Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 21 September 1813
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

My Dear and respected Sir!
Olden barneveld 21 Sept. 1813.

Never Shall be obliterated the few days, which I enjoy’d at Quincÿ—I fostered allways indeed a faint hope—to See you once more, and know, that I Should meet with a cordial reception—but never my ardent imagination did reach to that which I received—From you I expected all the warmth of an old friend—but—even if I was more presumtuous—I could laÿ no claim whatever on the numerous civilities, which your Ladÿ was pleased to bestow on your friend. It is Some thing on which I pride myself, that She deemed me deserving her attention—that She favoured me with her regard—that She condescended to honour me with the marks of kindness—whÿ could I not longer Stay? but So it is—we are never Satisfied—we grasp at a more remote bliss—happÿ enough—if we do not embitter bÿ our irregular loungings our present felicity. Though Charles Situation filled often my bosom with anguish, yet I have tasted—during a month—inexpressible pleasures—more than enough to dispell the momentarÿ gloom, which now and then obscures my mind—and can not entirely be conquered.
I have Seen you now in your domestic circle—I found you the Same John Adams, and Loved and esteemed your higher yet I have known you as a Statesman—a Scientific man, but did not guess, that our minds were So much in unison in religious principles—Whÿ Should any one hate another for that which ought to be their band of union—if it was not lust of dominion? and this would be taken up bÿ the root, at least it would be bereft of its firmest Support, were all the outworks of Christianity demolished, and its heavenlÿ doctrine reduced to its primitive Simplicity. But this event Shall not happen in our days—if ever—although—I believe, that the purity of its morals Shall be once, as unquestionable, be generally admitted—as well as the certainty of a future State—in which the wise and good Shall know another and meet together—
On mÿ return home I received manÿ civilities at Springfield from mr Dwight’s—at Stockbridge from the family of late Judge Sedgwick—at Pittsfield from Dr. Childs—and Mr Watson, and the Rev. Allen—Son in Law of an old acquaintance President Wheelock—
We canvassed and reviewed in that Short interval of time—manÿ interesting topics—but there would have remained untouched manÿ—upon which I Should have wished to converse, had the time been ten times prolonged—I feared now and then, that I robbed others, bÿ appropriating to myself Such a large Share in the conversation—But a hungrÿ man devours his crust of bread—and I have been Since 16 years nearly Secluded from Societÿ.
I intended to have rectified a mistake in your last Letter—occasioned I presume by mÿ incorrect phraseologÿ—or punctuation—mÿ intention was not “that I was preparing the negotiations of John Adams—I meant it—as Suggested by you—in your Letter—I am preparing &c—no Living man, except John Adams—or his Son Quincÿ can accomplish this arduous task—and you can not do me the injustice, that I would lay unhallowed hands to this Sacred ark—but I Should blame Father and Son—if this treasure was buried by the later—and He can be fully trusted with the care of your fame.
With regard to Machiavel’s works—besides the Belpheger—in prose in your Edition—mine Italian edition contains the following
Dell’Asino D’oro—cap. viii
Dell’occasione—della Fortuna—Dell’ingratitudene—Dell’Amblione cap. IV.
Duoi Decennali—cirè, compendio delle cose fatte in venti anni in Italia.
La Mandragola—comedia agutissima
La Clitia—comedia facetissima.
Although the distinction—I met with at Boston—have pleased me—and—if Sincerly bestowed—humbled me in mÿ own opinion, fully convinced—that I could not have deserved it—yet—your observation added new Strenght to my own reflections at that time, and lessened the value—when I Suspected—that I was cajoled as “Monstrum Novi Quid” from the western wilderness—but, this I hope was not the case with all—at least not with Eliot’s and J. Quinceÿ’s familÿ—
During my Stay at Boston I was introduced—by the Chief-Justice and was honoured with three visits—on two I was at home—He is a man of great learning—
In my next I Shall Send you the promised contents of Mozes two Tables—according Goethe—your Divines may explain how our present Moral precepts are hawked about as its genuine Engravings—If Spurious—the fiction must have originated—when the Church intended to lure the Jews within its pale and represent the Jewish Law in a more moral dress.
I no longer beg you to remember me—as fully persuaded that I am in possession of your friendship; and as I flatter my Self mrs Adams—good opinion, but I request you to give my best respects to the Members of your familÿ while I enjoy the Satisfaction of assuring you, that I remain with high respect / Your affectionate and obliged / frend

Fr. Adr. vanderkemp


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 22 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy Septr. 22 1813

Considering all things, I admire Dr Priestleys last Effort for which I am entirely indebted to you. But as I think it is extremely imperfect, I beg of you to pursue the investigation according to your promise to Dr Rush, and according to your Syllabus. It may be presumptuous in me to denominate any Thing of Dr Priestley imperfect: but I must avow, that among all the vast Exertions of his Genius, I have never found one, that is not imperfect, and this last is egregiously So. I will instance at present in one Article. I find no notice of Cleanthes: one of whose Sayings alone ought to have commanded his Attention. He compared “Philosophers to Instruments of Musick, which made a Noise, without Understanding it, or themselves.” He was ridiculed by his Brother Philosophers, and called “An Ass.” He owned, he was the “Ass of Zeno: and the only one whose back and Shoulders were Stout enough to carry his Burthens.” Why has not Priestley, quoted more from Zeno, and his Disciples? Were they too Christian? though he lived two Centuries and a half before Christ?
If I did not know it would be Sending ‘Coal to Newcastle,’ I would, with all my dimness of Eyes and trembling of Fingers copy in Greek the Hymn of Cleanthes and request you to compare it, with any Thing of Moses of David of Solomon.
Instead of those ardent oriental Figures, which are So difficult to understand We find that divine Simplicity, which constitutes the Charm of Grecian Eloquence in prose and verse.
Pope had read, if Priestley had not the
ΚΛΕΑΝΘΟΥΣ ΥΜΝΟΣ ΕΙΣ ΔΙΑ.
Κύδιστ’ αϑανάτων, πολυώνυμε, παγκρατὲς αἰεὶ
Ζεῦ, ϕύσεως ἀρχηγὲ, νόμου μέτα πάντα κυβερνῶν
Χαῖρε.
“Most glorious of immortal beings! Though denominated by innumerable names and titles, always omnipotent,! Beginning and End of Nature! Governing the Universe by fixed Laws? Blessed be thy name!” What think you, of this translation? Is it too Jewish? or too Christian? Pope did not think it was either: for the first Sentence in his Univeral prayer is more Jewish and more christian Still. If it is not a litteral translation, it is a close paraphrase, of this Simple Verse of Cleanthes.
Father of All! in every Age, in ever
In every clime ador’d
By Saint by Savage and by Sage
Johovah, Jove, or Lord.
But it may be Said, for it has been Said, that Pope, was a Deist and Swift too, as well as Bolingbroke. What will not Men Say? But is the Existence, the omnipotence, the Eternity, the Alpha and Omega, and the Universal Providence of one Supream Being, governing by fixed Laws, asserted by St John in his Gospel, or in the Apocalypse, whether his or not, in clearer or more precise terms?
Can you conjecture, a reason why Grotius has not translated this Hymn? Were Grotius and Priestley both afraid that The Stoicks would appear too much like Unitarian Jews and Christians?
Duport has translated, the Sentence thus
Magne Pater Divûm, cui nomina multa, Sed una
Omnipotens Semper Virtus, tu Jupiter Audor
Naturæ certa qui Singula lege gubernas,
Rex, Salve!
Bougainville, has translated it
Pere, et Maitre des Dieux, Auteur de la Nature
Jupiter, O Sagesse! O loi sublime et pure!
Unite Souveraine à qui tous les mortels
Sous mille noms divers elevent des Autels;
Je t’adore, nos cœurs te doivent leur homage,
Nous Sommes tes enfans, ton ombre, ton image:
Et tout ce qui respire animé par tes mains,
A celébrer ta gloire invite les humains.
Beni Sois a jamais!
I am so awkward in Italian, that I am ashamed to quote that Language to you: but Pompeius a Gentleman of Verona, has translated it thus: and you will understand it.
O glorioso fra gli eterni, in guise
Molte nomato, onnipossente ognora
Tu che, tutto con legge governando,
De la natura Sei principio e duce,
Salve, O Giove.
It appears to me, that the great Principle of the Hebrews was the Fear of God: that of the Gentiles Honour the Gods, that of Christians, the Love of God. Could the quiveration of my nerves and the inflammation of my Eyes be cured and my Age diminished by 20 or 30 Years: I would attend You in these researches, with infinitely more Pleasure, than I would be George the 4th, Napoleone, Alexander, or Madison. But only a few Hours; a few moments remain for / your Old Friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Jay, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Jay, John

Dear Sir
Quincy September 24th 1813

I rejoice in the incident, which has called me, to give you a certificate under my hand, that I am yet alive.
The Reverend, Mr Henry Colman, an ordained minister of a Congregational Church in Hingham (General Lincolns town,) six miles only from me, has requested of me an introduction, to you as one of the most interesting characters, our Country has produced.
Mr Colman is beloved by his people & by all his acquaintance, as one of the most amiable, ingenious and respectable of his order. Party in religion and Politicks apart, he is much my friend, and I am his. His mind is wide awake, and very inquisitive after truth. May he find it. I know of no Oracle in our Country, at which he may enquire with more safety.
My contemporaneous friends, have lately fallen around me, like the leaves, of the trees, on the approach of winter. I must soon follow them. May you remain many years, an example to the Statesmen Philosophers, and christians of the age. So prays your unchangable friend.
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Rufus King, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: King, Rufus

Dear Sir
Quincy September 24. 1813

I run the risque of introducing to You, the Reverend Mr Henry Colman of Hingham. He is one of our liberal Divines; one of our Christian Disciples; one of our Biblio critical Students. But you must not tell this in N. York; He is worthy of your Esteem. He is highly esteemed by all Men who know him here. He wishes to see all the great and good Men and all the great and good Things in New York and Philadelphia. Any notice you may take of him will be gratefully acknowledged by your old Friend

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: McKean, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy September 24. 1813

If I am committing an indiscretion, I hope you will pardon it. The Reverend Mr Henry Colman of Hingham, a Clergyman established in the Affections and Esteem of this Neighbourhood is on a Journey to Philadelphia. He has an Ardent desire to See the Old Patriots of the Revolution, and where can I look for an older one, than to Governor M. Kean? In addition to his professional Virtues of Piety and benevolence, he has the merit of Letters, Taste and Sense; if indeed these can be any addition to those.
As he will be a stranger in Philadelphia, you will probably hear of him, and not be displeased to know Something of his Character. He will esteem it an honour to present you with this Letter from your old Friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Samuel Miller, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Miller, Samuel

Reverend Sir.
Quincy September 24th 1813

I know not whether my transient acquaintance, with you, will justify me, or acquit me of indiscretion, in introducing a gentleman to you in this manner. But the Reverend Mr Henry Colman a Congregational minister, beloved & esteemed in this neighbourhood, travelling to the Southward &   wishing to see the most eminent, men; I know of none more eminent to whom I could introduce him.
His character is amiable, his talents respectable, he wishes to see New-York: its institutions, and worthy men; any civilities shewn him, will be gratefully acknowledged by Sir, your friend and humble Servant

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Samuel L. Mitchell, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Mitchell, Samuel L.

