Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 August 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir.
Quincy August 11th: 1805.

Many thanks for your favour of the 9th: and the copy of your Memorial to the Corporation. I really think you have a right to take for your motto, which of Virgil’s lines you please. I was too hasty in the choice of mine. I have not been a Bee. My object has not been luxurious, like honey, but essentials of life, like Corn. I have had no sting, at least have used none. If I had I might have made my enemies smart. I am a Sheep and have been fleeced, and before my shearers have been dumb and opened not my mouth. But the Ox befits me best. "Sic vos non, vobis fertis aratra boves." Hard, laborious tugs at the plough for fifty years have been my lot; not only lashed with the whip by my drivers, but my ribs and back broken, my face eyes & nose bruised by merciless blows with the but end of the goad, which has been at length shivered like a broomstick, by such clowns as Callender, Duane, Hamilton & Paine.
When the dull Ox shall know why, now he breaks the clod.
Is now a victim, now a Yankee’s God.
Then shall my pride and dullness comprehend
My actions, passions, being use and end.
In 1788 Captain Callahan lay wind-bound, a week in Portland road near Weymouth on the English Channel. Portland hill is adjoining to the Road, as famous for Stones for building in England as our Quincy mountains are for Granite in this Country—Ours indeed are of a superior quality both for beauty & duration. I ascended the Mountain more than once. The stone is raised from the bowels of the hill to the top and drawn down the sides, which are long and in some places very steep by horses, which by poetical license we will call Oxen. The loads are enormous—sometimes of fifteen tons weight. When the team arrives at one of the steep places, they take off from before, two, four, and some-times say six, Oxen—hitch them behind the load and make them draw up hill. The drivers lash whip and goad these poor creatures, who are obliged to exert every nerve to prevent the load from rolling on and killing all their horses and crushing all their machinery. I have been from the year 1779, when the Constitution of Massachusetts was made precisely one of these oxen; drawing up hill against a long team of Democrats, straining down to a government in one center. How I have been lashed, goaded, threatened and stunned you know very well; and my pure, virtuous, humane, polite, most enlightened on earth, fellow-citizens from St: Croix to Mississippi have stood collected and beheld this bullbating, with as much delight as the Spanish crowd I saw in Corunna, at a similiar spectacle. Much good may their entertainment do them—so much for my title to change the Bee for the Ox in my Motto.
Although both you and I have a most perfect right to complain and to compare grievances with each other, yet I hope we never shall forget the dialogue between Otis & Mollineux, which I believe I related to you; if not, I will. The moral was, "pocket your account of profit & loss & say little about it, lest the world deride you." I don’t know but I shall write you on clouds and ficus.
With usual regard &ca:


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 23 August 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Benjamin

My dear old Friend
Quincy August 23d. 1805.

Your favour of the 14th gives an exact Analysis of Pennsylvania and its Parties: and from it, a probability results, that the Old Constitution will be revived. But, for what reason do you call it Dr. Franklins? I always understood it to be the Work of Cannon, Matlack, Young and Paine, and that Franklin, though President of the Convention, had no greater hand in its fabrick than the painted head of a Ship has in her Pilotage and navigation. I remember to have heard, that during my Absence from Congress, either before its departure from Phyladephia in 1777 or after its Arrival in Baltimore Motions were made by R. H. Lee and Mr. Samuel Adams, for Sending fresh Instructions to Dr Franklin Mr Deane and Mr Arthur Lee, authorizing them to offer to the French Court Some Additional Articles of Alliance, Warranty or Privilidges in trade, which at my Instance had been carefully avoided in the Plan of the Treaty and in the first Instructions. I Should be very much obliged to you, if you can recollect and write me the particulars.
I am extreamly Sorry you relinquished your design of Writing Memoirs of the American Revolution. The burning of your Documents was let me tell you, a very rash Action, and by no means justifiable upon good Principles. Truth, Justice and Humanity are of eternal Obligation and We ought to preserve the Evidence, which can alone Support them—I do not intend to let every Lye impose upon Posterity.
You rank Colonel Hamilton among the Revolutionary Characters. But why? The Revolution had its beginning its middle and its End before he had any thing to do in public affairs. Col. Reed, Col. Harrison and Mr Edmund Randolph were Secretaries to General Washington before Hamilton was in his Family, as an Aid du Camp or Scribe. I never knew that Such a Man or Boy was in his Suite, nor did I ever hear the Name of Hamilton, till after the Evacuation of New York this Boy came forward a bawling Advocate for the Tories. Then Smith Humphreys and Hamilton, were first talk’d of as Aids. They were all Advocates for the Tories, and honorably and justly So because the Tories had clear right to the Stipulations of the Treaty of Peace. Hamiltons Zeal in their favour procured him their Votes and Interest not only in the City of New York but all over the Continent as long as he lived. He quitted the Army for a long time as I have heard, in a Pet and a Miff with Washington. Great Art has been used to propagate an Opinion that Hamilton was the Writer of Washingtons best Letters and most popular Addresses: especially that to the Governors of the States on his resignation of his Command of the Army. This I know to be false. It was the joint production of Col. Humphries and another Gentleman a better Writer and more judicious Politician, whom I will not name at present.
The Revolution began in Strict Exactness from the Surrender of Montreal in 1759. It took a gloomy and dreadful form in 1761 So as to convince me at least that it would be inevitable.  It continued, till 1776,  when on the fourth of July it was completed. The Parts We acted from 1761 to 1776 were more difficult more dangerous and more disagreable than all that happened afterwards till the peace of 1783. I know therefore of no fair title that Hamilton has to a revolutionary Character.
You Say that Washington and Hamilton are idolized by the Tories.—Hamilton is: Washington is not. To Speak the truth they puffed Washington like an air Balloon to raise Hamilton into the Air. Their preachers, their orators, their Pamphlets and Newspapers have Spoken out and avowed publicly Since Hamiltons death, what I very well knew to be in their hearts for many Years before, vizt—that Hamilton was every thing and Washington but a Name. Even as our Massachusetts Democrats have last year been left to acknowledge that Mr Handcock was a Cypher and Mr Sullivan the figure. Both with as much falsehood as ingratitude.
The “quantum profuisti de fabula Christi of Leo the tenth which you apply to the funding System with So much Ingenuity, I cannot think applicable with Strict Justice. I know not how Hamilton could have done otherwise. To be Sure it was a very lucrative turn of affairs to Some people. Hamiltons Talents have been greatly exaggerated. His Knowledge of the great Subjects of Coin and Commerce, and their intimate Connection with all departments of every Government, especially Such as are So elective, as ours was very superficial and imperfect. He had derived most of his Information from Duer, who was a Brother in Law of Mr Rose, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under Mr Pitt. Duer had been long Secretary to the Board of Treasury. Lee Osgood and Livingston were all Men of Abilities and kept the Books of the Treasury in good order. Duer became assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Hamilton. Our old Treasury under the old Congress had its Register its Auditor &c. So that little Alteration was made besides abolishing the Board and placing a Secretary in its Stead. Wolcotts indefatigable Industry with a Seven Years experience at the Connecticutt Pay Table, came in Aid of Hamilton and Duer. So that I See no extraordinary reason for so much exclusive glory to Hamilton. I have never had but one opinion of Banks. One national Bank with a Branch for each State, the whole inexorably limited to ten or fifteen millions of Dollars, is the Utmost length to which my Judgment can go. The Army was none of my Work. I only advised a few Companies of Artillery to garrison our most exposed forts that a Single frigate or Picaroon Privateer might not to take them at the first assault. Hamiltons Project of an Army  of fifty thousand Men, ten thousand of them to be horse, appeared to me to be proper only for Bedlam. His friends however in Senate and the House embarassed me with a Bill for more Troops than I wanted.
When I first took the Chair I was extreamly desirous of availing myself of Mr Madisons Abilities Experience, Reputation and amiable qualities. But the violent Party-Spirit of Hamiltons Friends, jealous of every Man who possessed qualifications to eclipse him prevented it. I could not do it without quarrelling outright with my Ministers whom, Washingtons Appointment had made my Masters, and I gave it up. Yet Hamilton himself intrigued in a curious manner, which I may perhaps explain hereafter, if you desire it. Colonel Burr is another, whom I was desirous of making a Brigadier General. I proposed it to Washington, who said “he had reason to believe that Burr would make a good officer: But the question was whether he would not be too good at Intrigue.” I have reason to believe that Washington proposed it to Hamilton and that he prevented it. My Reason for this  belief I will also give you if you wish to know it. Upon Second thought, as I have paper enough I may as well tell you now:—Col Burr, visited me at Phyladelphia as he always did When he came near me, and asked me whether I had Authorised Hamilton to propose to him an Appointment in the Army? As I never had mentioned or Suggested the Idea to Hamilton I answered No.—Burr Said that Hamilton had frequently of late asked him, what he thought of an Appointment, and whether he could cordially cooperate with Washington. Burr Said he Answered that he dispized Washington, as a Man of no Talents and one who could not Spell a Sentence of common English. I reproved Burr for this folly and Said his Prejudices made him very unreasonable, for to my certain Knowledge Washington was not So illiterate. Burr Said he was determined the first time he Saw me, to ask me whether Hamilton had been moved by me, or whether his questions to him were insidious. I explained nothing to Burr and he knows not to this day, that I ever mentioned him or thought of him for a Appointment. My Conclusion is however, that, Washington had mentioned it to Hamilton, but his Jealousy of Burr would not allow him to consent.
Affections between the Families as usual. Injunctions will be observed.
J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 4 September 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy September 4. 1805

