Title: To John Adams from Mathew Carey, 24 October 1821
From: Carey, Mathew
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Philada. Oct. 24. 1821

				Several times since my return home, I have thought it wd be proper to write you on the subject of the Conversation that took place at your table as both business, & a certain reluctance to resume the subject, have prevented me from enacting this purpose.—Further reflexion has convinced me that justice to myself and to the cause of truth, imposes a duty on me, to vindicate the Olive Branch & its author from the acusation you thought proper to press.You advanced two positions—one that the Olive Branch was written expressly with a view to disparage & degrade the New Englanders—& the other that the work was not regarded as worthy of a refutation.The crying injustice done your own greatest work, should make you circumspect in passing sentence on the productions of other people.—My opinions of the people of New England, have expressed in print, & a hundred times in writing, have been and are favourable. I have always regarded the yeomanry of Ma that section of the union, as the pride of the  Nation. They are second to no people on earth in my opinion for urbanity, order, decorum, industry, intelligence, & enterprize. And I have always regard held the aspersions thrown out on them, as marks of base & illiberal minds. I enclose a sketch of them which I published in the Port folio, many Years since—& the same favourable sentiments are expressed in the Book which is so obnoxious to you. I have had arguments without number on this topic, & some of them very violent ones with some of my oldest friends.It is very true, the contents of the Olive Branch bear hard on the Essex junto—on these leaders of sedition,  into whose hands a majority of the voters of the New England states had blindly resigned themselves, by a delusion and infatuation almost unparalleled, & who were gradually leading them step by step to the edge of the frightful precipice of separation and civil war. This,  when I wrote, I believed, & still believe, was the tendency of the a large portion of the public proceedings in Massachusetts, which led these other states blindfold. That such was the view of the great body of the party, I do not believe nor have I asserted, nor even hinted—But I trust I have given ample proof that such were the views of the leaders. For this I might rest satisfied with a bare reference to the work itself, of which whole chapters contain the evidence. But to save you the trouble of examination, I answer a brief sketch of a part of the proof on which the accusation restsTreason was publically preached in the temples of the Living God, when his  creatures went to celebrate his worship—& to evince their approbation of the execrable doctrines, many of those sermons to which the authors deserved to be consigned to penitentiaries, they were ordered to be printed.The rev Mr. Gardiner, in a sermon preached in Boston July 23, 1812, boldly informed his Congregation—“If you do not wish to become the slaves of those who own slaves & who are themselves the slaves of French slaves, you must either, in the language of the day, cut the Connexion, or  so far alter the national Constitution as to insure yourselves a due share in the govt.It was a farce to suppose that during a time of war the Constitution could be altered to put the views of their mouthpieces  of treason, & therefore the only alternative was “cutting the connexion” that is, a separation of the states, with all its bloody consequences.The rev Mr Osgood, in a sermon delivered the same day, at Medford—says.“If at the present no symptoms of civil war appear, they certainly will soon, unless the courage of the war party fail them”—Treachery—“Once hope only remains, that this last stroke of perfidy,” [i.e. the declaration of war against a nation which had unceasingly goaded us,  by almost every possible outrage for fifteen years] “may open the eyes of a besotted & most wretchedly deluded people, that they may awake like a giant from his slumbers, & wreak their vengeance on their betrayers, by driving them from their stations, & placing at helm more skilful & faithful hands.” Now, sir can you for a moment persuade yourself, that this means any thing else but civil war & separation?But it is not on the testimony or approbation of the democratic party alone, that the work rests. Numbers of candid & rational  federalists have expressed approbation nearly as strongly. I shall mention but three—Judge Yates—Wm Rawle—& Nicholas Biddle.Under these circumstances, it is not wonderful, that I appeal from your judgment, which, I am tempted to believe, has been formed without a perusal of the work—at least without a perusal of the whole of it. This wd. not be a very new case. Holt acknowledged to you that he had written a series of papers against your “Defence,” which he had not then read.—Neither you nor I have long to live. We shall soon be summoned to that land “from whence bourne no traveller returns.” The work will survive us both. How long, neither of us can tell. But to be candid, at the risque of being charged with vanity, I do hope that a Book containing a sketch of the history of this Country, during a most eventful period,—fortified throughout with documents as it is—supported by the approbation of some of the best men in the Country—& so generally disposed—will be read with by remote posterity. To their decision, when you, & I are mouldering in our graves, I appeal—and should it appear that the Olive Branch owes its existence to foul or corrupt motives—that I have barely sacrificed truth at the shrine of party, faction, fraud, or falsehood, then, sir may my name be carried into infamy—& may my descendants cover themselves with sackcloth & ashes, as often as they reflect on the conduct of their ancestor.I remain, Sir, / Your obt. hble Servt.

					Mathew Carey


Title: From John Adams to Alden Bradford, 26 October 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Bradford, Alden

dear Sir
Montezillo October 26th. 1821

Your kind letter of the 24th. has exerted a thousand conjectures in my Mind, and as many questions.—Where was the paper enclosed found—To whom was it addressed, by whom was it written—I have no recollection, of having seen it in print, or read it in Manuscript—Apparently it was written by some person who had been conversant in law, and history—though some ideas in it, might have been borrowed from some of Mr Otis’s former writings—It could not have been his composition, for he at that time was too much dissipated—
Josiah Quincy I think was absent in England—The only plausible conjecture that occures to me is, that it was composed by Governor Bodwion, And Samuel Dexter; Father of the late great orator—For Bodwin was the Son of a Huguenot, and Dexter I think married a Huguenot—The luminous history of the Edict of Nantze and its revocation, indicates a French Protestant Origin—It was probably a letter from those two Gentlemen, or one of them to another Member of the Council; who differed from them in opinion, in the Council, concerning the governors Speech—Or it might be originaly a draft of a project of an answer to the Governors Speech, which was not adopted by the Council.—It is not at all in the Character of Governor Adams’s writings—I am not at all apprehensive that you will publish these wild conjectures—And should not have been, if you had not expressed your sentiments of this indiscreet custom; which I disapprove, as you do—
Bust since Gentlemen are disposed to trifle with, me, I am willing to say, “vive la Bagatelle” And trifle with them in return—I get some valuable Books, and some curious Pamphlets by the sport; which I should otherwise never see—I return you the Manuscript, but should be very glad to know more about it—I am Sir your obliged / humble Servant
J A
P.S. The Manuscript is so able a State paper, and bears the marks of so well exercised and disciplined a pen—that it ought to be printed and preserved among the most precious monuments of that period; And the public respectfully requested to compare the hand writing with that of the most celebrated and litterary Characters of that time.—
I forgot to suggest the Name of Dr Winthrope who was one of the Council, and who possessed information and powers of reasoning, equal to the work—that gentlemans fame was not proportioned to his merit—I can scarcely think Dr Cooper equal to it—Mayhew and Thatcher who were quite equal to it in their time; where dead long before.—
J A


Title: To John Adams from David Sewall, 26 October 1821
From: Sewall, David
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					York October 26th. 1821

				We are about commencing the 87th. year of our pilgrimage. And by the last Catalogue of H.C. among the front Ranks of our Cotemporary of that—and indeed of any other of our Early Society,—May Health of Body & mind accompany you, the ensuing, equal and surpass what you have enjoyed the year past.—Our political matters in Maine appear somewhat changeable especially in the Official duties of the first Majistrate or rather the Person officiating as such.—And the Object of Separation seem now to be developed—Offices, more than the real benefit of the State, and when required are less lucrative than Imagination had fondly concieved.—The increase of State expences, has disappointed the predictions of many, who had put confidence in their democratic leaders upon that Subject.—But patience and economy may in time reconcile us to our Situation.—I have lately had the perusal of the publications of Pacificus, or the Massa. Peace Society and there are many Striking observations contained in them. Could the sentiments they contain be universally Adopted Mankind would be much happier—and be fast approximating to the period mentioned in some of the profetts prophets of the old Testament And however Utopian, and Visionary they may appear, may We not have some hope, of their being productive of the leaving of happy prospects to suceeding Generations? I Wish to hear from you, and of your Welfare, as frequently, as your leisure will permit.—your Friend & Servant

					David Sewall

					Health is much in Status quo, as when I last Wrote you


Title: From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 30 October 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Carey, Mathew

dear Sir—
Montezillo October 30st. 1821

I have received your favour, and thank you for it—I should have written to you before but St Anthony has sent his subtarranan fires into my eyes—so that I have not been able to write or read—a word.—The little sparring at my table was alltogether my fault, and I ask your pardon; I did not give the opinion as my own but as the general opinion of this part of the Country—The facts as generally stated by you I cannot controvert; they were as grevious to me at the time, as to you—And are lamented by me still as much, as by you—But I am unable to enlarge—I will only add a pleasant recommendation to you—
First to write another volume as large—under the same title of the Olive Branch—on the History of the two Insurrections in Pennsylvania, the Gallatins Insurrection, and Fries’s insurrection; with as copious extracts from the Sermons of the Clergy in Pennsylvania, and their Prayers—and from the Speeches of Members from that State—And from the Circular letters from Members of Congress to their Constituents in that State—And from the letters and intrigues of the two Mecklingburghs among the Germans throughout that State—And from the lieing hand Bills printed in the german Language and scattered among the germans every where—Collect all these precious materials and I will warrant for a Second volume of the Olive Branch as large as the first—and which deserve to be scattered in ten thousand volumes all over the world like the first—Secondly I advise you to write a History of the State of Virginia from 1796 to 1801 with copious extracts from their proceedings of their Legislature—from the speeches made in it from the Newspapers and Pamphlets printed in it—And from the Circular printed Circular letters from Members of Congress to their Constituents in all the Southern and Western States—And I will warrant you, you may make a third volume as ample as the other two, and as deserving of dispersion throughout the World for the benifit of Mankind When you shall have written, and printed these three volumes Olive branches, I will acknowledge you entire impartiality—And I verily believe they will have a happy tendency to preserve the Union by discouraging such atrocious proceedings for the future
I am Sir with hearty good will / and sincere esteem / your friend and humble / Servant
J A


