Papers of John Adams, volume 16
th.1784.
I did myself the Honour of writing to your Excellency by the last Post, & inclosing a Letter, which might have been productive by this Time of an Event, which I assure myself would have been painful to you. I Know not as yet, what is the result of my Ennemies Council thereon. I called three times at Vine Street Yesterday but found no Letter from either. Let them take their Time, I have done, what I was under the Necessity of doing in Consequence—of their 205 Insolence. I am told I need not go further, as I assure your Excellency I have been urged by no Vindictive Passion having determind & declared, that if the Meeting had been had, not to have enjoind Either of my Ennemies I Know my Duty better to God & man & myself, that to take such means of Vindication. & I hope I shall ever remember it; but this must not be told in Gath, for then the Philistines will be more troublesome1
I am with the greatest Respect / Sir your Excellencys / most obedient humble Servant
PS. I wish your Excellency would shew the Anonymous Letter to Mr [Brush?], now I beleive at Amsterdam, I think He will Know the Hande.2
RC (Adams Papers).
Jenings refers to 2 Samuel, 1:20: “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice.”
Probably Eliphalet Brush, a New York merchant, who acted on JA’s behalf in August (to the loan consortium, 3 Aug., below). But for JA’s own identification of the author of the anonymous letter, see his first letter of 9 April to Samuel Osgood, and note 7, above.