Accepted. The Time for opposition is past. The Die is cast.—Every Friend to the University ought now to strengthen the hands and encourage the heart of the President, as far as he can. I shall therefore chearfully Submit to the Judgment of the Corporation and overseers, without a murmur. All that I have Seen and heard of Mr Webber is much in his favour. A Man who has no Ennemies, will in that Station soon find Friends—The Advantage of an extensive Knowledge of the World, in that Situation is not to be estimated very highly. Mr Ames’s Knowledge of the World, was in my opinion not of so good a quality for the Use of a Colledge as Dr Webbers: too much of it was derived from A. Hamilton  and his Worshipers. As a Writer and Speaker he had not that pure Simplicity which is the essential foundation of all good Writing. His metaphors and Similies were Scattered in too great profusion. His Garment was more Embroidery than Velvet: more gold laid than cloth. There was danger of his introducing into the University a false taste. Had he accepted however I should not have Said a Word. Dr Kirkland Dr Kirkland has more genius and genuine classical taste, than Ames, Pearson or Webber: yet either of them would have done well enough.
I regret the loss of Dr Pearson to the Society and lament his personal Misfortune. Elections, even when made by the most learned and virtuous Men, Surrounded as they always are in popular governments, by Competitors and their Parties Stimulated by all Sorts of political factions, make wild work with the feelings and Interest and often with the rights of individuals.
A certain Circle of Gentlemen in and about Boston, have for many Years laid a kind of Seige to the Colledge as well as to the Pulpits of the Town: And for what I know their Influence may have been beneficial. They are now aiming as I Suppose at Mr McKean for Mathematical Professor, who is Said, I know not how truely to be qualified for it and worthy of it.
As you justly observe it is very difficult for a Man who has the Government of Children old or young, at all times to preserve the serenity and Moderation of his temper. Some there are who have the happy faculty in a good degree: and some indeed have too much of it to be honest Men and faithfull Preceptors.
The cold blood with which the World can See, faithfull officers cashiered trusty servants discarded, and the best shipps hove down in the Mud: to rot is not much in favour of the Benevolence of human Nature. But what is this to the Pleasure which millions discovered in beholding the delicious Spectacle of the Guillotine in the Place de Louis quinze? Spouting Trunks and gasping heads were the delight of the Eyes of many People far above the Character of the Paris mob.
Alass for the Sors humanitatis, yet We must not hate it, nor despize it, but make the best of it, and believe it on the whole better than nothing. Nay We must on the whole believe it to be Social and benevolent in grain. At least this opinion has not yet been given up, and I believe never will be, by your friend and servant

J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 30 April 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Quincy April 30. 1806

I have always believed that the Afra Avis, was the Guinea Hen, but have lately heard it was the Turkey.
You say “Alass poor Europe” – I say “alass poor human nature.” I am as weary, as my friend the Abby Raynall, with contemplating the Stupidity of one part of Man kind and the Villany of the other: but I cannot say with him, if they are never to be wiser and better may they be annihilated. This I leave to eternal Wisdom. The Abby himself has contributed as much to the Stupidity and Knavery of the present Age, as Voltaire or Frederick: yet I cannot pray that any of them may be annihilated. Yet if Gods will were so I should acquiesse as cordially as a Hopkintonian. Oh! that England were wise, that she understood this; that she would consider her latter End! But she will not. A War with America will nearly compleat her Ruin. She is foolishly playing Us again into the hands of France, and We are already become the Shoelickers of Bonaparte, if Mr J. Randolph is to be credited.
The Conduct of the Livingstons has been like that of every other illustrious Family Since Adams fall. There has been for many years so much Talent Property and Popularity among them that it is impossible for them to be Silent or Still. The People will have them on one Side or the other, and the real principle of their Conduct is whatever may be their pretext flectere Se’negresco Superos Acheronta movebo.
You ask, from whence came the original Letters in the Port Folio? Mr Dumas employed his Daughter, to copy all the Letters he received in English, into a book as an exercise in that Language which he was anxious to teach to his only child. When my Sons were at the Hague, Nancy then married to a respectable Citizen, made a present of these Letters in three volumes in her hand Writing to Thomas B Adams, with her consent or request to publish them in America. You ask whether I consented to their publication? I answer I did not, on the contrary upon some accidental hint from me, that I should not like to have my Letters published, untill I could see them, they have been stopped. I am sorry now that I Said any thing about them. For, although I believe there is a good deal of my nonsense among them: yet as the public are already in possession of so many Silly things of mine, I See no reason to dread their having a trifling Addition to the heap.
You ask me whether Theophilus Parsons is really so eminent, as he is represented in the Port Folio? The Character of him, in that Paper is a boyish production. But Mr Parsons is undoubtedly one of the greatest Lawyers in the United States: and as eminent in Science and Litterature as any Man I know. Mr Parsons was not in the convention which formed the national Constitution: Mr Gerry, Mr Strong Mr King and Mr Gorham were Members from Massachusetts. But Mr Parsons was in the state convention that adopted the Federal Constitution.
You still Urge me to write my own Life. It is very hard to insist upon my representing myself to Posterity as more of a Coxcomb than I am. My Life is already written in my Letter books, as particularly as I wish it. There I shall appear as I wish with all my imperfections on my head. Were I as rich as the Duchess of Marlborough, I might like her bequeath a few hundreds or a few thousand Pounds to hire an elegant Writer to compose my history as she did to write the Life of her late Husband John Duke of Marlborough, and might instruct my Biographer to be carefull to shew that I might have risen to Great Honors and immense Wealth, by uniting with the British Parliament in their plan of subduing the Liberties of America, or by selling the Independence of my Country to France Spain Holland or England, as the Dutchess instructed her Biographer to shew that her Husband had it in his power to have risen to great Honours and Riches by uniting with King James in establishing Popery and arbitrary Power. But this is a kind of fame, that smells in my nostrils of infamy. I could not endure the thought or the supposition.
You give me great pleasure, by informing me that our Friend Luzae is restored to his sight and Professorship. He is one of the Sound hearts and choice Spirits, that I most loved and esteemed in this World.
I am as usual your friend