Title: To John Adams from Alden Bradford, 1 November 1821
From: Bradford, Alden
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Boston Nov. 1. 1821

				I cannot say positively where the paper, I lately sent you, was found—There are here some files of letters &c. which were saved from the wreck of Governor Hutchinson’s library—I am inclined to think, I found it among them—But why should he have it? Perhaps his friend, to whom it was addressed, gave him a copy—This is probably a copy—there being no signature to it—By your remarks, I perceive you think it to have been as late as 1770 or 1771 or 2—I am inclined to the opinion, that it was in Octr. 1765, on Bernard’s making a speech, in which he speaks of the unlimited Supremacy & authority of the Parliament—He called the Court together in Sepr. by a special proclamation, on account of the riots in Boston in August respecting stamps, when effigies of Oliver & others were burnt & Hutchinson’s house attacked—But soon after making the speech, he prorogued the Court, & the Council & House of R. had not time to answer it—See Masstts State papers, (compiled by your huml. servt) pages 39, 40, 41 & 42—In his Speech, he says, “the right of Parliament to make laws for the Colonies is not disputed at Westminster—I trust the Supremacy of Parliament over all the members of the empire never was & never will be denied—I have only to say, that the Stamp act, being a Law of Parliament, ought to be obeyed” &c &cIn the answer of the House in Octo. they observe, they had too great reverence for the Supreme Legislature of the nation, to question its just authority—It belongs not to us to set adjust the boundaries of the power of Parliament—but boundaries there certainly are”—“Parliament has a right to make all laws within the limits of their own Constitution; they claim no more”—&cMr Otis was at N. York attending Convention at this time—The Comtee who prepared the answer of the House was S. White of Taunton,, Speaker—T. Cushing, S. Dexter, J. Lee, Genl. Winston &c—Why is it not probable, that this was a letter of Dexter to some friend inclined to think with Govr. Bernard, written soon after the adjournment of Court in Sepr. Some of the same opinions are advanced in the answer of the House, made in Octo—See pages 43, 44 of above mentioned book—& Dexter was one of Comtee.very respectfully

					A Bradford


Title: From John Adams to David Sewall, 4 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Sewall, David

Dear Sir
Montizillo 4 Nov 1821

Thanks for your favour of 26 Oct last Mankind seem to be children from the cradle to the grave. They will beg & pray—wrangle & fight for rattles of victuals, and as soon as they have obtained them, grow so indifferent about them, as to break them to peices, or throw them away—So our good fellow citizens of Maine—However ardent they were for the seperation, now, when they have so peaceably obtained it, they seem to care little about it & perhaps even regret it. So our dear republicans of New England & of the other states, who fought so gloriously for independence, seem now, at least many of them, to be willing to return to their wallowing in the mire. The full soul loath’s even the honey comb. So it is on the other hand, when men possess any thing valuable—they set lightly by it, & part with it rashly, and soon wish to recover it back again. So our good people of Masstts, who so easily consented to your independence, now look upon you with a longing eye—but enough of this.
You were a great astronomer at college and calculated many eclipses, and among the rest the total eclipse of the sun in 1806—and it lies strongly in my mind, that Dalton and I calculated the same, but I will not swear to either of these facts. —Pray inform me, whether my imagination deceives me. I have had preserved all my calculations of eclipses my theses and blundering latin syllogisms, which our tutor Mayhew some times called ora tronculas’s in a chest by themselves, but when I call became a wanderer from home, they all disappeared—and whether they were employed by my clerks to light their pipes or my girls to cover their pies, I know not, but I have not a scrap of a single college paper left in the world
You will not expect connexion from me & therefore I will ramble. Pray are your classical fires so as relumined, as to excite a longing for the independence of ancient Greece? The restoration of its language in its purity—the resurrection of its ancient heroes and sages—lawgivers orators poets & historians its artists in architecture painting—sculpture & musick and its mechanic artists of every kind? The eyes and the policy and the intrigues of all Europe are directed to that spot.—and the grand Seignor & Ali Pacha and his sons must be greater men, than I believe they are to prevent a volcanic explosion, in that country, within a few years, which may spread a conflagration throughout out Europe & perhaps through Asia—I am Sir with constant esteem & affection your friend & only surviving classmate
J.A


Title: To John Adams from David Sewall, 13 November 1821
From: Sewall, David
To: Adams, John

					My dear Sir
					York Novemr. 13th. 1821.

				This is to acknowledge and thank you for your favour of Novr. 5. (a day anciently memorable in this Country on account of the Gunpowder plot, to destroy the King and Parlamment) And the application therein made to our great Men of Mayne, in their anxiety and eagerness to Acquire an Independence from Massa. and the Indifference to its places of Honour and profit, after they had acquired them.—excited in a small degree my Risables.—But it is a changeable World We live in.—And the Aphorism of “Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamus in illis,” is frequently verefied.—As to your query about calculating Eclipses It was I acknowledge my Hobby bone, but I do not recollect that you or Dalton made attempts of that kind while at College.—But one thing I very Well remember, that upon the leuming of the Old Greasy Tabels of the Hall in April 1753 a lille before the Annual Fast; The Epitaph put up, on the Hall Door, the morning, or in a Day or two after that Event; was ascribed to you And the Trouble Dalton suffered, on account of a Suspicion entertained by the Executive Government of the College, that He was a principle or Accessory in their destruction but of which he was totally unacquainted.—I have not, for some years undertook to calculate a Solar Eclipse—until a few days since observing Reading some Observation made in a Portland Gazette; of a difference of an Hour in Time, Some Almanacks had made in that which is expected in Feby. next (1822) I thought I would attemp it, and after finding the time of the 6 of the  &  would be about 4.’ after 11. A.M. of the 21. and the  Lat. to be somethin North at the Time—having lent or lost my case of mathematical Instruments, by Which alone I was could ascertain by Projection, the beginning, End duration and Quantity; upon our Meridian,—I desisted, and determine to leave it to be decided by actual Observation Which of them are most Correct in their predictions Calculations.—I have noticed in a late Boston Paper that a 2nd. Argument was directd. to be made in the U.S. Circuit Court upon a libell for condemning a Slave trading Vessell Seized on the affrican coast under French Papers, because the Trafick was a violation of the law of Nations.—That this Traffick is a abominably Wicked and immoral, cannot for an Instant be doubted.Notwithstanding it was carried on by Americans before and since, the revolution. But now, if I am rightly informed it is contrary to the laws of G.B. France and the U.S. and some other Nations.—For the honour of our Nation, and the reputation of its Judiciary, I feel desirous, if this vile trafick may have heretofore been supposed tolerated by the law of Nations Will in these days of more light and knowledge, be adjudgd to be abolished.—How many Independent Nations, agreing in a particular usage, doth it take to make a law of Nations? But this Question is before a Court, Which I hope will make a Riteous and just decision—As to the dissolution of the Turkish Empire, and the closing period of Mahomitan delution, The signs of the Times indicate its approximation. And all liberal minds will not only Acquiese, but rejoice that ancient Grece, as Well as other places and Nations under Slavish despotism of a civil or religious nature may be emancipated; And that the glorious times foretold in the Scriptures of Truth, When Sword, and Spear, shall be converted into Instruments of Husbandry and Nation shall make War with Nation no longer—may be realized.your old Friend & Classmate

					David Sewall


Title: From John Adams to Smith Thompson, 18 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Thompson, Smith

Sir
Montizillo 18 Nov 1821

Although the writer of the inclosed letter is as unknown to me as any stripling in the moon, the nassiete naievty of it has induced me to transmit it to you. As we are told, that the conqueror of the world might have been but the first wrestler on the green; so I presume that the some first wrestlers on the green might have been become conquerors of the world. Who knows but that this child may be destined to become a Perry? That he should have conceived the thought of writing to me is such an oddity as to have excited me to amuse you with the curiosity of it, especially as it gives me an opportunity of expressing, the high esteem & respect I entertain for your characterI am Sir &c—


Title: From John Adams to Anonymous, 18 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Anonymous

Sir
Montezillo 18 Nov

I have transmitted your letter of the 10 Nov to the Secy. of the navy with the certificate of Mr Bartram and am your well wisher
J. A


Title: To John Adams from Mathew Carey, 24 November 1821
From: Carey, Mathew
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir,
					Philada Nov. 24. 1821

				When I wrote you last, I had not only considered the contents of the letter to which I replied—& therefore deem it necessary to make some addition to   itOn the subject of the Western insurrection,   the Olive Branch contains some  animadversions, sufficiently caustic, as I am persuaded you will allow, if you examine them. But had I been wholly silent on this tender topic, it wd. have been no impeachment of my impartiality; as I likewise passed over in silence. Shays’s insurrection, which was a much more desperate one, & undertaken, I am persuaded, with     more wicked views by the leaders. The excise system, which was opposed by our Western Citizens, with a violence to the last degree unjustifiable, had been not very long before solemnly denounced by Congress as the “horror of all free states”—& young & old, rich & poor, high & low, had imbibed an irremoveable detestation of it. This most assuredly, though not by any means a justification of the opposition, must, by every candid observer, be admitted to be no small palliation. And the hardihood &  folly, that, under such circumstances, could offer violence to every  the feelings of every class of the community, for so paltry a revenue as arose from the excise, can not be too highly reprobated—more especially as the import might have been raised so as to produce the sum necessary, without being felt by the nation—& moreover so as to lend a helping hand to the manufacturing industry of the nation, of which in the competition with foreign skill, capital, and industry, it stood in so much need. So much for the  Western insurrection.As to what has been pompously styled “Fries’s insurrection,” it is difficult to write on it with temper. Steven was a molehill more completely magnified into a mountain. Even in England, where they have so many species of treasons, I am persuaded no grand jury would have ever found a true tile against the offenders for treason—nor, if a grand jury could be found to return “true bill,” is there a petit jury who  wd. have convicted them. It was a high crime & misdemeanor, & ought to have been punished by fine & imprisonment—but it never, I am persuaded, in the eyes of God or man, warranted the forfeiture of life. I never felt more disgust or vexation at any public transaction in my life, than I did at the results of these trials—to find that the dire precautions of the framers of our Constitution were so completely evaded.That my book—to conclude a long letter—is entirely impartial, may perhaps admit of doubt. Neither you nor I are probably competent to decide. But that it is more impartial by far than any other Book  I ever saw, written merely on politics & by a professed party man, is beyond a doubt. If you know of any more impartial, I should be glad to be favored with the title. Your obt. hble. Servt.

