Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 21

Address from the Senate to George Washington

From John Quincy Adams
the American Philosophical Society to John Adams, 13 December 1796 American Philosophical Society Vaughan, John Magaw, Samuel Patterson, Robert Peale, Charles Willson Bleakeley, John Adams, John
From the American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia, Dec. 13th. 1796

The American Philosophical Society, desirous of expressing due Regard for Preeminence in Science and Virtue, have directed an Eulogium to be prepared to the Memory of their late President Dr. David Rittenhouse; which is to be pronounced before the Society, on Saturday next, the 17th instant, in the Presbyterian Church, in Market Street, at 12 o’clock.

With the highest Deference, it is requested, that the Vice-President 520 of the United States, and the Members of the Senate, may honour the occasion with their Presence.1

Jn. Vaughan Sam. Magaw Rt. Patterson C W Peale John Bleakeley— Committee of Arrangement—

RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S. Senate); internal address: “Vice-President of the U. States, / and Members of the Senate.”; docketed: “Invitation of the / Phylosophical / Society of Pennsylva. / to / Attend the Eulogium / on Doctr Rittenhouse / Decr 13th. / 1796. / 4th Cons / 2d Sess.”

 1.

David Rittenhouse died on 26 June. Joining George Washington, members of Congress, and foreign dignitaries, JA attended a memorial service held on 17 Dec. at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. JA concurred with Benjamin Rush’s eulogy for Rittenhouse, confiding to AA that “he made him out to be a good Man and a great Astronomer & Philosopher. This I agree and if he had not betrayed Jacobinical Weaknesses I should have liked him very well.” Members of the American Philosophical Society elected Thomas Jefferson as president on 7 Jan. 1797 ( AFC , 11:446–447, 448; Jefferson, Papers , 29:276).