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 10 June 1806
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

My much respected & dear friend
Philada June 10th. 1806

My long delay in answering your last letter has arisen from two causes—an unusual share of business from an unusually sickly Spring—and the Want of Subjects for a letter that would be interesting to you.
I perfectly accord with you in your opinions respecting the tendency, and issue of the present state of things in the World. Never perhaps was there a time in which there was more to fear from the wickedness and folly, and less to hope from the Virtue & Wisdom of man. A newspaper, once the Vehicle of pleasing or useful intelligence, is now the sad record only of misery & crimes. All systems of political order and happiness seem of late years to have disappointed their founders and Advocates. Civilization, Science and Commerce have long ago failed in their Attempts to improve the Condition of mankind, and even liberty itself from which more was expected than from all other human means, has lately appeared to be insufficient for that purpose. If we fly from the lyon of despotism, the bear of Anarchy meets us, or if we retire from both, and lean our hand upon the Wall of our domestic sanctuary, the recollection of past, or the dread of future evils, bites us like a serpent.—
“Oh! for a lodge in some vast Wilderness!
Some boundless contiguity of Shade.
Where rumor of Oppression, and deceit,
Of unsuccessful and successful War,
Might never reach me more.”
My only hope for suffering, and depressed humanity is derived from a belief in a new and divine order of things which we are told will be introduced into our World by the influence of the Gospel upon individuals and nations. It was predicted of the Messiah that he should be “the desire of all nations.” Should the present system of violence and Subjugation of whole nations continue, that prophesy must soon be fulfilled, for I believe there is at this time scarcely a nation upon the face of the earth that is satisfied with its government, or its rulers, and that would not exchange both for others, though probably in their present state of ignorance—not—for the government of the future king of saints and nations. A few more years of suffering—will probably bring About the fulfilment of the prophesy, and render him indeed the “desire of all nations.”
You complain of my reserve upon political subjects. This you know is not natural to me. My silence upon those subjects arises Wholly, from ignorance, & perhaps a criminal indifference to the Affairs of our Country. You may easily conceive the extent of both, when I add, that no praises or censures pronounced upon J: Randolph’s famous speeches, could induce me to read them, and that at a time when little else was spoken of in all the fashionable circles in Philadelphia.
I am not surprised at you Anecdote of Govr McKean. Were I to turn Clergyman, I think I could preach a whole year upon two short texts. They are “Put not your trust in Man,” and “beware of Man.”
I have lately been favoured with a Visit from a Polish Gentleman who spent six Weeks in Paris on his Way to America. He described the present miserable state of his native country in the most pathetic and affecting terms. He dined with Tallerand while in Paris who spoke with great Contempt at his table of the American Character. He saw but one man in the United States (he said) who was unwilling to Sell every thing he possessed. The property held by that man so very dear was, “a favorite dog.”
I lament that my letters are such feeble echoes of yours. Continue to honour me with the your matured effusions of your mind reflections upon men and things. The most careless of them, afford neither of reflection instruction and pleasure to my whole family. I cannot conclude without offering my sympathy to you and Mrs Adams up in the your late Domestic Afflictions. I hope the name and blood of your grand son will save his life. Miranda has been the unfortunate cause of distress to more families than yours. Col. Burr who spent an hour or two with him at my house, said – “he would fail in his enterprise”—for “he is (said the Colonel) not a practical man.”
            With Cordial salutations to Mrs Adams in which my dear Mrs Rush joins I bid you an affectionate A Dieu!
            Ever yours