					Mathew Carey

					PS. I have not touched on the proceedings of Virginia &c. because I think the proceedings during Mr Jefferson’s administration, in New England, of which I have taken  no notice, are a very fair set off.


Title: From John Adams to F. C. Schaeffer, 25 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Schaeffer, F. C.

Rev & dear Sir
Montezillo 25 Nov 1821

I thank you for your favour of Nov 19. & for the address inclosed. The Ceremonial for at laying the corner Stone of St Mathews church & the address pronounced on that occasion, were solemn affecting & impressive. You have not in my humble opinion given too much credit to Luther I love & revere the memories of Huss Wickliff Luther Calvin Zwinglius Melancton and all the other reformers;—how muchsoever I may differ from them all in many theological metaphysical & philosophical points. As you justly observe, without their great exertions & severe sufferings the U.S.A had never existed.
I know not whenever I have read any thing with more pleasure than those words in your 9 page “God knows that every worthy member of our Church rejoices in the prosperity of all christian congregations & delights in the evidences of their increasing numbers & piety. Christian love & tolerance are essential principles of our faith”—& though on some points we may differ from our Cristian fellow citizens, still we love them & extending the right hand of fraternal affection we call them bretheren. The true members of our community are charitable towards all men whether of their own house hold of faith or the supporters of another denomination”.
These sentiments are, in the true spirit of christianity as I understand it. I desire to be in full communion with all such christians
I am Sir your sincere well wisher & / obliged hum Sert.
J.A—


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 25 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Montezillo 25th November 1821.

I sympathise with Alexipharmacus in his resentment of the indignities offered to Richardson, Lock, Barrow &ca: yet I cannot approve of the principle of Clarissa Harlow’s history, because such virtue ought never to be rendered so unfortunate; for I believe it never is, even in this world; nor was ever so infernal a villain as Love-lace ever able to maintain, for so long a time, the esteem and the admiration of man-kind. Nor do I approve of the resolution of Sir Charles Grandison to confine himself to private life; for such talents and such virtues are under moral and religious obligations to engage in the service of their Country and mankind, and to undertake the most hazardous services when circumstances may require them.
The obligations of mankind to Mr. Locke for his diffusion of the principles of Civil & Religious Liberty, are beyond all my powers of calculation; nor is his merit the less, though the wit of Voltaire and the eloquence of Rousseau, who derived their principles from him, Reprobates as they were, contributed more to scatter them throughout the world, among all ranks of peoples, than his plain discourses could have done. His Essay upon the human understanding is an admirable work. He had studied Descartes & Hobbs, and his theory was suggested by them. He corrected most of their errors, but he adopted some even from Hobbs. Some of his mistakes have been noted by Hume, Berkley & Reid, but the inaccuracies of them all, I think, have been clearly pointed out by Dugald Stuart, who has proved that Metaphysicks are too profound for the human understanding to investigate—
Are you a partizan for the Greeks against the Turks? G B. is determined that neither Russia or Austria Shall have them; if it be true that the King is sending 15000 troops from Hanover to the Ionian Islands—But this is as far beyond my comprehension as Metaphysics. This I know that I am / Your Old Friend

P.S. I do not relish the controversy between England and Scotland—They have both done wonders in a literary way, even in the present Century. Pray, is Hallam, the Middle-age-man, Scotch, or English? John Adams


Title: From John Adams to David Sewall, 26 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Sewall, David

Dear Sir
Montezillo 26. Nov. 1821

Your favour of the 13 Nov has made me laugh and cry almost or quite like an ideot. The epitaph on the greasy tables I have never seen since I read it on the post. Although it must have been a stupid thing I would give an mille for a copy of it. The conflagration of the tables is a proof of the capacity of our country men equal to the inundation of the tea. The actors in both scenes have shown a generalship equal to any of the heroes of the world and a determined faithful secresy that never has been equalled but by the free masons. I never knew or suspected any one of either conspiracy.
I spent six weeks at least in Daltons chamber in calculating eclipses—in conic sections and algebraic equations & sometimes at midnight we went up at on the roof of old Harvard to view with a Tellescope the eclipses of the Sattelites of Jupiter and gaze at the ring of Saturn. We chose Daltons chamber to avoid the noises in the lower entry chamber which were of great annoyance to my chamber if not to yours. Charles Cushing and my chum and some others made an intolerable racket for though Charles was a very clever fellow & turned out much better than I ever expected he was at college very idle and very obstreporous and I was sometimes not much less so in a nother way. When Mr Whitfield preached in Boston I went to Boston to hear him and when I came back, Dalton treated me with some of his exquisite hyson with which his rich father always supplied his only son of which I drank half as many cups as ever Dr Johnson ever drank and by the inpsiration of that tea I repeated Whitfield’s sermons, imitating his voice andgestures as well as I could—and I made as much noise too storys high as Charles and his rabble made below. Pray did you belong to our play reading club? You were one of the actors in the tragedy of the Brothers before the Cambridge ladies) Though these are juvenile frivolities—Haec enim memenisse juravit.
The Consolato del mare is the only monument of a general conventional law of nations in the history of mankind. That book was solemnly sworn to be observed by the kings of France Spain the emperor of Germany & most of the sovreigns of Europe. England was not a commercial or a maratime importance power sufficient to be thought at that time worthy of the association Since that period the law of nations has been regulated by treaties between particular nations. It has now become a chaos and of late years its eternal principles of justice have been violated at pleasure by every nation except our own
I am as ever your friend,
J A.


Title: From John Adams to Richard Rush, 28 November 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Richard

Dear Sir
Montezillo November 28th. 1821

I love to see a young, Man, who in the language of Montesquieu is capaple de s’estime beaucoup; but in an old Man this is rather odious than amiable. The kind Compliments in your letter of the 30th. September, make me too proud for a Man in his 89th. year; but your idea of a picture overcame all my gravity and made me laugh outright. What would the Lords of the Gentlemens and Seats in England say to a picture of my House of Eight-Rooms, As Feron said though he has deminished the number, nearly one half? However, my imagination was soon seized with other questions. What point of time would a painter seize, and what particular scene would he select—? That in which the young gentlemen, were at breakfast under an awning, after a march of Nine Miles in a very hot morning; or that in which in which they were drawn up on a small round after breakfast they prostrated themselves on the ground, under shades of Trees and went to sleep as decently and as soundly as if they had been at Church; or that in which they were drawn up on a small round elevation of green grass, opposit the house, on the other side of the road, going through their exercises and manœuvers—? or when they were drawn up in a body, before piazza, listening to an old man; melting with heat, quaking with palsy; tormented with Rheumatism and Sciatick; and scarcely able to stand; uttering a few words by way of Commentary on their two Motto’s Scientia ad gloriam”—And Paremus.” After Mature reflection I rejected all these, and fixed upon the last when the whole body marched up in a file; taking the Old Man by the hand; taking a final leave marched up in a file of him forever—and receiving his poor Blessing—
Never before, but once, in my the whole course of my life, was my Soul so melted into the Milk of human kindness, and that once was when 4 or 500. fine Young fellows, appeared before me in Philadelphia, presenting an address and receiving my answer—On both occasions I felt as if I could lay down my an hundred lives to preserve the liberties and promote the prosperity of so noble a rising generation—But enough and too much of this. No picture will ever drawn; indeed the subject is too slight—
Is all Europe going together by the ears, about the Turkish province of Albania? Are the Greeks rising like the phenix from their Ashes? Is Britain sending forces to the Ionian Islands to check the Empires? The South Americans have translated the clumsy book you hint at into Spanish, but whether they will derive any benefit from it I know not—
I am Sir, with the warmest hereditary / friendship, your
J. A—


Title: To John Adams from Smith Thompson, 29 November 1821
From: Thompson, Smith
To: Adams, John

					Sir
					Washington Nov. 29th. 1821

				I have received your letter of the 19th. Inst. inclosing one from Master Jesse Y. Shaw soliciting your aid in procuring him a Midshipmans warrant. Altho the Department is much pressed with applications for the service, yet the oddity of this Young Gentlemans letter is calculated to excite curiosity, and shall receive due consideration, more especially as you have deemed it worthy your attention. If the measures adopted by Congress at the ensuing Session shall justify me in making any considerable additions to our present number of Midshipmen I will endeavor to give this Young man an opportunity to develop his hidden talentWith great Respect / I have the honor to be / Your humble Servant

					Smith Thompson


Title: To John Adams from William Tudor, Sr., 3 December 1821
From: Tudor, William, Sr.
To: Adams, John

					Dear & Venerable Sir,
					Boston Decr. 3d. 1821.

