Papers of John Adams, volume 19
I feel myself under great obligations to you, for the valuable present of your Defence of the American Constitutions, which was delivered me by Doctor Tufts. I have the honor of enclosing the University’s and American Academy’s vote of thanks, for your present of the same work to them.1 I hope your learned and benevolent labors, in this political Treatise, will have due weight with your Countrymen. Indeed, I doubt not they will profit by it; and should this be the case, you will, I am persuaded, think yourself amply rewarded, for the pains you have taken.
I congratulate your Excellency and Lady, upon the reputation your eldest son has acquired, for his abilities, scholarship and virtues. His attention to his studies, proficiency in literature, strict conformity to the rules of the University and purity of morals have gained him the high esteem of the Governors of this Society, and indeed, of all his acquaintance. I think he bids fair to become a distinguished character. Your other sons, who are now with us, have hitherto conducted well. I have reason to think, that their morals are good, and their attention to their studies such as to give a very hopeful prospect, that they will go into the world with reputation, and become valuable Members of the Community.2
I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken, in directing to the care of your Excellency a box, containing a number of Copies of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, presented by that Body to various literary Societies in Great Britain and other places in Europe. If it would not give you too much trouble, I would request the favor of you to disperse them. I knew of no way, in which I could be so certain of conveying the volumes, particularly those which are designed for the Continent, as through your hands, or I should, by no means, have asked such a favor.— Should any expence accrue, in dispensing them, the Academy will refund it.
In the box I have put a small packet for Mr Hollis, and another for Doctor Price. You will oblige me, Sir, by conveying them to those Gentlemen.3
As several of your connexions, who are your correspondents, have it in their power, and doubtless take every opportunity to communicate to your Excellency every thing of a public nature, which is of importance, I shall not write you any of the political news of this 142 Country, but shall leave it to them, who can execute it much better, and shall add no more but that, / I have the honor of being, / with sentiments of the highest esteem & respect, / your Excellency’s most humble / and obedient servant
P.S. I have enclosed a Vote of thanks from the Academy to Mr Hollis, for a present which came through your Excellency’s hands,4 which I should be obliged to you, Sir, to transmit to him.
RC and enclosures (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency / John Adams LL.D.”; endorsed: “President Willard / Septr. 1. 1787.”
JA sent presentation copies of the first volume of his
Defence of the Const.
to Harvard and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in mid-January, which Cotton Tufts distributed in late April (vol. 18:544;
AFC
, 8:56). For more recipients, see Tufts’ 15 May letter, above. Willard enclosed a 27 Aug. vote of thanks from the president and fellows of Harvard and a 22 Aug. acknowledgment from the academy.
On 18 July JQA graduated from Harvard and delivered “An Oration. Upon the importance and necessity of public faith, to the well-being of a Community.” JQA wrote that honoring contracts was a means to uphold public credit, “the foundation, upon which the fabric of national grandeur has been erected.” JA was “much pleased” with his son’s speech, which he found “to be full of manly Sense and Spirit.” Boston newspapers reported that JQA was “warmly attached to the republican system of his father.” On 8 Sept. JQA began the study of law with Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport, while CA and TBA continued their studies at Harvard (
AFC
, 8:219; JQA, Diary
, 2:255–266, 286).
Willard referred to the honorary doctorates in law that Harvard had recently bestowed on Thomas Brand Hollis and Richard Price (
AFC
, 8:195).
Hollis’ gift was a copy of William Pryce’s Mineralogia Cornunbiensis; A Treatise on Minerals, Mines, and Mining, London, 1778 (vol. 18:417).
ante 2 September 1787
The conversation you honored me with the last time I dined at your house has affected me most sensibly & made me change my opinion of the person who was the subject of it. for it is impossible for me to entertain a doubt of the facts you assert, and if conviction did not strike so forcibly sooner, it must have been owing to the esteem & regard I had, for two persons, whom I could not think mistaken as to matters of fact; being so essentially concerned, but which now appears otherwise; but knowing the goodness of their hearts perhaps permitted me not to suspect their Judgement.2 The dereliction of all principles & the universal rage for distinction & pleasure, has almost annihilated the glorious principle you maintain; of never giving up your friend till clearly convicted of baseness.
This is not the least illustrious part of your character, & for which you have my esteem if possible, in a higher degree than ever. I have 143 had my trials of this sort.— and have suffered & do suffer.— but I shall persevere till time & truth shall justify me & them.!
you Sir, can easily imagine what it must have cost me to suspect & give up one, whom I had esteemed & valued. nothing but the apprehension that the American cause, the cause of truth and freedom, could have effected such a change.
but during a civil war carried on from interest party & disappointment, the defection from publick virtue, & the change of principles according to the times, was so common & prevalent, that some instances among my friends did not surprise me much.
This desertion was more to be expected to happen among them, when one considers there were rewards grants & titles for them to expect. but in case of failure, the sad reverse of disappointment, punishment, & relinquishing their native country, and no Asylum to fly too!
But thanks to heaven many of them, in that dubious anxious state of things, stood firm & inflexible, at the risque of fortune, life, & reputation and have been blessed with Success.
during a civil war, suspicion & distrust always prevails among the leaders, & the common enemy are industrious to promote it & has been too successful against the Americans!
your oppressors will never forgive you, for the injuries you have received, & for the glorious asserting of your privelegies as men, & the noble independence you have obtained, by your perseverance, magnanimity, and virtue; for which suceeding generations will bless your memory.
and the world in general be made wiser & happier by the spreading truth & knowledge.
long may you continue to tread the glorious path of publick virtue, & be an illustrious ornament to your country, & enjoy the sublime happiness of having been greatly instrumental to save to your country, & preserve its liberties to future ages, is the sincere & invariable wish of, Dear Sir, / your affecte: & faithful Friend
now Dear Sir I must claim your promise of the pleasure of your company with mrs Adams here at the Hide.
the only difficulty was the number of your family, which with me is none, but if that is any objection, I shall be very glad the Col & his Lady with your Grandson to Succeed you here, as you was so obliging as to declare your inclination. I hope you will comply with 144 it and oblige me also. I am perfectly disengaged after this week & hope monday se’en night the tenth instant will be convenient or any other day. but do not fix your time of absence. a pair of horses will bring you down to dinner breakfasting at Rumford.3
some of your family you will find here healthy & well. complts to the Colonel & Ladies.
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed by AA: “Mr Hollis Sepbr / 2d 1787”; docketed: “Thomas Brand Hollis / Sep. 2. 1787.”
The dating of this letter is based on AA’s endorsement. Hollis was uncertain of this letter’s date, indicating only that he likely wrote it “last friday,” or 31 Aug., in his 6 Sept. letter to JA , below.
Hollis referred to Edmund Jenings, whom Henry Laurens accused of writing four anonymous letters designed to divide the American peace commissioners. JA received the first letter, of April 1781; Benjamin Franklin received two letters, of 31 Jan. and 8 May 1782; and Edward Bridgen received a letter, intended for Laurens, dated 3 May. The “two persons” were Laurens and Bridgen, both of whom Jenings challenged to duels. JA identified the anonymous author as “this Anglo Norman,” a clerk in the firm of Jean de Neufville & Fils named Mr. Chouquet (vols. 13:64–65; 15:13–14; 16:xxiv, 126, 191). There is no record of correspondence between JA and Jenings while both were staying in London, though JA dined with Hollis, Bridgen, and Jenings on several occasions. See, for example, JA, D&A
, 3:188.
JA and AA visited Hollis at The Hyde between 11 Sept. and 20 Oct. 1787 (to Hollis, 5 Sept., below;
AFC
, 8:195).