Benjn: Rush


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 26 June 1806
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir
Philadelphia June 26th. 1806

Herewith you will receive a small publication that contains several new Opinions in Physiology, and which admit of being applied to the cure of several diseases. If you have no inclination to read it, please to put it into the hands of your family physician. He may probably pick up something from it that may be the means of lessning the pain, or preventing the mortality of a disease in your family. Should this be the case, I shall be highly gratified, and richly rewarded for the labor of the inquiries & experiments that conducted me to the conclusions I have adopted. They have been received with partiality by my medical friends, and with candor, or silence by my medical enemies.
Permit me to rejoice in the Appointment of your son to an honourable & useful professorship in his Alma Mater. Few men in our country are more qualified to discharge its duties, with equal honor to himself and the University.
With best respects to Mrs Adams in which my dear Mrs Rush I am Dr Sir ever yours
Benjn: Rush


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 29 June 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dr Sir
Quincy June 29 1806.

I rejoice to find by your Letter of the 26. and by my Sons Conversation, that his commencement of a residence at Cambridge has been agreable to you and to him. He could not in his present Circumstances have been So hapily situated as he is. Two such Men as Dr Waterhouse and J. Q. Adams will find in the society of each other, and in the sciences and Litterature an inexhaustible fund of Amusement and of information. If his health and his other Engagements will allow him a career of three or four Years, I doubt not he will open a Road before the students to all that can be known, on the subjects of Rhetorick and Eloquence.
It is my ardent wish and confident hope that he will make no unnecessary difficulties with the Government of the Colledge, in any of its Branches. I wish he had delivered his first Lecture on fry day, even if the determination of the Corporation, had authorized him to repeat his first Lecture to the Sophomores, at their subsequent appearance. If I were in his case, and the Corporation should decide against admitting the Sophomores before Commencement, I would after Commencement repeat all the preceedent Lectures, although I might add a new Lecture, in every instance at the same time, if the Schollars should be detained a whole hour instead of half an hour it would not hurt them. I am sorry to hear that speaking has been considered an irksome taske, which ought to be a delightful employment and an object of Ambition.
Eloquence however can never be restored to its ancient Glory without more moral sentiments and public Virtue than I believe remain in the World. Duty, Virtue Obligation, Patriotism, appear to me to have become through the whole Earth at least with the Majority, mere stalking Horses to Ambition and Avarice.
With my best comps. to your good Lady, I remain with high esteem and respect your friend / and humble servant

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 11 July 1806
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

