481. ARISTOCRACY IN VIRGINIA.—[continued].
You surprise me with the
account you give of the strength of family
distinction still existing in Massachusetts.
With us it is so totally extinguished, that not
a spark of it is to be found but working in the
hearts of some of our old tories; but all bigotries
hang to one another, and this in the Eastern
States hangs, as I suspect, to that of the
priesthood. Here youth, beauty, mind and
manners, are more valued than a pedigree.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vi, 305.
(M.
1814)
