Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13
rsAdams
ca. 11 June 1799]1
The following production is one of my favorite children; it speaks to the heart, and without ornament, or personal beauty, is recommended by all the chaste virtues, and interesting attributes, of the most favored mortal.—
I know not any Individual, to whom a model of conjugal excellence,
of refined understanding, and attractive accomplishments, can with more propriety be
devoted, than to the confided friend, the cultivated companion, the amiable partner of a
Character, in which America glories, and whom the world
venerates.
Yet the writer of these pages supplicates no patronage, and solicits no support, except the flattery of your esteem, the encouragement of your approbation; and is less influenced by the benefit she may derive, than by the emulation she feels, in expressing the high respect and admiration, with which she has the honor to consider herself / Your humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs Adams / Quincy”;
endorsed: “Mrs Mortens / Dedication.” Filmed at [1808?].
This dedication to AA appeared in Morton’s Virtues of Society, A Tale, Founded on Fact, Boston, 1799,
Evans, No. 35844. The letter’s
dating derives from AA’s reply of 12 June, in which AA
wrote: “I received yesterday, by Mr. Morton, your polite request of dedicating to me
what you are pleas’d to call ’one of your favorite children.’ Portrayed as it is by
your pen, I cannot but receive, and foster it, with particular regard. The very
flattering manner in which you have introduced it to me merits my acknowledgment. If,
in the two most important characters of female life, I have been so happy as to
discharge the duties of them in such a manner as to merit the approbation of the good
and the virtuous, it will be a sufficient Eulogy to me. Upon the purity, honour and
chastity of the female character, depend the morals, the virtue, the religion and
independence of our country, as well as its domestic felicity, and the elegant pen of
Mrs. Morton cannot be more beneficially employ’d than in inculcating and celebrating
those virtues; which, whilst they do honour to her sex, are fully exemplified in her
own conduct; and will shed upon her character more unfading Laurels than the
distinguished literary and poetical talents which she so eminently possesses” (printed
in Thomas Birch’s Sons, Catalog No. 694, 1892, item 145). For a later tribute by Sarah
Morton to JA, see vol. 1:141.