My venerable & dear friend
Philadelphia July 11. 1806

At the request of my Wife I called upon a friend of mine a few days ago to borrow “the secret memoirs of the Court of St: Cloud.” He said he had not a copy of it—but politely put into my hands “Cumberlands memoirs of his own life”, which I have since filled up the leisure minutes of the day in reading. It is a pleasant Work, and contains a good deal of information of men and things which would otherwise have never been known. He met with the a common Share of disappointments in life, and with a few instances of Unkindness & broken promises from his friends, but upon the whole his life was prosperous, and happy. He moved in subordinate situations in Life, and often saw the events & characters he describes, through the medium of Other people’s glasses. How much more interesting would a Work of the same kind be, written by a man who was the principal Actor in the events which he describes, and who lived in those times which laid the foundation for the present convulsions among the Nations of the earth?!—I once suggested in a Whisper to Mrs. Adams at Mr Boudinots table, that the history of your political life drawn up by yourself would be an invaluable legacy to the public,—or to your family, if you should, forbid its publication.—I am the more anxious for such a record of opinions and facts, from the gross ignorance and errors which we daily hear and read, from men who were children, or not born in the memorable & eventful years which preceeded the American Revolution. The life of Washington has not lessned the number of those errors. Two military men of high rank have complained loudly of being overlooked in the details of the battles that are recorded in that history. One of them assured me it wa that the account of one of those battles was so different from what he observed to take place in it, that he did not believe for a while, that it was the same event. The historian of that work should not be blamed. He is candid and upright. His documents have deceived him. I know the execution of such a work as I have recommended will be attended with difficulties, if it is to should be written so as to meet the public eye, before the present tide in favor of error has spent itself. But it may be withheld for years, and approachd resorted to only by your family for faithful statements of facts, till time shall remove the persons, or lessen the influence of the families, that might be offended by it. I shall only mention a single fact to illustrate the injustice and error that take place with respect to opinions & facts events. upon When a proposal for mitigating the severity of our penal laws was first published in Pennsylvania, and solitary labor was recommended as a substitute for Whipping, Cropping, and Hanging, the late worthy Judge Bradford treated that proposal with good humored ridicule. A few years Afterwards, he adopted all the ideas he had & ridiculed, and defended them in a learned and eloquent pamphflet. He is now revered with Dr as one of the Authors of our new  system of Criminal law. Dr Franklin shares with him in that honor,—Although he never wrote a line, nor uttered a sentiment in favor of it to my knowledge, neither before nor After it had taken place in Pennsylvania.—
I once heard a pious minister of the Gospel, say, that “God threw away, kingdoms and empires upon the most worthless part of mankind.” May not the same thing be said in many instances of Fame?—There is a disease known among physicians by the name of “error loci”—if fame, is not thrown away upon the worthless part of mankind, it is certainly often given to those to whom it does not belong, thereby constituting an historical “error loci.”
But why this solicitude to establish historical, or political truth in our world?—In what single instance have mankind been the better for it? We not only repeat the errors of other people though warned by their confessions to avoid them, but we repeat errors in spite of our own experience and even of our own sufferings from them.
I have read two things in our papers lately with great pleasure, the first is the account of your grandson not being in either of the two schooners captured by the Spaniards in Miranda’s expedition, and the other is—the great respect paid to your name & Character at the late public dinner in Boston on the 4th: of July.—
My eldest Son is now, or was lately at Salem. He has, very contrary to my wishes & advice returned to the navy, in which he commands a gunboat. Had he been in new york when Miranda sailed, I have no doubt, he would have been an Adventurer in his wild, and ill digested enterprise.
I thank you for your friendly notice of the compliment paid to my medical opinions by the Court; and medical College at Berlin. The Account of it found its way into our papers very much against my inclinations, and without my knowledge, for however gratifying it might be to my friends, I did not wish to give pain to my enemies by making it public. For the same reason I have concealed, except from half a dozen persons, several other flattering marks of Attention to my medical opinions in other parts of the World. Providence  often gives men a Currency, which they neither wished for, nor expected among their fellow men. My aim when I began to practise medicine, was humbly and closely to tread in the footsteps of my illustrious masters. To be the Author of a new system of medicine, was as foreign to my wishes &c views & even wishes in my profession, as it is now is to be Archbishop of Canterbury, or President of the United States. Thus babes & sucklings often  take the place of the mighty and the wise in the Affairs of this World as well as in that which is to come.
To resume the subject of the memoirs of your life. Frederick the 2nd says asks in his seven years War, “What did human reason ever do great in human affairs.”?— Where great events are brought about apparently by human reason, men are often I believe prompted to accomplish them by motives that are contrary to right reason. I am led to make this remark by recollecting the Absurd, and frivolous reasons which were given by many of our patriots in 1776 for concurring in the seperation of our Country from G Britain. One of these men said to me—“I am now for Independence, since the King of G Britain has employed Hessian Mercenaries to  assist in subjugating us”—Foolish man! As if there was any difference between being killed by a Hessian & a British bayonet! Hundreds advocated the measure only because the Indians were let loose upon our western settlements, as if the British  decrees & Attempts to enslave us, were  rendered more Absolute  by that single link in the Chain that was contrived to bind us. Few—very few consented to our becoming an independent nation from the influence of causes and motives which rendered a our reunion with Great Britain as impracticable after what had passed on both sides in 1774 & 1775, as the reunion of a body dissevered from its head by the stroke of an Axe.  Still fewer were actuated by a prospect of the future & permanent safety  happiness and prosperity of our country. Indeed we were conducted with our eyes blindfolded obliquely directed, and backwards, in spite of ourselves, to the haven of peace and independance. We are the causes of our own misery in most cases, but all our happiness is seems to be forced upon us by the kind, and invisible hand of heaven.—
With respects and love as usual, I am my ever dear friend, every yours

Benjn: Rush


Title: From John Adams to John Marshall, 17 July 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Marshall, John

