I have received your kind Letter of January 31, and thank you for your obliging Congratulations, as well as for the monthly Publication.1 Will you do me the favour of having my name Subscribed and the Magazine Sent to Quincy regularly as it comes out.?

I am no doubt obliged to Captn Ingraham, and I Suppose also to Mr Barrel, my old Friend for the Compliment.2 The Time has been when Such a feather would have weighed heavier in my Scales. I have lived to see, so many Scoundrels not only “damn’d to everlasting fame,”3 but decorated with the Laurels which ought only to be worn by Virtue, that I am now more indifferent to the Inscription of a Name upon a “Globe that shall dissolve.” Nay I am sometimes almost tempted to wish, that my Name could be taken out of every Record and every History and blotted out of the Memory of Man.

I inclose you the Subscription Paper, which I circulated in Senate;4 but those Gentlemen are so fatigued by endless solicitations for subscriptions, that I saw they were not pleased to be urged, and it did not comport with my situation in relation to their Body to reason much with them on such a subject. I recd no Money; the Gentlemen will pay the whole when the Books are delivered.

Dr Barton read in the Philosophical society at a late Meeting a Dissertation to prove that the Apis mellitica is not a Native of America, in opposition to you and in support of Mr Jeffersons opinion.5 He treated Dr Belknap with great respect as he ought. He was very long and elaborate, but perhaps the Negative was not fully proved. There are so many Species of Hornets Wasps and Bees which We call Bumble or Humble Bees which No Man can be supposed to have taken Pains to import from abroad, that I see no reason to suspect, that the honey Bee, which resembles them so much, might not have been here as early as those Species.

There are some Sentiments in your late Discourse, which I cannot approve.6 Dr Belknap is so able an Historian that I wish his Philosophy to be such as will endure and be no diminution of his Authority when the momentary Fanaticism of the times shall have subsided. The sentiments I mean are those which will be construed to encourage the present Spirit of Crusade against European Kings. The Nations of Europe, if they become Republicks, must have Laws, and those Laws must be executed. Elective Kings will not be 175 obtained without continual Anarchy, nor will they be able to execute the Laws when they are chosen. If upon Reflexion you are not convinced of this, I will pledge myself to convince you, in confidence. Dr Belknap writes not to the popular Pulse of the Moment but for Posterity: and before them, the Doctrine he now favours will be demonstrated to be unfounded. But his Reputation will contribute to make the present delusions more general and more lasting. The great Nations of Europe must and will return to hereditary Executives or become barbarous. I had so early and so great a share in advising my fellow Citizens in the Course of their Resolution that I should think myself, not a Man, if I suffered my Example and opinions to be quoted in favour of Systems that I know will be destructive, to millions and productive of no good. I am with / great regard yours

I am ashamed when I look at the date of your last letter1 but knowing how much you are engaged & the little entertainment I can avoid you by detailing the publick occurrences wch you have by the Frence papers, many of which are very good being wrote by men of the first talents who do not scorn to instruct & inform their fellow citizens knowing that truth is always productive of good.

but a stronger reason has operated the common conveyance of 176 the mail is not the best or safest. tho I have not wrote I have had the satisfaction to hear of you & hope that your illness is now totally done away & that my amiable friend mrs Adams is perfectly recover’d.

we live in active times & events take place beyond our most sanguine expectations.

You Americans have inflamed the world & as Sergt Glyn said “the spark of liberty will extend itself”2 it has extended itself & the French enjoy its genial warmth & obtain strength & vigor by its animating power The astonishing French revolition is not to be accounted for by any principle of human wisdom but by the immediate power of Deity.

that some irregulatities have happend is not to be wonderd at. “oppression drives a wise man mad:” a people having just emancipated themselves from slavery, looking back with horror at what they have sufferd & rejoicing at what they have escap’d, naturally raises all the passions of malice hatred & revenge. to the author or imputed authors of their late intolerable Sufferings, & therefore it must be some time before the mind is calm & sedate enough to digest a plan of government proper for free & rational beings perhaps owing to this, that the constituent assembly was so imperft & trusting more power in hands unequal improper & dangerous; fortunately for the people the powers so trusted discover’d themselves immediately which render’d the 2 revolution of the 2 of August absolutely necessary & brought on the subsequent events.3

The principal persons who formed the constituent assembly were many of them men of abilities & of good intentions but could not extend themselves to what is now intended a perfect republick nor give up what they had labourd so much to effect & some of them tincturd with the old Leaven & others influenced by pecuniary motives which is now most certain. The then reigning power armed with the Veto & a great income conducted themselves extreamly ill, thought themselves secure & drove furiously wch has proved fatal to them & their cause.

& there is reason to beleive that had they gaind their point the revenge would have been general & bloody. however it must be allowed tho some horrid massacres yet no revolution has been effected with so little blood— The war with this country which might have been prevented will unite them settle their government & fix them on an immoveable basis the will of the people. to them it seem’d almost necessary to prevent a civil war unless the principles of this country were alterd as to them for being kept in suspense the 177 expence was almost equal to a war & they have nothing to lose having no trade on the contrary the English have nothing to gain & much to lose & it is a war as Fox said [“]of principles.”4 which is nouveau.

you ask me a trying question. Pain has occasioned much uneasiness & his enemies have circulated his book & given opportunities of spreading his principles which are imbibed in France & made subservient to their purpose there is an answer to Pain publish’d by stockdale in the name of John Adams Esqr the publisher wishes it to be thought yours but your friends do not think it is.5

I have inclosed a copy with some other papers to amuse you the press is loaded with much trash

in the life of Pain the Editor has asserted that the far famed pamphlet, ycleped rights of man was submitted to the revisal of mr Brand Hollis & a committee of Democrates it was fitted by them for the press after some Struggles between the desires of the author & the wishes of the Patrons all which is notoriously false for I never saw the pamphlet till it was printed.

your book is out of print & much sought after.6

let this long letter be a proof how glad I am to talk with you & hope you will not punish me by a long delay before I hear from you.

my best wishes attend mrs Adams & hope She has recoverd her health & Spirits— I have put a few papers for her entertainmen with those for you.7

beleive me Dear Sir with real esteem that / I am your Sincere & / affect Friend