Papers of John Adams, volume 19
Being returned at New-york, after a yourneÿ of five weeks in the countrÿ, to take a view of the land, I wished to employ this moment to inform your Hon. of the issue— I was about 70 miles above albanÿ— Saw differents tracts of Land— Probably, if the price be not to high—our choice wil be the circuits of kingston, where we have Seen two farm, who Suided to our circumstances.1 In two or three weeks we wil know it with certainty—during that time I Shal paÿ a visit at Philadelphia and Mount vernon, intendng to go to the first 328 place, next fridaÿ with the Stage. a Strong desire to See Philadelphia and B. Franklin, a wish to pay my obliged Compliments to Esqr. John Ross. who was So polite to refuse ten guineas for the passage of my two Childres, and a invitation of America’s late Commander at chief are mÿ motifs!2 I congratulate Massachusetts People with your election at Congres, and hope they wil in respect to you follow the Romans Example in respect to Cicero, being Sure that they wil never be disappointed by you in the Same manner—
your Saying Sir! in the gold Lion at Leyden.3 of Some European Court—, theÿ “love not these democratical principles,[”] must be proved for an unbeliever, thoug I never doubted of it— Some-times— that theÿ, by theer own intrest, would consider Sinceritÿ in Engagements as a dutÿ—but I Saw a new proof of a people’s miserÿ, who needs the adsistance of forein power to defend theer liberty—
Be So good Sir! to inform me what the best and accuratest compilation is of the events of the late American War? there is published Some work of the Marquis deChastellux—and another in four volumes of T. Andrews?4 what is the real value of bo[ok]s your defence of American Independence accomplished in two vol. or wil they be joined with a 3th? maÿ I know it before I go to the countrÿ? Permit me, to recommend mÿ and mÿ familÿ to your favour, and be Sure that I am, with due respect / Sir! / Your much obedient / and Obliged Servant
P. S adres bÿ Mrs. M. and H. Oudenaarden Hanover Square N. 18 New-york.5
RC (Adams Papers).
Van der Kemp left Le Havre on 25 March with his wife, Reinira Engelbartha Johanna Vos Van der Kemp, traveling to New York on the frigate L’Henriette, Capt. Benjamin Weeks; they arrived on 4 May. Van der Kemp wrote to JA on 5 Sept. (Adams Papers) to report that he had purchased “a Small farm … two miles from Esopus,” near Kingston, N.Y., where his wife’s relatives, the Beeckmans, had settled (Van der Kemp, Autobiography
, p. 111, 116–117).
Philadelphia merchant John Ross (1729–1800) was one of the owners of the frigate on which Van der Kemp and his family sailed to America; upon their arrival, Ross “ordered that no charge should be made” for the passage of Van der Kemp’s two children and requested that he stay in touch. Van der Kemp visited Ross and Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia, then traveled on to see George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, “where simplicity, order, unadorned grandeur, and dignity, had taken up their abode.” Overall, Van der Kemp preferred the company of Martha Washington: “I was infinitely better pleased by the unassuming, modest gentleness of the lady, than with the conscious superiority of her consort” (J. Ross and B. Franklin, “Memoir of John Ross, Merchant, of Philadelphia,”
PMHB
, 23:77, 84 [April 1899]; Van der Kemp, Autobiography
, p. 111, 112, 114–117).
JA lodged at the Lyon d’Or Inn.
Van der Kemp likely meant the Chevalier de Chastellux’s Travels in North-America in the years 1780, 1781, and 1782, 2 vols.,
329
London, 1787; and John Andrews’ History of the War with America, France, Spain, and Holland: Commencing in 1775 and Ending in 1783, 4 vols., London, 1785–1786.
That is, New York City merchants Marinus and Henry Oudenaarde (New York Daily Advertiser, 23 April).
t.1. 1788
Upon receiving a third Book, but a Duplicate of the first Volume of you Work, I acknowledged it in the inclosed Letter, which I sent to New York to be forwarded to yourself in London.1 But it was returned because it was judged that you would be on your Voyage home, before the Letter could reach you. Be pleased to accept my repeated Thanks for the repeated Favors with which you have honored me. Probably you intended me a third Volume instead of a Duplicate of the first; if you should have broken [a Se]tt, it would be agreeable to me to have it exchanged. [I h]ave received great Instruction from your learned Labors, which will do more, I believe, towards leading & directg the Inquiries of american & European Politicians to a tho’ro’ Examination of the antient & modern Politics in Europe, & thence to learn what Government human Nature can & cannot bear, than any publication hitherto made. We have needed and at this Time Specially need the very Lights you have furnished. I thank you for your learned Labors.
As sincerely as any Man in America did I rejoyce in your safe Return & Arrival to our native Country; where may the Gd of Heaven make you an extensive & lastg Blessing & Ornament. I rejoyce in the Accession of Eleven States to the federal Government—and I do not wish it to be revised these dozen or 20 years; nor until we shall by cool Experience know & find & find out what Revisions are either neccessy or expedient. That Amendments in the Polity are necessy I believe; but I wish for Time & Coolness of Reflexion & sage Wisdom to discover & make them.
I believe we shall be a happy & glorious People—& that greater Wisdom of Policy & jurisprudential Sagacity will be displayed in the political Arrangmts Regulations & Institutions of the United States than has ever been dis[played] among the despotic Sovereignties of Eu[rope] or Asia, which have been dictated by & f[or]med in military Conquests or the insidious Intrigues of Policy over Nations unenlightened by the Sciences, Literature, & large Acquaintance with the Histories of all Ages & Nations. It is my Wish that Geñ Wash̃ may
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be President, & Dr Adams Vice-President under the new fœderal Government.2 But whether it shd be so or not, permit me to express my Wishes that every Blessg of Heaven may rest upon you. With the most respectful Esteem, & would you Accept from me a share in the Tribute of Gratitude from my Country, I would add the most affectionate Honor & Gratitude, with which, I am, Dr sir / Yr most obedt hble servt
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hoñ Dr Adams.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
Stiles’ last letter to JA was of 28 Feb., above.
Since mid-July, the New England press had reported that JA and Massachusetts governor John Hancock were “the two gentlemen spoken of generally” as eligible to serve as vice president alongside George Washington, “the great American Fabius.” On 27 July, AA2 wrote to JA regarding a similar surge of support for him in New York: “The general voice has assigned the presidentship to General Washington, and it has been the opinion of many persons whom I have heard mention the subject, that the vice-presidentship would be at your option” (New-Hampshire Spy, 15 July; Massachusetts Spy, 17 July; Providence Gazette, 19 July;
AFC
, 8:281–282).