De la Marre, tells us, that in the North of Holland they make use of Fucus to support their Dikes. In other places, they employ these plants to fertilize their lands. on Several of the french Coasts of the ocean, they call "Cluys" those of these plants which the Sea casts upon the Shore; and Vraicq, those which they go and pull off from the rocks, in the months of January and February, an employment which requires both labour and Address, besides the Vigilance to avoid being Surprized by the tide. The Inhabitants of those maritime Provinces agree that this Manure produces fine Wheat, the first Year and afterwards a good harvest of Oats, but that another dressing of these plants is necessary for a third Crop, of whatever nature the Soil may be whether Sandy or more Substantial. In the first number of the Museum Rusticum et Commerciale, printed in London in 80 It is said that the Effect of Varech is perceivable for Seven or eight Years: We know not, from what, Such a disproportion proceeds. Another use, to which they apply this plant, on the Coast of Normandy is to make of it a Species of Saltwort, of middling quality, and nearly allied to marine Salt. Mr Duhamel, has described the preparation, at large, of this Salt in the second Volume of his Treatise of Trees and Shrubs. p.80.1.2. and in this last page, he indicates, the Causes why the Salt of Varech is often of a very bad quality, in the neighborhood of Cherbourg.
In general the Salt of Varech contains little but marine Salt, and very little Alkaline Salt: whereas the Salt (soude) of Alicant, has extremely little of marine Salt, and is loaded with the Alkaline Salt, peculiar to the Soda which is but the basis of marine Salt.
They consume a great deal of the Soude of Varech  in melting common glass, both for Windows, mirrors and the Table. This Soude gives to the glass, a greenish colour. It is employed to a total loss; Serving only to aid the fusion or Vitrification of other matters, and in no way to augment them: Whereas the Soude of Alicant, renders the glass more white more brilliant, more transparent; and augments the quantity, So than an hundred Weight of this Soude, gives fifty Weight of Glass, beyond the Weight of all the other matters with which, it is part in fusion.
I know not the precise Word used in English for the Stone or Salt, which is made of this Soude.
La Marre Says Soude; or La Marie, is in latin, Soda; Kali; Salsola: and Glass wort in English. In the plants of this kind the Calyx of the flower Subsists with the grain, and is formed of five oval pieces, the extremity of which is coloured. There are no petals. Five Stamens are implanted, between the divisions of the Calyx. The embrio or the ovary is nearly round, and Surmounted, with a forked Style whose branches are crooked. To this Succeeds a round case, which has on the inside but one apartment, and one Single Seed, which indeed is large enough.
Species
1. Kali vermiculatum, Hispanicum, viride, frutescens of Barrelier, a French Botanist, who wrote an Hortus Mundi, or Orbis botanicus. This Shrub is entirely green. Its, Husks, Cobs, or Shells are twisted in the form of a Gunworm.
2. Kali Siculum lignosum floribus membranaceis, of Bocconi an Italian Botanist, who was sometime Botanist to Ferdinand the Second, grand Duke of Tuscany. The Sicilians call this plant Luita. Its roots run deep into the earth, and are Sometimes as large as a Mans thigh. Out of them Spring rods of Wood, divided into many Slender branches: on which are distributed, little whiteish leaves opposed in pairs. At every knot of the plant branches, during Summer arise four, thin membranous leaves, white, well Scattered, and dispersed which greatly adorn the plant, and Seem to make parts of the flowers. The grain is covered with a Skin, fine and red. Compare the figure of it given by Bocconi in his Icones et Descriptiones variorum plantarum Tab. 31; with Barrelier. Plantæ per galliam, Hispaniam et Italiam Observatæ. page. 49 et Ic. 10034.
3. Kali Spinosum, foliis longioribus et angustioribus. of Tournefort, Institutiones rei herbariæ. This is the common Salt wort of Languedoc and Provence. It grows on the sands on the Water Side. It is an annual plant, which forms a tuft, very abundant in branches which may be a foot and a half long. The leaves are very narrow about an inch long, terminated, in a Sharp point; and have two prickles at their base.
4. Kali Ægyptium non Spinosum, Tomentosum et incanum. Its leaves are white, hairy and without thorns.
5. Kali majus cochleato Semine.It’s stalk is herbacious. When cultivated it is three feet high; if not it is restrained to a foot and an half, all garnished with hairy and reddish branches, in form of a Pyramid or a Cone. on the body of the plant, and at the bottom of the branch the leaves are long, narrow, fleshy, succulent, terminated in points, but rarely Sharp: those, higher up, are Short and twisted. The flowers are very Small yellowish and grow in the Armpits of the leaves. Each Seed is curled in a Spiral. This plant grows in abundance, on the borders of the Sea, in Provence, and along the Rhone, at Arles. It flourishes in the month of June: and its grain is ripe at the End of August.
6. Kali Fruticosum Hispanicum, Tamarisci folio of Tourefort. Inst. R. Herbariæ. This Species growsof  itelf in Spain. It forms a long lived shrub, three or four feet high, ganished with knots, and branchy. Its leaves are fleshy, oval terminates in points, distributed in parcells along the branches, and Shaggy. The flowers, grow between them, towards the extremities of the Branches, and are very Small.
7. Kali humile, alis purpureis florem rosaceum mentientibus. This plant is found in Tartary, where it grows without culture. It is annual. Its Stalks are herbacious, rarely more than Six Inches high; It’s leaves, extremely fine, terminate in a prickle. The flowers are of a rose colour, and Small, Soon falling off: they are accompanied with purplish bloomings of flours, which one would take for the flower of Roses.
8. Chenopodium, or in English, Goose foot, or Wild Wrack. There are Eleven Species of this, one of which is the Chenopodium Sedi folio minimo frutescens perenne of Boerhave. It furnishes Salts for the Glass houses for which reason the English call it Shrubby Glass Wort.
Another species, Chenapodium Mmaritimum, Kali folio, is extremely Ssalt. From this is extracted the white Alkaline Salt of Languedoc.
Uses.
The first Species of this Kali, Glasswort or Soude, furnishes a great part of the Alkaline Salt of Spain.
Bocconi Says, they make a great use of the ashes of the Second Species, in Sicily to cleanse and whiten Linnen.
In general, in those places, where these Glass Worts of different kinds grow, they burn them all together to obtain an Alkaline Salt. The fifth Species is much esteemed in France for this Object. This is the prossess. Having dug a ditch near the Sea, they place over it, laths, crosswise; upon which they lay an heap of the plants, collected at their full growth: then the kindle a fire Sufficient to reduce them to ashes: which are either blackish or ashcoloured, of a taste, very Salt, and hot. When they are well hardened, as it were in Stone, they call them Soude, Salicote &c They are Employed by Glassmakers, Soap boilers and Bleachers.
Mr Duhamel de Monceau, in 1766, gave to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris, a memoire which Serves as a proof what he had advanced in 1755 in his Treatise of Trees and Shrubs. Vol. 2. p.75 that the maritime plants which furnish the Alkaline Salt called Soude, contain more or less of marine Salt; but  when they are plants at a distance from the Sea, their Alkaline Salt is more analogous to Salt of Tartre. In the Memoir of 1766 Mr Duhamel relates, that having Sowed in his lands, in the Neighborhood of Beauce, the Same Species of Kali, which, cultivated at the Same time near the Sea, gave a Salt in which was manifest the base of marine Salt; his plants gave him, one, which was almost wholly of the nature of Salt of Tartre. This Theory is not indifferent for the uses in which the Soude is employed. For example, We know that the Alkaline Salts analogous to marine Salts, produce a Soap very dry; while the others can only make liquid Soap.
The best Soude is that, which casts itself into a Stone, hard and sounding, of a grey colour, inclining to Blue Strewed, with little orifices. Such is that of Alicante. The Soude of Carthagena is darker and less esteemed. When We moisten, with Saliva, or morcell of good Soude We percieve an odour of violette, mixed with a urinous volatile. The Soude is a remedy, very opening and cleansing, usefull in disorders of the Skin.
Most of the Washerwomen in Paris employ it in their lye, instead of Wood Ashes: but the linnen is soon worn out and destroyed, if they are not very carefull to proportion the quantity of Water, to extenuate the Soude.
Salsola
In the 16th. Vol. of the American Encyclopædia. p. 618. We find Salsola, Glasswort: A genus of the Digynia order, belonging to the Petandria Class of plants, and in the natural method ranking under the twelfth order Holoraceæ. The calyx is pentaphyllous; there is no corolla; the capsule is monospermous, with a  Serenved Seed. There are five Species of it.
1. The Kali which grows naturally in the Salt Marshes in diverse parts of England. It is an annual plant, which rises above five or Six Inches high, Sending out many Side branches, which Spread on every Side, garnished with Short awlshaped leaves; which are fleshy and terminate in Acute Spines. The flowers are produced from the Side of the Branches, to which they Sit close, and are encompassed by Short prickly leaves; they are Small and of an herbaceous Colour. The Seeds are wrapped up in the empalement of the flower, and ripen in Autumn; Soon after which the plant decays.
2. The Tragus, grows naturally on the Sandy Shores of the South of France, Spain and Italy. This is also an annual plant, which Sends out many diffused Stalks in the Same manner as those of the ; their Empalements are blunt and not so closely encompassed with leaves as those of the former, garnished with linear leaves an inch long, ending with Sharp Spines. The flowers come out of the Side of the Stalks in the Same manner as those of the former; their Empalements are blunt and not so closely encompassed with leaves as those of the other.
3. The Soda rises with herbaceous Stalks, near three feet high, Spreading wide. The leaves on the principal Stalk, and those on the lower part of the branches, are long, Slender, and have no Spines; those on the upper part of the Stalk and branches are Slender, Short, and crooked. At the base of the leaves are produced the flowers, which are Small and hardly perceptible; the empalement of the flower afterwards encompasses the capsule which contains one cochleated Seed.
4. The Vermuiculata, grows naturally in Spain. This hath natural Shrubby perennial Stalks, which rise three or four feet high, Sending out many Side branches, garnished with fleshy, oval, acute pointed leaves, coming out in clusters, from the Side of the branches; they are hoary and have Stiff prickles. The flowers are produced from between the leaves, toward the Ends of the branches; they are So Small, as Scarce to be discerned unless they are closely viewed. The Seeds are like those of the other kinds.
5. The Rosacea grows naturally in Tartary. This is an annual plant, whose Stalks are herbaceous, and Seldom rise more than five or Six Inches high. The leaves are Awlshaped, ending in acute points; the empalements of the flowers Spread open: the flowers are Small and of a rose colour; but Soon fade: the Seeds are like those of the other Sorts.
All the Sorts of Glass-Wort are Sometimes promiscuously used for making the Sal kali, but it is the third Sort, the Soda, which is esteemed the best for this purpose. The manner of making it is as follows: having dug a trench near the Sea, they place laths across it, on which they lay the Herb in heaps, and having made a fire, below, the liquor which runs out of the herbs, drops to the bottom, which at length thickening becomes Sal kali, which is partly of a black, and partly of an Ash Colour, very Sharp and corrosive and of a Saltish taste. This when thoroughly hardened, becomes like a Stone; and in that State is transported to different Countries for making of Salts Glass.
