Papers of John Adams, volume 16
th:1784.
I have just received your Letter of Yesterday with seven Copies of the English Translation of the Abby de Mably’s Letters.1 I have read part of the Translation and it seems to be well done: But I have read the whole of the Translator’s preface, and can find no other fault in it, than that it is not so long as I wish it. His observations are so good, that I wish he had treated more at large a Subject, on which he appears to have reflected much, and judged with great Exactness. Please to draw upon me, the sooner the better, for your Pay, for the Copies you have sent me both in French and English
As I have not the Pleasure to know the Translator I should be obliged to you for his Name and Quality:2 and further that you would present to him the Compliments and Thanks of, Sir, / Your most obedient and &c
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs: J. F. Rosart & Co.”; APM Reel 107.
The letter from Rosart & Co. has not been found. The enclosed copies were of Observations on the Government and Laws of the United States of America, Amsterdam, 1784. No copy of the Amsterdam translation of the Abbé de Mably’s work is in JA’s library at MB, but it does contain the London edition, Remarks Concerning the Government and the Laws of the United States of America, published later in the year (
Catalogue of JA’s Library
).
For the identity of the translator, probably the Rev. Benjamin Choyce Sowden, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 6, above, and JA’s 27 July letter to Benjamin Franklin and Franklin’s reply of 6 Aug., both below.