My very dear Sir
Quincy July 17. 1806

Yesterday I received from the Post Office your obliging Letter of the Sixth of this month. It is not necessary for me to recurr to my Letter Books, and examine the few Letters I wrote to General Washington, before I assure you, that I Shalt take no offence at your inserting in your History, parts or the whole of them. They were written under great Agitation of Mind, at a time when a cruel necessity compelled me to take measures which I was very apprehensive would produce the Evils which have followed from them.
If you have detailed the Events, of the last years of General Washington’s Life, you must have run the Gauntlet’s between two infuriated factions, armed with scorpions
Incedis per ignes Suppositos cineri doloso.
It is a Period, which must however be investigated, but I am very confident will never be well understood. A first Magistrate of a great Republick with a General Officer under him, a Commander in Chief of the Army, who had ten thousand times as much Influence Popularity and Power, as himself, and that Commander in Chief So much under the influence of his second in command, the most treacherous malicious, insolent and revengeful Ennemy of the first Magistrate is a Picture which may be very delicate and dangerous to draw. But it must be drawn.
I Shall be very impatient to See the last Volumes of your History, which are not yet Arrived. There is one fact, perfectly clear and certain in my mind, which it will be difficult for posterity to believe, and that is that the measures taken by Senators, Members of the House, Some of the heads of departments, and Some officers of the Army to force me to appoint General Washington, and him induce him to accept the Appointment; proceeded not from any regard to him, or any confidence in his Character, but merely from an intention to employ him as an Engine to elevate Hamilton to the head of Affairs civil as well as military. But I am not about to write an History to you, instead of a Letter. I had much rather, at the time have resigned my Office to the general, if I could, than have appointed him in the Army.
Mrs Adams joins in the most friendly Salutations to you and to Mrs Marshall, with your Sincere Friend
J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from Daniel Eldridge Updike, 1 August 1806
From: Updike, Daniel Eldridge
To: Adams, John

                            Honble. Sir,
                            Surveyors Office Port of North Kingston District of Newport–State of Rhode-Island August 1st. 1806—

Yesterday the Schooner Ocean Capt: Richard Barney Arrived at this Port from Barbadoes via Turks Island, in which Vessel came passenger Doctr. John Kean of Philadelphia, late Surgeon of the Ship Leander, formerly commanded by Capt. Lewis of New York, Doctor Kean informs me that on the 20th of last June he left the Son of Collo. Smith of New York on board the Leander with General Miranda at Barbadoes in a good State of Health, and agreable flow of Spirits, and that he had been very well the whole voiage (except at times a little Sea sick)
And that on the afternoon of the same day, about 3 oclock the Leander weighed Anchor in Carlile Bay bound for Trinadad, accompanied by two British Sloops of War, a twenty Gun Brig, and two Schooners Doctr. Kean is of opinion that Genl. Miranda will effect a landing on the Spanish Main.
I beg Honble. Sir your forgiveness for the liberty I have taken in making these communications I was prompt so to do from an Idea that your Solicitude for young Mr. Smith must be great, being informed that he is your Grandson—Doctor Kean left this place to day in a Packet for Newport, in order to procure a passage to New York he told me that Collo. Smith would be one of the first Gentlemen he should wait on after his arrival in New York—
With great respect / I am Honble. Sir, / Your Obedient Servant

Daniel E UpdikeSurveyor of the Customs for the Port of North Kingston& Post Master at Wickford RI
PS Doctor Kean told me that Capt. Lewis left the Leander some days before him with a number of the other officers, I gave him a letter of introduction to the Editor of the Newport Mercury that he might verbally communicate—whatever might be thought proper to be inserted in said Newpaper, which comes from the Press tomorrow—the Doctor Dined with me yesterday spent a considerable part of the day at my House, and conversed freely upon what had happened during his expidition with Miranda, a detail of which would be too tedious to insert in this letter—
with great respect I am your svt

D E U


Title: From John Adams to Daniel Eldridge Updike, 7 August 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Updike, Daniel Eldridge

