Papers of John Adams, volume 21
e9bre 1794.
Je m’empresse d’avoir l’honneur de vous présenter le tableau de la Révolution française à Geneve
dont je ne vous avais envoyé cy-devant qu’une esquisse tres imparfaite. Mais
je m’empresse davantage encore à vous faire passer le résultat de mes
communications avec Geneve, sur le projet de notre Colonie Américaine, et
les espérances légitimes que j’en tire de la voir se réaliser, si, graces à
votre protection, quelque Province d’Amérique a adhéré aux propositions que
j’ai eu l’honneur de vous soumettre.
La lettre incluse que je prens la liberté de vous prier de faire passer à Mr Jefferson, et que je laisse ouverte afin que vous puissiez préalablement en prendre lecture; vous fera juger Monsieur, combien ce beau projet est gouté et meme avancé de la part des Genevois.1 325 En adressant particulierement ce rapport en Virginie, je ne m’en flatte pas moins Monsieur, que vous aurez mis quelque interet à nous chercher un asyle dans quelqu’une de vos Provinces du Nord ou du centre, et dans ce cas, la dépéche incluse dont vous pourriez faire remettre à cette Province une copie lui prouvera suffisamment sans doute ainsi qu’à vous Monsieur, que nous sommes dignes de sa protection par l’étendue de nos malheurs, et par les sacrifices aux quels nous sommes disposés soit pour les réparer, soit pour effacer dans un autre hémisphere, la tache que quelques uns de nos compatriotes empoisonnés par une influence étrangere ont fait ou laissé faire à la liberté Genevoise.
Puisse l’Amérique en récompense de ce que nous attendons d’elle, ne jamais cesser d’etre envisagée comme le vrai refuge des peuples aux quels on ravit la liberté et la paix! Puisse-t’elle etre longtems gouvernée par les sages qui la sauverent des attentats de l’autorité, et qui savent protéger également aujourdhui ses lois contre le fanatisme de la licence! C’est là Monsieur, le vœu le plus ardent de mon cœur, et en vous le présentant, je sais bien que je l’adresse à l’une des personnes les plus capables de l’exhaucer.
J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec respect / Monsieur, / Votre tres humble / & tres obéissant serviteur
TRANSLATION
I hasten to have the honor of presenting to you the Account of the French Revolution in Geneva of
which I had previously sent to you only a very imperfect outline. But I
hasten all the more to relay to you the outcome of my communications with
Geneva regarding the project of our American colony and the justifiable
hopes I draw from them to see the colony become a reality, if, thanks to
your patronage, some American province has agreed to the proposals I had the
honor of submitting to you.
The enclosed letter, which I take the liberty to ask you to forward to Mr. Jefferson, and which I leave open so that you may read it over first, will persuade you, sir, of the extent to which this fine project is appreciated and even advanced on the Genevans’ side.1 By addressing this report to Virginia in particular, I flatter myself no less to think, sir, that you have taken some interest in seeking an asylum for us in one of your northern or central provinces, and in that case the enclosed dispatch of which you could deliver a copy to the province in question would certainly persuade her sufficiently, as it would you, sir, that we are worthy of her protection by the extent of our misfortunes, and by the sacrifices we are prepared to make either to redress them or to erase in another hemisphere the stain that certain of our citizens, 326 poisoned by a foreign influence, have made or allowed to be made upon Genevan freedom.
As compensation for what we hope from her, may America never cease to be considered the true refuge of peoples from whom freedom and peace is stripped away! May she be ruled for a long time to come by the wise men who rescued her from authoritarian attack, and who know equally well how to protect her laws today against the extremism of unrestraint! There, sir, is my heart’s most ardent wish, and by presenting it to you, I am aware that I address it to one of the people most capable of fulfilling it.
I have the honor respectfully to be, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “A son Excellence Mr. J. Adams Vice President / du Congrès des Etates Unis d’amérique & & &.”
JA sent d’Ivernois’ 11 Nov. letter and
enclosures intended for Thomas Jefferson in his 5 Feb. 1795 letter to
Jefferson, below. Writing to d’Ivernois on 6 Feb., Jefferson
explained that although he was sympathetic to d’Ivernois’ proposal, lack
of support from the Virginia legislature ended any chance of success
(Jefferson, Papers
, 28:189–196, 262–264).
r13. 1794.
As I presume you are now at Philadelphia, and I have an
opportunity of writing by a private hand, I take the liberty to trouble you
with a line, to thank you for the attention you paid to my friends for whom
I gave letters of recommendation to you when I was in England, and to beg your acceptance of a few of my publications,
which M r Dobson will have directions to
deliver to you.
1 In
them you will see my reasons for leaving England, and I hope you will
approve of them.
You will see that I do not come hither from choice, and that I only wish to be quiet, and pursue my studies without interruption, with the few advantages that I can expect in this country. I came to this place with a view to a large settlement in which my son was concerned. But being come hither, and having, at a great risk and expence, brought my library and Apparatus hither, tho that scheme has failed, I cannot remove any more. I like this part of the country as well as, I believe, I should any other, and indeed living in any of your large towns would be more expensive than I could afford. One of the greatest inconveniences I find here is the want of an easy communication with Philadelphia, which I hope will be remedied in time.
At one time I was apprehensive that I should find more 327 disturbance here than I left in England; but I now hope that in consequence of the seasonable and vigorous exertions of governent every thing will be quiet. Such was the spirit of this place, or rather of the lower class of people, that my baker refused to supply me with bread because I was understood to be against the erection of the liberty pole in this town, tho I have made it a rule to take no part whatever in the politics of a country in which I am a stranger, and in which I only wish to live undisturbed as such.
It is possible that in the Spring I may take a journey, and get as far as Boston. If so, I shall be happy to wait upon you at your own house. In the mean time, I am, with the greatest respect, / Dear Sir, / yours sincerely
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency / John Adams / Vice
President of the United States / Philadelphia”; endorsed: “Dr Priestley / Northumberland / Nov. 13. 1794
ansd / Nov. 21.”
Originally from Edinburgh, Thomas Dobson (1751–1823)
was a Philadelphia printer and bookseller (
ANB
;
AFC
, 9:422).