				I take the liberty of sending you a copy of a Report which is to be acted upon in Town meeting this day week—A chain of circumstances forced me to be a good deal instrumental in getting this affair into its present shape. Several gentlemen of the Committee devoted their great legal knowledge & very sound discretion to the preparation of the Bills, which should furnish the ground work of our recommendations. The report itself is cheifly of my composition—& you will perhaps remark in alluding to the nature of our corporations, that I have adverted to their influence in bringing on the Revolution, a fact which I had treasured up from some of your writingsThough Sir, your employments in public life have been directed to a much wider range, fortunately for this nation, than the concerns of a single Town; still as you have in former times been a Citizen and always felt a deep interest in Boston, I thought you would excuse my troubling you with a plan for making a considerable altertion in its government; though I hope without impairing its peculiar features or doing any thing that might tend to injure that spirit & intelligence, that makes the pure & simple democracy of this large town the most remarkable example of civil government now existing in the world—I will not add any thing to the reasoning on the report, but if its views & principles should appear to you wise & salutary, I shall feel much gratified in having had any part in the business—The time which I have been obliged to devote for three weeks past to this Committee has interrupted my life of Otis—but I hope in a very few days to have a few sheets in readiness to submit to your perusal for your opinion, which I shall solicit more particularly at the time—With the highest respect / I am Your Mo hbl sert

					W. Tudor.


Title: From John Adams to Peter Burtsell, 12 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Burtsell, Peter

Sir
Montezillo December 12th. 1821

It is my duty to thank you for Lucon—it is entertaining and instructive enough to be an Antidote to Rochfaucault Maxims and Mandevills Fable of the Bees if has none of their Synicisms or mysanthrophy, it is pure, Moral, and Sober in Religion—It has quickned my circulations, and I shall keep it on my Table for a vade mecum—The anecdotes are ennumerable, well chosen and well applied, I shall note only one instance—What he says of Horne Tooke is admirable because it is true—It is greatly to be lamented that such Men as this Gentleman and many others should be so violent in their principles and indiscreet in their conduct, as to make the Government think it necessary not only to neglect their great talents—but to persecute them to distruction
I am Sir your obliged humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 13 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

My Dear Sir
Montezillo December 13th 1821

The unexpected Visit of Judge Smith to my Cottage, was highly interesting, and acceptable—and I entertained hopes that he would have made me a Second, and of longer continuence—from all that I had heard of him; I had conceived an high Esteem, which his personall appearance and conversation fully confirmed—my health was much better when he was here; than it has been since; and it is now extremely feeble we cannot expect grapes of Thorns, or figs of Thistles, nor bright eyes, nor clean memory, or steady nerves, at Eighty six years of age—The Electioneering Campaign is the least of my concern, I leave it to the Providence of God, and the reason of the People—and if they will not comply—with their reason, I am willing they should indulge their humours—Eternal rivalrys will attend all elections, in all future times, as they have in past.—
What in nature, can John Quincy’s family have to do with Prof. Keimper’s Geneology—how ever, we will notify the Family as you desire—Your Boston and Cambridge friends, I suppose are two happy, and consequently too indolent in their delirium of delight—I fear they will resemble Lucullus’s Soldiers; and cry let him mount breaches who has ne’er a groat—
I am very glad you proceed in translating the Records—The New york Convention have done two good things at least—the Abolition of the Council of appointment and the Council of revision—their Universal sufferage is not much deeper than ours—it will only occasion by and by, a little more trouble, and a little more expence to Gentlemen of fortunes to carry their Electionsand as it frequently cost two Gentlemen in England their whole fortunes, one to loose, the other to gain the Election of a pot-walloping Burrough—
I am and shall be untill death your / affectionate friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to David Sewall, 14 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Sewall, David

					Sir
					York 14th. Decemr. 1821

				yours of the Novemr. 26th. ulto. came duly to hand, and gratified me, (as all your Communications do), and if my scribbles afford you agreable amusement, it is a Satisfaction that, I am happy to contribute thereunto—I never saw any copy of the Epitaff on the greasy Tables of HC but from the impression it made on my mind at the Time, from reading it, on the Hall Door, as it now lays in my recollection, was Substantially as follows yesterday were gathered to the state of Oblivion, after being purified by fire, the Greasy Tables of Harvard College  (87). Their untimely and it is expected will be a Memento to those who have the care and oversight of their Successors, to take effectual measures; to prevent their wallowing in filth and Greasiness; least they should come to the like untimely end.—Reading in a late Gazette an agreable mention—of things and Persons and places under the name of Ruminessince, I thought I would attempt Something of the kind, by reducing to writing the most Interesting Occurrences in a Journey with Father Flynt in 1754 to Portsmouth, & back to Cambridge Which, as you are the only Person in my recollection, who can appreciate the genuineness of the Relation, I now inclose for an innocent amusementyour Friend & Sert.

					David Sewall

					I was not a member of the Club you mention—or of any other Club, except of that called the Snug Club, of which you were the only Person, ever admitted, after its Original formation
				A Schollar & no Gent}The description of College Tutor, by a Waggish SatiristA Gentleman & no SchollarA Gentleman, & a SchollarNeither a Schollar, or a Gent.


Title: To John Adams from Peter Burtsell, 17 December 1821
From: Burtsell, Peter
To: Adams, John

					Sir
					New York 17th Decr. 1821

				I had this morning the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 12th Instt:Your approbation of the Book ‘Lacon’ is very gratifying to me—And I hope the small Volume may prove an amusing companion to a good man in the Vale of years—In writing to the man who once ruled the destinies of my country & who took as active a part in obtaining her independence, who Contributed so much to the establishment of a Navy that has since added so much important to the National Character I feel a pleasure not easily expressedThat You may yet Continue in the full possession of a Vigorous intellect & enjoy many days of Happiness is the wish / of Your Obt Sert.

					Peter Burtsell


Title: From John Adams to Daniel Webster, 23 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Webster, Daniel

Dear Sir,—
Montezillo, December 23, 1821.

I thank you for your discourse, delivered at Plymouth on the termination of the second century of the landing of our forefathers. Unable to read it, from defect of sight, it was last night read to me, by our friend Shaw. The fullest justice that I could do it, would be to transcribe it a full length. It is the effort of a great mind, richly stored with every species of information. If there be an American who can read it without tears, I am not that American. It enters more perfectly into the genuine spirit of New England, than any production I ever read. The observations on the Greeks and Romans; on colonization in general; on the West India Islands; on the past, present, and future in America, and on the slave-trade, are sagacious, profound, and affecting in a high degree.
Mr Burke is no longer entitled to the praise—the most consummate orator of modern times.
 What can I say of what regards myself? To my humble name, “Exegisti monumentum œre perennius.”
This oration will be read five hundred years hence, with as much rapture as it was heard. It ought to be read at the end of every century, and indeed at the end of every year, for ever and ever.
I am, Sir, with the profoundest esteem, your obliged friend, and very humble servant,
John Adams.


Title: To John Adams from Peter Thatcher Vose, 24 December 1821
From: Vose, Peter Thatcher
To: Adams, John

					Most Honourable & Venerable Sir,
					Quincy Decr 24th. 1821.

				Allow me in the name of the Author of the Map of the United States, & Territories, with the contiguous British & Spanish Possessions in North America, for 1820.—to Present You with this Copy.And permit me to mingle my sensation of pleasure & pride, while performing this duty, in tendering to you this testimony of respect & esteem, for your renowned & emminent Services & toils for your Countrys good; and if any thing could give zest, to this Single act of My life, it would be in retracing the active Scenes of Youthfull days.* while approximating yours,— “blest abode”! two Centuries & one year only, have passed since the landing on yonder Rock, of the virtuous Pilgrims—driven by stern oppression from their Native land, to this then inhospitable Shore, in cold December dreary month.—And to One: who has been during all most the past Century an eye & ear Witness, & conspicuous Actor on the great Drama, & Scenes that have Since intervened to transform US. to a Nation. with what pleasure & Satisfaction, will this Civilian—Statesman, Philosopher, & Sage, “who is happy—Nature to explore,” Survey, in his retired moments (as is beleived), this faithfull, deleniation, but faint Picture, of Our beloved Country? embracing all the variety of Soil & Climate, within the temperate zone from 25. to 50. N. Latd. and from the St. Croix to the Pacific Ocean with the most extensive & innumerable, Rivers & Streams rolling in constant Succession, to the ‘great Deep,’ ‘the common highway of Nations,’ passing in review the rapid Strides in population & civilization the fertile & highly cultivated fields, Villiages, Towns & Cities, with all the conveniences, elegances, and—embelishments, of life.—The progress of the Arts & Sciences, the Agricultural, commercial, mecanical & manufacturing improvements, Spoke into existence as it were in a moment, within your own recollection, Observation & experience.—with a Goverment founded on the “equall rights of Man,” and best calculated (if faithfully administerd) to secure all the important blessings of Civilized Society.—than whom NO, One Man, contributed more than yourself, to establish & perpetuate, and in perfect harmony & accordance with Our Washington! with what complacency & self Satisfaction, while in life, do you review the past, the present, & look forward to the future? to the Greatness & happiness of Millions yet unborn, in this our highly favourd land by these “Our Fathers GOD!”Peace to this blest abode!Where dwells our Adams, His Countrys most revered & venerable Sage!—“First to assert his Countrys cause,”Protector of her liberty & laws.”Accept the unfeined admiration / gratitude & veneration, & Prayers / for a happy Continuance of life & health / Till it shall please the great Author, of / all Worlds, & beings to give you a more / perfect view of His Wonderfull Works, in / His Mantions of  rest; & where / Kindred Spirits Shall enjoy eternal / felicity.

					Peter Thatcher Vose

					PS. The Person who has the honor to now make this first & perhaps the last communication to you, Sir—has not been & idle or indiferent Spectator, of your emminent & distinguished services for more than 30 years past & tho for more than 40 years absent from his Native Town still cherishs a fond remembrance, & if kindred earth may be allied to Birth & Worth, is proud of the honour of so near affinity as that of a Miltonian*


Title: From John Adams to David Sewall, 24 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Sewall, David

                            Montezillo Dec 24 1821 Dec 31st.

