University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS B. ADAMS.

I have just received your letter sent by the General
Green, Capt. Sheldon, via Rhode Island, dated August
27th. I believe I have scarcely lost a letter
from you or your brother, notwithstanding the many
hazards and chances to which they have been liable.
Accept my thanks for your last communications.

I rejoice at the return of your health, strength and
spirits; and most sincerely wish that your constitution
may be mended by the ordeal you have passed.

I have much upon my mind which I could say to
you; prudence forbids my committing it to writing.
At this eventful period, I can judge of your solicitude
to learn, through a channel upon which you could
depend, whatever affects the interests of our country.

In a quotation from the Chronicle you cannot expect
truth. Falsehood and malevolence are its strongest
features. It is the offspring of faction, and nursed by
sedition, the adopted bantling of party. It has been
crying monarchy and aristocracy, and vociferating
anathemas against the "Defence," as favouring monarchy;
and making quotations of detached sentences,
as the atheist endeavoured to prove from scripture
that "there is no God," by omitting, "the fool hath
said in his heart."

One writer asserts, that "Mr. Adams has immortalized
himself as an advocate for hereditary government,
as much as Mr. Jefferson has distinguished himself,
in and out of office, as a true republican. Mr. Adams
has sons placed in high offices, and who are, no doubt,
understood to be what he calls the well-born, and
who, following his own principle, may as he hopes,
one time become the seigneurs or lords of this country.
Mr. Jefferson has daughters only, and had he
the wish, has no male successor."

By such false and glaring absurdities do these miserable
beings endeavour to deceive and delude the
people into a distrust of their most disinterested
friends, the real guardians of their liberties and defenders
of their privileges.

I feel anxious for the fate of my country. If the
administration should get into hands which would
depart from the system under which we have enjoyed
so great a share of peace, prosperity and happiness,
we should soon be involved in the wars and calamities
which have deluged other nations in blood. We

should soon become a divided and a miserable people.
I have been too long a witness to the scenes which
have been acted for years past, and know too well
what must be endured, to have any other sensations,
when I look to an elevated seat, than painful solicitude
and anxiety. It is a mark at which envy, pride
and malevolence will shoot their envenomed arrows.
Joy dwells in these dear silent shades at Quincy;
and domestic pleasures, in peace and tranquillity. If
I should be called to quit you, with what regret shall
I part from you.

I feel perhaps too keenly the abuse of party.
Washington endured it; but he had the support of
the people and their undiminished confidence to the
hour of his resignation, and a combination of circumstances
which no other man can look for. First, a
unanimous choice. Secondly, personally known to
more people by having commanded the armies, than
any other man. Thirdly, possessed of a large landed
estate. Fourthly, refusing all emoluments of office
both in his military and civil capacity. Take his
character all together, and we shall not look upon his
like again; notwithstanding which, he was reviled
and abused, his administration perplexed, and his
measures impeded. What is the expected lot of a
successor? He must be armed as Washington was
with integrity, with firmness, with intrepidity. These
must be his shield and his wall of brass; and religion
too, or he never will be able to stand sure and
steadfast. Dr. Priestley, in a dedication of some sermons
which he delivered last winter, and which he

dedicated to the Vice President of the United States,
observes to him, "that religion is of as much use to a
statesman as to any individual whatever; for christian
principles will best enable men to devote their
time, their lives, their talents, and what is often a
greater sacrifice, their characters, to the public good;
and in public life, he observes, this will often be in a
great measure necessary. Let a man attain to eminence
of any kind, and by whatever means, even the
most honorable, he will be exposed to envy and jealousy.
And of course he must expect to meet with
calumny and abuse. What principles can enable a
man to consult the real good of his fellow citizens
without being diverted from his generous purpose by
a regard to their opinion concerning him, like those
of the christian who can be satisfied with the approbation
of his own mind, and who, though not insensible
to due praise, can despise calumny, and steadily
overlooking every thing which is intermediate, patiently
wait for the day of final retribution?"

Thus says the Poet;

As I consider it one of my chief blessings to have
sons worthy of the confidence of their country, so I
hope, in imitation of their father, they will serve it
with honor and fidelity, and with consciences void

of offence; and though they may sometimes meet
with ingratitude, they will have

Adieu, my dear son. I hope to see you in the
course of another year. Time, which improves
youth, every year furrows the brow of age.

Thus, my son, in the course of three years
absence, you will find many depredations of time
upon those whom you left advanced in life, and in
none more, perhaps, than in your mother, whose
frequent indispositions hasten its strides and impair a
frail fabric. But neither time, absence nor sickness
have lessened the warmth of her affection for her
dear children, which will burn with undiminished
fervour until the lamp of life is extinguished together
with the name of