Dear Sir
Quincy September 24th 1813

What apology can I offer, for the liberty I take of introducing to you the Revnd Henry Colman of Hingham? My apology is ready without ceremony. Mr Colman wishes to see, the great and good men and things in New York & Philadelphia, and as a man of Science, letters, and virtue, he is worthy to see them. Any notice you may take of him, will be gratefully acknowledged, by your humble Servant with great esteem

John Adams.


Title: From John Adams to William White, 24 September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: White, William

Dear Sir
Quincy September 24 1813

I rely entirely on the long and agreeable acquaintance between us and the knowledge I have had for 34 years, of the Candour & urbanity of your character, as an apology for the liberty I take of introducing to you the Reverend Henry Colman, an established minister of the Congregational Church in Hingham. As a gentleman a Scholar, & a Christian,  I am confident you will find him not unworthy of your acquaintance; With a pleasing recollection of past scenes, and high esteem and regard, I remain Sir your respectful & obedient Servant

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Samuel Elliot, 26 September 1813
From: Elliot, Samuel
To: Adams, John

Most respected Sir
Boston 26 September 1813

As I think it will give you pleasure to hear of Judge Vander Kemp’s arrival at Barneveld in health & safety yesterday, week, when he found his family prospering, I use the first moment to hand you the pleasing intelligence.
The short acquaintance I had with this gentleman gave me every reason to believe that his heart was as good, as his head is powerful! Had any doubt remained on the subject, the letter I have just received must have put the business forever at rest, for I do not think there ever was a stronger exhibition of tenderness & affection, & of all the virtues that warm & adorn the human bosom. Your thirty years knowledge of him has not indeed deceived you Sir, & he is truly what you lately denominated him—“a salt mountain”—& a few such would preserve a world! I bless God that I have the honour & happiness of knowing such a man!
My sincere best respects attend Mrs. Adams, & Colo. Smith, if yet with you. I am Sir, with high respect & regard / Yr. very long oblig’d & indebted h’ble servt.

Saml. Eliot.


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, September 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Quincy Sept 1813

σὲ γὰρ πάντεσσι θέμις θνητοῖσι προσαυδᾶn.
“It is not only permitted but enjoined upon all Mortals to address you.” Why should not our Divines translate it
“It is our duty and our priviledge to address the Throne of thy grace and pray for all needed lawfull Blessings temporal and Spiritual,”.
Θεμιςwas the Goddess of honesty, Justice, Decency, and right; the Wife of Jove, another name for Juno. She presided over all oracles, deliberations and Counsells. She commanded all Mortals to pray to Jupiter, for all lawful Benefits and Blessings.
Now, is not this, (So far forth) the Essence of Christian devotion? Is not this Christian Piety? Is it not an Acknowledgement of the existence of a Supream Being? of his universal Providence? of a righteous Administration of the Government of the Universe? And what can Jews, Christians or Mahometans do more?
Priestley, the heroic Priestley, would not have dared to answer or to ask these questions; tho’ he might have answered them,. consistently enough with the Spirit of his System.
I regret that Grotius has not translated this Hymn: and cannot account for his Omission of it. Duport translates; the above line, only by “Te nempe licet mortalibus ægris cunctis compellare.” Where he finds his ægris, I know not. No such Idea, is in the greek. All Mortalls, Sick or well, have a right and it is their duty to pray, as far as I can understand the Greek.
Bougainville translates it
Et tout ce qui respire animé par tes mains, à celebrer ta gloire, invite les humains. Beni Sois a jamais.” This translation is Christian with a witness. None but a Jew, a Mahometan or a Christian; could ever have translated that Simple line in this manner. Yet the Idea, the Sentiment translated into Christianity is very well: well enough.
The Gentleman of Verona Gironomo Pompei, translates it thus. After Salve o Giove, for “χαiρε.” “però che gli nomin tutti, dritto è ben, che a te volgan le parole.” Now tell me, what resemblance of the Greek you can find in this Italian Version.
In this manner are the most ancient Greek Theologians rendered and transmitted to our Youth, by the Christians.
Ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ γένος ἐσμὲν, ἰης μίμημα λαχοντεςΜοῦνον, ὅσα ζώει τε καὶ ἔρπει θνήτ’ ἐπὶ γαῖαν.“Εκ σοῦ γὰρ γένος ἐσμὲν” I presume is the phrase quoted by Saint Paul, when he Says to the Atheneans, “One of your own Poets have said We are all his Offspring.” Acts. 17th. 28. “For in him We live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own Poets have Said, for We are also his Offspring. Forasmuch then as We are the Offspring of God, We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto Silver or Gold, or Stone graven by Mans device.” This reasoning is irresistable. For what can be more mad, than to represent the eternal almighty omnipresent Cause and Principle of the Universe, by Statues and Pictures, by Coins or Medals?
Duport renders these two lines by “Omnes tua namque Propago
Nos Sumus, æternæ quasi imago vocis et echo
Tantum, quotquot humi Spirantes repimus.”
Bougainville translates them thus
Nous Sommes tes enfans, ton Ombre, ton image:
Et tout ce qui respire animé par tes mains,
A celebrer ta gloire invite les humains.
Beni Sois a jamais.
Pompei renders them
Che Siam tua Stirpe, e solo noi, fra quanti;
Vivon mortali e muovon Su la terra,
lo imitar de la voce abbiam Sortito.
Moses Says, Genesis, 1. 27. “God created man in his own image.” What then is the difference between Cleanthes and Moses? Are not the Being and the Attributes of the Supream Being: The Resemblance, the Image the Shadow of God in the Intelligence, and moral qualities of Man, and the Lawfulness and duty of Prayer, as cleary asserted by Cleanthes as by Moses? And did not the Chaldeans, the Egyptians the Persians the Indians, the Chinese, believe all this, as well as the Jews and Greeks?
Alexander appears to have behaved to the Jews, as Napoleon did to the Mahometans in the Pyramid of Grand Cairo. Ptolomy the greatest of his Generals, and a greater Man than himself was So impressed with what he learned in Judea, that he employed 70 learned Men to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, nearly 300 Years before Christ. He Sent learned Men to collect Books from all Nations and deposited them in the Alexandrian Library. Will any Man make me believe that Cæsar that Pompey, that Cicero, that Seneca, that Tacitus, that Dionisius Hallicarnassensis, that Plutarch, had never Seen nor heard of the Septuagint? Why, might not Cleanthes, have Seen the Septuagint? The Curiosity of Pompey to See, the interiour of the temple Shews that the System of the Jews, was become an Object of Speculation. It is impossible to believe, that the Septuagint, was unknown and unheard of by Greeks or Romans at that time, at least by the great Generals Orators Historians Phylosophers and Statesmen, who looked through the then known World, for information of every thing, On the other hand how do We know how much Moses Samuel Joshua David Solomon and Esdrass, Daniel Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah learned in Babilon Egypt and Persia? The Destruction of the Library at Alexandria, is all the Answer We can obtain to these Questions. I believe that Jews Grecians Romans and Christians all conspired, or connived At that Savage Catastrophy.
I believe Cleanthes to be as good a Christian as Priestley.
But enough of my School Boy criticisms and crude Philosophy, problematical History and heretical Divinity for the present.
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 2 October 1813
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

Mÿ Dear and respected friend!
Olden barneveld  2 oct. 1813

I can Scarce persuade myself, that I Staÿ’d with you So manÿ daÿs—and conversed on So few, Subjects onlÿ, upon which I did want your information. I could onlÿ glance at your Librarÿ—had no time to Satisfÿ my greedy curiosity—and forgot even to look at the consolato del mare and other rare Publications in your possession but I am apprehensive, this would have been the case had I protracted my visit during So manÿ weeks:—So interesting a Societÿ! So much information to be gathered—So manÿ civilities—what do I Say? So manÿ kindnesses to be hoarded up! how could I find time for recollection—and then—by which all this, how highlÿ valued, dwindles to a Shadow—your affectionate tender friendship—your distinguished regards—So far exceeded mÿ most Sanguine expection, that I could not but enjoÿ, not even reflecting, as I am apprehensive I did not, that I could not but imbue others with an indifferent opinion about me bÿ mÿ bluntness and casual reveries. It could not have this effect upon you, I know; I did not, and it was an exquisite pleasure to experience, that it did not So on your excellent Ladÿ—She would not else have condescended to honour me with So manÿ proofs of her regard, which Shall never be obliterated—
The communication of the Letters of John Quincÿ—has increased, if possible, my exalted admiration of him—now I know Him as a Christian—able to instruct others in what he learn’d to believe. I have a faint hope, that—Sooner or later—I Shall be gratified with the continuance of these Letters:—Well maÿ His Parents pride themselves in Such a Son! What blessing has a bountiful God bestowed upon them in this gift. But—how Shall I mÿ Dear and respected friend! Shew you my thankful heart if mÿ warm expressions, are deficient—I hope—they are not—All the distinctions—bestowed upon me—all the kindnesses I received muneris id tui est—I am nevertheless apprehensive—that your too partial encomiums must have disappointed the curiosity of Some;—I Should regret, if all had been disappointed;—No—not quite So,—one and other penetrated thro the veil—which clouded mÿ uncouth appearance, and did justice—to mÿ Strange Situation being alternatelÿ the preÿ of joÿ and anguish. No language can express—what I felt—Such exquisite raptures—Such torturing pangs—you knew the impetuosity of my manhood—in my old age I am carried awaÿ bÿ the Same resistless torrent, and begin oft to ponder—how to controul it, when I have indulged those feelings even to excess—Such a Strange creature is man when not governed bÿ reason—and yet—if She—with Religion as her aid—Springs Soon enough to our assistance—I am disinclined to Shrink at the danger—I would not prefer that cold phlegmatic character—which can look a fall’n brother—unmoved. I can earnestly endeavour to draw attention, but am not Satisfied—if this is not followed bÿ esteem—and that again bÿ love of friendship—while these must be glowing warm as mÿ own hart—or I Suffer—I lament yet Buckminster’s death—more So after I have Seen his features
What then must have been the feelings of my bosom at the bed Side of my young frend Charles—in the presence of his deep-afflicted—and yet composed—yet resigned Mother and Sisters! I was motion less Speech less—grasping now and then his Stretched hand—when a faint Smile on his visage—a kind word of intended comfort—a Strong proof of attention, as if nothing more Serious occupied his mind that instant—to dispel our gloom—was given—and then returning to his distressed venerable Father, who in vain endeavoured to hide his Sorrows—while a burning tear Startled in his eÿe—when I was compelled—to crush a moment my own feelings—to cheer him up—o! mÿ friend! this—this was yet the Severest trial.
Much time Shall pass awaÿ—before mÿ ruffled mind regains its wonted composure—I remain in an anxious Suspense—having not yet received a line—not wishing—that his lingering maÿ be protracted—and not daring decidedlÿ desire his departure. But how I wander—raving indeed—and wanting an apologÿ—if I did not write to Adams—of Such a failing wanted one by Him—I did intend, when I take up my pen, to write you few lines onlÿ—to accompanÿ Goëther’s exposition of the two Mosaic Fables—I Shall now inclose it.
Present mÿ respectful compliments to Mrs Adams—remember me to your Honoured familÿ—do not forget to recommend me to mr Shaw—while I remain / My Dear and high-respected frend / Your affectionate and obliged frend

