Papers of John Adams, volume 20

From John Adams to Jabez Bowen, 26 June 1789 Adams, John Bowen, Jabez
To Jabez Bowen
Sir Richmond Hill New York June 26 1789

I received your letter of June. 16: and am glad to learn that you “gain a little.” If as I have learnt from Dr Manning, the leaders of your councils have an intercourse with the dissaffected in the Massachusetts, and as appears by your letter a correspondence with antifederal members of a more august body: it is probable there is a chain of communication throughout the states. If such should be the actual situation of things, would not any address of Congress, give fresh courage and spirits to the general cause of opposition? especially if it should be found, not to make any great impression on the callous minds and hardened hearts of desperate debtors?

I wonder that any class of farmers, provided they are not in debt, beyond the value of their possesions; Should continue their opposition: because their property must always lie at the mercy of those who have none, without a consistent government.

It is in vain to talk of oversights. The scene is new, and the actors are inexperienced. much light has been obtained and diffused by the 41 discussions which have occasioned delay—and there is no remedy but patience. Why will you afflict the modesty of any gentlemen by expecting that they will give themselves titles. They expect that you their creators will do them honor. They are no quakers I warrant you and will not be offended if you assert your own majesty, by giving your own representatives in the executive authority the title of majesty. Many of these quakers, think Highness not high enough, among whom I own I am one. In my opinion the American President will soon be introduced into some farce or other in half the theatres of Europe and be held up to ridicule. It would not be extravagant the prophecy that the want of titles may cost this Country fifty thousand lives and twenty millions of money, within twenty years. I will continue to be mindful of you and will endeavour to pursuade Gentlemen to promote such a resolution as you desire, but there seems to be a general aversion to it, or rather suspicion that it would do harm rather than good.

I beg leave to return you, and the other Gentm: of Providence and Newport my best thanks for your polite and friendly attention to Mrs Adams and her family in her late journey through your State.1

With esteem I have the honor to be Sir your most obedient and most humble servt:

John Adams2

LbC in CA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Hon: Jabez Bowen Esqr” and by JA: “Providence”; APM Reel 115.

1.

For AA’s travel to New York, see JA’s letter of 12 June to Cotton Tufts, and note 4, above.

2.

Signature in JA’s hand.

From John Adams to Uzal Ogden, 26 June 1789 Adams, John Ogden, Uzal
To Uzal Ogden
Sir Richmond hill New York June 26 1789

I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me, on the twefth of this month, with the first number of a new periodical publication.1 I have not been able, as yet to find time to read the whole of the christian schollars and farmer’s magazine, but upon looking over several parts of it, they appear to me to correspond with the title, and to be well calculated “to promote religion, disseminate useful knowledge, and afford litterary pleasure” with the best wishes for your success, I have the honor to be Sir your most obedient and most humble servant

John Adams

LbC in CA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Revd: / Mr Ogden. Newarak / New Jersey.”; APM Reel 115.

42 1.

Episcopal clergyman Uzal Ogden (ca. 1744–1822) served as rector of Trinity Church in Newark, N.J., from 1788 to 1805. With his letter to JA of 12 June 1789 (Adams Papers), Ogden sent the first issue of The Christian’s, Scholar’s, and Farmer’s Magazine, which was published by Shepard Kollock, editor of the New-Jersey Journal, from April 1789 to March 1791 ( ANB ; Frank Luther Mott, A History of American Magazines, 1741–1850, Cambridge, 1966, p. 112).