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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

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TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

London, 28 October, 1787.

Dear Sir,—

Mr. Daniel Parker will have the honor to deliver you this. He is an intelligent American, and as well-informed as any you will see from hence. I beg leave to introduce him to you. Let me thank you for your late letter, and the important state papers inclosed in it.

I have ordered to your address a dozen copies of my Boudoir for the Marquis, who desired Mr. Appleton and Mr. Paine to have them sent. I have called it a Defence of the American Constitutions, because it is a resistance to an attack of M. Turgot. The two volumes are confined to one point; and if a city is defended from an attack made on the north gate, it may be called a defence of the city, although the other three gates,—the east, west, and south,—were so weak as to have been defenceless, if they had been attacked. If a warrior should arise to attack our constitutions where they are not defensible, I will not undertake to defend them. Two thirds of our States have made constitutions in no respects better than those of the Italian republics; and, as sure as there is a heaven and an earth, if they are not altered, they will produce disorders and confusion.

I can tell you nothing of politics. All the world is astonished at the secrecy of Mr. Pitt; great preparations for war, yet the world can find no enemy nor object. Carmarthen “hopes the scud will blow over, and even that the quarrel between the Porte and Russia will be made up. While a fire is burning in any quarter of Europe, no one can tell when or where it may spread.”

The general understanding is that the United States are to be let alone; and they have given general orders to the navy to let American vessels and seamen alone. They will have their hands full, I believe, and there is little plunder to be made of Americans; so that we may be quiet as long as they will let us. But our countrymen will do well to think of the possibility of danger, and of the means of defence. A war would cost us more than we have of cash or credit; but if we should be attacked, we must defend, money or no money, credit or no credit. Whether John Bull has command enough of his passions to see us punctually fulfil our treaties as we must do, without being transported with rage, you, who know him, can tell as well as I. We know this gentleman’s hasty temper so well, that I think we may very safely wish for the continuance of peace between France and him, even upon selfish principles; though our commerce and navigation would be greatly promoted by a war, if we can keep out of it.

I tremble and agonize for the suffering patriots in Holland. You may judge to what lengths the spirit extends against them, by a formal complaint of their High Mightinesses against Dumas, and a requisition to me to employ him no longer, but to appoint some other person in my absence. It is not, I am well persuaded, as agent for the United States, but as a friend of France, or of the patriotic party against the stadtholder, that he has incurred this censure and displeasure. Yet, as Mr. Dumas holds not his character or authority from me, I can do nothing but transmit the papers to congress.

Yours, &c.

John Adams.