Sir
Quincy August 7. 1806

I received yesterday, at the Post Office, in this Town, the polite and obliging Letter, with which you favoured me, on the first of this month, and for which I pray you to accept of my best thanks.
William Steuben Smith is my grandson, the oldest Son of my only Daugher and born in my House in Grosvenor Square in Westminster when I was Minister of the United States at the Court of Saint James’s, where his Father and Mother were married by the Bishop of St Asaph, and where the Boy was christened by Dr Price. So many curious circumstances added to the natural relation, will easily convince you that he is dear to my heart. A captain Stevens of the British Army was his Great Grand Father, by the Side of his father and his paternal Grandmother, who died lost his Life on the Expedition against Cuba, in the reign of George the Second. Such a Circumstance in a Family Seldom fails to transmit a military tincture to their posterity for Several generations. His Father was named William Stevens Smith, after his Grand father, which has filled his breast with military Enthusiasm from his early Age. And all these Things together have made the Child who is the subject of this Letter almost from his cradle a prattler about War and Warriours and Heroes. It is not then, very Surprising that Such a Youth, of Nineteen, the Son of such a Father, Should think it, a very pretty thing to embark in the cause of Liberty and oppressed humanity, under Such a Hero as Miranda has been, very imprudently represented to be in this Country for more than twenty years.
I knew nothing of the Expedition, untill a fortnight at least after it had Sailed. If I had been apprised of it, I certainly Should have exerted all the Influence and all the Authority, which the Character of a Grand father could claim to have prevented his Embarkation. As it was, I could com only commit him to the Benevolence of Heaven. If I could obtain for him the place of a common Sailer on board of one of Mr Jeffersons Gun boats in exchange for his present Situation and prospects, I would employ all the Interest I have too with our ruling Powers for that purpose. For the whole Plan, and all the designs of Miranda, as far as I can understand or conjecture, have my most decided disapprobation, not because I am against the liberation of the oppressed, but because I See no prospect of Success in Such an Enterprise, and because, if there were Such a prospect, while We are bound by a Treaty of Peace with Spain We have no right to engage in it.
Thus You See, your genteel and generous Letter, has drawn upon you the garrulity of a Grand father, which I hope you will excuse in your most obedient and very much obliged / humble Servant

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from David Adams, 20 August 1806
From: Adams, David
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir
Fourto Bay On the Labradore August 20th. 1806

I Send you A few Lines to Enform you That I have Receivd, A letter from My Mother  the 20 of May 1806 Enforming Me that All the Fammily of Your Late Deceased Brother Is Well at present And I hope that these few Lines Will find You the Same. I also Enform you that After the Death of My father I was Oblidgd to Come to this Cuntry for to Git My Living and I find it Very hard to do that here—I Should be Very happy to Receiv. a Letter from Your Onner Next Spring if you pleas. I have Nothing More At present But I Remain Your Dutifull Servent untill Death.

David Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 August 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Quincy August 23. 1806

In your Letter of the seventh of July, you flatter me, with very high Eulogies, and compleat the Climax of them, with the opinion of Washington.—For the future I pray you to spare yourself the trouble of quoting that great Authority in my favour. Although no Man has more settled opinion of his Integrity and Virtues than myself, I nevertheless desire that my Life Actions and Administration may be condemned to everlasting oblivion, and I will add infamy, if they cannot be defended by their own intrinsic merit, and without the Aid of Mr Washingtons Judgment. The Federalists, as they are called by themselves and by their Enemies, have done themselves and their Country incalculable injury by making Washington, their military political, religious and even moral Pope, and ascribing every Thing to him. Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Jay, and several others have been much more essential Characters to America than Washington—Another character almost forgotten was of more importance than any one of them all was James Otis. It is, to offend against eternal Justice to give to one, as this People do, the Merits of so many. It is an effectual extinguisher of all Patriotism, and all public Virtue and throwing the Nation wholly into the hands of intrigue. You lament the growth of corruption, very justly; but there is none more poisonous, than the eternal puffing and trumpeting of Washington and Franklin, and the incessant abuse of the real Fathers of their Country.
You speak of the Livingstons. The Passion which has influenced the Chancellor, through Life has been envy of Mr Jay, and consequent Jealousy of the Friendship between Mr Jay and me. He hated me because I was the friend of Mr Jay.
History they say should open the secret springs of Action and devellope the concealed motives of the Actors. Do you believe there ever was such an History? I wish you would try your hand at it. Draw the Characters, write the Lives of Jay, Clinton, Hamilton and Burr, trace their motives and describe their Intrigues. Jay who is no intriguer, has been the constant object of the Jealousy Envy and intrigues of the other three. Hamilton supported by Englishmen, Scotchmen old , and by Washington and his army of friends as well as soldiers, was the most operative Character, and Burr had subtlety enough to wriggle himself up, between them, sometimes sympathyzing with one and sometimes with another of them.—The Intrigues of New York have decided the Politicks of the Continent, and Alexander Hamilton was at the bottom of it all.
Talk not of amputation my friend. This must not be. We must adhere together. We have and shall have white Roses and red Roses, Whites and Blacks; Virtue will often go by the Walls and Vice array herself in the robes of state: foolish fellows will be admired and silly measures adopted: but this Country can bear these things better than any other; and they had better be borne, than a much greater Evil Division.
If accumulated Employments, And too assiduous Application should not kill my son J. Q. Adams, he will promote the Taste and Litterature of this Country. He has indeed already done it, by a course of Lectures which will not soon be forgotten.
I believe the “devoted Gang” as you call it, in our Senate of Massachusetts, has no Chief at all; I am sure it has no head nor heart.
Are you a Loyal subject of the King of Holland? or are you ready to swear Allegiance to King Jerome, in America?
I am as usual your friend
J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 19 September 1806
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy September 19. 1806

