Papers of John Adams, volume 1
1773-09-21
In pursuance of a Resolution of this Society, I am to signify to you that you have this Day been duly elected a Member thereof.
N.B. Subscriptions are received by frederick bull, Esq; Treasurer to this society, at his House in Leadenhall-Street, No. 96.2
Presumably at the suggestion of John Horne Tooke, the Society of Supporters of the Bill of Rights had been started in 1769 while John Wilkes was in prison to raise money for his debts and election expenses (Tooke in
DNB
). By 1771, the society, split over the issue of raising money for Wilkes, had announced a reform program that included reducing the length of life of Parliaments, more nearly equal representation, and decreasing the number of placemen in the Commons (J. R. Pole, Political Representation in England and the Origins of the American Republic, N.Y., 1966, p. 428–429). No record has been found to show whether JA contributed money to the cause.
On the verso appears the following letter, endorsed at the foot, “rec'd. Jan. 25 1774”:
Sir London, 15th Octor. 1773 I have the honor of transmitting you the inclosed Resolution of the Society of the Bill of Rights which was unanimous.
It affords me great pleasure to find so very respectable a Gentleman of America, disposed to unite with the Friends of Liberty in England for our mutual safety and Defence.
I am most respectfully your very Obedient Humble Servant,
Stephen Sayre
Sayre, whom JA may have met during his visits to New England in 1766 and 1772, credited himself with being the “chief founder” of the Supporters, but he tended greatly to exaggerate his accomplishments and importance (Sibley-Shipton, Harvard Graduates
, 14:207). For a brief sketch of Sayre and bibliographic references for his career, see
Adams Family Correspondence
, 4:264–265, note.