Fr. Adr. Vanderkemp

P.S. Will you remember me to mr & mrs. Quincÿ—? Does Is that Biographÿ of the Quincÿ’s—Send to mr Allen by ÿour Ladÿ—published? what is the title?
Again a mail arrived—and not yet a line from my dÿing friend—Ah! whÿ are you not yet in the vigour of your age, or in his neighbourhood, then I Should dare to request you the boon of visiting Him—now—I request you—to Sollicit and induce your frend Shaw, to oblige me with this act of kindness.
4th of octr
This instant I receive the Sad tiding—Charles is no more!
5th.


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

My dear Friend
Quincy October 4th. 1813

Mr Elliot had informed me, by a kind Letter, of your Arrival at Barneveldt, before I recd. yours of 21. Septr.
Had you been here as a Traveller, my House Should have been your home; my Friends your Friends. But I respected the Object of your Visit. Charles is gone to Buckminster. Both, Shewn to Mankind, and then taken away from the evil to come.
Your reception in Boston and Cambridge was Sincere: and had not your known connection with a respectable Family and the affecting Object of your Visit, prevented your Acceptance of Invitations; you would have had unequivocal Demonstrations in abundance of esteem and respect for your Person and Character.
In The heavenly doctrine of Christianity, reduced to its primitive Symplicity, you and I agree, as well, I believe, as any two Christians in the World.
I am very glad you Saw Watson, and Allen. Dwights, Sedgwickes and Childs I know not.
My negotiations, my Friend, I consider as an Atom floating in the Sunbeams. The vast, the incomprehensible futurity, Swallows up all my contemplations of the past. The Changes in Religion in Government, in the Empires, Kingdoms, Republicks and Despotisms of this Globe of Earth, which Seem to me to be bursting forth: Are beyond all my pretensions to foresight or conjecture.
The astonishing Efforts of our Sampson, our David our Hercules, our little flotilla; what do they Signify? I See or Seem to See in them revolutions, over the whole Globe. Oh! that Americans were Sensible of their Situation and the part they ought to Act. But the Jews, at the Commencement of Christianity were not more blind and infatuated.
“The Lord God omnipotent reigneth; let the Earth rejoice” is the Sublimest Poetry, the profoundest Phylosophy and the most orthodox Religion, I have ever read.
I Shall wait, with impatience for your Account of Goëthe. The “engravings’ have always been a Mystery to me.
Mrs A. is your Friend as much as I am. You Saw her at  69. You had Seen her at 55. You perceived the difference of 14 Years. Whatever Changes in her en bon point, her bloom her Vivacity, her figure or her graces you may have perceived there has been none in her Frienship her Esteem her Affection or may I Say Admiration for you.

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 4 October 1813
From: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan
To: Adams, John

Mÿ Dear and respected Friend!
Oldenbarneveld  4 Oct. 1813

I So returned from the field—having dug my patatoes, and now the rain compells me to Staÿ home, how can I better employ mÿ time; than with beginning to answer both your favours of the 4th and the 15th. how happÿ am I in this mÿ hermitage—in receiving So often Such distinguished marks of your kind remembrance. The Demon of head-ache, which has now possessed me nearly a month abated his attacks, Since three days—So that I have those employ’d in mÿ fall work—the weather clearing up—yesterday I was pruning to daÿ collecting for the winter—and am more content in this emploÿ unseen—than when applauded by a Senseless multitude in the days of ÿore.
Mr. Eliot has gratified me bÿ his attention, in mentioning mÿ Save arrival here to you, and I lament, that I am unable to make anÿ equivalent returns for the manÿ kindnesses I received in that familÿ—It pleasing to me, to be approved by you, and I accept with joÿ and thankfulness the marks of regard, which others are induced by it, to bestow upon me.
The Christians my, Dear Sir! unite chieflÿ in their belief of the one thing needful—it Are the inventions of frail mortals—on whom theÿ dispute, and persecute one another with a deadly hate; and this would ere-long be rooted out, was it not continuallÿ fomented bÿ an interested Clergÿ—cui auri Sacra fames et dominandi Sæva cupido—have poisoned the marrow of their bones. Blessed be God! that church and State are here Separated! Angels in human bodies, ruling a dominant church—with the controul of largesses and fines would become persecutors—In this respect alone I am a devote to an unshackled Liberty and equalitÿ—
I turn once more to the charge—and try to answer your all ways valuable letters—that head-ache is my evil genius—he dared not So assault me, when roaving in your atmosphere.
If Christians, my Dear Sir! could be induced to discard Theologÿ and adopt, nothing but the plain doctrine of our Divine Master nothing—as What they understood at the first glance—nothing as what the untutored understanding of a Sincere man could not conceive—at the first perusal of this Godly volumes, we all Should Soon be in unison of faith.—and you and I Shall readily acknowledge, that a vast deal of wisdom maÿ remain ungathered from the rich harvest of these writings even by the keenest inquirer. In this manner I formed my rule of faith—forty years past, and it is not enlarged. I do not care, what I do not understand and am less than a child in dogmatical Science but when I applÿ my self to understand more thoroughlÿ the whole content of the Scriptures, then I approach them with a reverential awe, and act the part of a Critic—trying to weigh the pro and con in an unbiassing fair balance.
What Shall I Saÿ about the convulsions, which threaten to Shake the political world to its centre—indeed—I am apprehensive my eyes Shall not again See a durable peace. Contention—madlÿ hath broke loose, and bears all down before it, on both hemispheres. The little bickerings in this vanish as in Smoke, compared by those in the other, and yet they maÿ pregnant with gigantic mischief, at which the conceivers would Stare agast did theÿ Startle at once to their Sight—If Moreau, and he as well as Bernadotte knows his Countrys Strenght and weakness—and his undaunted elevated mind—his consummate generalship—his commanding port, and a Soldier’s heart winning frankness and affability—are not unfavorable prognostics—if he Succeeded as Wellington—hard might be the fare of modern Charlemagne—to Whom he, except his birth, resembles in manÿ respects He too Subdued Italÿ Germanÿ—that church yard of the French—and the pas de Rencevalles was the Stumbling block to his valiant Palodens—if Wellington can conquer Pampeluna and St. Sebastian the Same Spot may be an ominous field of Battle to the French Worthies and Merlin might have prophecy’d from Spain as well as Italÿ.
che non lice
che’l Giglio in quel terreno habbia radice.
But—Let them fight their battles—neither you I will enlist in that deadlÿ Strive—nevertheless—in one case, I would grasp at mÿ Sword—I would not live a Slave.
Well you Saÿ—the Lord god omnipotent reigneth—let the earth rejoice is Sublime poetrÿ—I know nothing—which can be compared with the majestic elegance of manÿ passages in Job—the Psalms—and Some parts of the Pentateuch. The Orientalist Rau instituted a comparison between Job—Homer and Ossian, if I well recollect—and, had the Repository continued I might have been lured to give an extract of this Oration. I am in the Same predicament—perhaps thro my negligence—as La Clercq—when he wrote to a correspondent—I know not what you mean bÿ Plut in Gal. I can not decypher—what you understand by "The Engravings have allways been a mÿstery to me" Engravings do recall to my mind a Catalogue d’une collection des Tableaux—and one might be tempted—to offer another collection but I can not remember, that we discoursed on this topic—I hope you Shall gratifÿ me, in explaining this riddle.
It is So, Mrs Adams condescends to honour me with a Share in her friendship, and—I possess the proof in a handwriting which Shall not be contested—but how Shall I answer it? do not tremble Francesco!—it Seems—you lisp to my ear—and I Shall risk it—after She has Seen me—without varnish, She can not be much disappointed, and Shall gloss over—What appears too rough
I was introduced by Dr Childs familÿ to that of Mr Watson and Allen who was invited to dine at the Doctor’s—and is, it is appeared, the friend of the familÿ—mr Dwight is the Son in Law of my frend Eliot, and give me a Letter of Introduction to young Sedgwick, Who Showed me a great deal of politeness—giving me his carriage to Pittsfield, which induced me to paÿ him a Second visit—to become better acquainted with his two amiable Sisters—the one a Mrs Watson of N. york—with whose conversation I was highly charmed. My adventures in N. England have much resemblance with those of John Bunckle, He found everÿ where handsome—charming––ingenious women—all favouring Him, and all united with him in the Same belief.
Your picture of most of your Studious and ingenious young men is alas too full of truth—I tried to Save charles—but dare not Say—that in a Similar Situation I would have listened to advice—manÿ must fall when a rempart is Scaled—but what glorÿ Surrounds Him—who has gained its Summit—and call’s loudely for his followers—How dastardly would it be to Shrink, because we might be crushed in the attempt? Buckminster—Charles—have well deserved—each in his line—and what matters it—who falls—if the Survivors are Spurred to follow their example—had Charles not dared—to aim—at the first rank I believe not—I would have felt Such torturing pangs—in Seeing his Suffering; now even in the Sadness of recollecting who he was—are Pleasurable Sensations—and I Shall always remember with the warmest gratitude, that to Him—under a Good Providence,—and his generous Parent, I am indebted—for having Seen you once more—and been gratified with So manÿ kindnesses and attention from those, who can bestow distinction—and—to tell you frankly the truth—how eagerly I maÿ catch at the praise of men, I am yet infinitely more delighted can I deserve and obtain the good will of an accomplished woman—Goëthens title is J. W. Goethens Schriften Berlin 1775–1779—If I am not mistaken I saw either in J.Q. Adams or the Cambridge Librarÿ—
I do not believe that the Jews learned a great deal in Egÿpt—Babylon or Persia or and know that, they were great proficients in astronomÿ or astrologÿ—the two principal branches of Sciences, for which these countries were famous. Their eminence, was in Ethics—and Poësÿ—and in these theÿ excelled all the nations of the Globe—In arts they made no great progress or owed—what they knew to Phenicians. I do not believe, that either Cæsar, Pompeÿ Cicero—Plutarch, Seneca—Quintilian or Pliny were familiar with the Pentateuch—I would not dispute that Longinus might have Seen it—Perhaps too Some of the Greek Philosophers—
The hymn of Cleanthes with a tolerable good Latin version of Duporte is in Cudworthe’s’s Syst. intell. Tom. i §515 Pag. 662 ed. 2. Lugd. Bat. 1773. in 4o. by Mosheim—
If you have not this ed—I doubt not or it is in the Engl. ed. I am willing to copÿ it, if it can do you pleasure.
Ah! mÿ Dear frend! could you live as near me as mÿ Frend Mappa! Let us be contented—I would not have believed—that I Should be So happÿ of Seeing you, if it had been for Six months ago told me—Perhaps another Such blessing may be laid up for me. My frend Mappa is So—Soul and Bodÿ—engaged in his cloath–manufactury, that with difficulty an hour—now and then, is allotted me—
No late news from St. Petersburg? I Suppose your Son must hoard up a treasure of knowledge in Nat. Hist. from that unknown part of the Globe. Although—for twenty years—I Should have been gratified with a place in an Embassador’s Suite at that court, yet I could not be lured in 88 bÿ Prince Gallitzin’s offer, to Superintend a Dantzick-colonÿ on the caspian Sea—I had too much the fear of Siberia in mÿ eÿe, and prefer yet, to be here a tenant at will, than to bathe in opulence, and watch the wink of the greatest Boÿar in the world. Not even Alexander could paÿ for mÿ Independence. When ever our daÿs are Spun out till the æra of John Quincy begins, then I expect a few lines—bore on eagle wings—penned by one of the tender guardians of his youth—with a Sufficient purse for the journeÿ in their Suit—and then the largest Bumper in your familÿ Shall be filled and emptied as a libation—three times three—and then I Shall again return to mÿ cottage, with your blessings and kindnesses / as your best beloved / and affectionate frend