Thanks dear Sir for your favour of the 14—Let the epitaph go to oblivion with the tables
In this famine of news reminiscences & recollections furnish the principal entertainment of the newspapers & have recorded many curious & memorable facts. You I perceive have are seized on with the spirit of the times & recollected a journey more amusing to me than any of them. I seem to see you & your then companion in your dignified chair & pacing horse & to follow you in every step of your progress—At the most of the houses where you stopt I have been entertained. The character of Mr Flint is well supported througout. As you advanced through towards Portsmouth I conceived a wish & a hope that you would make a visit to Newington & pass a night with my fathers eldest brother Joseph Adams minister of that town. I would give an eagle for an evenings conversation between those two patriarchs. They were both born in this town & not very different in age. They were nearly equal in learning & as preachers there was not two pence to boot, for I have heard them both. My uncle had been a great admirer of Dr Mather & was said to affect an imitation of his voice pronunciation & manner in the pulpit. His sermons though delived in a powerful & musical voice consisted of texts of scripture quoting chapt. & verse delivered memoriter & without notes. In consversation he was vain & loquacious though some what learned & entertaining: Flint was equally remarkable for reserve & taciturnity—Flint was full of dry wit humour and satire Adams had none of either. You may judge then what an entertaint you would have had in the sharp shot now & then bolted by the one on the other.
Reminiscences I find are associated with other reminiscences—Your journey has brought to my recollections one of my own made two or three years before yours. I went with a young preacher Ebenezer Adams the son of that uncle up through Chelmsford, to London Derby and a place beyond it called Litchfield if I remember right & from thence down to through the Kenlington to Newington & Portsmouth. Either going or returning we visited Parson Whipple whose lady persecuted me as much as she did afterwards father F—The lady had a fine figure & a fair face. At dinner I was very bashful & silent. After dinner Parson W. invited us into another  where he took a pipe himself & offered us pipes I was an old smoaker & readily took one. The  lady very soon came into the room lifted up  her hands and cried out in a masculine voice I am astonished to see that pretty little boy with a pipe in his mouth smoking that nasty poisoned tobacco I cant bear the sight I was as bashful & timorous as a girl—but I resented so much being called a little boy at 15 or 16 years of age & as stout as her husband, that I determined not to be frightened out of my pipe so I continued to puff away You may well suppose that I bore no very good will to that lady till I afterward becames acquainted with the character of Miss Hanna Whipple who afterwards married Dr. Bracket & gave two thousand dollars to the botanical garden to Cambridge—The excellences of the daughter very early atoned for all the severity of the mother & I have long since esteemed her an amiable & intelligent woman though some times a little too free with her guests. I recollect nothing more worth recording in my tour except that we called at Parson Bridges at Chelmsford & Parson Fogs at Kensington where we had much conversation respecting Mr Wibert afterwards my minister then much celebrated for the elegance of his style—By this time you will be so much fatigued as enough to be glad to read the reminiscence that I am your humb Sert—


Title: From John Adams to Peter Thatcher Vose, 25 December 1821
From: Adams, John
To: Vose, Peter Thatcher

dear Sir
Montezillo December 25th 1821

I rejoice to have been introduced this morning, to the knowledge of a Gentleman, whose nativity was so near—and whose sentiments and feelings so much nearer to my own—whose names have been venerated by me all my Life time There is not a family in North America, who have transmited to their numerous Posterity even down to the present time, more of the Piety and Virtues, the literature and science of our forefathers than Those who bear the name of Thatcher—The founder of the family in America was before his emigration so fordmidable to the views of Arch Bishop Laud, that he draged him before his high Commission, or Star Chamber Court—and we find his fortitude and intrepidity recorded in the State Trials immortality
I pray you to present my kindest thanks to Mr Mellish for the rich present of his Map of the United States which is the most elegant and perfect performance of the kind ever produced in North America, It will be of inestimable benifit to the Children of my family—
The glowing Eulogium in your letter ought to excite in me only a profound sigh for the imperfect manner in which it had been merited—Accept my sincere thanks for the friendly agency you have had in the busine business—And believe me your very / obliged friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Montizillo. 2d. January. 1822.

I have transmitted to Mr. Quincy, extracts from two of your letters, relative to the name and family of Keimper. —
I rejoice in all your joys and wish you many returns of your happy anniversary.—
I agree with you in the merit of Govr. Clinton.—
In all elective governments there is a perpetual conflict for power between two great parties, among the people. I have been astonished and confounded for seven and forty years, with the constant struggle between the southern and northern States of our beloved Country, for ascendancy. New-York has always decided the balance into whichever scale she chose to cast her weights, and I suppose the parties now expect that she will decide the next election of President. And as Mr Clinton is some what suspected of impartiality, and perhaps rather leaning towards the northern States, every engine has been set in motion and will continue to be exerted to gain Mr Clinton. “Chacun cherche a tirer le couverture a son cote.”
The great object at present, though almost four years ahead, is the election of President of the United States.—All I have to say is that whoever is chosen, he will be but a President with a crown of thorns upon his head. Were it not for the prospect of the next election of President, I should think Mr Clinton would be the almost unanimous choice of the people of New-York, for their Govenour, but electioneering and parliamenteering are like the broth of the witches in Macbeth, composed of every queer ingredient.—
The new year commences pleasantly but who can tell what is to happen before its end? It seems we are ten millions of people at present, acting on a vast theatre where men and women display all their enegies, and I have lived to see the United States possess ten Ships of the line, a number of Frigates, and many Sloops of War, and if Great Britain should turn maniac and make war upon us again, our little Navy will make employment enough for a hundred of her Ships of the line.—
Mr James Perkins has done himself great honour by presenting a noble house to the Boston Athæneum, which you may well suppose has made our friend Shaw very happy, and perhaps a little proud.
I have a great respect for Judge Smith, and was greatly disappointed and mortified that he did not make me a second visit. There was once a prospect of a family connexion between his and mine, but such good fortune seldom falls to the lot of / your affectionate friend & humble servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Francis Henderson, 3 January 1822
From: Henderson, Francis
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Newport,—Rhode Island: 3d. January, 1822.

				As I am a stranger to you, the subject matter of this letter must be my excuse for using the freedom of addressing you.In 1795 I married the orphan daughter and only child of the late Lieut. Colo. John Laurens of South Carolina, by whom I have one child living,—a Son,—now of age and with me, having finished his Education at the University of Edinburgh.Being engaged, since my Son’s arrival from Europe, in bringing to a close the pecuniary Concerns of Myself and Family; and among other things, the balance of our claim on the United States, arising from Resolutions of Congress, passed on the 1st. of March 1785, in favor of Colo. Laurens’s orphan child;—We are in the belief,—concurred in by judicious friends,—when the Accounting Officers of the Treasury adjusted in September 1790, the accounts growing out of these Resolutions, they did not state Colo. Laurens’s Ministerial Account, conformable to the tenor of the last Resolve, touching his Pay as Special Minister to France. I herewith enclose a certified copy of the Memorial of the Honble. Henry Laurens, on behalf of his Grand-daughter, to Congress in 1784, with the Report of their Committee thereon in February 1785; marked A;—and in the printed Journals of the Old Congress, will be found, under date of the 1st March 1785, the unanimous resolutions of that Body; of which also enclosed is a copy; marked B; all of which I request you will be good enough to peruse.The construction of Myself, family and friends, of the above mentioned Resolve, is,—that Colo. Laurens’s Heirs and Representatives are entitled to be placed on the same footing with the Minister’s Plenipotentiary of the United States at Foreign Courts, at the time he was Special Minister to France. By a Document furnished me at the Treasury Department of the United States, endorsed—“Statement of Salaries and Expences of Foreign Ministers &ca.,” Yourself, Doctor Franklin, Henry Laurens & others, received their Salary and Expences; but in Colo. Laurens’s Ministerial Account, credit has, hitherto only been given by the accounting officers for his Salary and nothing allowed for his Expences. This Statement, as you will observe by the date of the Register’s letter to the Comptroller, was furnished in June 1790, previous to the adjustment of Colo. Laurens’s accounts the latter end of September 1790.I am aware, that it would be well to state an account of Colo. Laurens’s Expences, for the purpose of obtaining adequate relief. To do this minutely is impossible, as Colo. Laurens, then young and full of patriotism, disregarding emoluments,—kept no accounts,—received but a small part of his dues, and lived at the expence of his Father;—who deducted Four thousand pounds Sterling out of the portion of his Estate he willed to his Grand-daughter, to reimburse the advances he made her Father in his lifetime, all of which, as his accounts shew, were received by his Son during the period of the Revolutionary War, and part on his Embassy to France, taken up, on his journey to Paris, from Veuve Babut Labouchere & Co. of Nantes. Since my alliance with his daughter, I have also paid nearly £1500—more of his debts left unsatisfied at the time of his death.The testimony I presently have in my power to adduce, is—1st. An authenticated extract of Henry Laurens’s Will, wherein he deducts £4000—out of his Grand-daughter’s portion; of which, also, is a Copy marked C—2dly. A Certificate of Colo. Laurens’s Secretary of Legation, Major William Jackson of Philadelphia;—of which enclosed is a Copy marked D—Lastly—The before mentioned Treasury document, of which herewith is a copy marked E; shewing that the Ministers of the United States in Europe, at the time Colo. Laurens was a Special Minister, received as Pay the same amount of Salary allowed Him and their Expences besides; in consequence of which we claim to be placed on the same footing, agreeable to the terms of the Last Resolve, on the 1st. of March 1785.From the above Documents Colo. Laurens’s Ministerial expences, although they cannot be detailed, may be equitably ascertained: But to strengthen our just claim; as you, Venerable Sir, were a cotemporary Minister with Colo. Laurens in Europe, and knowing to the important services he, at all hazards, then rendered his Country, as well as before and afterwards;—you will confer a favor on Myself and family, which shall be highly valued, by your sending me, with your answer to this letter returning the documents now enclosed, a Certificate expressing your sentiments of our Rights under that Resolve, with such other information as you may deem useful and proper; as well as affording us your countenance and Support, as one of the few surviving Fathers of the Country, in obtaining our   dues; so as to compensate in some measure for the £4000—retained by Henry Laurens, and for the £1500—and upwards paid by Myself;—all expended by Colo. Laurens in support of his Stations as an Officer and Minister of the United States. I have the honor to be with very great respect and consideration, / Sir, / Your Obedient Humble Servant

					Fras: Henderson

					As I shall shortly leave this for the Southward; your early answer will be esteemed an additional favor.P.S—In settling with the Executors of Henry Laurens the affairs of my Family, the Certificate, of which a copy is also enclosed, marked F—, was received from the now President Mr. Monroe, and I also received from the late Vice President Gerry and several others, who voted the Resolutions in March 1785, Certificates of a similar tendency, to facilitate a settlement with the Exors, touching the Monies paid by the United States under these Resolutions to Henry Laurens for the use of his Grand-daughter.


