Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 18

To Matthew Robinson-Morris

From Philip Mazzei
To John Adams from David Humphreys, 5 March 1786 Humphreys, David Adams, John
From David Humphreys
Dear Sir Paris March 5th. 1786

Colonel Smith has been so good as to take charge of a printed copy of Mr Dwight’s Poem and a letter from that gentleman to your Excellency, which I found at my return from London had been forwarded under cover to me. He is also the bearer of a manuscript copy of Mr Barlow’s Vision of Columbus together with letters from the Author and our friend Mr Trumbull on the subject of its publication.1

As you are placed in the enviable situation of being considered as the Mecænas of America2 and as I have often heard you express your wishes that the Poems in question might be published; I find it unnecessary for me to say what might otherwise have been proper with respect to these performances & the Authors of them. Indeed the Public, as well as your Excellency, is already in posession of my opinion of their poetical abilities: but I cannot conceal my anxiety that their works may be ushered into the old world under as favourable auspices as the circumstances will permit. The success or failure will operate powerfully in stimulating or extinguishing the future efforts of genius in America.

While writing the above, I am honoured with the receipt of your letter of the 27th Ulto. 3 and will tomorrow make effectual arrangements for securing a passage in the April Packet for a Gentleman, Lady & Servt agreeably to your instructions.

201

With my best Complts to the Ladies / I have the honor to be Yr Excellencys / sincere friend & / Most devoted servt

D. Humphreys

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency / John Adams Esqr.”

 1.

For JA’s patronage of American literary efforts, see the letters from Timothy Dwight of [ca. 8–12 Dec.] and Joel Barlow of 12 Dec. 1785, both above, and JA’s 4 April 1786 replies, both below [1] [2].

 2.

Gaius Maecenas (c. 70–8 B.C.), a Roman patron of poets, encouraged beneficiaries like Virgil and Horace to promote republican virtues in their work ( Oxford Classical Dicy. ).

 3.

Not found. In a 4 March letter to Humphreys (NjP:De Coppet Coll.), JA repeated the request to procure passage from Lorient to New York City, presumably for Boston merchant Daniel Denison Rogers and his wife, Abigail Bromfield Rogers. With Humphreys, they sailed in mid-April aboard Le Courier de L’Europe, Capt. De Sionville, and arrived on 23 May ( AFC , 7:x–xi, 101; New York Journal, 25 May).