Papers of John Adams, volume 19

From Richard Henry Lee

To C. W. F. Dumas

147 From John Adams to Count Semon Romanovich Vorontsov, 4 September 1787 Adams, John Vorontsov, Count Semon Romanovich
To Count Semon Romanovich Vorontsov
Grosvenor Square August September 4. 1787

Mr Adams presents his Compliments to the Ambassador from Russia, and does himself the Honour of conveying to his Excellency, a Small Packet. There are in it, two Volumes, which may be reckoned among the First Fruits of the Arts, in the United States of America, as they were there, written, printed and bound. one of the Books is intended for his Excellency, and the other for the August Personage, to whom the inclosed Memorial, is addressed. Mr Barlow is a young Gentleman of amiable manners and most excellent Character, as well as a good Poet. His Intentions are the most pure. But Mr Adams, who has been introduced into this Business, without his Knowledge, is very apprehensive that the young Poet will be judged to have indulged his Zeal to Show his Respect to her Imperial Majesty beyond the Rules of Discretion.— in this Case, Mr A. prays his Excellency to consider both Volumes, as his own Property and Suppress the Memorial.1

LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 112.

1.

Count Semon Romanovich Vorontsov (1744–1832) was the Russian minister to Britain from 1785 to 1800, and again from 1801 to 1806 (vol. 17:198; The Gentleman’s Magazine, 102:79 [July 1832]). JA enclosed two presentation copies of Joel Barlow’s Vision of Columbus, for which see Vorontsov’s 5 Sept. 1787 reply, below.