Title: To John Adams from Peter Thatcher Vose, 4 January 1822
From: Vose, Peter Thatcher
To: Adams, John

					Most venerated Sir,
					Lancaster Jany 4th. 1822

				If you could have rejoiced on the morning of the 25th. ulto. in the momentary but happy interview, in which I had the honour and satisfaction to participate with you. How much more Sir, had I reason to rejoice or be over joyed to See & behold ‘The Sage of Quincy’ or Montezillo Sitting under his own ‘vine & fig tree’! happy in the bosom of his family. so affable so affectionate so cordial.—And so attentive  & prompt as to give me this further proof of his esteem & regard, for myself & my Ancestry as that now before me. ‘dated on that blessed Anniversary’!—Permit me to indulge the pleasing Idea, that I hail it as the emblem or harbinger on this Auspicious Morn of a brighter day! But how shall I express my gratitude for these distinguished proofs of your approbation & civilities to my self & the Author of the Work.—(I then had the honour to present You.) as in this testimony or memento now before me and which shall be preserved. So esential So esentially beneficial to my Children to aid them in the Study of Biography & History after they shall have laid its foundation in Geography.—And if I may be permitted to give publicity to such parts as are  applicable to the Author & will aid in the desemmination of ‘His usefull labours’ in the Geographical department of Science for the benifit of the rising generation.And will you accept a further tribute or attempt to venerate your Name for ‘my single self’.—If at the close of your administration you left the helm of State ‘with a Goverment in the full tide of successfull experiment with an overflowing Treasury & at peace with all the World’ How sadly has the scene been reversed? If the Ark or Political Bark of our safety has been buffeted & lost, on the Tempestuous Sea of liberty? while the fortune (if not the lives) of many of the Crew have been lost, or shatterd & torn, in the gale. while the Real Patriot & Friend to his Country has sighed & groaned and while the billows & the waves were dashing their force even to your seat at Montezillo. Mr. Wallason or Mr. Atlass they recoiled harmless at the feet of its Chieftants.—And have but served to convince a deluded Multitude who would only be taught in the school of adversity or dear bought experiment of the Greatness & Wisdom of your administration sanctioned by Washington! The correctness of which have & shall continue to come up as an acceptable memorial to the People. And your memory, will be blessed as often as Columbia, & Her Pilgrim Sons shall pay their annual devotion to yonder Rock (of Ages) as they pass & repass in review, & stop to view This venerable spot. Oh happy lot.—Imortalized by you.I Pray you accept / once more the unfeigned esteem / & veneration of your most / devoted Sevt.—

					Peter Thatcher Vose


Title: From John Adams to Francis Henderson, 11 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Henderson, Francis

Sir,
Quincy Jany. 11th: 1822

I have recd. your letter from Newport of the 3d. of this month Unable to examine it myself on account of the failure of my eye sight I have had the letter with the documents read to me, and I wish it were in my power to be of any service to you in supporting your claim. To the great merit of Colo. Laurens the father, as a member and President of Congress, and as a Negotiator of the Treaty of Peace I can and do most cheerfully and cordially attest. Of Colo. Laurens’s son I can say nothing of my own knowledge having never had the pleasure of any acquaintance with him. When he was special minister to France I was in Holland and know nothing of his negotiations there but by report; by all that I have ever heard his conduct there was mark’d by great spirit, independence activity, diligence, and success, and I have no hesitation expressing my opinion that both the father and the son, are fully entitled to as ample an allowance for necessary expenses and contingencies as any of our foreign ministers have ever received—It should be remembered that in those times no allowance was made for an outfit—It would be improper in me to give any opinion of the construction of resolutions of congress when the present Congress are much more capable than I am in discerning their meaning. I am Sir with the best wishes for the success of your claim, and with great regard your obt. sert.
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from David Sewall, 18 January 1822
From: Sewall, David
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					York Janry. 18th. 1822

				Your favour of Decemr. 31st. ultimo I have once & again perused with pleasure.—I did not know, until your letter mentioned it that Joseph Adams, formerly the Minister of Newington, was your Uncle—I once heard him preach at York, at a Ministers meeting, from the Words “How is the Gold become dim, and the most fine Gold changed” I then thought He handled the Subject very well, but Whether With, or Without Notes—I never knew.—Afterwards, in passing from Portsmo, Westward to Greenland, I met him, with several attendance going on to Portsmo. to Preach a Lecture, being then 90. Years of  his age His advanced years made the circumstance Noticeable—And He was then on Horseback—You seem to Suppose that Govr. Bracketts’ Amiable Wife was a Daughter of that Madam Whipple, Who sometimes treated her Guests cavalerely.—I have always understood, that Dr. Bracketts Wife Whose maiden Name was Whipple was a Niece of that Madam Whipple—and who was afterwards the Widow of Parson Lowell, and that she had no Children by either of her Husbands.—I have lately seen Mr. Websters Discourse on the dual Centureal Anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, And believe it will be read with great pleasure with by Antiquarians of every denomination, but especially by their descendants of the Pilgrims. As I can yet use my Pen with facility you will excuse my the frequent Scribling of your only Surviving Classmate

					David Sewall

					We of Maine, have a Wonderfull facility of making Governours We shall soon be able to Supply the Union.—Should they stand in Need of such as We can manufacture.—I have seen with pleasure a motion in the Senate of U.S. to limit by an amendment of the Constitun. the No. of Representatives in the House.—I have always Supposed 150. Was full large enough, for any deliberating assembly. And that the Royal Instruction to the Govr. of Massa. against the division of Towns, Was a usefull one to prevent the gret increase of Members in the House of Representatives.—And For the larger, Ceteris paribus, the distn from which a Selection, is made, the greater the probability of procuring Persons of Integrity and Information for the Station. Some other proposed Amendments strike me disagreably. Some of our political Tinkers (to use a very uncourtly expression) could they succeed in their attemps would in a great Measure destroy that important Instrument. But For the immoderate increase of the Representative Body, would greatly diminish their usefulness. And I could Wish that instead of 40. m. to a Member as it is said, is proposed, 45—or even 50.m may finally be Adopted


Title: From John Adams to Samuel L. Knapp, 26 January 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Knapp, Samuel L.

Sir—
Montezillo Janry 26th 1822

I have too long neglected to acknowledge my thanks for yor volum of Biography—I am well pleased with the general spirit of this work, and the style is agreeable—I am glad to see so many circumstances preserved of the history and Characters of several Men illustrious in their time—but you have omitted many Names once important at our bar and in our Courts of Justice—for example John Avering once Attorny Genal for the province and a Competitor for the favor of the public in the management of causes, with Read, Griesley, Trowbridge Bollan, Paul Dudley and Shirley—You have omitted the two Auchmutys, father and son, and Shirley himself—who struggled several years at the Bar of the County of Suffolk, and lived with his family in this town of Quincy in the house, now with the sign of the golden Ball opposite the Meeting House—Here he buried two of his Children in the Epicopal Church yard and here he lived untill his wife returned from England with his commission as Governor of this Province—You  have omitted Bollan who married Shirleys daughter and who afterwards was agent for this province—You have omitted Samuel Quincy, Josiah Quincy Jun—nay you have omitted Judge Paine and Chief Justice Dana—The latter, as a Statesman, a member of Congress, and a foreign Minister, and especially as chief justice was an able and faithful Servant to his Country—As a lawyer he was equal to any Man of his Age—in no degree inferior to his successor in office—Chief Justice Parsons—You have omitted Dexter and Pynchon of Salem & Chipman of Marble Head Worthington of Springfield Hawly of Northampton Putman of Do—I hope you will pursue your re White of Taunton, Daniel Leonard of Norton and William Brown of Salem, & Wyer and Bradbury of Falmouth and Farnham of Newbury Port Lincoln of Worcester and Simeon & Caleb Strong of Hampshire—
I hope you will continue your researches into the history of these Characters, and describe them as well as you have those already printed—I thank you Sir for the present of the Volume, and am your obliged friend / and humble Servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Jedidiah Morse, 16 February 1822
From: Morse, Jedidiah
To: Adams, John

					Sir,
					Washington City Feb. 16. 1822

				I have the honor, in fulfilment of my official duty, to transmit to you a copy of the Constitution of a Society, just established, which recognizes the general policy in regard to the Indian tribes in our country, pursued during your administration. From this consideration, I am permitted, sir, to indulge a confident hope, that this Constitution, & the Office under it to which you are appointed by the Society, will meet your approbation & acceptance.With high consideration & / respect, I have the honor to be, / Sir, your most obdt / servt

					Jedh Morse Cor. Secy.


Title: To John Adams from Richard Rush, 26 February 1822
From: Rush, Richard
To: Adams, John

					Dear & venerable Sir.
					London February 26. 1822.

				I must insist upon it, notwithstanding the authority of your veto, that the subject is truly a noble one for the painter. A great patriarch, one of the chief founders of his country’s liberties, the steady advocate of her rights at the courts of foreign potentates as well as in all departments at home, is permitted by a kind Providence to live as it were into posterity, beholding the vast increase of her fame, her happiness, her power; and is seen, tottering if you will under the weight of his sacred years, (so much the more affecting and sublime the spectacle) to go forth from his hallowed domicil to meet a band of young men, the children of the Republick, rearing up for its defenders, into whose ears and hearts he pours his parental advice, the rich fruits of his experience and wisdom; his pious and patriotick exhortations; his excitements to virtue and to true glory, and this no subject for a painter? I shall have a poorer opinion of Boston painters than I have of Boston genius in all other lines, if the subject is not seized hold of. I will answer for it, that the historian, and the poet too, will give it a touch in good time, and why should the painter be released from his part? I care not what point of time is selected; that may safely be left to the taste of the artist. He will have a choice. Sir Joshua Reynolds I know tells us, that the painter has but one sentence to utter, but one moment to exhibit, and such has ever been the law of historical painting. It will be no hard task to keep to it in immortalizing upon canvass this incident of the sage of Quincy receiving the cadets and giving them his blessing.  So much for answer, in part, to your valued favor of November the 28th. which reached me in January. Now, as to what Europe is going to do, I feel much less confident. The opinion of this court has been all along, and it still continues I think to predominate, that matters will be made up between Turkey and Russia. This is the policy which the British ambassador at Constantinople has been striving his utmost to bring about. It is not that England dislikes war, or is afraid of it; no, for in my opinion, and notwithstanding her immense debt, she will be as ready as ever to fight whenever she chooses, and will begin her next war whenever, and with whomsoever, it may be, with a larger navy, a larger army, and larger means of annoyance of all kinds, whether men or money, than ever she began any former war. But, for the present, she is content with her already enormous power in all parts of the globe, and wishes, like the gambler with his pockets full, to keep things as they are, having thrown sixes  at Waterloo. She wishes to keep Turkey as she is, and the Greeks as they are, the latter being essentially maritime, and she would by no manner of means have Russia any nearer the Mediterranean than she is, that sea being the undoubted property of England. We shall soon see how it will all end.I pray you dear and venerable sir to recall me to the most friendly recollection of your son, Mr T. Adams, and remain craving leave to repeat your flattering conclusion, I remain, with hereditary / devotion and / attachment, yours

					Richard Rush.


