Adams Family Correspondence, volume 4

Rector Verheyk to John Adams, 10 November 1780 Verheyk, H. JA

1780-11-10

Rector Verheyk to John Adams, 10 November 1780 Verheyk, H. Adams, John

Rector Verheyk to John Adams

Monsieur Amsterdam, 10 November 1780

La Desobeissance et L'impertinence de Monsieur votre Fils ainé, qui fait de son mieux pour corrompre son aimable Frere, n'etant plus a soufrir, puis qu'il cherche lui même par sa brutalité, a s'attirer le chatiment qu'il merite, dans l'Esperance de quitter les Ecoles, sous ce pretexte.

Je vous prie donc Monsieur d'avoir la bonté de le retirer d'ici, 12plutot que de voir la Discipline publique rendue risible, puisque je serai a la fin obligé de le traiter selon les Loix de notre Ecole.

J'ai L'honneur d'être Monsieur Votre Tres Humble Serviteur, H. Verheyk Rector Gymn. Publ.

RC (Adams Papers); in a clerical hand, signed by Verheyk. JA's reply, q.v. following, is on the verso of Verheyk's note and furnishes the date here assigned.

John Adams to Rector Verheyk, 10 November 1780 JA Verheyk, H.

1780-11-10

John Adams to Rector Verheyk, 10 November 1780 Adams, John Verheyk, H.

John Adams to Rector Verheyk

Sir Nov. 10. 1780

I have this moment received, with Surprise and Grief, your Billet.

I pray you Sir, to send my Children to me this Evening and your Account, together with their Chests and Effects tomorrow. I have the Honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, your humble servant,

John Adams1

FC (Adams Papers); in JA's hand, written on verso of Verheyk's note, q.v. preceding; at foot of text: “M. H. Verheyk, Rector Gymn. Publ.”

For the background of this exchange with Verheyk, see JA to AA, 25 Sept. and note (vol. 3, above), and JA's letter, “not sent,” to the Rector and Preceptor of the Latin School, 18 Oct., above.

From surviving correspondence it does not appear that JA explicitly told AA of this incident, but a few weeks later, in reporting to her that he was sending the two boys with Thaxter to continue their studies at Leyden, he spoke bitterly of the mean-spiritedness of Dutch schoolmasters (to AA, 18 Dec., below).