Thanks for your favour of Aug. 22d. My Experience is perfectly conformable to yours, respecting silent Men. Silence is most commonly design and Intrigue. In Franklin it was very remarkable, because he was naturally a great Talker. I have conversed with him frequently in his garrulous humours, and his Grandson, or Son, Billy has told me that he never knew a greater Talker than his Grandfather. But at other times he was as silent as midnight, and often upon occasions and in relation to subjects on which it was his duty to Speak. Arthur Lee told me he had known him Sit whole Evenings in London, without uttering a Word in company with the first Men for Science and Literature, when the conversation has turned upon subjects, on which he was supposed to be well informed.
Whether the Age of oratory will ever return I know not. At present it seems to be of little Use, for every Man in our public assemblies will vote with his party, and his nose is counted before he takes his Seat. Dialecticks are as unavailing as Rhetorick. The Man is determined and his Vote is decided let Reason, Justice, Policy or humanity Say what they will. The Theory however ought not to be neglected in our Seats of Education. Better times may arrive. My Son has delivered six Lectures to his Pupils beside his inaugural Address, and I Suppose he will deliver, Six or Eight more—before he returns to Washington. At the expence of immense labour he has opened a field before the Students and furnished the means of investigation, which will enable them to pursue the investigation Subject to any length they please and make themselves masters of all that is now to be known. He has and will lay open to them all the richest treasures of Greek and Roman, English and French Elegance Sublimity and Pathos, and perhaps Something from Italy and Germany. His Health I fear will sink under his Efforts.
Dr Priestleys Life, I should be very glad to See, and hope that some of them will be Sent to Boston for Sale. He was a man of very extraordinary Talents and incredible Application. If he had written but a tenth part of his Works he would have left a ten times greater reputation. If he had written nothing, but his Chimistry he would have been thought a prodigy.
Suppose a grave controversy Should arise, among the friends of Dr Rush, Dr Franklin and Dr Rittenhouse, which of the three had the best pretensions to the honor of the discovery of the demonstration that the 3 Angles of a triangle are equal to two right Angles! You will say this would be ridiculous, for the discovery was made some thousands of Years before either of those Philosophers was born. Very true, and equally absurd is the dispute, whether the original Idea of the perfectibility of Man, is to be ascribed, to Dr Price Dr Priestly or Mr Condorcet. It is more ancient than either by thousands of Years. Plato had it, when he talked of imitating God. The Stoicks had it, when they discribed their wise Man. Epicurus had it when he described his man of pleasure. The human mind is made capable of conceiving something more perfect than any created Being, that exists. Artists Painters, Poets, Statuaries, Musicians, are all capable of conceiving and imagining Something in their Arts, Superiour to any thing they have done or has been done by others. It is a precept in  all these Arts as well as in Ethicks to aim at greater perfection than has ever been Attained and perhaps than ever can be attained. The Christian Religion has adopted and Sanctioned this Theory in Stronger terms than any modern Philosophers have employed. Be ye perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect. The eternal, omnicient, omnipotent, and all benevolent Model of perfection is placed before Men, for their perpetual Meditation and imitation. By this however it is not intended, that every Man can ever become, eternal almighty and Alwise. It is an Idea of the Christian religion, And ever has been of all Believers in the immortality of the Soul that the intellectual part of Man is capable of progressive improvement for ever. Where then is the Sense of calling the perfectability of Man an original Idea or a modern discovery. What is their meaning under these Words; perfectability of Man. Do they mean that the human Body can be made immortal on Earth and incorruptible, free from Pains and diseases, by human reason? Do they mean that the Strength of the human Body can be increased so as to remove mountains, to Shake the Earth and Stop the planets? If they mean any, Such things as these, the discovery has not yet been made and never will be. Do they mean that the human Intellect can be enlarged, here in the Body to comprehend the whole Constitution and cause of nature? This is not less incredible, and extravagant than the rest.—In Short I consider, the Perfectibility of Man as used by modern Philosophers, to be mere Words without a meaning, that is mere nonsense.
The continual amelioration of the condition of Man in this World moral Physical, political, civil and Œconomical, is a very intelligible Idea and no doubt is to be desired, meditated laboured; and promoted by all Men and those who do most for it ought to be most esteemed. But in this there is nothing but Simplicity and common Sense, nothing to excite the gaping Wonder of a vicious mob, nor the ignorant Admiration of Superficial Philosophers. As a friend to Dr Price and Dr Priestly I will never require this honor for them, from any body. Condorcet is well come to as much of this honour as he pleases, and to all the mischievous nonsense, impudence and Cruelty that he instigated and promoted. Poor Price was once left, gravely to publish in print that the progress of Knowledge might discover a Method, of rendering Men immortal on Earth.
Kant the German Philosopher, has advanced, as I understand, though I never could find any intelligible Account of his reveries, something like this notion of perfectability, and I believe before Priestly Price or condorcet. His System is Antagonism. And what is Antagonism? Why, all Government, is to be abolished, as well as all religion, and Men are to be left to their natural Jealousies and Competitions, till they beat and bruise and murder one another, Sufficiently to convince and compell each other to practice perfect Justice Humanity and Benevolence. Are Such Dreams, Visions and ravings any honor, to any body. Call them Philosophy if you will but they are bedlamism.
We in this commonwealth, are making great Avances, if not in the Perfectibility of human nature, yet in the great Art of lying and libelling and the other Arts which grow out of them, such as wielding the Cudgel and the Pistol. When democratical Governments begin to produce Such fruits as these in Such great Abundance, what are We to expect? A conviction in favour of mixed Governments? Or a Caesar, or Bonaparte? To be Sure it is Safest in Such cases to be on the Side of the Populace, because Men are Safer from Proscriptions and denunciations Confiscations and Guillotines. There is little for me to loose in the worst times or Cases that can happen. My property is Small and the remainder of my Life is Short. But oh my Country, how I mourn over thy follies and Vices, thine ignorance and imbecillity, Thy contempt of Wisdom and Virtue and overweening Admiration of fools and Knaves! the never failing effects of democracy. I once thought our Constitution was quasi a mixed Government, but they have now made it, to all intents and purposes, in Virtue, Spirit and effect a democracy. We are left without resources but in our prayers and tears, and have nothing that We can do or Say but the Lord have mercy upon Us and as I used to say in the time of the Revolution, in times moments of critical distress, with too much levity I fear, and too little serious consideration, “Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord.” I really believe, I now Say it, with more Serious impressions.
If Mr Jefferson was a Warriour, I Should Suspect that his Administration was contrived to involve give Employment to the People and turn their minds from faction and Politicks by involving him Self and them in a War, with Spain France or England or with all three. The Romans were obliged to practice this policy for Seven hundred Years. But Jefferson is not a Roman. If Peace should be concluded between France and England, We Shall be in a perilous Situation. I Sometimes think that Bonaparte is making Peace with Mr Fox, for the Sake of Chastizing Jefferson and his Coadjutors, whom by this time he must despize and hate. I am, as usual, your
obliged friend

