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

TO T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE. (Private.) - 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 T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Private.)

Quincy, 15 October, 1798.

Dear Sir,—

I received your answer to the address from Virginia, concinnate and consummate. My secretary gave a hint of it to Mrs. Adams, and she insisted upon his bringing it to her bedside and reading it to her. She desires me to tell you that, weak and low as she is, she has spirit enough left to be delighted with it. She says it is the best answer to an address that ever was written. You may well suppose that I, who am so severely reflected upon by these compliments, am disposed enough to think them extravagant. I, however, think the answer excellent, and wish you had to answer all the saucy addresses I have received. I do not intend to answer any more of the disrespectful ones.1

[1 ]As Mr. Pickering has quoted this note, it is deemed but just to insert it in the present collection. But at this distance of time the praise appears to savor too much of partisan feeling. The sharp reply to the address placed Mr. Adams, on the one side, in the attitude of combat with the opposition, and on the other, involved him with Mr. Gerry. The course marked out at the close of the letter commends itself to the judgment in all similar cases. But addresses and answers have, very properly, gone entirely out of vogue.