Papers of John Adams, volume 21
I Should not have importuned your Excell̃—this Year with another Letter did I not believe it dutiful to acquaint you, with everÿ material change, in mÿ circumstances—not that I Consider them 344 important enough to merit much your Excell̃. attention, but that it Seems to bestow Some importance on me, in persuding me Self, that you believe me not unworthy of communicating them with you.
The coúncil of appointment of this State had appointed me, unanimous, as an adsistant justice and Justice of the peace for this countÿ—and maÿ particular Situation, in an infant Settlement in the western parts, with other considerations, has overcome my resolutions—for a while—and persuaded me to the acceptance of this office, ’though I Shall be obliged to the Sacrifice of a part of my precious time, and Some additional expences—1 I hope howewer to endeavour, as long as I am continued, to acquit me selves, with decencÿ, and, if possible, to preserve the good opinion of mÿ well-wishers.
To this moment I have not yet been happy enough—to See D’avila’s discourses—’though I wrote, more than once for them to N. york and Philadelphia— I Shall consider it, as a particular mark of your Excellency’s continued kindness towards me, if the one or other time, your Excell̃—finds an opportunity of favouring me with their perusal.
France Verifies our predictions—and shall bring the
doctrine of the Defence &. to the greatest
degree of moral evidence— Tallien shall be humbled in his hour, if they
continue in the same track—2
It is a change of measures what can Save France, not a change of men. three
years Longer continuence of this anarchical despotism and the hopes of
enjoying civil and Political Liberty Shall be lost for ever for more than
twenty millions of men. Rather a Laborious Life of a forgotten farmer in the
western parts—than the brilliant greatness of those Parisien leaders, who to
daÿ are Patriots—and to morrow traitors—and rather the approbation of few
honet neighbours, than the noisy applause, of an infatuated mob—
Permit me the Satisfaction to send your Excell̃e—from
time to time—a few Lines— I Shall not abuse of this favour and few—Sir—are
Sufficient, to remember your Excell̃—that—what others may protest, I really
am with the Sincerest attachment and highest esteem / Your Excell̃’s most
ob̃: and / humble Sert.
RC (Adams Papers).
New York governor George Clinton appointed Van der
Kemp a justice of the peace in September. Van der Kemp served until
1798, when he declined reappointment (Van der Kemp, Autobiography
, p. 130).
Parisian journalist Jean Lambert Tallien (1767–1820)
helped to end Maximilien Robespierre’s bloody tenure. As a leader of the
Thermidorian reaction, Tallien was instrumental in defeating the
royalist invasion of Brittany in 1795 (Bosher, French
Rev.
, p. lviii;
AFC
, 11:12).