Fr. Adr vanderkemp
P.S. Shall I not receive the Syllabus of the Philosopher of Monticello? or, must you ask his leave? I think I was entitled to it, having in my Philos. Researches—which, I now think, Stands no chance for Publication, but are intended for Cambridge’s college, have been So profuse in his deserved praises—defending his one and twenty Gods, against the cavils of Scriblers, as I lashed his Pantheistical rant in one of his Mem. in the Phil. Trans.


Title: To John Adams from Henry Colman, 5 October 1813
From: Colman, Henry
To: Adams, John

My dear Sir,
Philadelphia 5 Oct. 1813.—

I rely upon your candour to forgive my taking your time and your patience, while I thank you for the many and great advantages which I have derived from your letters to this city.
I find Mr Vaughan one of the most active beings that I have ever met with, full of good sense, intelligence and enlivening anecdote, and ready and disposed to minister in every possible way to my ease and gratification. He, with two other gentlemen, regularly in turn conduct the religious services of the Unitarian Society in this city. Mr Vaughan reads printed discourses before them, the other two gentlemen, who are both merchants, write what they preach. This society is in quite a flourishing condition. It has had many difficulties to struggle with, but they have built a small church, which is a fine model in architecture and have collected quite a respectable congregation. They have got rid of that miserable superstition, which supposes that the ordinances of christianity ought not to be administered, but by those one whom the holy hands of the clergy have been laid, and they take the liberty of judging of scripture truth, of employing the reason which God gave them in its investigation, and of worshipping the Father of their spirits according to the dictates of their own consciences, a liberty of which I am persuaded you my dear Sir would not deprive them and in their possession of which, you would, I am confident, be the first to rejoice.—
I have just returned from a most pleasant visit to Bishop White, where I had the satisfaction of remembering you and of drinking your health with those who love and venerate you. The Bishop appears like a most worthy man, full of kindness, and a real honour to his profession. I have seen Governour McKean and am to see him again. He seemed very cheerful, though his faculties are somewhat decayed, and with the air of a young man, said that he was now quite a man of leisure and offered to wait upon me in person to all the publick places in the city; an offer, which, though apparently, made with perfect sincerity, you are sensible, Sir, I could not think of accepting.—
To Mrs. Adams, I beg you to make my grateful acknowledgements for putting me in the way of meeting with her intelligent and interesting friend Mrs. Rush and of hearing so much as I have of your venerable friend the late Dr. R. His memory, wherever I have been, is precious. He is remembered in a way, which to every good man’s feelings must I think be peculiarly grateful, as a man of sincere piety and as a most distinguished benefacter of the poor. At the Hospital they speak of him with great affection. As an instance of his most exemplary assiduity, the Keeper told me, that for twenty seven years he had constantly attended there and, in the course of them, had never been known to fail but twice of being at the hospital within five minutes of a fixed time.
I have still to visit New York, where I shall proceed next Monday to remain till the ensuing friday, and hope to find the gentlemen, to whom you have addressed me. I am afraid when you see this letter, you will exclaim, why should he take such liberties with me!, but I hope for your most candid construction of my conduct. I could not forbear to acknowledge your goodness, which I have most sensibly felt, both before and since leaving home.
I beg you to make my best respects to Mrs. Adams and allow me to subscribe myself with sincere affection and the highest, respect, Dear Sir, / Your obliged and obedient Servant,

Henry Colman—


Title: From John Adams to Richard Rush, 8 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Richard

Dear Sir
Quincy October 8. 1813

I know not, whether Perry’s Victory is not the greatest Action in naval History. His Age, the horrible Slaughter, and total Disability of his own Ship, his presence of mind, his cool and prompt transition to another Vessel, his masterly and daring Attack on the Center of the Enemies Line, his Modesty, his humanity are traits of a great Commander, who God willing, will wear well. The Consequences of this Tryumph are beyond calculation. We have now the command of all the Waters from the Falls of Niagara to the Lake of the Woods: If our Government ever looses it, they will deserve to be turned Out. The Effect upon all the Indian minds, if they have any, must be immediate. At least it will be as great as it has already been in the Town of Boston.
Talbott, Truxton, Decatur, Morris, Prebble Little, who learned in the School of the revolutionary naval War, have taught our present Commanders. We ought to do Justice to our Predecessors as well as to our Selves. I read in a Biography of Captain Laurence, that “the Mediterranean was the School of our Navy, and our Offiers were formed before Tripoli.” Prebble was the Master of The mediterranean School; and who educated Prebble? John Foster Williams, who now has the honour to command a revenue Cutter in the Harbour of Boston. Prebble was one of his Midshipmen, and then displayed Intelligence, Intrepidity, Presence of mind in Battles as brave and Successful, in proportion as those of our Days. Party may squint and Sneer, and taunt; But Manly, Hopkins, as Father and Son, Manly Selman  Tucker Barry, Jones, Laundais, Talbot, Truxton, Decatur, Little were the Schoolmasters of our Navy. Even, the two Mc Neils, though Hector was a clumsy Coward, helped to teach Nautical Science, & Naval Tacticks. If Carey and Clark are faithful to their Trust, as I doubt not they will be; they will Soon Show the Publick, the American naval School.
Pensylvania has not had her due. I am anxious to vindicate or excuse the part I had in this Injustice. But it would require a Volume. Mr M. Kean and Dr Rush ought not to have been neglected, Nor Judge Peters nor Judge Rush, nor the Shulemberys. But Washington and Hamilton, with all their Understrappers Tools, Satilites and Puffers, were in the Way: All governed by Willings and Cheros and Bingham and Yard. Only Consider my young and confidential Friend; Washington reduced to be an humble dependent on Alexander Hamilton!!! And John Adams a Slave of a Senate, twenty to ten, Slaves of Hamilton.
To the War of 1756, you might have added the War of 1775: and you might have Subjoined, the Expedition to the Texell of the Duke of York, the Expedition of the Earl of Chatham to Zealand and the Scheld; Bonepartes to Russia, and all the wonderful Exploits in Spain & Portugal: every one of which is as great a blunder as any We have committed on the Lakes.
Marlborough revealed to Tallard, the whole Mystery of War. “The only difference between you and me is, We have committed an hundred faults and you have committed an hundred and one.”
I doubt not We may have millions of millions on loan: and I know as well as Mr Jefferson or Mr Madison to what all this tends, and I knew it, fourteen Years ago, and five and thirty Years ago, as well as I know it now.
I must now turn to a new Subject. I have received, from I know not whom, or where, 630 printed Pages of a new Work. Author, Printer, Place, are all misteriously concealed. The whole Book, printed but not yet published, is an examination & reputation, as the Author thinks, of my “defence”. As far as I have turned over the leaves, I find no personal Scurrility. He treats me, as if I were a man and a Gentleman: but handles the Book with entire freedom.—This I like. If my feeble Volumes, constructed in 15 Months Should excite as much Speculation and Controversy as Montesquious Work of 20 Years, It they will do some good. If I could make myself 50 years younger, and Should be Dunce enough to do it, I might take these 6 or 700 pages to pieces. If you can get an intelligence of the Author, the Printer, the Bookseller, the time, place or Circumstance of the Composition or publication, you will oblige me. I thank the Author whoever or wherever he is, for his candid and friendly communication of the Work to me, before its publication. In one Point at least, perhaps many more I agree with him, viz, that an Aristocracy of Banks, or a banking Aristocracy is not better, than any other Aristocracy.
I rejoice that Mr Madison is well: may he long continue to live and be well; and to See the good Work of the War prospering in his hands; for a more necessary War, was never undertaken. It is necessary against England; necessary to convince France, that We are Something: and above all necessary to convince ourselves, that We are not, Nothing. Know thyself, was never a more important precept to Man, or Nation. Perry’s Triumph, is enough to revive Mr Madison, if he was in the last Stage of a Consumption. But we are not yet, sufficiently the Masters of the Internal Waters. I would put in Requisition every Ship Carpenter, Caulker, Ropemaker Boat builder, Rigger Blockmaker, and Ship Chandler on the continent: and cutt Oaks Pines Furrs, Spruces or any living Trees, however green on the Lakes, to secure the unequivocal Despotism command of the Lakes. If these Ships would last but Seven Years or but one Year, it ought to be done.
In Writing to you, I almost forget that I am not writing to your Father.