This, no doubt is the Pierre de Soude, of the French Writers.
Kali
The French Encyclopedia. Vol. 19. p. 304. Kali a kind of plant of the following Characters. Its flower is a rose, composed of Petals, disposed circularly: the Pistel arises from the Centre of the flower, and becomes a membranous fruit, round, containing a Single grain, placed in the center of the Calyx, rolled in a Spiral like the Shell of a Cockle, and covered commonly by the leaves of the flower. Mr De Tournefort enumerates Seven Species of Kali. We will describe only that of Spain, or that of Alicante which is the principal. To avoid Equivocation, We preserve appropriate here the Arabian name of Kali to the plant, reserving the name of, Soude, to the fixed Salts which are the Product of it.
In fact the Kali abounds in marine Salt, and yeilds when it is bruised or pounded, a Salt Water: but the difference of the Product of this plant, when it is green or dry, is astonishing in the Chymical Proscesses. If We distill it green and fresh, it furnishes only an insipid Water. If We collect one pound of it green, and cause it to be dried, it yeilds only three ounces. If you burn it at that time, you will have much difficulty to reduce it to Ashes. The Ashes of this quantity burned in a crucible give one dram and an half of a Substance Salt, whitish, which ferments faintly with Strong Water. Four ounces of this herb fresh, put in decoction in Spring Water, and this Water carefully evaporated there forms about Six ounces drams of a marine Salt, of a cubic figure. Distill the remaining figure liquor, by gradually increasing the fire, the Phlegm will pass off, first; then there arises a dry volitile Salt, which attaches to the top and Sides of the Vessell; these Salts being purified, it is found by the result of Experiments, that this herb when it is fresh, contains about one fifth part of its Weight of common Salt.
If We dry this plant and put it in decoction in five livre pounds of Spring water, the decoction being half evaporated, the Residue gives Successively an odour of honey, then of cabbage, and other pot herbs. Finally, if after all this, we leave the boiled herb to putrify, it Spreads an Odour of the Excrements of Animals, becomes the refuge of flies, and the nourishment and habitation of Worms which are hatched from the Eggs of these winged Insects. All the experiments We can make, with the cubic chrystals of Salt, formed in evaporated decoction of this herbe, prove that it is common Salt; and the volatile Salt which arises by the fire, when the cubic Salt chrystalizes no longer, Shews itself a Strong Alkali; by the fermentation with acid Spirits.
If we dry, by evaporation the juice of this plant, after We have Separated all the marine Salt and calcine the residue, We shall have at last, a dry Substance, earthy, of a lixivial Savour, but which melts not into liquor when exposed to the Air. This calcined Substance, being mixed with any Acid Spirit, and especially with Spirit of Vitriol, becomes an admirable blue  not inferiour to the most beautiful Ultramarine.
The Herbe, Kali, when fresh, put in fermentation with common Water gives, in its different States of fermentation, at first an Odour of Sour cabbage, than that of Earthworms drowned in Spirits of Wine, finally that of Smoked Herrings. If We distill the whole, there comes out, at first, a Spirit resembling the Spirit of refined Tartar, and finally an empyreumatical Oil, like that of Animal Substances.
But it is very remarkable, that, by no Art, not even by cohobation, can We extract the volatile Salt of this putrified mass. The Dreggs furnish a potash, which ferments violently with Acids, becomes an active Salt, and with the Acid of Vitriol gives nitre, with Strong Water, common Salt with the Spirit of Salt; and with Acids of all kinds, it produces a blue colour more or less approaching the Ultramarine, according to the Species of Acid and the Conduct of the proscess.
The Salt, which is drawn from this Potash, has a green tincture, like that of natural borax; finally the Dreggs after the extraction of this Salt, put in digestion with Strong Water, reduces itself to a gelatinous Substance of a true metallic Savour.
We are indebted for all these curious chymical Experiments, upon the Kali, of Germany, to Mr. John Frederic Henkel, in his German work intitled Werwandschafft der Pflantin mit den Mineral Reiche. Leipsick 1723 in 8o. With figures. The meaning of this title is, The Affinity of Vegetables with Minerals.
Kali of Alicante.
Kali of Alicante, Kali Hispanicum; a Species of Kali, in Spain. It’s description, accurately made by Mr De Jussieu, in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, in the Year 1717, is interesting, because it is from this Species of Kali, that the best, Soude, (Salt) So much Sought for in the Glass Works, the Soap Works, and the Bleacheries, Arts Usefull and necessary.
Mr De Jussieu characterises this plant, the figure of which he has given Us, Kali Hispanicum, Supinum, annuum, Sedi foliis brevibus. Kali of Spain, annual, lying on the ground, with Short leaves resembling those of the Sedum.
It’s root is annual,  four Some inches long, Somewhat oblique, whitish, rounded woody and garnished with fine fibres.
From its neck issue four or five branches, lying on the ground, Subdivided into Several little boughs alternately, extended here and there, Some upright others inclined. The longest of its branches is not half a foot, and their Diameter exceeds not a line. These branches, and these boughs are round, of a pale green and Sometimes tinged lightly, with a little purple, especially in their Maturity.
The Leaves are disposed on alternate parcells, more or less distant according to the Age of the plant; they are cylindric and Succulent, like those of the Sedum minus teretifolium, one quarter of an inch long, and have a line thick, of a pale green, almost transparent, Smooth without hairs, blunted at their extremities, and of a Salt taste. Each parcell is formed of two, three four and Sometimes of five leaves, from the Armpit of which arises the flower. It is composed of five whiteish Stamens, with yellowish Summits, and of an equal number of little Strait petals, of a whiteish colour. The young fruit which occupies the Center, is terminated by a little dagger, white and forked.
This flower has no odour, and its petals, which envellop, more closely the fruit, in proportion as it grows, narrow and concealed as they were, in the parcell of leaves which Serves them for a Calyx, become more ample, more blown out, more dry, membranous, round in their outline, Somewhat plaited, or folded, and as it were tarred; often, two of these petals unite in a manner that they appear one, and then the flower Seems to be of four pieces only. It lasts a long time without withering; and the older it grows, the more the yellow colour with which it is tinged, becomes reddish; its greatest diameter is about two lines.
The ripe fruit is of the Size of a grain of Millet, round, membranous, inclosing one Single Small brown Seed, rolled in a Spiral. It is so invelloped with the petals of the flower, that it falls at the Same time with it.
Although the Species of Kali, which We have just described, grows on the maritime Coasts of Valencia, Murcia, Almeria and Grenada, it may nevertheless bear the name of Kali of Alicante, because there is no place, on the Eastern Coast of Spain where it grows in so great quantities, as in the neighbourhood of that City.
The Salt which is drawn from it, makes a considerable part of Commerce. Merchants and foreigners prefer it to that which is extracted from other plants, and the Inhabitants of the Country are so persuaded that this Species cannot prosper equally elsewhere, that they consider it as peculiar to them.
This plant grows of itself; nevertheless, in order to multiply it, they Sow it in the fields along the Coast of the Sea Margin of the Sea. We see it even in the Cornfields, which it cannot hurt because in the time of harvest, it Scarcly begins to Shoot, and it is not in its perfect maturity till the Autumn. The crop of the Kali of Alicante, is not made all at once, nor without precautions, like that of other plants from which they extract this Salt. They pluck off Successively, from this, the Spriggs that are most ripe, before those of which are less. They Spread them on a barn floor, to dry them in the Sun, and collect the fruit which falls of itself.
As the abundance and the purity of the Salt it produces, make the merit of it which is acknowledged by the Merchants, they are very circumspect, in taking care that, this of Alicante, which they choose to employ in all exquisite Manufactures has not been adulterated in burning the Kali from which it proceeds, by the mixture of other plants, which also produce the Salt, but much inferiour in quality to this.
The Workmen who burn the plant Kali, call it La Marèe; they cut it and they make it like hay. when it is dry, they fill with it large trenches, made for the purpose in the ground, and Stopped up, So that very little Air can enter. They Sett fire to it: they cover it up; and when it is reduced to Ashes there is formed of it, after Sometime an hard Stone, So hard, they they are obliged to break it with Mallets. It is this Stone, which the French call Soude, or Pierre de Soude, and to which the Ancients gave the Name of Salicore, Salicot &c.
The plant Kali was formerly much cultivated in Languedoc, where they call it Vitraire. Cartel Speaks of it in his Memoirs of the History of that Province. Ch. 1. p. 50. They derive also, Says he, a notable profit in this country, from an herbe which they are in the habit of Sowing and cultivating, on the margin of the Sea, which, being come to perfection they cutt, and afterwards burn, in a hollow, which they make in the ground, as in a Kiln, covering this hollow with Earth over it, to the End that the Air fire may not take the Air and Ascend; this herbe being burned, they uncover the hollow, which they find full of a certain hard matter, which they call in the Country Salicor, which resembles Salt in the rock and of which they make glass.
There was So great a quantity of this Salicor in Languedoc, that besides the Manufactures of Glass in Venice, which they furnished, they Sent it also into other Countries of Europe. At this day the Culture Subsits no more, and the Directors of the Manufacture of Glass of S. Gobin in France, import from Spain all the Salts, (Soude) of which they make Use.
Father Roger, in his Travels to the Holy Land, Says that at half a league to the West of the Dead Sea in Judea, all the Country is covered with Kali which the Arabians burn, and carry the Ashes to Jerusalem and Hebron, where there are Glass Works: they also make Soap of it.
This ancient Usage, may incline Us to think that the herb Borith, which is mentioned in Jeremiah ch. 2. v. 22. is no other than the KaliLetter A.
Kelp.
American Encyclopædia vol. 9. p. 439 Kelp, in the Glass trade, a term Used for a Sort of Potashes, made use of in many of the Glass works, particularly for the green Glass. It is the calcined Ashes of a plant called by the Same name; and in some places of Sea-thongs or laces, a Sort of thick leaved fucus or Sea-Wreck. This plant is thrown on the Rocks and Shores in great abundance, and in Summer months, is raked together, and drieds as hay in the Sun and Wind and afterwards burnt to the Ashes called Kelp. The Proscess of making it is thus: The Rocks which are dry at low Water, are the beds of great quantities of Sea-Weed; which is cutt, carried to the beach and dried: a hollow is dug in the ground, three or four feet wide; round its margin are laid a row of Stones, on which the Sea Weed is placed, and Set on fire within, and quantities of this fuel being continually heaped upon the Circle, there is in the Centre a perpetual flame, from which a liquid like melted Metal, drops into the hollow beneath: When it is full, as it commonly is e’re the close of day all heterogenious matter being removed, the Kelp is wrought with iron rakes, and brought to a uniform consistence in a State of fusion. When cool, it consolidates into a heavy, dark coloured Alkaline Substance, which undergoes in the glass houses, a Second Vitrification, and assumes a perfect transparency; the progress by which thus a parcell of Sea weed, formerly the Slymy bed of Seals or dreary Shelter of Shellfish, is converted into a Chrystal Lustre for an Assembly room, or a Sett of Glasses for a convivial Table, is a Metamorphosis that might be a Subject for an entertaining Tale.
