Papers of John Adams, volume 19

To John Adams from Philip Mazzei, 24 May 1787 Mazzei, Philip Adams, John
From Philip Mazzei
Dear Sir, Paris, 24. May 1787.

The information I have found in your letters has been of a great service to me, the last of the 1st. inst. not excepted, ’though you suppuse in it quite the reverse. I beg you to accept my hearty thanks for it. I have been highly pleased with your undertaking the defence of our governments, especially as I have been assured by Col. Smith that you intend to compleat the work. I am extremely obliged to you, Sir, for the first volume, which you did me the honour to send me. There are several people, who have applyed to government for the liberty of publishing the translation of it. All your Friends, as far as I Know, wish that it may not be executed by bad hands. To 84 prevent it, we have engaged an honest book-seller to publish an advertisement, in which he promises to give the Public a good translation with annotations.1 To proceed in a manner, as to guard against a bad one, or at least to prevent it being published before the one, which we will endeavour to have executed as well as possible, it is desirable that you would be so Kind as to send us, from time to time, the sheets which are printed, without delaying untill the whole is done. Persuaded that you will contribute to prevent your own child being disfigured, I hope you will favour us in our request.

With my most respectfull compliments to Mrs. Adams, & Mrs. Smith, I am most sincerely & respectfully, / Dear Sir, / Your Excellency’s most Hmble / & most Obedt. Sert.

Philip Mazzei

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Dear Sir.”

1.

The bookseller was Jacques Franjois Froullé, but he never published an edition. The first French edition, Défense des constitutions américaines: Ou de la nécessité d’une balance dans les pouvoirs d’un gouvernement libre, printed by Jacques Vincent Delacroix, appeared in 1792 (vol. 18:549–550).

To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 29 May 1787 Cerisier, Antoine Marie Adams, John
From Antoine Marie Cerisier
Monsieur De Leyde ce 29 mai 1787

Je ne faisois que de sortir de la Maison lorsque Votre Excellence a bien voulu se donner la peine de passer; & n’étant revenu que fort tard dans la nuit, je m’étois rendu vers les neuf heures du matin à son auberge; lors qu’à mon grand regret j’ai appris son depart pour Amsterdam: j’ai été d’autant plus mortifié de ces contre-tems, que je me faisois un plaisir de vous souhaiter la bien-venue, de vous renouveller les temoignages de mon respectueux souvenir & de vous remercier du cadeau que vous m’avez fait, en me faisant parvenir la Defense des Constitutions De l’Amerique. Je me proposois en meme tems de vous communiquer quelques observations, que m’a fait naitre cet ouvrage, que jai lu & relu, & que je regarde comme le Breviaire des veritables principes Republicains, compatibles avec la nature de la Société & avec la liberté, la Sureté, & le bon ordre. Il m’a d’autant plus satisfait, que jy’ai trouvé beaucoup de reflexions qui quadroient avec les miennes. Je n’avois à vous reprocher que le peu que vous avez dit de ce pays-ci, lorsqu’il vous offroit le champ le plus vaste, pour la confirmation, & le développement de vos principes. J’ai fait quelques notes à ce sujet que je me propose de vous communiquer.1 Jespere que vous resterez encore quelques jours dans nos Provinces 85 & que soit ici soit à la Haye, je pourrois vous temoigner de vive voix la profonde vénération avec laquelle je suis

Monsieur / Votre trés humble / & trés obiessant Serviteur

A. M. Cerisier
TRANSLATION
Sir Leyden, 29 May 1787

I was just leaving the house when your excellency kindly came by; and not having returned until quite late at night, I arrived around nine in the morning at his inn, when to my great regret I learned of his departure for Amsterdam. I was all the more chagrined by the missed opportunity as I had been most pleased to wish you a warm welcome, to renew the expressions of respect which I have for you, and to thank you for the gift you gave me when you sent me The Defence of the Constitutions of America. Meanwhile I considered conveying to you a few observations to which the work gave rise, a work which I read and reread and which I regard as the breviary of true republican principles, compatible with the nature of society and with liberty, security, and good order. It satisfied me all the more that I found in it many ideas which coincided with my own. I could reproach you only for saying so little of this country, though it provides you with the most extensive field for the confirmation and development of your principles. I took down a few notes on the subject which I will communicate to you.1 I hope that you will remain another few days in our provinces and that, either here or at The Hague, I will be able to express to you in person the profound veneration with which I am, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant

A. M. Cerisier

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

There is no indication that Cerisier, editor of Le politique hollandais, followed through on his intention to send JA his notes.