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 8 October 1813
From: Spafford, Horatio Gates
To: Adams, John

                            Hond. & Esteemed Friend—
                            Albany, 10 Mo. 8, 1813.

I am very grateful for thy obliging favor of the 7th ult., & must begin this with an apology for so soon troubling thee again. I wish to send a copy of the Gazetteer of New York, to the Emperor of Russia, & write to solicit the favor of thy aid in forwarding it, through thine & the Kindness of thy Son, our Minister in Russia. Will it be practicable,? & if so, wilt thou have the goodness to direct me how to proceed? I think it would not be amiss to inform the European Potentates of the growing strength & numbers, & general prosperity of the American States;—& then, to be in their Libraries!—I would also Send one to the Emperor of France, if I could find an opportunity, as I have already Sent one to the King of Great Britain. Pray have the goodness to pardon this freedom, & the trouble I give thee, & rest assured of the high consideration of my esteem.

Horatio Gates Spafford.


Title: From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 9 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: McKean, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy October 9 1813

Your favour of Aug. 28th has been duly received and highly esteemed. I say with you, the Will of eternal Wisdom and Benevolence, be done.—
I wish to know, where the Anecdote of Sir William Keith is to be found.
I have my doubts whether any History of America would “sell well.” Gordons, Ramsays, Warrens, even Marshalls I believe have not been very lucrative. No Party has been quite satisfied with either of them. They have been all written for Money. To make them sell, they have been all panegyricall orations upon the Character of Washington.
By all that I ever learned of the State of Pensilvania in 1774. 5. 6. 7, Your Account of it, is correct and exact. Though the Quakers and Proprietarians, have lost the Souverain Power, they still continue a formidable Phalanx, and embarrass the State and the Nation to this hour.
I agree perfectly with you, that “in the marriage of our Children, their not our happiness should be chiefly consulted. Nevertheless, I acknowledge a Wish, that Reason was consulted more and passion less; reflection more, and feeling less; discretion more and romances less, by our Children, Sons and daughters, in their Choice of Companions for Life.—What Shall We do, with that capricious, inconsiderate, wild, mad passion of Love, which never looks forward to Posterity, nor backward to Parents or Ancestors? but attends only to a momentary impulse? Aged and reverend as you and I are, You must allow me to be a little ludicrous upon this Subject. When the litterary and Scientific, the wise and prudent Sir William Hamilton of mature age chose a Wife, because the Painters had found her face and figure so exquisitely beautifull as to hire her to stand naked for them to copy her Charms; what can we expect from giddy Boys and Girls, not advanced beyond their teens.? Yet We know not the Consequences of these Seemingly irrational Connections. This marriage, if We believe Lady Hamilton produced the Battle of Trafalgar, and the ruin of the Royal Family of Naples and Sicily.—
Great Britain is and always has been our natural and habitual Ennemy: and our passionate Attachment to her is as silly as that of any Boy to any Girl, or any Girl to any Boy, or as that or Sir William to Lady Hamilton.
Your Letters have given me delight and Information: and tho I cannot promise you equal returns I will venture to solicit a continuance of them, to your old / Friend

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from John Vaughan, 11 October 1813
From: Vaughan, John
To: Adams, John

D Sir
Philad.  Oct. 11. 1813

Mr Colman’s visit, highly acceptable in itself, to us all, has been the more So to me as he brought me a letter from yourself—Our endeavor to establish a more liberal religious Socy than had before existed here, (& of which you witnessed the Commencemt under Dr Priestley)—met with many Serious obstacles after he left us—We are overcoming them, & have built a Church, & the occasional Visits of liberal minded ministers from your quarter, has encouraged us to persevere & Strengthend our hands—
Wishing a Continuance of Your health & happiness / I remain sincerly Yours

Jn Vaughan


Title: From John Adams to Richard Rush, 12 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Richard

Dear Sir
Quincy October 12th 1813.

Hendrick William Gordon Esquire I understand has been recommended to be Collector of direct taxes for the County of Middlesex. My acquaintance with this gentleman, commenced with the departure of my Son for St. Petersburg. He has been invariably obliging to me and my family in transmitting our letters and all intelligence to and from that mission. These personal and family obligations alone would be poor excuses for my interference in any appointment to public trust. But I think myself well founded in saying that his qualifications, as an accomptant, are unquestionable, and his integrity  I have no reason to suspect. He has been plundered, but not ruined, by British orders in council; and is a steady friend of the administration, and a constant supporter of the war. As this appointment is in the department of the treasury, your important station in it, will interest you in every subordinate of appointment. Mr Gerry and Mr Gray, have as good an opinion of Mr Gordon as I have.
We are all alive for news from Chauncy: His fate will decide the war for this reason. Oh! how humiliating how astonishing it is, that all this was not foreseen! That the immense chain, series, range, (call it what you will) of waters from St Lawrence, to the Lake of the woods, must decide all controversies with Canada and Britain!

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 12 October 1813
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir
Monticello Oct. 12. 13

Since mine of Aug. 22. I have recieved your favors of Aug. 16. Sep. 2. 14. 15. and—and mrs Adams’s of Sep. 20.  I now send you, according to your request a copy of the Syllabus. to fill up this skeleton with arteries, with veins, with nerves, muscles and flesh, is really beyond my time and information. whoever could undertake it would find great aid in Enfield’s judicious abridgement of Brucker’s history of Philosophy, in which he has reduced 5. or 6. quarto vols of 1000. pages each of Latin closely printed, to two moderate 8 vos. of English, open type.
To compare the morals of the old, with those of the new testament, would require an attentive study of the former, a search thro’ all it’s books for it’s precepts, and through all it’s history for it’s practices; and the principles they prove. as commentaries too on these, the philosophy of the Hebrews must be enquired into, their Mishna, their Gemara, Cabbala, Jezirah, Sohar, Cosri and their Talmud must be examined and understood, in order to do them full justice. Brucker, it should seem, has gone deeply into these Repositories of their ethics, and Enfield, his epitomiser, concludes in these words. “Ethics were so little studied among the Jews, that, in their whole compilation called the Talmud, there is only one treatise on moral subjects.—their books of Morals chiefly consisted in a minute enumeration of duties, from the law of Moses were deduced 613. precepts, which were divided into two classes, affirmative and negative, 248 in the former, and 365 in the latter.it may serve to give the reader some idea of the low state of moral philosophy among the Jews in the Middle Age, to add, that of the 248. affirmative precepts, only 3. were considered as obligatory upon women; and that, in order to obtain salvation, it was judged sufficient to fulfill any one single law  in the hour of death; the observance of the rest being deemed necessary, only to increase the felicity of the future life. what a wretched depravity of sentiment & manners must have prevailed before such corrupt maxims could have obtained credit! it is impossible to collect from these writings a consistent series of moral Doctrine.” Enfield B. 4. chap. 3. it was the reformation of this ‘wretched depravity’  of morals which Jesus undertook. in extracting the pure principles which he taught, we should have to strip off the artificial vestments in which they have been muffled by priests, who have travestied them into various forms, as instruments of riches and power to them, we must dismiss the Platonists & Plotinists, the Stagyrites & Gamalielites, the Eclectics the Gnostics & Scholastics. their essences & emanations, their Logos & Demi-urgos, Aeons & Daemons male & female, with a long train of Etc. Etc. Etc. or, shall I say at once, of Nonsense. we must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus, paring off the Amphibologisms into which they have been led by forgetting often, or not understanding, what had fallen from him, by giving their own misconceptions as his dicta, and expressing unintelligbily for others what they had not understood themselves. there will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging, the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill. the result is an 8 vo. of 46. pages of pure and unsophisticated doctrines, such as were professed & acted on by the unlettered apostles, the Apostolic fathers, and the Christians of the 1st. century. their Platonising for successors indeed, in after times, in order to legitimate the corruptions which they had incorporated into the doctrines of Jesus, found it necessary to disavow, extended the primitive Christians, who had taken their principles from the mouth of Jesus himself, of his Apostles, & the Fathers cotemporary with them. they excommunicated their followers as heretics, branding them with the opprobrious name of Ebionites or Beggars.
For a comparison of the Graecian philosophy with that of Jesus, materials might be largely drawn from the same source. Enfield gives a history,  & detailed account of the opinions & principles of the different sects. these relate to the gods, their natures, grades, places and powers;
the demi-gods and daemons, and their agency with man;
the Universe, it’s structure, extent, production and duration;
the origin of things from the elements of fire, water, air and earth;
the human soul, it’s essence and derivation; the summum bonum, and finis bonorum; with a thousand idle dreams & fancies on these and other subjects the knolege of which is witheld from man, leaving but a short chapter for his moral duties, and the principal section of that given to what he owes himself, to precepts for rendering him impassible, and unassailable by the evils of life, and for preserving his mind in a state of constant serenity.
Such a canvas is too broad for the age of seventy, and especially of one whose chief occupations have been in the practical business of life. we must leave therefore to others, younger & more learned than we are, to prepare this euthanasia for Platonic Christianity, and it’s restoration to the primitive simplicity of it’s founder. I think you give a just outline of the theism of the three religions when you say that the principle of the Hebrew was the fear, of the Gentile the honor, & of the Christian the love of God.
An expression in your letter of Sep. 14 that ‘the human understanding is a revelation from it’s maker’ gives the best solution, that I believe can be given, of the question, what did Socrates mean by his Daemon? he was too wise to believe, & too honest to pretend that he had real & familiar converse with a superior power and invisible being. he probably considered the suggestions of his conscience, or reason, as revelations, or inspirations from the Supreme mind, bestowed, on important occasions, by a special superintending providence.
I acknolege all the merit of the hymn of Cleanthes to Jupiter, which you ascribe to it. it is as highly sublime as a chaste & correct imagination can permit itself to go. yet in the contemplation of a being so superlative, the hyperbolic flights of the Psalmist may often be followed with approbation even with rapture; and I have no hesitation in giving him the palm over all the Hymnists of every language, and of every time. turn to the 148th. psalm in Brady & Tate’s version. have such conceptions been ever before expressed? their version of the 15th. psalm is more to be esteemed for it’s pithiness, than it’s poetry, even Sternhold, the leaden Sternhold, kindles, in a single instance, with the sublimity of his original, and expresses the majesty of God descending on the earth, in terms not unworthy of the subject.
‘The Lord’ descended from above And bowed the heav’ns most high;
And underneath his feet he cast The darkness of the sky.
On Cherubim and Seraphim Full royally he rode;
And on the wings of mighty winds Came flying all abroad. Psalm XVIII.9.10.
The Latin versions of this passage by Buchanan & by Johnston, are but mediocres. but the Greek of Duport is worthy of quotation.
Ουρανον αγκλινας κατεβη· ὑπο ποςςι δ’ ἑοιςιν
Αχλυς αμφι μελαινα χυθη, και νυξ ερεβεννη.
Ῥιμφα ποτᾶτο Χερουβῳ οχευμενος, ὡςπερ εφ’ ἱππῳ·
Ἱπτατο δε πτερυγεςςι πολυπλαγκτου ανεμοιο.
the best collection of these psalms is that of the Octagonian dissenters of Liverpool in their printed Form of prayer; but they are not always the best versions. indeed bad is the best of the English versions; not a ray of poetical genius having ever  been employed on them, and how much depends on this may be seen by comparing Brady & Tate’s XVth. psalm with Blacklock’s Justum et tenacem propositi virum of Horace, quoted in Hume’s history  Car. 2. ch. 65. a translation of David in this style, or in that of Pompei’s Cleanthes, might give us some idea of the merit of the original. the character too of the poetry of these hymns is singular to us. written in Monostichs, each divided into strophe and antistrophe, the sentiment of the 1st. member responded with amplification or antithesis in the second.
On the subject of the Postscript of yours of Aug. 16. & of mrs Adams’s letter, I am silent. I know the depth of the affliction it has caused, and can sympathise with it the more sensibly, inasmuch as there is no degree of affliction, produced by the loss of those dear to us which experience has not taught me to estimate. I have ever found time & silence the only medecine, and these but assuage, they never can suppress, the deep-drawn sigh which recollection for ever brings up, until recollection and life are extinguished together. ever & affectionately yours