Barilla.
Vol. 3. p. 13. Barilla, or Barilha, the name of a plant cultivated in Spain for its Ashes, from which the purest Kinds of mineral Alkali are obtained.
There are four plants, which, in the early part of their growth, bear So Strong a resemblance to each other, as would deceive any but the Farmers and nice Observers. These four are Barilla Gazul (or as Some call it Algazul) Sosa, (does he mean Soda?), and Salicornia or Salicor. These are all burnt to ashes; but applied to different Uses, as being possessed of different qualities. Some of the roguish Farmers mix, more or less of the three last, with the first; and it requires a complete Knowledge of the colour, taste, and Smell of the Ashes, to be able to detect their knavery.
Barilla, is Sown afresh every Year. It’s greatest hight above ground is four Inches: each root pushes out a vast number of little Stalks, which again are Subdivided into Smaller Spriggs resembling Samphire; and all together form a large, Spreading tufted Bush. The Colour is bright green; as the plant advances towards maturity, this colour vanishes away, till at last it come to a dull green tinged with brown.
Gazul bears the great Affinity to Barilla, both in quality and Appearance: the principal difference consists in its growing on a Still drier, Salter earth, consequently it is impregnated with a Stronger Salt. It does not rise above two Inches out of the ground, Spreading out into little Tufts. It’s Sprigs are much flatter, and more pulpy than those of Barilla, and are Still more like Samphire. It is Sown, but once in three, four, or five Years according to the nature of the Soil.
Soza, when of the Same Size, has the Same Appearance as Gazul; but in time grows much larger, as its natural Soil is a Strong Salt marsh where it is to be found in large Tufts of Spriggs, treble the Size of Barilla and of a bright green colour, which it retains till the last.
Salicor has a Stalk of a deep green colour inclining to red, which last becomes by degrees the colour of the whole plant. From the beginning it grows upright, and much resembles a bush of young rosemary. Its natural Soil is on the declivities of or Hills, near the Salt Marshes, or on the Edges of the Small drains or Channels cut by the Husbandmen for the purpose of watering the fields: before it has acquired its full growth it is very like the Barilla of those Seasons in which the ground has been dunged before Sowing. In those years of manuring, Barilla, contrary to its usual nature, comes up, with a tinge of red; and when burnt falls far short of its wanted goodness, being bitter, more impregnated with Salts than it Should be, and raising a blister if applied, for a few minutes to the tongue. Barilla contains less Salt than the others; when burnt it runs into a mass, resembling a Spungy Stone, with a faint cast of blue.
Gazul, after burning comes as near Barilla, in its Outward Appearance as it does while growing in its vegetable form; but, if broken, the inside is of a deeper and more glossy hue. Soza and Salicor are darker, and almost black within, of a heavy consistence, with very little or no Signs of Spongyness.
All these Ashes contain a Strong Alkali; but Barilla the best and purest, though not in the greatest quantity. Upon this principle, it is fittest for making glass and bleaching linnen; the others are used in making Soap. Each of them would whiten linnen; but all except Barilla would burn it. A good Crop of Barilla impoverishes the land to such a degree, that it cannot bear good Barilla a Second time, being quite exhausted. For this reason the richer farmers lay  manure upon the Ground and let it lie fallow for a Season; at the End of which it is Sown afresh with out any danger, as the Weeds that have Sprung up in the Year of rest, have carried off all the pernicious effects of the dung. A proper Succession of Crops is thus Secured by manuring and fallowing the different parts of the farm, each in their turn. The poorer tribe of cultivators, cannot pursue the Same Method for want of Capital; and are therefore under the neccessity of Sowing their Lands immediately after manuring, which yields them a profit just Sufficient to afford a present Scanty Subsistance, though the reality and price of their Barilla be but trifiling.
The method used in making Barilla is the Same as that followed in Britain in burning Kelp. The plant as Soon as ripe is plucked up and laid in heaps, then Set on fire. The Salt Juices run out below into an hole made in the ground, where they run into a vitrified lump which is left about a fortnight to cool. An Acre may give about a ton.
These Gentlemen Encyclopædists give Us no Authority for all this. Although they are So modest as to conceal their names, they have confidence enough to expect that We Shall take their Word, for things which they can know no better than We do, without Books.
The Gentlemen of Trévoux Say that in Languedoc, they call the Kali Vitraire Vitrarius, The GlassmakerThat this Herb is called by the Arabians Kali, by the Latins, Salicornia, and by the French, Soude.
That We ought appropriate the Word Kali to the Plant, and the Word, Soude to the Ashes. which they burn to make, Salts and Soap. The French have rendered, Soude. Our English Translators call it Nitre. The Word Kali is Arabic.
The American Encyclopædia, under the Word Alkali Says The demand in England for fossil Alkali is Supplied from the Ashes of Alkali and other Seaplants from which it is Separated in the Same manner as the Vegetable Alkali from the Ashes of other plants. The purest kind of Ashes containing this Salt is called Soda or barilla and is imported chiefly from foreign Countries; that which is obtained from Sea Weed growing on their own Coasts, and know by the name of Kelp, is excessively impure,  and Scarce admits of being thoroughly analyzed according to the rules of Chemistry.
The Sheet marked Letter A. Should come in here.
In the whole course of this tedious research, which must have fatigued you more than it has me, I find nothing concerning Fishes depositing their Eggs upon Fucus. No doubt the agitation of the Sea, washes the Spawn of the finny tribe as well as the Spat of the testaceous and crustacious tribes upon and among all Sorts of the Fucus, and when they float upon the Surface these Eggs may be hatched by the heat of the Sun, but I know nothing about it. Pray inform me.
Upon the extensive Sea Coasts of the United States great quantities of Fucus are thrown on shore by the Waves, and I wish some curious Genius would undertake to examine them, and See whether We have all the Species of Fucus, and especially whether We have the Kali the Soda, the Saltwort,The Salicania, the Barilla for by all these names the Same plant is known. My design in Sending all this to you, is merely  to turn your thoughts to this Subject. One Lecture from you, or only a few private hints among your Disciples, might raise up Some Rambling Philosopher, who might make a Name and do a great Service to his Country, more perhaps than by importing a thousand Exoticks of more curiosity than Use. We must have Some Pedestrians before the natural History of our country can be written.
Bocconi, ran over the principal Parts of Europe, for several years, to observe with his own Eyes the varied Scene of Nature before he published his Works on natural History.
Tournefort who felt himself a Naturalist from the first moment he Saw a plant We who played Truant from his Class to go a Simpling, in 1678 traversed the Mountains of Dauphiny and Savoy. in 1679 He went to Montpelier in 1679 He went to Montpelier, to Study the Botannic Garden of Henry the fourth. He ascended the Pyranean Mountains. Frightful Rocks, and Precipices, thought in accessable by other People had no terrors for him. He collected plants from Provence, Languedoc, Dauphiny, the Alps and the Pyranees. With the Same View he made Voyages into Spain Portugal, Holland and England. in 1700 He went into Greece and Asia, and intended to go into Africa.
Linnæus made Long Journeys and painful Voyages. in 1732 He traveled over all Laponia, to make extend his researches in natural History, braving the horrors of deserts, Precipices, hunger, thirst, cold and heat. We have also a Cutler who has ascended the Grand Monadnock with the Same View.
Examples might be multiplied, for there is Scarce a Naturalist, from Aristotle and Pliny down to Waterhouse and Peck, who has not been  not only a Traveller but an Adventurer, in pursuit of his Science.
Who knows but a few Intimations from you in public or private, may kindle the genius of Nature in Several of your Pupills, who may glory in imitating the great Naturalists Ancient and modern, cross the Mountains Rivers and Valleys and make themselves masters of all that is curious and peculiar in our Country.
The Fucus may be analysed in the Course of a few Rambles on our Sea Shores without danger, and this is one of the Branches of natural History in which our country is much  interested. The Alkaline Salts, are and will be more and more wanted, for the manufactures of Glass, Soap, and Cloths. But the most immediate and at present the most important Use of these marine Vegetables is as a manure, and this is the only light in which I have ever had opportunity to observe it.
Manure.
I know not whether All manures may not be reduced to the head of the Alkaline Salts. Perhaps all Vegetable Substances may be of Use, merely by increasing the vegetable Pabulum in the Ground. A Ton of matter that has been once formed by nature into Vegetables, it is probable may be again converted into Vegetables of the Same or of other Sorts. In this light Vegetables are restorers or renewals of the Earth. But by Manures I mean Something which is possessed of Some active Power to increase the fertility of Land. How it Acts I know not, Whether by fermentation, causing the Earth to Swell, like Yest in Dough, whereby it is made lighter and more porous to receive nourishment from Air or Water or whether by attracting Water from the Atmosphere, or whether in any other Way I have not learned, with any clear Satisfaction. But the fact is indisputable? that many Substances have Power to increase the Crop, and among them our Fucus is one.
Soon after the death of my father in 1761, who gave me a little farm, I became Somewhat of a farmer, at first more for my health than Amusement, and more for Amusement than profit. One of my first projects was to employ Sea weed as a Manure. I carted a quantity of it every Year into my Barn Yard and into my Piggery. My Neighbours thought it of no Value, but to bank their houses against Winter: but I found or at least believed that I found Some virtue in it. From that time to this, I have constantly employed it when I have been at home in various Ways.
1. In the Yard
2. In the Piggery
3. In the Stable as bedding for Horses
4. In the Barn as bedding for Cattle. I have not done this myself but have recommended it to others who have practiced it to Advantage.
5. Mixed it with every Thing else in heaps of Compost.
6. In plowing the Ground, for Corn I have filled the furrows with it.
7. In Stacks like Hay, in which if it lies a Year it will heat ferment and become so Soft and mellow that you may cutt it was a Spade or Shovell. I have done little myself in this Way but Some of my Neighbours have practiced it with Success.
8. The greatest Use I have made of it is, by Spreading it over the surface of English  Land. Its Effect on the Crop is more immediately and remarkably visible than any other Way. Five Loads of thirty hundred Weight each, are as much as can be well Spread upon an Acre. Care must be taken to Spread it uniformly, and it requires Some labor to Spread it. But upon the whole this appears to me to be the most Œconomical Way of Using it.
9. It is much used for banking Cellars to keep out the frost.
10. It is now much Used to envellop Garden Vegetables in the Winter. They are found to come out in the Spring more fresh and better preserved than in any other Way.
I believe Sir, by this time you will bless your Starrs that I am as weary of this Subject as you are, and Subscribe myself / as usual your friend and humble Servant.