Title: From John Adams to James Hyman Causten, Sr., 2 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Causten, James Hyman, Sr.

Sir.
Montezillo March 2d 1822

I have received your polite letter of the 20th. of February. It would be a pleasure to me to impart any information to you, relative to the spoilations committed by France on the Commerce of the United States, between the years 1793, & 1801, If I had any, but I have none, but what is common to all my fellow Citizens. The Convention and the able, and voluminous Correspondence between Messrs. Elsworth Davie and Murray on one part, and the French Plenipotentiarys on the other; were all transmitted to the Senate in obedience to the Constitution, and all there papers, and the proceedings upon them must appear on the journals in that of the Senate of that period, or among their files and Archives.
I am sorry I have it not in my power to give you better information, and that I have not been able to answer your letter sooner but I cannot write my self—
I am Sir with much respect, your obedient humble / Servent
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Jedidiah Morse, 2 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Morse, Jedidiah

Dear Sir.
Quincy March 2d 1822

I have received the honour of your respectful Letter of the 16th. February, With the Constitution of a Society which has relation to the Aboriginal Natives of the Country. I wish every thing to be done for the happiness of the Indians, which that Constitution proposes; but I have great doubts of the propriety of a voluntary Association, for such purposes The President, Senate, and House of Representatives, assisted by the subordinate labours of the Heads of Department; The President, Senate, & Heads House of Representatives, are the Constituted Authorities for conducting all our Foreign relations, And their power and means are fully adequate to the service. If the government wants, or desires the assistance of such a Society, they have a right to incorporate one; And I think the Government ought to have the appointment of the Officers of it. I have ambition enough to be gratified with seeing my Name in such a list of illustrious Characters; But as I cannot approve the Institution, I must decline the honour.
I am Sir with much respect and Esteem, notwithstanding all the differences of Opinion between us.—your sincere friend / and most humble Servant
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 3 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Carey, Mathew

Dear Sir
Montezillo 3 March

I thank you for your appeal to common sense & common honesty which I really think is a valuabl and important service to the nation. You have marshaled stubborn facts against plausible theories with triumphant success. It is however no easy task to reconcile a vigorous commerce with profitable manufacturers. This can be done only by a tariff which can be formed only by a minute knowledge of the details of both. You have clearly shown that the present tariff wants revision and reformation in many articles—which I hope Congress will be willing and able to effect. It is the duty and the interest of merchants & manufacturers to furnish the legislature with all the information necessary, which I presume they will not fail to do. You contrast between France & Holland furnishes an irrefragable argument in their your favour—I am Sir your thankful friend & very humble Sert.
J.A


Title: To John Adams from Joseph Delaplaine, 5 March 1822
From: Delaplaine, Joseph
To: Adams, John

					Dear sir,
					Philad. 5 March 1822

				A few weeks ago I had the honour of informing you that I have a fine portrait by King, of your distinguished son, the Honourable John Quincy Adams, in my National Gallery of portraits.—I took the liberty at the same time, to request the favour of you to forward to Charles Shaw Esqr. of Boston, a package which I then enclosed to your special care.—A letter which I had the honour of receiving from you some years ago, mentions, if I recollect, that it would give you pleasure to see a portrait of the Honorable John Jay which I now take great pleasure to send to you.—I think the same letter mentions the portrait of some other character—I’ll seek for it, & the moment I find it shall in like manner send the portrait which it mentions.—I take the liberty of enclosing a letter for Mr C. Shaw, & remain, / D: sir, / with very high consideration & regard, / your most obedt. & faithful servant,

					Joseph Delaplaine

					P.S. I shall feel honoured by receiving an acknowledgment of this.


Title: From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 12 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Delaplaine, Joseph

Sir
Montezillo March 12th. 1822

I thank you kindly for the Portrate of Mr Jay, which I very much admire, it is a great likeness it is stamped with wisdom sagacity, and benevolence as they have been, stamped upon his Countenance and Conduct, all his Life time.—I have delivered your formal letter to Mr Charles Shaw, to Mr William Smith Shaw the superintendent of the Boston Atheneaum and I shall deliver that inclosed with Mr Jays picture to the same person supposing you have only mistaken his Christian name—As I am unable to write, and almost blind and destitute of assistance, tis utterly impossible for me to afford you any information, that would be worth your receiving
I am Sir with due regard, your most obedient humble Servant
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from James Leander Cathcart, 12 March 1822
From: Cathcart, James Leander
To: Adams, John

               Venerable & highly respected Sir
               Washington City March 12th: 1822.

            Pardon the liberty I take, after so great a lapse of time, to obtrude myself on your retirement, but having had the honor to be usher’d into public life by your patronage & that of the immortal Washington, & having received my first Commission from you in 1797 I think that it will not be unpleasing to you that I have not dishonor’d the preference that was given to me, in a time when we were not the nation that we are at present, & in a situation of great national importance & personal responsibility—You may remember that during eleven years captivity in Algiers, that I arrived at the first Office that a Christian is eligible to in that Regency, & was first Clerk or Secretary of the Marine Department when Hassan Bashaw the Dey of Algiers with whom our first Treaty was concluded, was Intendant general of the Marine Department, that when he became Dey I was chosen Cheif Christian Secretary to the Dey & regency, whose duty it was to carry on the Correspondence between that Regency, & all the Christian powers, and laid the basis of our first treaty with that Regency in such a manner, that our Agent Mr: Donaldson who arrived at Algiers on the 3rd: of Septr: 1795 & understood no language but his own, was enabled to sign the Treaty on the 5th: of the said month, although the day held sacred by Mussulmen (Friday) intervened, & that I reduced the price asked for peace & the redemption of our Captives from 2,247,000 Dollars to 702,500 Dollars, that I procured a Truce with Tunis for eight months, and ultimately left Algiers with despatches for our minister at Lisbon, and the President of the United States, in a Polaccre purchased by myself, and man’d with Moors, which saved the peace of the Nation, and the liberty and property of our fellow Citizens—these facts are substantiated by the Auditors report contain’d in the accompanying Pamphlet Pages 8 & 9, substantiated by documents on file in the Department of State. During your administration I was employed as one of the Commissioners to effect an alteration in our Treaty with Tunis, which was effected to your satisfaction, and was ratified by the Senate, and as Consul to Tripoli, being authorized to ratify the promise that had been given to that Regency when our peace took place, to furnish them with a Cruiser of fourteen guns completely equip’d, and a cargo of maritime and military stores, I took the responsibility upon myself to make that Regency a payment in cash, and obtained the amount 18,000 dollars, which was not one fourth of what they were worth, for bills without premium, for which I received a receipt in full of all demands for our peace presents, seal’d with the great seal of the Regency, which met your approbation and applause. Little more than two years afterward that faithless Barbarian declared war against the United States in hopes of plunder, but I had used such precaution that not one of our vessels were captured, and his Admiral, and Vice Admiral, were blockaded in the bay of Gibralter and all his expectations were disappointed, this met the applause of government, and was unprecedented in the annals of Barbary, they never before had declared war against any nation, without capturing some of their vessels, and enslaving their subjects—In 1802 I was appointed by your Successor Consul genl: at Algiers—but was employed in our Squadron and negotiating with the government of Naples to procure Gun and Mortar boats, in which I succeeded, and Comodore Preble received them at Messina; I remained in the Mediterranian until 1805, when I returned home, & after purchasing presents for Tunis & dispatching Siddi Suleiman Mella Menna the Tunisian Ambassador from Boston to Tunis, I was appointed Consul at Madeira, where I remain’d nine years, during non intercourse, embargo & War, & return’d home in 1815, & was immediately appointed Consul at Cadiz where I remain’d more than two years, which exhausted all my means & compleated my ruin, for the emoluments of Office, or those derived from Commerce, were not sufficient to defray the expences of Clerk hire, much less to maintain a large family in so respectable a station, where the Consuls of every other nation received sufficient salarys to defray their expences—Since my return I have been employed for a short time in Louisiana, & Alabama, as principal Agent under the Act of Congress of the 1st: of March 1817, and that in all those employments I have given satisfaction to every successive administration of the government of the United States since it commenced, is evinced by the accompanying documents, nevertheless I have been left for more than three years without employment & I am now in the 56th: year of my age with a family of ten children to maintain, without a cent & entirely unprovided for, without a solitary instance of any part of my conduct being disapproved—The accompanying letters from Messrs: Jefferson and Madison is expressive of their approbation of my conduct, and of their opinion, that I merit to be continued in public service, a similar expression of your sentiments relative to me is respectfully requested, I have ever considered you as the father of my destinies, I enter’d into public service twenty five years ago, by your appointment, and I am persuaded that you will not abandon me in my old age, for my conduct has not reflected any dishonor on the confidence you were pleased to honor me with, when I was young, and less experienced than I am at present—it will be of infinite service to me, and my posterity, and will elevate me in my own opinion, and should I be so unfortunate as not to succeed in procuring a situation during the Presidency of Mr: Monroe, it will nevertheless have great weight with his Successors, which I presume, and most sincerely hope will be your amiable and enlightened Son, and this hope I cherish, not so much from the expectation that my situation will be meliorated by his election to the Cheif Magistracy of the United States, as from the most solemn conviction, that his talents are superior, and that his opportunities to acquire knowledge have been greater, than any other Candidate for that high office, which as yet have been mention’d, however respectable they may be—Your compliance with my request will meet a reward grateful to a noble mind, it will in all probability be the means of releiving this numerous family from want, which will inspire sentiments the most enviable and in the decline of life will engender reflections which none but the good and generous, know how to appreciate, and will insure the gratitude, and the most fervent prayers of this family to the Omnipotent disposer of all human events to prolong your life, & for your temporal & eternal happiness. With the highest and most distinct respect, and the most cordial esteem, I have the honor to subscribe myself / Venerable & highly respected Sir / Your much Obliged & most Obnt: Servt:

               James Leander Cathcart

               P.S: While my Sons were copying the inclosed papers the Presidents Message to the House of Representatives appear’d in the papers, recommending the recognition of the Independence of the South American Republics, & stating the propriety (should Congress coincide with him in opinion) of making the necessary appropriations for carrying that measure into effect—As an Agent, or Agents will necessarily be sent to those States, I intend to make early application to be appointed to one of them I have already formed the Treaty with Algiers, & the last Treaty with Tripoli, I understand the French, Spanish, Portuguese, & Italian languages, Mrs: Cathcart & daughters understand them likewise, & from my long standing I presume I am as eligible to one of those situations, as any person that will present himself, but I am poor, & want the current interest of the day to secure success, I therefore most respectfully request you to mention me to your much respected Son, the Secretary of State in such manner as you may think my former services merit, which will insure the success of my application, & will have more weight, than all the rest of the recommendations which I have procured put together.With the highest Respect I have the honor to remain / Venerable Sir / Your most Obd: & devoted ServantJames Leander Cathcart


Title: To John Adams from William Taylor Barry, 13 March 1822
From: Barry, William Taylor
To: Adams, John

					SIR,
					March 13, 1822.

				We take the liberty of addressing you on one of the most important interests of society, the cause of Education. The Legislature of Kentucky, at their last session, made liberal appropriations of money for the benefit of Schools, Academies, Colleges and the University. We were appointed a Committee to collect information and to arrange a plan for carrying into effect, in the best manner possible, the benevolent purposes of the state. We are aware of the difficulty of the task, of the extent of our responsibility, and of the value of the aids which we may derive from the experience of our elder sisters in the Union. We wish to avoid, if possible, the evils attending upon a bad beginning, and to secure to ourselves and to our children, the advantages of a good system from the commencement of our labors. Believing you to be friendly to an object intimately connected with the prosperity and happiness of our common country, and willing to contribute whatever may be in your power to its accomplishment, we beg leave to trouble you with this circular, and to call your attention to the questions subjoined. Any information or suggestions which you may give in aid of our plan, will be gratefully received and faithfully employed. We shall be much obliged to you for as early an attention to our communication as your convenience will permit. Letters can be directed to our Chairman, at Lexington.With great regard, we are, sir, yours,

					W. T. BARRY, Chairman.D. R. MURRAY,JOHN POPE,D. WHITE,J. R. WITHERSPOON,W. P. ROPER.


Title: From John Adams to John Jay, 18 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Jay, John

Dear Sir
Montizillo 18 March 1822

I have received with more pleasure than I can express and with something too much like envy which I detest, your well-known correct exact hand writing of the 11 of this month and with equal gratitude your noble present of the journal of Debates &ca the N.Y State convention. Although this respectable volume is printed in a so small a type that it will be impossible for me ever to read it I will endeavor to find a friend who will read it to me. Mean time from the names of the speakers, I presume it contains a rich mass of valuable political information. I am almost discouraged on the subject of constitutions. All nations & people will ever have among them the rich & as well as the poor and the pride & avarice of the former and the jealousy and malignity of the latter are will forever be equally hostile to equal laws, and without the unanimous concurrence of both, such laws can never be established. A perfect constitution of government is so delicate an instrument that I fear no nation will ever have an ear so sufficiently delicate exquisite to keep it always in tune. You and I have nothing to fear for ourselves, for no politics can hurt us but we can not wholly divest ourselves of anxiety for our fellow men our country and for posterity. My sanguine temperament has always endeavored to contemplate objects on the bright side. Our prospects at present are magnificent beyond all example and beyond all comprehension—but this globe and as far as we can see this Universe, is a theatre of vicissitudes. If we peep into futurity as Archbishop Laud peeped into the bread & wine we may possibly discern objects of terror and make us start back with horror as he did. I can not be particular at present but I will hint at however hint at a tremendous power rising in South America. Who has calculated or contemplated the possible or probable consequences of our necessary connexions & relations with that country—I answer your affectionate friend
J. A


Title: From John Adams to James Leander Cathcart, 25 March 1822
From: Adams, John
To: Cathcart, James Leander

Sir
Quincy March 25th 1822

I have received your letter, and the documents with it. Unable from the failure of my sight to read them, I have had them read to me. All I can say is, that your appointment as Consul was made upon mature deliberation, and careful examination of your conduct and correspondence, and your other writings; and nothing has ever come to my knowledge, exciteing any repentance or regret for that appointment; I therefore cheerfully concur with Mr Jefferson and Mr Madison, in their testimony’s to your capacity, integrity, Fidelity, Activity, diligence, and discretion in the discharge of the duties of your office, as far as your conduct came to my knowledge, which were equally satisfactory to the Secretary of State at that time. I cannot from memory enter into any of their details—
heartily wishing you success in all your equitable and honorable claims upon the public / I have the honor to be your most obedient / humble Servant
J Adams


Title: To John Adams from Richard Peters, 25 March 1822
From: Peters, Richard
To: Adams, John

					Dear Sir
					Belmont March 25th. 1822.

				Your kind letter of the 12th. roused all my Sympathies & recollections of the pleasures & pains of “olden times”. Little do the present generation know of our anxieties, labours, & vicissitudes. What was then feeling, has now become history; & that distorted in many instances, & almost fabulous in others. The actors in the scenes which originated & ensured the present prosperity of this wonderful, et “sua si bona norint”, singularly happy country, have chiefly left the stage. A new race has succeeded, who enjoy the present with different views from those who experienced the ordeal of the past & now distant era, in which we acted. In the various walks in which we travelled, we faithfully performed our several duties, whether eminent or humble. Our consciousness of our thus being the founders of the political, as well as all other enjoyments our fellow citizens now possess, is an ample if it were even our only reward: We who have lived beyond the common age of man, participate, tho’ with an enfeebled appetite, in the fruits of our changes & toils; but not with the less sincere gratitude to the sovereign & beneficent ruler of the destinies of nations, who has crowned them with a success which all of us ardently wished, but few of us expected to see. What would look to a modern seeker after personal objects, as a vain boast, I say to you who know it to be true. Selfishness & sordid pursuits, were not known, among the true & faithful labourers in the early vineyard. We planted for posterity; & the few survivors of our departed coadjutors, enjoy the solid satisfaction of viewing the exuberance of the vintage. We took the motto, which time has proved appropriate, “sic vos non vobis”. In many a gloomy hour, we solaced ourselves with anticipations of the blessings we were about to secure for our successors; & well to this object sacrifices were so common, that they ceased to be singular. I wish we had transmitted down this inestimable propensity, so that the entail could not be broken. Self denials, & personal sacrifices to the general weal, are not now so frequently demanded; but a store of them should always be treasured up; to be brought forward when, like old & valuable coins, exigences require their circulation.We, who turn our minds back to the comparatively small population with which we began our bold enterprise of resisting the most haughty & dominant nation of the European world; are the most sensibly stricken by the present exhibition of the numbers of our people. The locality of a great proportion of them, is equally surprising. It was never in our contemplation that the old states would be governed by a new creation; which to me often appears like a magical delusion. The old idea was that “Knowledge is Power”; but we find that numbers are substituted in its place. We of the seaboard must be satisfied with having had our day; which, however, is not yet spent. I think we are reinvigorating; & may, by changing our pursuits, become as prosperous as we ought to be. The fallacious prosperity thro’ which we have passed, was a painted vapour; which dazzled whilst it deluded & destroyed.I am gratified by your Approbation of Mr Biddle’s agricultural address. Had it not been in a superior style, compared with most others on the same subject, I should not have sent it to you. Our old friends Mr Jefferson & Mr Madison, to whom I communicate mementos of early attachment, join in encomiums on Mr B’s performance. The selection of our annual orator has been commonly left to myself. I had some difficulty in prevailing over Mr Biddle’s unnecessary diffidence; but I have been fortunate in my choice. I have been long satisfied of the great merit of many members of your Massachusetts agricultural Society; who most zealously & usefully expend their money & their time, in propagating the knowledge of Agriculture—the first among the Arts of peace. None have more merit; & I am happy in perceiving their well earned success. Your manufactures are wonderfully extensive & perfect. That at Walsham is not exceeded, if equalled, in any part of the world. Capital is more abundant in the eastern section of our Union, than with us; or at least it has accumulated in hands applying it with most Judgment & Discretion. Our large manufacturing establishments have generally failed, thro’ want of real capital. They have been expensively begun, on borrowed funds, & have, for the most part, been unable to meet the pressure with which they were loaded.I most cordially & affectionately reciprocate your kindness, in recollecting our old & yet unextinguished friendly intercourse. These reminiscences frequently afford to me the most pleasing enjoyments. In my approach to the end of my 78th. year, I sometimes, in such recollections, feel the vigor of youth. I am blessed with health—the greatest of all earthly felicities. If the saying of Christina Queen of Sweden were permanently true,—to wit—that “Health is youth & sickness old age;”—a healthy old biped would never require the aid of Medea’s sorcery to renovate him. That the evening of your life, far in advance of mine, may be healthy & happy, is the sincere wish of / yours most truly & affectionately.

					Richard Peters.