Th: Jefferson
P.S. Your’s of Sep—just received


Title: From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 15 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Van der Kemp, François Adriaan

Dear Sir
Quincy October 15. 1813

On the 5th. your mind was relieved from its Uncertainty; and your Anxiety must have been Succeeded by Grief. But why Should We grieve, when grieving We must bear?
I Should have visited Charles and Should have asked to See him when I was at his fathers house with you; if I had not been apprehensive that the Sight of an entire Stranger would distress and fatigue him.
It is melancholly, that Such numbers of our most Studious and ingenuous young men fall Sacrifices to intemperance in Study, and an injudicious regimen. The bud Swells and promises an Abundance of excellent fruit, the flower opens and Spreds, with exquisite beauty and fragrance, and then droops, fades, and perishes like the night blooming ceres.
Your Visit to Boston Cambridge and Quincy has been universally agreable to all persons of both Sexes, whom I have Seen. Even the disciples of Calvin, Sandiman and Hopkins, preserve a respectfull Silence.
Pray give me the entire title of Goethens Work. We know not what the Jews learned in Egypt, in Babylon or in Persia. All the Knowledge of those nations is lost. Their Theology, Phylosphy, Sciences, Arts are lost with their Languages. I wish I knew more of the Alexandrian Library. I Suspect that Theologians and Despots, Christian, Hebrew and Mahometan conspired to annihilate it. Do you not Suspect that the Hebrew learned much from the Egyptians? the Chaldeans? the Persians? the Phænisians? Do you not Suspect that Cæsar, Pompey, Cicero, Plutarch, Seneca, Quntillian as well as Pliny and Longinus had Seen the Pentateuck?
Have you the Hymn of Cleanthes, to God almighty? Have you any translation of it, into Latin, French, or English? Why did not Grotius translate it? Why has Harvard Colledge omitted this Hymn in their Collectanea græca minora, for the Use of Schools? Why has Dr Priestley neglected it, in his comparison of Greek and Roman Divinity with the Christian?
If I could live as near you, as Mr Mappa, feriam Sidera vertice. Vale

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 16 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Spafford, Horatio Gates

Sir
Quincy Octr. 16. 1813

Your Ambition to Spread information of the growing prosperity of your country is amiable and deserves encouragement.
The Safest conveyance of your Work, to the Emperors of France and Russia, would be through their Ambassadors to The President of The U.S.
The Correspondence between my Family and my Son which was always interupted under brittish Orders or french Edicts, has been wholly Stopped, Since the beginning of May.
The continuance of my Son in Europe is So uncertain and all conveyances from Boston are So precarious, that I know not what Advice to give you. If, nevertheless, you Should think fit to Send a Copy to me properly packed and addressed to my Son I will endeavour to Send it with my own letters, and it may take its chance with them. If it is to be presented to The Emperor or his Minister it should be handsomely bound.
With Esteem and respect, your friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 19 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Carey, Mathew

Sir
Quincy Oct. 19 1813

Inclosed is a sketch of the unfortunate enterprize against Penobscot in 1779. drawn by an eye witness. Mr Clarks materials for the modern History of the Navy are multiplying so fast and are so much more splendid than those of ancient date that I begin to be apprehensive he will not have room for all of the latter that ought to be preserved. There is the more reason for inserting these because the gallant actions and great exertions at sea in the War of the revolution and in the French War of the three last years of the last Century were but miserably preserved in the Journals and Histories of those times: whereas the glorious Victories and Conquests of this War, on the Ocean and the Lakes are recorded in all the Newspapers in America.
I wish to know whether Mr Jones has paid your account or not, being anxious to preserve my Credit with you—
With much esteem

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 19 October 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Waterhouse, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Quincy October 19th 1813

Little did I think when I last wrote you, what a monument was erected to me. I have since received an immense volume of 630 pages printed in large Octavo, full page, small type, No name, no place, no printer, no date. I have not a suspicion or a conjecture, who the author is. the whole book is devoted to the chastisement of me and my books. There is no personal scurrility against me; but my books are cut, & slashed, chopt, and minced, to rags and tatters. I may now say “exegi monumentum.”
As my name is now up (immortalized in 600 pages) I may lie a bed, or study Greek. I have been looking over the Collectanea, greeca minora which your university has prescribed for boys in Schools and Academies; but I find nothing of Cleanthes hymn to God almighty, or Prodicus, choice of Hercules; which are worth all that are in the volume. I pray you to inform me of the reason of such omissions
Thanks for your biography of Perry; But I have not time to think of war, Politics or Heroes at present. When you come to quincy we will talk. Adieu
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Richard Rush, 24 October 1813
From: Rush, Richard
To: Adams, John

Dear sir.
Washington  October 24. 1813

As soon as I received your acceptable and instructing letter of the 8th of this month, I wrote to a friend in Philadelphia, who is much in the literary and political way, to beg he would inform me, if he knew, who had been writing or preparing to write a commentary upon the “Defence of the American Constitutions,” for that I had understood there was such a work on hand, if not published. As to myself, I knew not. In his answer, which I received yesterday he answers, ‘Ego quoque non sum informatus’. I infer, most probably, it has not had its birth in our part of the country; or to the south; but in New England, where, I fancy, the most of our writers are to be found. I venture, sir, to infer another thing also, from the ignorance of my correspondent, from your ignorance, and from my not being able to learn any thing from my associates in this capital, as to the author;—and that is, that he is not likely to be any body very prominent, and that the “Defence” will continue to be complemented by statesmen as it has already been, and to supply the constructors of human governments with many great ideas of political and historical truth, long after the 630 pages have had their day. That he has written in the candid spirit of a gentleman, I am happy, however, to hear. All such books deserve to be read with candour when they treat of such important subjects.
I have had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 12th instant relative to Mr H. W. Gordon. It ought to be sufficient to obtain him the appointment, and I trust it will. Mr Madison has not yet returned, but is expected tomorrow or next day.
I offer you my respectful congratulations on Harrisons victory, about which I would add a word or two, but that my wife invites me to a walk with her, the afternoon being very fine. On telling her how I was engaged, she says, by all means go on and finish your letter; but I reply no, not now. So this, sir, makes me rise from my writing desk sooner than my wishes would otherwise dictate, offering you, before I rise, the assurances of my respectfulful and devoted attachment.

Richard Rush.—


Title: To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 1 November 1813
From: Spafford, Horatio Gates
To: Adams, John

                            Esteemed Friend—
                            Albany, 11 Mo. 1, 1813.

I have been duly favored with thy kind Letter of the 16th ultimo, & avail myself of a privilege to convey through thy hands to thy Son, for the Emperor of Russia, a copy of my Gazetteer of the State of New-York. All conveyances are uncertain;—this must take its chance. Should it nark thy Son, I pray thou let him know the high sentiments of esteem which I entertain, & the obligations he would confer, by presenting my book to the Emperor. Profoundly prostrated with a sense of thy great goodness of condescension, I offer thee my warmest thanks.
Since the receipt of thy former Letter, I have used a little freedom, the result of which affords me a high gratification. In writing to the late Gov. Jay, I copied thy  remark on him, with some little prefatory explanation. Since which I am favored with his letter of the 20th. of October, 1813, from which I copy his notice of that communication.
“I consider your having communicated to me the extract of a Letter from Mr. Adams to you, as a favor. The sentiments expressed in it respecting me, immediately recalled to my recollection Times & Seasons when his services for his country, & his friendship for me, made it my duty, on all proper occasions, to acknowledge & bear testimony to both,” &c. &c.—I hope thou wilt not reprove my freedom, to lessen the pleasure I derive from it.
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, in Boston—Does that Institution admit other than the Citizens of Massachusetts to its honors? I think I should like to be a Member; & should thou suggest it, would the intimation from me be deemed improper? With very great esteem & grateful regards, thy friend,

Horatio Gates Spafford


Title: To John Adams from Richard Rush, 8 November 1813
From: Rush, Richard
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir,
Washington November 8th: 1813

According to the intimation contained in one of the letters I have had the pleasure to write to you, I took the liberty of enclosing to Mr St George Tucker, though entirely unknown to him; not the copy, but the original, of your favor to me of the 13th of August. It was the one in which you acknowledged the receipt of his beautiful little poem, and I was sure the original, in your own hand writing, would be a great additional gratification to him. Moreover, without expressly asking your permission to send it to him, I had, with some little management, waited long enough, after apprising you of my intention, to receive your objection had it been thought worth while to make any. And truly glad I was that none came; for the letter was calculated to give too much pleasure to have been withheld from him, and so it has turned out.
I have the pleasure to send you herewith, a letter I have just received from Mr Tucker. You will perceive he has given a much better and more correct account of himself than it was in my power to give. If he has been full, he at least develops amiable feelings, and has shown the price he sets upon your praise, and his sensibility to a request moving from you. What he writes of himself corresponds with what I have always heard of the purity of his life. The three little works he mentions in his letter, viz the Bermudian, the Anchoret, and the pamphlet upon slavery, I will have the pleasure to send you by three successive mails. The first goes to-day. Of all three it is my agreeable task to ask your acceptance, from him thus conveyed through me. The letter I send I will ask the favor of being sent back to me when next I have the pleasure to hear from you. I am, sir, at all times, your gratified correspondent and respectfully devoted friend.