J. Adams.
P.S. I have recd your favour of Sept. 8.


Title: To John Adams from James Lenox, 6 September 1805
From: Lenox, James
To: Adams, John

Honourable Citizen.
September 6th. 1805 Churchhill Queen Anns County
 Eastern Shore State of Maryland
May you long live to enjoy the Liberty of a Country in which you have been so indefatigable in your former labours in braving the dangers of the high Seas and encountering the arduous task of negociations with Holland France Britain, in all of which you have been one of the most Conspicuous Characters. I have been reading Gordons History of the american revolution in which your labour and lution have exceeded any thing in our History may you ever be considered by all true americans as one of its Worthy sages now living. Having had a Considerable part of the war to encounter myself, as an individual which gave me the Satisfaction of Knowing a Considerable number of the officers, Such as have been active in bringing about our glorious revolution and should look upon it as a Singular favour would you be so obliging as to direct a few lines to me giving the names of Such as you Know to be living—& now to conclude, may the blessings of future happiness attend you when you have done with men and Wourldly matters is the prayer of / Yr. Humble Servant
James Lenox


Title: To John Adams from John Trumbull, 16 September 1805
From: Trumbull, John
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir,
Hartford Septr. 16th: 1805.

Returning to Hartford in the course of our Circuit, I found your letter, of July 27th. & August 5th: which had lain a month in the Post Office. From some appearances, I am led to believe that a correspondence so free as ours has been, cannot with perfect safety be carried on at present—I will however answer some of your enquiries.
The letter You remark on, relative to the capture of Cornwallis, was published very soon after its date by N Webster in an Essay, called "Sketches of the Revolution." You will find it in his Volume of Essays, to which I see you were a subscriber, in Page 180.—I have always supposed it was obtained from the General by the importunity of his correspondent, who then talked of writing the History of the War. I know not, who was the draughtsman, but am certain it is not in the Style of its Subscriber.
The Gentleman, who assisted the General in his confidential correspondences, & in penning his letters to Congress & his public addresses, were successively, Hamilton Harrison, Hamilton and Humphreys—After that period I know no more than Yourself—But he always gave them the substance, & trusted to them only the dress. Hamilton had nothing to do with the address from Newburg, nor do I know where he then was. Upon a misunderstanding, which could not otherwise have been settled quietly; he was promoted out of the General’s family before the siege of Yorktown.
The lawfulness of strategems in war is an old theme of debate—War is the offspring of sin—& whoever undertakes to command in a war, especially in those styled necessary, & defensive, will necessarily be conquered, unless he show himself a master in the art of deception, and unless he will, on very pressing emergencies, submit, as our countrymen express it, to lie like the Devil.
In foresight, planning a campaign, secresy, & the art of deceiving the enemy, no General was ever perhaps superior to Washington. By these talents, & often by the last alone, he saved his country. I think we ought not to traduce his memory on this account.
The silly affair I hinted at in my last, happened in the year 1779, just before Harrison resigned the place of Secretary to the General. Hamilton did not fear from the talents of his Successor, tho’ respectable, any rival–ship in the art of confidential writing. You may guess by this, that there was resentment as well as pride, in my refusing to pay a certain circuitous visit, when I had the honor of being at your house in Philadelphia, & why Mr. Lear expressed an expectation, that I might refuse it.
As to the influence of aristocratic & antinent families, I know there is a great difference between some other States & this. Our laws of inheritance have sunk most of their descendants to mediocrity—& they fare alike the rest of the world at an election.
You enquire as to my family. My eldest Son is married & lives with me—& has furnished me with one promising Grandson. My two next children are daughters, one of whom I expect soon to leave me with very agreeable prospects, except that She will remove from me to a great distance in the Western Settlements—My youngest Son has now entered his senior year in Yale College.
My best respects to Mrs. Adams. I go tomorrow to Windham, & shall be absent from home about a month.
I am with the greatest Respect, / yours &c.
John Trumbull


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 September 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy September 19. 1805

After receiving so many trifles you will not be surprised at another. I wish you to tell me whether the Barilla is the same with the Kali or Soda!
In the first Volume of the Supplement to the American Encyclopedia, p. 8 I find an Article
British Barilla is the name given by Mr. James King of Newcastle upon Tyne, to a material invented by him, to Supply the place of Spanish Barilla in the making of Crown Window Glass, broad Window glass, and glass Bottles, as also in the manufacturing of Soap and Alum. For these purposes he affirmed that it answered much better than any other material then in use; and in consequence of that affirmation he obtained a Patent for his Invention dated March 4. 1780.
Though we can hardly allow to this invention all the merit claimed for it by its fond author, yet, as it may be of use to different Manufactures, We Shall lay before our Readers his Method of making the British Barilla. It is as follows: Take a certain quantity of Ashes obtained by burning the Cappings or branches of Oaks Ash, Oak, Beech, Elm, Alder, or any other kind of green Wood or bramble: Take an equal quantity of Ashes obtained by burning the green Vegetables known by the name of fern, brecon, bean and pea: Straw, whins, common field and high Way  Thistles, the stalks of Rape or Mustard  Seed, or the bent or rushes that grow by the Sea Shore. Though We know not in what qualities the Ashes obtained from the former Substances, differ from those obtained from the latter, the Author, as if the difference was very great, directs these equal quantities to be mixed together, Sifted this mixture in a fine Sieve, and laid upon a boarded floor, where a quantity of Soapers Waste Ashes, equal to the whole compound mass, is to be added to it, and well mixed with it, by means of a Shovel or other instrument. To this mixture of Vegetable Ashes and Soapers waste ashes is to be added a quantity of fire quicklime, in the proportion of one hundred Weight to twelve hundred of the blended Ashes, and the Lime and Ashes are to be well mixed together. After this the whole is to be put into an Iron pan, into which is to be poured a quantity of Sea Water, Sufficient, Says the Author, to dissolve the ashes and lime; and the whole is to be stirred with an iron rake til it incorporate. This being done, a coal fire is to be lighted up, under the pan, and kept burning for two nights days and two nights without intermission, additional quantities of Sea Water being constantly supplied to impregnate the materials with Saline matter sufficient for calcination in a reverberating furnace or calcar. In this Calcar the Saline mass, which was boiled in the pan is by intense heat to be dissolved, and kept in a State of fusion for the space of an hour; during which time the volatile part flies off and leaves remaining a fixed Alkaline Salt, which, cooled in iron pans, is the British Barilla, and has the appearance of Spanish Barilla.
May it not be a question whether, the lucrative monopolies called Patents, have done more hurt than good? All the Proprietors would be up in arms at such a question, and I wish not to stirr it: But his British Barilla brings to my Mind the British Wines a mixture of all sorts of druggs, and to me both unwholesome and disagreeable. It brings to my Mind also the broth of the Weiand Sisters. It is too like quackery if not conjuration. It may however for any thing I know be usefull: But I wish that you and your Pupills may find in this Country the genuine Barilla and Kali of Spain and of Nature.
I am as of old yours
J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 September 1805
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

