Papers of John Adams, volume 18
r:15. 1786.
I thank you for the loan of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, they have afforded me much entertainment particularly those written by Governor Bowdoin on the structure of the Heavens, and on Light;2 I feel my-self happy that my Countrymen are inspired with a thirst after knowledge, and to see them emulating the Nations of Europe in the cultivation of the Arts and Sciences.
As you have done me the honor to desire my opinion of the plates in this work, I will give it to you without reserve; I think them well Engraved, much better than I should have expected, as there was no person that knew much of that Art, in the State of Massachusetts when I left it; but there is a total want of the knowledge of Perspective in every part of them; It is by this Art that all objects are truly represented just as they appear to the Eye be they ever so complex, and none of the Imitative Arts are capable of perfection but this, because it is the only one that is wholly within the sphere of Mathematical Science.
All objects deminish as they recede from the Eye and finally lose themselves in a point in the Horizon, called the point of sight; this point is always opposite to the spectator and on a level with his Eye; but as example is always better than precept, I herewith send to you a Drawing of a pavement with eight square Pillars set in two rows and at equal distances from each other, with the process of drawing them explained by the dotted lines.3
I am / Sir / Your Most Obt: / Humbl: Sert.
RC (MBA); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams”; endorsed: “A Letter from Mr Jno. S. Copley / to His Exy John Adams LLD / Read Jany. 31. 1787”; docketed: “Oct 15 86.”
Once settled in London, JA and AA renewed their acquaintance with the expatriate Boston artist John Singleton Copley (1738–1815) and his wife, Susanna Farnum Clarke Copley (1745–1836). The families frequently socialized, and the Copleys attended the private wedding of AA2 and WSS at the American legation on 11 June (
AFC
, 6:211, 305, 379; 7:22, 218, 221, 235, 239, 305;
ANB
). For Copley’s 1783 portrait of JA, see vol. 15:xiii–xiv, 356.
JA had loaned Copley a copy of the inaugural volume of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ journal, Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1 (1783), Evans, No. 18900. James Bowdoin, then president of the academy, wrote three
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related treatises for Part II of the Memoirs, all observations on light, gravity, and the “Waste of Matter in the Sun and fixt Stars” (p. xxv, 187–233).
JA received this letter on 15 Oct. and forwarded it and Copley’s sketch to Bowdoin on the same day. The letter was read before the academy on 31 Jan. 1787 (“Documents,” Dædalus, 86:167–168 [Sept. 1956]), but the sketch has not been found.
r22
d.1786
A few days since, I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 4th. July—
You think the picture I gave you in my last too high wrought.1 You Cannot be of my opinion that there is here a total Change in Principles, & Manners. nor that Interest is the only pursuit. & that riches only are respected.
Your distance will not permit you to form your Opinion from your own Observation. Your partiality for your Country Inclines you to more favourable Accounts, and that Patriotism which I revere Exhibits to your Imagination more Agreable Colours, & like self Love hides those deformities which disgust, & give pain. I sincerely wish that the present situation of the Country was such as to Justify your partiality & wishes, & to Condemn any picture, & the Opinion & Apprehensions I Expressed to you, but Unhappily it does not. We are now in a State of anarchy & Confusion bordering on a Civil War. The General Court at their last Session could not or would not see the general Uneasiness that threatneded this Event. however they did not provide for the public Tranquility dureing their recess. but dosed themselves into an Unusual Adjournment for 6 or 7 Months. They have been Called to Meet on the present Occasion sooner than the Time Adjourned to, have set near a Month without any Appearance of that Wisdom & Address necessary to redress the Unhappy situation we are fallen into.—
I do not say that they are Incompetent to the Business before them, or that the State of things is Incapable of redress, but it is possible, (at least) that they should set, till next Election without deviseing the Mode of doing it. The Papers will Inform you that the Three upper Counties, (and Bristol is not much better) have refused submission to the Government Established by the constitution, & obedience to the Laws made under it, that is they have violated their Compact, & are in a State of Rebellion while the three 486 Eastern Counties are petitioning to be seperated from us, & formed into a New Government, of their own Construction. These are very Singular Events, which must have been produced by some singular Causes, if they are the Natural Consequences of that State of things I described in my last. you will not think my picture more horrible than the reality.2 I have long been Mortified by the Imbecility, & Inattention with which our public Affairs have been Conducted. it is probable that when I wrote that Letter I felt also some Indignation. I Claim a right to Express it to you. my small Efforts were Joined with yours, & others for many Years in rearing a Glorious Fabrick on Foundations that should have been as permanent as Time, but suffered to fall into ruin in less than half the Time it took to Build it. I feel for the Character of the Country. I am Mortified at the Triumphs of our Enemies. I am sorry for you, who must from your Situation be peculiarly Exposed to them. I wish every thing may be so Conducted as to restore order, & submission to Government, but I fear it will be some time first. The Scarcity of Money is a great Obstacle, and the folly and Extravagance that Made it scarce, in a great degree remains.— I am Acquainted with Coll Smith Character, tho I have not the pleasure of knowing his Person. I am glad you have given your Daughter to a Man of so much Merit. please to give her my Blessing & good Wishes
Mrs. Warren desires her regards, to be Joined with mine to Mr & Mrs. Adams & Mr & Mrs. Smith.
I am with great / Esteem & regard Your Most / Obedt. Humbl. Servt
th:
I have Just heard that the Supreem Court are setting at Taunton supported by 450 of the Militia, which proved a Stronger Body than the Mob mustered to prevent it—3
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr”; endorsed: “Gen. Warren / Oct. 22. ansd. Jany 9. / 1787.”
Warren refers to his comments on the decline of the American character in his 30 April letter, which JA had roundly criticized in his 4 July reply, both above, but see JA’s 9 Jan. 1787 letter, below, for his revised view in light of the events of Shays’ Rebellion of which he was by then more fully informed.
These were the Maine counties of York, Cumberland, and Lincoln, which in Sept. 1786 drafted a petition for secession to be submitted to the Mass. General Court. The Maine representatives in the General Court were not, by and large, supporters of the Shaysites (Hall, Politics without Parties
, p. 177–178).
Warren’s report was accurate. On 24 Oct. the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court opened its session at Taunton, protected by a militia force of 300 men commanded by Gen. David Cobb. They were opposed by 130 insurgents
487
armed with muskets and another fifty carrying clubs. Ultimately the rebels backed down and permitted the court to function (Massachusetts Centinel, 28 Oct.).