Richard Rush.


Title: From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy Nov. 14: 1813

Accept my thanks for the comprehensive Syllabus, in your favour of Oct. 12.
The Psalms of David, in Sublimity beauty, pathos and Originality, or in one Word, in poetry, are Superiour to all the Odes Hymns and Songs in any language. But I had rather read them in our prose translation, than in any version I have Seen. His Morality however, often Shocks me, like Tristram Shandy’s execrations.
Blacklocks translation of Horace’s “Justum” is admirable; Superiour to Addisons. Could David be translated as well; his Superiority would be universally acknowledged. We cannot compare the Sybbiline Poetry. By Virgils Pollio we may conjecture, there was Prophecy as well as Sublimity. Why have those Verses been annihilated? I Suspect platonick Christianity, pharisaical Judaism, or machiavilian Politicks, in this case; as in all other cases of the destruction of records and litterary monuments. The Auri Sacra fames, et dominandi Sæva cupido.
Among all your researches in Hebrew History and Controversy have you ever met a book, the design of which is to prove, that the ten Commandments, as We have them in our Catechisms and hung up in our Churches, were not the Ten Commandments written by the Finger of God upon tables, delivered to Moses on mount Sinai and broken by him in a passion with Aaron for his golden calf, nor those afterwards engraved by him on Tables of Stone; but a very different Sett of Commandments?
There is such a book by J. W. Goethens Schristen. Berlin 1775-1779. I wish to see this Book.
You will see the Subject and perceive the question in Exodus 20. 1-17. 22-28. chapter 24.3 & ch. 24.12. ch. 25.31. ch. 31.18. Ch. 31.19. Ch. 34.1. Ch. 34.10 &c.
I will make a Covenant with all this People. Observe that which I command this day.
1
Thou Shall not adore any other God. Therefore take heed, not to enter into covenants with the Inhabitants of this country; neither take for your Sons, their daughters in marriage. They would allure thee to the Worship of False Gods. Much less shall you in any place, erect Images.
2
The Feast of unleavened bread, Shall thou keep. Seven days, Shall thou eat unleavened bread, at the time of the month Abib; to remember that about that time, I delivered thee from Egypt.
3
Every first born of the mother is mine; the male of thine herd, be it Stock or flock. But you Shall replace the first born of an Ass with a Sheep. The first born of your Sons Shall you redeem. No Man Shall appear before me with empty hands.
4
Six days shall thou labour: the Seventh day, thou shall rest from ploughing and gathering.
5
The Feast of Weeks shalt thou keep, with the firstlings of the Wheat Harvest: and the Feast of Harvesting at the end of the year.
6
Thrice, in every year, all male persons shall appear before the Lord. Nobody shall invade your Country, as long as you obey this Command.
7
Thou shall not Sacrifice the blood of a Sacrifice of mine, upon leavened bread.
8
The Sacrifice of the Passover Shall not remain till the next day.
9
The Firstlings of the produce of your land, thou Shall bring to the House of the Lord.
10
Thou shall not boil the kid, while it is yet Sucking.
And the Lord Spake to Moses: Write these Words; as after these words I made with you, and with Israel a Covenant.
I know not whether Goethens translated or abridged from the Hebrew, or whether he used any translation Greek, Latin, or German. But he differs in form and Words, Somewhat from our Version. Exod. 34.10. to 28. The Sense Seems to be the Same. The Tables were the evidence of the covenant, by which the Almighty attached the People of Israel to himself. By these laws they were Seperated from all other nations, and were reminded of the principal Epochas of their History.
When and where originated our Ten Commandments? The Tables and The Ark were Lost. Authentic Copies, in few, if any hands; the ten Precepts could not be observed, and were little remembered.
If the Book of Deuteronomy was compiled, during or after the Babilonian Captivity, from Traditions, the Error or amendment might come in there.
But you must be weary, as I am at present, of Problems, conjectures, and paradoxes, concerning Hebrew, Grecian and Christian and all other Antiquities; but while We believe that the finis bonorum will be happy, We may leave learned men to this disquisitions and Criticisms.
I admire your Employment, in Selecting the Philosophy and Divinity of Jesus and Seperating it from all intermixtures. If I had Eyes and Nerves, I would go through both Testaments and mark all that I understand. To examine the Mishna Gemara Kabbala Jezirah, Sohar Cosri and Talmud of the Hebrews would require the life of Methuselah, and after all, his 969 years would be wasted to very little purpose. The Dæmon of Hierarchical despotism has been at Work, both with John Adams the Mishna and Gemara. In 1238 a French Jew, made a discovery to the Pope (Gregory 9th) of the heresies of the Talmud. The Pope Sent 35 Articles of Error, to the Archbishops of France, requiring them to Seize the books of the Jews, and burn all that contained any Errors. He wrote in the same terms to the Kings of France, England Arragon, Castile Leon, Navarre and Portugal. In consequence of this Order 20 Cartloads of Hebrew Books were burnt in France; and how many times 20 Cartloads were destroyed in the other Kingdoms? The Talmud of Babylon and that of Jerusalem were composed from 120 to 500 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. If Lightfoot derived Light from them what escaped from Gregorys Fury in explaining many passages in the New Testament, by comparing the Expressions of the Mishna, with those of the Apostles and Evangelists, how many proofs of the Corruptions of Christianity might We find in the Passages burnt?
John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Hendrick W. Gordon, 19 November 1813
From: Gordon, Hendrick W.
To: Adams, John

My Dear Sirs,
Boston 19th. November 1813,

The President of the United States, having given me the Office of Collector of Direct Taxes & Internal Duties for the County of Middlesex in this Commonwealth, and as you were so obligeing as to honor my letters of recommendation with your name, to which I attribute in a great measure the success of my application, I should do injustice to my feelings, were I to omit to thank you for this distinguished favor: allow me to add an assurance, that I will preserve by my good deeds, the fair Character and confidence, which the Constituted Authorities of the Nation, have in those distinguished Citizens who have promoted my views–
I have the honor to be / with the greatest Respect, / Dear Sir, your most Obedient / and much Obliged Hum Servant.
H W Gordon


Title: From John Adams to Richard Rush, 20 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Rush, Richard

Dear Rush
Quincy November 20th 1813

You have most unexpectedly procured for me a very high gratification, by making me acquainted with so many anecdotes of one of the most sentimental and accomplished families our Country can boast. I feel myself more nearly attached to Judge Tucker since I learned that he had his legal education under my friend Mr Wythe one of the most learned and amiable men I have known. I have read the dissertation on Slavery and I know of nothing better said; or to be said upon the most difficult subject and the most intricate problem the US have ever to resolve. I have always pitied the masters as much as the Negroes; and with infinite astonishment have heared the great Planters of the South; express their enthusiastic approbation of that decree, which set all the blacks in the French West Indies free per Saltum.
I have the sweet consolation to reflect, that I never owned a Slave. Not one of my ancestors by my Father, for five generations in this Village of Mount Wollasten, now Quincy, ever owned a Negro. My Mothers Father in Brookline had an old African, named Sharper whom I remember, more than 70 years ago, who was treated by my Grand Father and Grand Mother as kindly as their Son and daughters. And this old creature treated me with so much kindness that I loved him almost as well as any of the family.
I have all my life been so sensible of the dangers and difficulties attending this thing that no Southern Gentleman can reproach me with a word or action tending to give discontent to their domesticks or to embarrass them in their intercourse with them, or government of them.
I have read The Bermudian and The Anchoret. The description of the enchanting Island, and everything else in both pieces are proofs of a rich vein of Poetry no less than of moral and social feelings, without which human life would not be tollerable. Judge Tucker must live to accomplish the third year of his Sixteenth lustre, before he will be so good a Judge as I am, of the merit of his own Poetry. The Judges Edition of Blackstone, I have always heard, in the language of London Booksellers “well spoken of.” The lawyers have it in Boston and esteem it. I read the first morsel of Blackstone that ever appeared in North America; his inaugural oration and analysis; and seized with avidity, & his Tracts and commentaries when they appeared; and subcribed for the first American Edition of him. The Judges edition never fell in my way and the affecting responsibility on my own mind when it first appeared prevented me from enquiring after it I read however several ingenious quotations from the Notes in the journals of the time.
I cannot approve of the Judges inclination to retirement. Such accomplishments and such sentiments ought not to be disgusted with public petulance; till reason and conscience unquestionable revelation from heaven and the only Demons, as I believe that Socrates consulted, require or at least approve of submission to it I return the Judges excellent letter with thanks.
Accept for yourself and Present to the Judge the / respectful thanks of his and your / obliged friend
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 22 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Spafford, Horatio Gates

Friend
Quincy Nov. 22. 1813

I have recd. the Gazetteer of New York, which you design for the Emperor of all the Russias, and will Send it by Mr. Ingraham, who is Soon to embark for Russia, where he has been before and acquainted in the family of our Minister
God omnicient knows whether it is or is not “amiss to inform the European Potentates of the growing Strength and Numbers, and general prosperity of the American States.”
There is an European Jealousy of America: and that Jealousy will increase at least as fast as their Information.
I Shewed your Book to my Neighbour Mr Quincy and mentioned your Wish. He is corresponding Secretary to the American Accademy of Arts and Sciences. If you will Send to me a Copy bound, addressed to that Accademy, I will Send it to Mr. Quincy.
I wish our Massachusetts had a Spafford. We have neither Gazetteer nor Map. We have forgotten the ancient Precept “Know thyself.”
I wish you would give Us a Gazetteer of Canada too.
Your Title “Gazetteer” is too modest. The Work is of a higher Character. Or, perhaps I may have a prejudice against Gazettes. I am however a Friend to your virtuous and useful pursuits and labours
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to John Vaughan, 23 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Vaughan, John