My venerable & Dear friend,
Philada. Septem 21st: 1805

The hurry always connected with the prevalence of a yellow fever in our City; has prevented my answering your letter of Augst: 25th: at an earlier day.
The opinion relative to too close an Alliance with France in the year 1776 was communicated to me by you I think for the first time in Baltimore. I was led from this circumstance to believe you had delivered it on the floor of Congress in that place. I well recollect to have heard you repeat it during our intercourse in Philadelphia, and have often since with been struck with the propriety of it. Many others of your opinions respecting that Country, and its late unfortunate Revolution have been revived  in my mind by the events that have been produced by it. At Bush hill I well remember your once saying “the Conduct of France would determine the fate of the World, for that She was at the head of human affairs.”—One day sitting with you and Mrs. Adams in your garden while you were President of the United States, you said to me “Expect Doctor no changes in the Condition of the human race for the better from the present convulsions in Europe. Things will wind up as they began, and the affairs of the World, will go on for two or three centuries to come, as they have begun done for centuries past.” Upon the same subject you said to me in our front room up stairs—“Dont deceive yourself Doctor in a believe that a Republic can exist in France. The present Revolution will certainly end in the restoration of the Bourbon family, or in a military despotism.” I have mentioned these predictions to several of my philosophical friends, who have given you full credit for them.
There is Quackery in every thing as well as in medicine, and it is because Politicians neglect to form principles from facts, that so many mistakes are committed in calculations upon the issue of commotions in human Affairs. Lewis the 14th: lamented that we were only fit to live in the world, when we were called to leave it. I feel the truth of this remark daily in myself as well as see it in others. Learned men, I now find know what was—weak men know what is, but men made wise by reflection, only know what is to come.
The time will soon be at hand which will settle the present controversy between the Democrats of Pennsylvania. Some of the most thinking men who speak of it suppose we shall return to order if the friends of Duane succeed, than if Govr McKean is reelected, & the Constitution preserved. We seldom, they say, do right until we have reached the extremity of error. I am encouraged by these Opinions not to despair of  the once beloved asylum of my  Ancestors, and my native state. The late Dr Edwards told me on his death bed that Sir John Sinclair had informed him he once said to Adam Smith (the author of the Wealth of Nations) “that the British nation was on the brink of ruin.” “Hold young man said M. Smith—you were mistaken—there is a great deal of ruin in a Nation—we are far from the brink of it.” In like manner, I hope there is yet a large mass of ruin left for poor Pennsylvania.
Although I have not paid my respects to a public man for many years, Sympathy with  his sufferings led me to visit General Moreau upon his Arrival in our city. I was charmed with him. There is a rare mixture of simplicity and dignity in his manners. Such is his modesty, that I was obliged frequently  to revive in my mind the idea that I was in company with the first hero and General of the Age. I asked if him if Bonaparte’s military talents were as great as fame had reported them to be. He said yes—he had consummate military abilities,—but that he was however not without many faults, but such was the Activity of his genius, that he always corrected them before his enemies had time to take the advantage of them.” Of this—he mentioned a striking proof at the battle of Maringo. Upon his return from Italy after that battle, General Moreau asked him why he chose to descend with his Army the frozen mountain of St. Bernard when he might have passed a nearer, or less hazardous way, he replied, “it was the Scenery of the business. I thought its boldness would have a good effect.” The said The General said further that “The order and repose of France depended upon his life Bonaparte, for that at present no one of his family was qualified to succeed him. I was much struck in hearing him speak in such respectful & dispassionate terms—of a man who had attempted to take his life—who had afterwards robbed him of a large portion of his fortune—and finally made him an exile from an exile a country over which his victories more than Bonaparte’s had made him an Emperor & a King.
A new Era has begun in the Science of Medicine in our city since the appearance of the yellow fever among us. No source channel has as yet been discovered through which it could have been conveyed to us from a foreign country, and what is more against its importation, no one of the persons who have been infected by the foul air emitted by a large bed of putrid oysters in Southwark, and who has sickned, or died in the City, has propagated the disease. Many of our citizens  of the second class have been led by these facts to believe it to be generated in Southwark, & that it is not contagious. But our merchants & house-owners; scout the opinion, and are more indignant than ever  against the man who first broached it in our city. When Fort Washington was taken, general Lee in the first transports of his rage and grief cried out, “Had it been called Fort Lee it would have been evacuated long ago.” Had a tory physician first promulgated the Doctrine of the domestic origin of the yellow fever in Philadelphia it would have been universally believed long ago. Did you ever know  any of that class of people—forgive—or alter their minds upon a political subject? The folly and and an adress of our citizens in Attempting to preserve our city from the yellow fever by a quarantine law has nearly ruined its commerce. Its inefficiency is acknowledged by the experience of 12 years, and yet it is dangerous to speak against it. Do you not admire Governor McKean’s patience and command of temper in giving such mild epithets to the people of Pennsylvania? Our merchants are not fools,—nor geese—they are deranged, and are Daily committing Suicide upon their commerce & property.
Your political Anecdotes are very interesting particularly to my Son Richard. Did you ever hear who wrote General Ws. farewell address to the citizens of the United States? Major Butler says—it was Mr Jay. It is a masterly performance. I think however I have seen many of the generals letters (certainly written by himself) not much inferior to it. He possessed a talent for letter writing, and so anxious was he to appear neat & correct in his letters, that General Mifflin informed me he had known him when at Boston copy a letter of two or Sheets of paper because there were a few erasures in it.
Adieu! My dear friend. My pen has run away with me. With Respects and love as usual in which my dear Mrs Rush would join  were she at town in town, I am my Dear Sir your Affectionate & / Obliged friend
Benjn: Rush
PS: My wife and Daughter are gone to Princeton to attend a commencement at which my third Son is to graduate. The Subject of his oration is on the future prospects of America. It was composed by his brother Richard. In the close of it he describes the great Council of our Country legislating in great pomp on the Banks of one of our Western rivers a hundred years hence. In that council he hears peals of eloquence from the descendants of the Washingtons Adams &c of the Revolution. Among them he hears one of the posterity of Moreau rejoicing in his fathers exile, & in his own birth in a land of liberty. Above them he sees Columbus & hears him exulting in his toils & sufferings, and declaring that the ever flowing stream of time never fails of doing justice to the benefactors of mankind.


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 October 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy October 3. 1805

I duly recd your favour of the 21. Sept.—I Sent you two pretty large Packetts the first of Six sheets of Paper, another of five or Six more, and have written two or three Short Letters, besides. You have acknowledged the receipt of the first Packet, but the Second large one you have not mentioned. It related to the Kali and the Medusa &c. &c. I only wish to know that you have it.
I return with this The Botanist No. 2, which I have read with pleasure, as I have I believe all the other numbers. Air and Water are now Said to be composed of Hydrogen and Oxigen, and all Vegetables are only Oxygen and Hydrogen, and Carbon; consequently, as the Modern Chymists conclude,  Manures operate only by compositions and decompositions of Hydrogen and Oxygen and Carbon. All this may be true, but it gives me no Ideas of the nature of Manures or the manner of their Operation. All Manures may be Hydrogen Oxigen and Carbon too: but I am ignorant.
Whether my Son will make one among you or not, I am not able to Say: and I am apprehensive that more will be expected of him than he will be able to perform, if he should.—I know not how any thing can be Said, upon Rhetorick and oratory which has not been Said and written an hundred times before, by the greatest Masters. I shall not however discourage him.
The Sea Coasts of the United States are extensive, and the quantity of marine Vegetable, thrown annually upon our Shores by the Winds and waves, is very great. To examine the various Species of Ficcus, thus furnished Us by Nature, and to enquire: whether We have the Kali, and its kindred plants, and to determine the Uses to which they may be applied, in Agriculture, Medicine, Manufactures and Commerce, are Employments worthy of the Attention of our Philosophers and Statesmen: and ought to be an object of our Professor of natural History.
I am, Sir, with great regard, your Friend / and Servant

J. Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Trumbull, 4 October 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Trumbull, John

Dear Sir
Quincy September October 4th. 1805

I thank you for the Information and conjecture, in your favour of the 16th which I received yesterday duly, concerning the origin of the Letter. It is probable enough and I have pleasure in believing it.
The Generals Secretaries were first Col. Reed, afterwards Governor of Pensylvania then Harrison, afterwards, Edmund Randolph, Hamilton Humphries, Pinckney I believe, but in what order of time and Succession I know not. Most of these were Aids de Camps rather than Secretaries.
I have no casuistical Scruples of Conscience concerning the lawfullness of Stratagems in War: nor do I justify the levity with which I remarked in a former Letter upon this subject. But as I have transgressed I may as well pursue the metaphor.—It is lawfull to have Nudities: We are born all Nudities: and it is lawful to use all of them sometimes for the benefit of Mankind. But it seems indecent to boast of some of them, even when we have used them to the most advantage.
I have no reason to disbelieve the Story in the Letter. The Opinion I have for more than thirty years, invariably entertained of the Generals Honor, his Veracity, and pure moral Principles, would induce me to believe it, if it were more improbable than it is: but I know it has been the Subject of the most Severe and the most harsh Animal versions. When I lived in the Corner House in Philadelphia, between fourth Street and Arch Street, in 1791 or 1792, a Gentleman made me a Visit and Spent an Evening with me. Much Conversation passed, and in many Subjects. Washington was the most important perhaps of all. He was introduced not by me, but by the Gentleman, and treated without Ceremony in many respects.—The Letter in question which had been published not long before, but which I had not know not whether I had then read, was introduced by him. He Said he "was astonished and grieved to see that Letter. before he read it, although he knew that Washington was weak and ignorant, he had always believe him honest. He had never doubted his moral principles. But this letter was a Lie, it was false, and Washington knew it to be false. He knew that it was Washingtons design laid a year or a long time before to attack New York, and that that design continued and every preparation was made for it, Untill the french fleet appeared upon the Coast. And that this pretence of a feint and a stratagem, was itself a mere fiction, and he knew it." Against all this, I vindicated Washington, to the Utmost of my Power, but to no Effect, for he persisted in his opinion and his assertions in all their Vehemence.
This Gentleman, I have reason to believe never altered his internal Opinion of Washington whatever his external doctrins might afterwards be. He expressed to me, Six or Seven years afterwards, indeed after Washingtons determination to retire had been declared, the utmost contempt of his abilities his incapacity &c &c. This Man has made a great noise, but I will not name him at present.
This Anecdote however will shew that Washingtons Letter, has been and may be misrepresented, and I should be very glad that the Veracity of it could be established beyond all cavil.
I rejoice with you, in the prosperous Circumstances of you Family. It must be as usefull as agreeable to you to have your oldest son with you. My youngest is with me in the Same manner although his Wife has not presented me as yet with a Grandson. I have four already however, but yet should like to have another from her who is a charming Woman. Your Daughter in the Western Settlement, will probably do better than nearer home, and the son at Colledge may do as he pleases, if he will mind his studies as I doubt not he will. To you and your whole Family I wish every Blessing. It is a Race, that I am heartily glad to hear is likely to be presented, in Wealth and Honour.My family join in all these Wishes of your friend
J. Adams


Title: To John Adams from John Trumbull, 19 October 1805
From: Trumbull, John
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir
Hartford Octr. 19th. 1805—

