Papers of John Adams, volume 21
d.1793
The Bearer of this Letter is Mr Lear the late Secretary to President Washington a Gentleman
universally esteemed and beloved wherever he is known. I beg Leave to
introduce him to your Acquaintance and Freindship.1 This Country is too happy in the
Enjoyment of that Liberty which Cost them So dear to risque it, by medling
in foreign Wars: and too gratefull to those who assisted them it, to join in any Crusade against
them.
I Shall ever remember with Pleasure, the time I have formerly passed in your Society, and wish it were in my Power to be a better Correspondent.—
With sincere Esteem I am / and ever shall be your Friend and / humble servant
RC (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History, New York); addressed: “Mr John Luzac / Professor of Grecian
Literature / in the University of / Leyden”; internal address: “Mr John
Luzac”; notation by JA: “Favoured by / Mr Lear.”
Tobias Lear formed a mercantile company in June and
sailed to Europe on 10 Nov., seeking suppliers from Scotland, England,
and the Netherlands. Lear wrote to JA on 3 Oct. (Adams Papers), offering to
carry letters to Europe (Washington, Papers, Presidential
Series
, 14:1).
r.10. 1793
The Lieut. Governour presents
his respects to the Vice President of the United States, and requests his
attendance at the Funeral of the late Governour Hancock, which will proceed
from his Mansion House on Monday next at 2 OClock P.M.—1
RC (Adams Papers); docketed by JA: “Funeral of / Governor Hancock.”
After suffering through years of ill health, John
Hancock died on 8 Oct. at the age of 57. Boston church bells tolled in
memoriam, flags flew at half-mast, and shops briefly closed. An
estimated 20,000 mourners attended his funeral. JA and
Samuel Adams rode together in the procession. Reflecting at length on
Hancock’s character and their tempestuous relationship, JA
later wrote: “I can say with Truth that I profoundly admired him, and
more profoundly loved him. If he had Vanity and Caprice; so had I. And
if his [‘]Vanity and Caprice’ made me sometimes Sputter, as you know,
they often did; mine, I well know had often a similar Effect upon him,
But these little fleckerings of little passions determine nothing
concerning essential Characters.— I knew Mr
Hancock from his Cradle to his Grave. He was radically generous and
benevolent” (
AFC
, 9:135, 450; to
William Tudor Sr., 1 June 1817, LbC, APM Reel 123).