 John Vaughan Esqr
Quincy Nov. 23. 1813

I regret that your kind Letter of Oct. 11. has been so long unanswered.
Mr Colman needed no recommendation or introduction from me to you. He is delighted with his Visit to Philadelphia and the liberal Society he found there.
I will hazard Something to you. In my Opinion Something was wanting in Philadelphia, to irradiate the Solemn gloom of the religion of that City, on one hand: and to check the licentious Spirit of Pyrrhonish and Credulous Philosophy on the other.
I never recollect Dr Priestley, but with tenderness of Sentiment. Certainly one of the greatest Men in the World; and certainly one of the weakest.
Every man and every Society that tends to give Mankind more enlarged Ideas of the moral Government of the Universe, and more benevolent Sentiments to all intellectual Beings and more worthy Conceptions of our own nature; has my best Wishes and devout prayers for its prosperity.
I recollect with pleasure, my former Acquaintance with your Family: and wish them Health and prosperity.
I am, Sir, your Sincere Well Wisher
John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 24 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

Madam
Quincy November 24 1813

I have been much to blame for neglecting to acknowledge your obliging favour of Sept 12th. I am very much obliged for your civilities to my wife; my Son, Colonel Smith and my Grandaughters. My Girls have long expressed  an earnest desire to see Madam Warren, and have been highly gratified by their visit and very grateful for the kind hospitality; the social enjoyments, and instructive conversation they experienced.  I congratulate you Madam on the happy marriage of a Grandaughter; who once obliged us with a very short visit. I was delighted with her manners and accomplishments; and found her visit much too short. May every blessing attend her; and all your family in whose prosperity I take a constant interest. Governor M Keans notice of your brother I thought worth preserving in your family. The oddity of the Dialogue and the particular moment of its composition were the circumstances that made it rather an object of Curiosity than use. I think however the Traits of Character are correct.
I know not Madam what your Father your Husband of your Brother would think of these times. A mighty effort of nature is in operation, that no understanding below that Providence which superintends and directs it can comprehend. An entire separation, in government at least between America and Europe seems to be commencing; but what will be its course when and how it will terminate and what influence it will have upon Asia and Africa, no living man I believe will pretend to forsee. We have acted our parts. The curtain will soon be drawn upon us. We must leave the future to that Providence which has protected the Past. This sentiment of duty and interest I doubt not Madam will be approved by you, as I hope it is realized with gratitude and entire confidence and submission by your old friend and respectful humble Servant

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mathew Carey, 24 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: Carey, Mathew

Sir
Quincy November 24 1813

I wish you to procure me a morsel of white marble eighteen or twenty inches square, and two or three inches thick and to engrave upon it the enclosed words and figures. It is to be inserted in a little monument of Quincy Granite that I have erected to my Father and Mother. If you will send it to me, Mr Trask will insert it in its proper place. I will pay your account on demand.
Your humble Servant
John AdamsSacred
To the memory of Mr John Adams Who died May 25. A.D. 1761 aged 70and of Susanna his Consort, born Boylston, who died April 17. A.D. 1797 aged 88. The sweet rememberance of the Just Should flourish, when they sleep in dust.


Title: From John Adams to Thomas McKean, 26 November 1813
From: Adams, John
To: McKean, Thomas

Dear Sir
Quincy Nov. 26. 1813

Thanks for yours of the 15th. Mr Colman is much pleased and very grateful for your kind reception of him and regrets that his limited time would not permit him a longer Enjoyment of your Society and Civility.
As far as I recollect to have heared; your Account of the political Sentiments of Pensilvania and Delaware are mathematically exact, in 1774.5.6  I mean. An Analysis of the Interests and Numbers, in all the States, on each side during the revolution would be not only very curious and entertaining, but instructive and usefull. The same Interests, are now at Work, and do, and will keep this Nation divided.
I ventured to say, that about a third of the People of the Colonies were against the Revolution. A Fellow, next Week said in Print, that this was “a gross lie.” It was said equivocally. It might be applied to Cobbet, or to me. The Throat of the Scoundrel who wrote the Libel was not worth cutting. But the Fact is worth investigation.
In New England, two fifths were against Us. In New York, look into the Journals of Congress, and see how much trouble We had to keep several Counties from open Rebellion and others from Solemn declarations of Neutrality.–Your Accounts of Pensilvania and Delaware, are rather more in my favour. Marshalls Account of the Southern States is that Whiggs and Tories were pretty equally divided. From this review, one would conclude that more rather than less than one third were in their hearts against Us. What is your Opinion?
I thank you for the Anecdote of Sir William Keith and Peregrine Pickle.
I, also have the honour to be a great reader of Novels. But I never could read Peregrine through. Smollet is too vulgar, too low in his own Stile, too smutty. Yet I know it is life. Such is too great a part of our beastly Species. Swifts Yahoos are worse still. These Romances make Us, as Whitefield pronounced Us to be “half beast half devil” And History makes Us little better. Implicit Faith is not due to Swift Whitefield, Romances nor History. Scotts Novells in verse and the Scottish Chiefs in prose have given me more than Amusement. They have given me Information. Never till I read these Romances did I, or could I, fully understand comprehend or conceive the principle of the Clanship in Scotland, or the Spirit of the feudal system in Europe. These Romances have made it plain, that feudal Clanship was founded in the most abject Superstition and the most horrible despotism. The pretended or real Attachment of Negroes to their Masters in the West India Islands is not more obsequious not better nor worse founded.
Richardsons Clarissa is an exception to your general rule.
As to our American Histories, I am told Marshall had seventy thousand dollars for his London Copy of the Life of Washington. If your information on this print is different, “candidus importe.”
I have been importuned to write an History. So I doubt not have you. And you have had more Experience than I.
I can give no Answer, more proper than our venerable Old Secretary Thomson lately gave, when he was importuned to write an History of the Revolution; he said No, My History would so differ from other Histories and Traditions that I should give Offence.”
I have no great Objection to giving Offence to People who take Offence without just cause: but I have no Ambition to be thought a Liar by Posterity, and I am sure nobody would believe my history, who believed any other that I have seen
Episcopalians and Quakers as well as Proprietarians were generally Royalists. The Town I now inhabit is governed by the Church. I could give you a History of this Village, for seventy years that I have known it, and remember it, which would be an Epitomy of the History of the United States. This Village has been the Theatre of as much ecclesiastical and political Intrigue, and a spot of as much Corruption as any equal Number of Acres in U.S. I could write a true history of this Parish for almost two hundred years, and should be obliged to include the Characters of Archbishop Laud, his Tools Thomas Morton and Sir Christopher Gardner, his humble Friend Weston, of Vasalls, of Apthorps, of Millers, of Sherley, of Thayers, of Gooch  many others, on one side: and of Shepards Quinceys, Goddingtons, Thompsons  Fisks Handcocks . Many others on the other: which would read as much like a Romance, a Perregrine Pickle, be quite so entertaining, and still more instructive.
Reciprocating all your friendly Wishes I am, Sir / your old Friend

John Adams


Title: To John Adams from Richard Rush, 30 November 1813
From: Rush, Richard
To: Adams, John

Dear Sir.
Washington: November 30 1813

I had hoped that this letter would have shaped itself by some of the agreeable topicks touched in your two most agreeable favors of the 5th and 20th; the former of which my better half has put into one of her own drawers claiming it as her own property and desiring her most dutiful compliments and acknowledgements for the handsome things said of her; and the latter of which I received yesterday, with Judge Tuckers letter enclosed. But, since yesterday, the news of the abortions in the north, to give them no worse term, have filled me with nothing but disappointment, regret, chagrin, and vexation, so that I can scarcely think of any thing else.
The belief here was decided and universal that Wilkinson would succeed. His army was known to be overloaded with supplies or at least with the means of obtaining them, anxious for battle, very well off for discipline, and to this moment is still believed to be largely superior in numbers to any forces of like quality that could have been brought to oppose it. Government has not yet, that I know of, received a word of intelligence to account for the failure, and can do nothing more than express its surprise, its regrets, and its conjectures.
In the meantime, Sir, you who have lived so much longer than I, and than most of us in our country, and observed and reflected so much more widely, and are always so ready with your recollections of history, philosophy and politicks as applicable to all that is going on in the world below you, must favor me with a line of consolation. The cause is certainly as just as ever although Montreal is not ours. We have achieved wonders already, to be sure, in the present autumn; but the excitement for Montreal was so prodigious that I fear the effect of disappointment upon the publick sentiment, particularly in New England. It is, indeed, a horrible disappointment.
I think more and more of what you told me in one of your letters of Marlborough’s speech to Tallard, about the hundred, and hundred and one, blunders. Even this, Sir, is some consolation to me. A colonel in the imperial service once told Count Strahenburgh that the emperor had made him a general. He has nominated you a general, said the count, but I defy him to make you one. After all, how difficult a thing does it seem to find a general? Frederick was perhaps the only one in his army. The French brought not one that I recollect in the field against him, though they have lately made them fast enough. In running through our revolutionary history, which I have lately been doing, it seems to me as if the whole seven years contest produced but two or three commanders of genius to our armies. The English for twenty years, though fighting all the while, have had nobody but Wellington; and their blunders and discomfitures in trying to reduce Canada in the old French war were at least equal to any thing ours have been lately, if not greater. They lasted four years; ours only two as yet.
Count Saxe said the first of all military qualifications was valor; the second ambition; and the third health. Wilkinson, to say nothing further, has, by all accounts, been deficient in the third this campaign; and it remains for us to hear how far this may have prevented his giving activity to the other two, both of which he is generally imagined to possess. But I more than all fear, though nothing is now known, that the failure has grown out of other causes; and that a fine army, full of zeal, full of courage, with plenty of powder and ball, and a legion of boats at its beck, has been suddenly sneaked into quarters through some miserable squabbles between the two generals, in which perhaps Hampton will turn out to be most in fault. But how this, should it prove the case, will incense, and justly incense the nation.
I cannot conclude without desiring to offer my own, and my rib’s, most respectful compliments to Mrs Adams. In refering again to the letter of the fifth and the Lady Hamilton, it contains, undoubtedly, the best explanation and defence of the fact of aristocracy I have ever seen, or than could possibly be put, into the same compass.
I have room to add nothing but my respectful and constant attachment.

Richard Rush.