‘Till I received your last of the 4th: instant I had no idea that you doubted the truth of Washington’s letter relative to the capture of Cornwallis and supposed you only questioned the propriety of his allowing a letter to be published, in which he appears to boast of his success in stratagems.
You express a wish that "the veracity of the letter might be established beyond all cavil." I can do no more to establish it then to tell you, that I know every word of it to be true, & that I knew of the whole transaction at the time it was carrying on. The French Court had engaged, the year before, to place a Fleet in the West Indies, sufficient to command this coast, & ordered to cooperate with our General at any part of it, to at which in consequence of the movements that might take place in the Armies during the summer of 1801 he might request them to join him. In May 1800 Washington & some French Officers who were empowered by their Court, met at Hartford, & there made the first arrangement. The moment it was known that Cornwallis had fixed his quarters at Yorktown, intelligence was dispatched requesting Count de Grasse to sail for the Chesapeake. Do the Simpletons, who would contradict this, know that it would have been impossible for Washington, on his hearing of the arrival of De Grasse in the Chesapeake to have made that rapid movement of his whole Army, without any previous preparation?
Whether your Informant, whom You avoid to name, was a Scoundrel, endeavouring to sow jealousies among the heads of departments, of which he might afterwards avail himself, or a mere dupe to the deceptive & secret management of Washington, I know not. I know this only, that a certain Person, who has ceased to make any more “noise in the world,” had long before this time wholly lost the confidence of Washington, & yet that to the last, Washington was more afraid of him, & more under his influence, than of any other Man in the world.
Whoever your informant might be, I will venture to assert that he did not believe a word he told you; but was very desirous to make you believe it. And so he expressed "his utmost contempt of Washington, for his weakness, ignorance, incapacity & want of abilities."
I have said, that Washington was not a Scholar, and never trusted to his own skill in composition, in any of his public addresses—I will add that he was not a Man of much general science. But he was a Man of the highest natural talents. As a General, he far surpassed any one, who ever acted on the American Theatre—nor do I believe, if we could have had our choice of all the military Commanders, who shone in the last century, that we could have found his equal. Frederic of Prussia, at the head of our armies, would have ruined us in two campaigns—
His temper was naturally ardent, impetuous, open & passionate. Finding he suffered many disadvantages from its indulgence in early life, he determined at all events to check its ebullitions—and when he again came forward in stations of the highest dignity, he ever acted under a mask of the deepest reserve, & assumed the most impenetrable character I ever knew. He never trusted any more persons, with his plans or designs, than were absolutely necessary, to the carrying of them on, nor till the moment of action. He often called Councils of War for the purpose of discovering the plans & sentiments of his Officers, & as often for the purpose of discovering his enemies & concealing his own designs, by consulting on projects, which he had no idea of attempting. Marshall in his life of Washington to in the three volumes already published, has given a just representation, so far as it goes, in general, but he either did not know, or was afraid to tell a thousand particulars; which would have much more explained the real character & talents of his Hero.—You are sensible I have no reason to be partial to Washington—I was never his confident, nor was any person ever completely so—Indeed one of his principal modes of deception consisted in making persons believe they were trusted.—
Though it was happy for your country, it was in one respect not fortunate for yourself, that You were absent in Europe during the most trying scenes of the war. You had no opportunity of observing those characters arise & unfold themselves, who have since acted so conspicuous parts. You could not see the origin & progress of those parties, which have since completely convulsed our government. On your return You were surrounded by men, who instead of desiring to give you any just information, wished to draw you into the vortex of their party. As they found You determined to preserve your own Independence, You never received the constant and cordial support of any one of the Parties in the US.—There were three formed early—That of Hamilton, which under the name of Federalism, for a season carried every thing before it—He did not love Washington, was jealous of You, & could not endure any man to be above himself. That of Jefferson, you have had sufficient opportunity to be acquainted with—The third was Burr’s—this was to consist only of a number of Men of talents, as he styled them, in the several states, who should be able at a proper conjuncture to force themselves & their leader into office, by throwing their weight into one of the scales—few of them cared into which, if their purposes could be answered—and they have once succeeded in the attempt,—this party yet exists.
I will add no more—but conclude with my respects to Mrs: Adams & your family, / Your most Obedt. Servant
John Trumbull


Title: From John Adams to John Trumbull, 18 November 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Trumbull, John

Dear Sir
Quincy November 18. 1805

I had indeed no doubt of the Truth of the Letter relative to the Capture of Cornwallis. My Confidence in the honor of the Writer was such, that the violent Philippic against it only convinced me of the Malevolence and Prejudice of the orator. But as I had heard it not only called in question but vehemently contradicted, I thought it might be well to hear some testimony in corroboration of it. Your testimony is very full. A Roman Empress was accused of Adultery, and the Child of which She was pregnant was alleged to be the fruit of a Stolen Embrace. A number of noble Compurgators appeared who swore that the Child in her Majestys belly, was begotten by the Emperor, and by no other man. Your Evidence is full, to your own belief of the Truth of the letter, and I could add mine to yours as a compurgator but by Washingtons own shewing as you Lawyers express your selves, no Man but himself could know every word of it to be true.
By the description you give, it must be Hamilton you suspect to have dishonored the letter. That Man has Sins and Crimes  and forces enough to answer for to posterity without this. He was  not the Man, nor  was his Destroyer. I may possibly hereafter give you the Names. It will let you into the Character of a Man who did nearly as much as Hamilton towards the total and irrevocable ruin of the federal Administration. Washington once said to me, that Hamilton was "a proud Spirited little Animal, as ever existed." Such he was in truth: yet Washington always lived in terror of him. I saw it, and was determined that I would not. I knew his talents and was determined to do him ample justice, but no more. Yet Washington with my own or rather his heads of departments and a Number of Senators and Representatives in combination compelled me to do more for him than he deserved.
I agree entirely with you that Washington had high Talents and great Qualities: and that he far surpassed any one who ever acted in the American Theatre. Lee, Gates, Steuben, Green or even Warren or Montgomery, though some of them were much superior to him in Science and Learning, would not have answered our End so well. Nor would any General in Europe. This opinion I constantly avowed and Supported both in Europe and America. Tom Paine has repeatedly asserted in print that I was one of that faction who were for removing him from his command. This is one among Many of Paines lies. I left Congress at York town on the 11th. of November 1777 and never returned. I was sent to France. I never knew of any Plan to remove the General. It was in the Winter of 1778, if ever that such a scheme was laid or proposed; when I was tumbling among the Mountains of Waves in the Gulph Stream, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
I agree too, in your opinion that if we could have had our Choice of all the military Commanders in Europe We should not have found his equal for our purpose. There is reason to suspect that General Conway and some other foreigners, were instigated from France, to supplant the General, to make way for a foreign Commander. Before I left Congress in 1777 letters were read in it, from Mr Deane, one of them enquired whether in any supposeable Case Congress would consent to supercede General Washington and give the command in Chief to a foreign Officer. For Example, if Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick would accept the Command would Congress give it to him? In another Letter Mr Deane said, that one of the greatest Generals in Europe, Marshall M. stood ready to go to America, if he could have the command in Chief. I afterwards found that this M. was Marshall Mailbois. The Count de Vergennes said afterwards to me and Mr Arthur Lee, that he “wished Marshall Mailbois had the Command in America” Upon Enquiry I found that Mailbois was one of the most intriguing Men in France, and the Ministry I suppose wished to be rid of him, as well as to have the controul of all our military operations. Mailbois by a subsequent intrigue obtained the Command in Holland when I knew him. His Conduct was such as I expected, as mercenary and interested as it was weak and incapable. Mr Deans contract with Monsieur De Coudrai and near a hundred officers under him, was in the same spirit: calculated to give the French an entire controul over all our Military Manufatures subject to no command but that of the General in Chief. These letters and Contract of Mr Deane I hope are in being: but I should not be Surprised if they were found to be all destroyed or concealed. I was totally in opposition to all those plans in congress and out, in Europe and America and treated them allways with contempt and abhorrence.
It was indeed unfortunate for me, that I was absent in Europe for so long a time. No Man but one who has tried it can imagine, was what an Hiatus valde deflendus is made in a mans life by an absence of ten years. Cicero laught at himself for his own simplicity in believing himself that all Rome was admiring the Wisdom, Activity, Integrity and Benevolence of his administration of the Questership of Lilybeum, when the first Friend he met a Puteoli, asked him what News of Rome? The second Supposed he came from Afric: and the third said he had been Quester of Syracuse.—He concluded that the People had quick Eyes but all dull ears, and determined not to be again out of their Sight. His absence was only for one year: mine was for ten. When I returned one third of my best Friends were dead, another third Superannuated and the remaining third grown unpopular. A new generation was sprung up of more talent than experience and more presumption than abilities. And more remarkable still the Tories had become the most active and influential of any Party in all the States and the most closely united, under Hamilton; a head they had chosen to run down all the old Whigs and Revolutionary Characters. You are exactly right when you Say that I “never received the constant and cordial support of any one of the Parties.” Hamilton caballed at the first election, to get Hancock chosen Vice President, and when he found he could give me the go by, he intrigued to prevent me from having a Majority of Votes, under a pretence, which he could not believe, that there was danger of my having more votes than Washington. Jeffersons Party I have always considered as a Non Entity, a mere Phantom a mere Stalking Horse to Mr Madisons. Jefferson is not, never was, and never will be their man. Washington himself was not. It is Mr Madison who has the radical interests of Virginia. As the Tories were compelled to bring forward Washington in order to hoist Hamilton upon his shoulders, so the Virginians were obliged to raise Jefferson in order to lift up Madison. The original ostensible competition was between Jay and Jefferson. This broke out very early. A Bill was before Congress to designate the officer, who should execute the office of President in case of the Death Resignation or absence of both the President and Vice President. A blank was left for the officer. Mr Benson moved that the blank should be filled with the Chief Justice, Mr Jay. Mr Madison instantly moved that it should be filled with the Secretary of State, Mr Jefferson. Such symptoms of zeal appeared on both sides and the Parties were so nearly equal, that both were afraid to push their points and the blank was never filled. Hamiltons party did not feel themselves strong enough to hazard him. They therefore Skreened themselves behind Jay, as Madisons did behind Jefferson. Cæsar did not form a triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus with mere act to get rid of both. Octavius was not more Skilfull in combining with Antony and Lepidus to grasp the empire to himself, than was Hamilton  in getting Washington Adams and Jay to cooperate with him, in order to monopolize all Power to himself. The Virginians have combined in some manner with Burr, Clinton, McKean and all the Democratical old Whiggs, to remove all obstacles in the Way of Mr. Madison and Jefferson it seems is to give Way to him at last.
There are at this time and ever has been four Parties in every State and each of these have its divisions and Subdivisions. 1. Old Tories. 2. honest independent American Federalists. 3. Honest democratical Republicans. 4. Jacobins against all Religion and all Government. From the various compositions and decompositions  of these four have resulted all our political Phænomina. If you are not tired and disgusted I may hereafter enlarge upon these heads.
Yours as ever
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 4 December 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy December 4. 1805