J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 24 October 1806
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir
Philadelphia October 24th 1806

Ever since the receipt of your last letter I have passed my days like an arrow shot from a bow. At a time of life when (to use an expression in one of your letters written to me soon after your return from England) “nature sighs for repose,” I live in a Constant round of business, which employs both body and mind. Even my studies (the times for which are taken from family Society or Sleep) are laborious, for they consist chiefly of difficult, and long controverted Subjects in physiology. I mention these things not as matters of complaint, but to apologize for my apparent neglect of your invaluable letters. I am resigned—patient, and happy in the situation in which it has pleased God to place me in the evening of my life. Blessed with a prudent and Sensible Wife, I am relieved from all Solicitude About the Affairs of my family, and even from much of the trouble of instructing my Children which usually falls to the lot of a father. In all things I wish to learn the Apostolic lesson of “giving thanks.”
The public papers will inform you of the issue of the election in our state. It is supposed the opponents of Mr McKean and the friends of a Convention will compose a majority of both houses of Our legislature. Their triumph has been ascribed to a want of Union & Concert between the federalists, and the tertium quids (as Duane calls them) or the third party.
Two pamphflets are now in Circulation in our city.—One called the “quid Mirror” which Contains a most virulent Attack upon the Characters of the leading members of the quid party. It has produced several chaulenges, and one assault and battery. The Other pamphflet is a defence of the Conduct of General Armstrong in Paris respecting a ship owned by two respectable merchants in Philadelphia. It is said to be well written. Jno Randolph is the Subject of a good deal of Abuse in it. I have seen neither of these publications. By preserving my beloved ignorance of the Contents of such performances, I am kept from imbibing their Spirit, and from giving Offence by deciding upon their respective merits. Indeed I now consider the disputes of our parties as Hume considered the Wars during the heptarchy in England—as “the battles of kites & crows in the Air.”—
Adieu! my dear and venerable friend. Salute your fire Side as usual in the names of all my family. I shall expect a Call from your son on his way to Washington. Excuse this short and hasty Scrawl, from the hand and heart of your Affectionate & / grateful friend

Benjn. Rush.