I am half inclined to be very angry with you for destroying the Anecdotes and documents you had collected for private Memoirs of the American Revolution. From the Memories of Individuals, the true Springs of Events and the real motives of Actions are to be made known to Posterity. The Period in the History of the World, the best understood, is that of Rome from the time of Marius to the Death of Cicero, and this distinction is entirely owing to Ciceros Letters and Orations. There We See the true Character of the times, and the Passions of all the Actors on the Stage. Cicero, Cato and Brutus were the only three, in whom I can discern any real Patriotism. The two last were honest in the main, but with great aberrations at times and neither of them very able. Cicero had the most Capacity and the most constant as well as the wisest and most persevering Attachment to the Republick. Almost fifty years ago I read Middletons Life of this Man, with great pleasure and Some Advantage. Since that time I have been more conversant in his Writings as well as in the other Writers and general History of that Period. Within a month past I have read Middletons Life of him again, and with more pleasure because with more Understanding than before. I Seem to read the History of all ages and Nations in every Page, and especially the History of our own Country for forty years past. Change the Names and every Anecdote will be applicable to Us. I said I read with pleasure: but it was a melancholly pleasure. I know of no  more melancholly Books than Sullys memoirs and Cicero’s Life.
The Tryumvirate of Cæsar, Pompey and Crassus, and the other of Octavius, Anthony and Lepidus, the first formed by Cæsar and the last by Octavius, for the purpose of worming themselves into Empire their Shifts and Turns, their Intrigues and Cabals have Analogy enough with Hamiltons Schemes, to get rid of Washington Adams Jay and Jefferson, and monopolize all Power to himself. You may introduce Burr and McKean and Clinton into the Speculation if you please, and even Mr Madison. You may pursue the Subject if you think fit—I have not patience for it. You inquire what passed between W. and Hamilton at York Town? Washington had ordered or was about to order another Officer to take the Command of the Attack upon the Redoubt—Hamilton flew into a violent Passion and demanded the command of the Party for himself and declared if he had it not he would expose General Washingtons Conduct in a pamphlet. Thus you See.
It’s proper power to hurt each Creature feels
Bulls aim their horns and Asses lift their heels.
Hamiltons instruments of offence were Libels, not true Libels according to the New York doctrine, but lying Libells. The Storming of a Redoubt by a Boy was to be the Coup de Theatre or the Scenery of the Business, to make him afterwards Commander in Chief of the Army and President of Congress, though there is no more qualification for either, in Storming a redoubt, than there would have been in killing a Deer in the Woods. The one proved him a good Partisan the other would have gained him the Reputation of a good Shot: but neither would fit him to command Armies or govern States.
I rejoice in your Prosperity and wish it may increase. If you have Sold the Copy right of your Medical Works for a thousand dollars, I am confident the Bookseller will have a good Bargain and make twice the profit of that it, that you will. Those Works are in universal Esteem among the Faculty, and even with those who differ from you, on so many points.
There is a concurrence, if not a combination of Events that Strikes me. Coll Burr at Washington, General Dayton at Washington, General Miranda at Washington, General Hull returning from his Government General Wilkinson commanding in Louisiana &c &c. Enterprizes of great Pith may be in a State of Coction. You may Say perhaps that I am jealous. But there is a long History in my memory attached to Several of those names, which Suggests the Possibility of profound Councils and great Results, whether good or not I will not conjecture. If our Government should risque the giving Offence to France by a War with Spain, I should be surprized.
If I have been as tedious in this Letter as in my last, I will not be So long, lest I Should disgust you with a correspondence  which affords great pleasure to your Friend and humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Josiah Parker, 5 December 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Parker, Josiah

Sir
Quincy December 5th: 1805:

I thank you for introducing to me Mr: Robinson, whom I found to be a gentleman of good information and agreeable manners. I should have been glad to have enjoyed more of his company and conversation. I am happy in retirement, which is more than I ever could say in public life. I have no quarrel with the people. They are like all other people. Ambition has its marches and countermarches; it can wheel to the right and left and go through all the evolutions in this Country as well as any other. Cæsar can find a Pompey and a Crassus to help him up. Octavius can find an Anthony and a Lepidus to lift him to Empire in America, as was well as in Rome. Thus it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be, world without end. So believes, / your very humble Servt:


Title: From John Adams to Martinus Van Marum, 24 December 1805
From: Adams, John
To: Van Marum, Martinus

Sir
Quincy December 24th. 1805

I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me in July 1805 inclosing a Diploma by which I have the honor to be constituted a member of the very respectable Society of the Sciences at Harlem, signed by Teding van Berkhout as President and yourself as Secretary. As this distinction conferred by a learned Society in that Country where I formerly received so many kindnesses is not less agreeable than honourable to me I accept it with great satisfaction and pray you to make my acknowledgments for it to the President and members, and to accept them Yourself from your obliged and respectful humble Servt

PS. I see in the programme a question concerning the tree which succeeds the best in dry lands, and which ameliorates the soil the most and soonest. In this Country our American locust-tree, excells all others for these purposes—


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 27 December 1805
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir!
Oldenbarneveld. 27. Dec. 1805

Long since I should have indulged mÿ wishes in writing you a few lines, had it been in mÿ power, to make anÿ communications worthÿ your attention, but, perpending, respected friend! how much I owe you alreadÿ, I did consider it rather indelicate, to intrude, too often, in your retirement, and avocate ÿou from more interesting occupations. This time, however, mÿ plea Sir! shall be accepted bÿ ÿour usual kindness. The season prompts me, to congratulate ÿou with the end of this year—in which the almightÿ hath continued his blessings upon ÿour person and familÿ and spared you in health,—in vigour of mind and bodÿ. That God of our Fathers—if our ardent wishes may avail, and it be conducive to your lasting happiness—preserve you yet many years here so long—till an ungratefull—infatuated countrÿ, confounded with shame, acknowledges its follÿ, acquit herself fully towards her Benefactor and proves bÿ deeds to deserve the blessings owed to Washington’s and your firm and wise administration: While I shall consider meself peculiar fortunate, if I bÿ continuance maÿ be favoured with ÿour condescending kindness.—
I must now take hold again of this opportunity, of begging new favours—proposing new Queries, and communicating—with diffidence—here and there, some doubts—which I do with more freedom accustomed since long to your indulgence and candour.
In ÿour favour of march 14 you raised a glimmer of hope, that perhaps you would transcribe some further interesting particularities from Ingraham’s journals. What you then communicated was truely interesting, and I should ardently desire, could I obtain a view of the Journal—which is not presumptif—as I live at such a distance. I have again taken some pains to get the journals of his first voyage—if yet existing. I spent a part of this summer—in arranging my materials—relatif America’s N.W. Coast, in which I have partly succeeded. How more I consider that subject, how more I am convinced—that the celebrated Cook—never did see it—that he took an immense chain of Islands—partly clouded bÿ continued fogs—for the continent—It is from a similar motive—that I wished to see Mr. Greÿ’s journal—
You maÿ have seen in the N. papers some account of a stone-shower in France by one Biot—which La Place brings from a Volcan in the Moon!—Chladni a fellow laborer of La Place—and one of the German illuminati—had given an ample detail of a similar real or pretended event in Germanÿ in the Suppl—to the Britt: Encycl—It seems to be not a difficult task—to prove the absurdity of La Place’s dream from the laws of gravitation;—and the formation of these stones in the atmosphere appears to me not less problematical—From some given data—that the stones were verÿ hot—in the first instance—some almost friable some burning hot—I should suppose—having not been in the situation of examining them—that theÿ were a production of volcano’s upon our earth—and so the too rashly ridiculed Superstition of Livÿ—would loose one of his handles. he often mentions shower of stones—and in some places—lapides ardentes—But before I enlarge further upon this subject—I should wish to be favoured with your instructif remarks—
Can you tell me sir! upon what authority of antiquity Montaigne tells us, qu’anciennement Les Criminels, a quelque sorte de mort qu’ils fussent condamnés, fassent dechires tout vifs par les medicens, pour y voir au naturel nos parties interireares—Ess. tom iii Pag. 99?—
I have sent mÿ Philos. lett—on B. & J.—after a severe scouring—and some art: of consideration—which I added—particularly—the last letter in vindication of God’s wisdom in regard to the defective—superfluous and pretens noxious part of the creation—against Buffon’s cavils to Mifflin—if he can find a Printer—of which I from my harsh language and incorrect Phraseologÿ am verÿ doubtful. Now the die is cast, I scruple not to confess, tho’ I had no idea of succeeding, that I should have been exceedingly flattered—had it been deemed deserving a place among your Acad. Records—as this would have made me something in the eyes of my European Correspondents and friends. Can you give me another Subject—not above my strenght—in which I might trÿ—what I could—with a better Success? I searched for praise—you know—but I am not indifferent where and from whom I get it—
I have seen the first vol: of ÿour Stead: Transactions announced in London at 1£ is the price in America equallÿ high?
This Spring the Philos. Society of Philadelphia send mÿ a diploma of fellowship, which, however I might be flattered with the distinction, I found meself obliged to return, as it required the paÿment of ten Dollars for the Diploma—which, if I could spare such a sum, I rather should expended to fill a gap in mÿ librarÿ—
I hesitate not to assert, that I can now account for 9/10 parts at least of all the bones of Elephants in Europe—so that Buffon’s Nubes testium for their former existence in northern climes—shall become very thin—This summer I visited the beautiful falls on the Canada-creek and Black-river—Both deserve a more accurate inspection but a superficial observer is enraptured at the sight, and can distinguish unerring marks—that theÿ antiently have been rent asunder—while the upper part of them made a vast lake—
I have been informed, that this summer—by chopping a large tree—a well—masoned with squared stones, was discovered—the tree covering entirely the mouth of the well—As I can not make it convenient to myself to make this journeÿ—being in the militarÿ Lands, I shall endeavour however to become from there—an account—upon which can be depended. If I succeed—I shall sent it to you.
What have I been shocked with the unauspicious beginning of the campaign between the Austrians and the French Hordes—though I apprehended the event—if the Russians could not in time combine with the Austrian troops:—What shall be the issue if this Rabsake the ii overpowers the Russian and Austrian armies? God knows, what event threatens poor Europe! What ruin waits on it! God knows—if that dreadfull Meteor may not infect even our hemisphere! If we go to war with Spain—Does not the picked quarrel with our consul Forbes at Hamburg—and Ferrand’s insulting orders on St Domingo listen to our men in power, that this son of Marboeuf’s favorite—shall not remain a silent bystander. What a pleasant thought in your dignified retreat—that you are not responsible for our situation! and not withstanding this, I you know, could you, by sacrificing yourself again, save your country—you would not deliberate a single instance, but flÿ to its aid and rescue it.
Honour me with the continuance of your kind remembrance, and believe that I remain with the highest respect and consideration / Dear Sir! / Your most obed. & obliged servt
Fr. Adr. vanderkemp
P.S. I nearly forgot to congratulate the  soc: with adopting you as a member—theÿ have not been always so judicious—your acceptance shall do them honor—