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

TO COTTON TUFTS. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811) [1854]

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. 9.

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

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TO COTTON TUFTS.

London, 2 June, 1786.

I am proud to learn, by your letter of 13th April, that I am so rich at the university. If Thomas gets in, I shall be still happier.1 The expense will be considerable, and your draught shall be honored for the necessary.

A year will soon be about, and what are we to do then with John? What lawyer shall we desire to take him, in town or country? and what sum must be given with him? and what will his board and clothing cost? and where shall we get money to pay all these expenses? Shall I come home and take all my boys into my own office? I was once thought to have a tolerable knack at making lawyers, and now could save a large sum by it. I am afraid I shall not get it done so cheap as I used to do it.

I do not see why I should stay here, unless there should be a change in the sentiments and conduct of my fellow-citizens. There are, however, some appearances of an approaching change.

Dr. Gordon’s language is decent and friendly, as far as I have heard. I believe the suspicion of him, that appears to have taken place in America, is needless. What profit he will make of his history, I know not. It is a story that nobody here loves to read. Indeed, neither history, nor poetry, nor any thing but painting and music, balls and spectacles, is in vogue. Reading is out of fashion, and philosophy itself has become a fop gambolling in a balloon, “idling in the wanton summer’s air,” like the gossamer,—so light is vanity. Herschel, indeed, with his new glass, has discovered the most magnificent spectacle that ever was seen or imagined, and I suppose it is chiefly as a spectacle that his discovery is admired. If all those single, double, triple, quadruple worlds are peopled as fully as every leaf and drop is in this, what a merry company there is of us in the universe, all fellow-creatures, insects, animalcules, and all! Why are we kept so unacquainted with each other? I fancy we shall know each other better, and shall see that even cards and routs, dancing dogs, learned pigs, scientific birds, &c., are not so despicable things as we in our wonderful wisdom sometimes think them.

The Bishop of Llandaff has made the trees, not walk, but feel and think, and why should we not at once settle it, that every atom thinks and feels, a universe tremblingly alive all over?

The more we pursue these speculations, the higher sense we shall have of the Father and Master of all, and the firmer expectation that all which now appears irregular, will be found to be design. But where have I rambled?

TO BENJAMIN HICHBORN.

London, 27 January, 1787.

I have received with pleasure your obliging letter of the 24th of October, and am much affected with the disagreeable state of things in the Massachusetts. It is indeed news to me that there is any such fixed determination as you mention, in the minds of men of greatest influence. Perhaps I am not a proper confidant of those gentlemen. As to my coming home, it is not possible for me to come home with decency until next year, at the expiration of my commission, which will be in about twelve months. Then I shall come home, of course. I wish with all my heart I were now in Boston, or to embark for that town to-morrow; not that I give full credit to your sanguine partiality to me in supposing that I shall be chosen first magistrate; not that I think it an eligible situation in such times, or that my health or other qualifications would enable me to sustain the weight of it with dignity at any time. Indeed, I doubt whether my sentiments of government are agreeable to the majority of our State, and I am not enough of an accommodating disposition to give up or conceal sentiments that I think of consequence, for the sake of places. The commotions in New England alarmed me so much that I have thrown together some hasty speculations upon the subject of government, which you will soon see. If the general spirit of those papers is not approved in our country, my career in political life will be very short.

I see, by some newspapers received to-day, that you have distinguished yourself in support of the laws, in a manner that does you great honor, and will not soon be forgotten. I begin to suspect that some gentlemen who had more zeal than knowledge in the year 1770, will soon discover that I had good policy, as well as sound law, on my side, when I ventured to lay open before our people the laws against riots, routs, and unlawful assemblies. Mobs will never do to govern States or command armies. I was as sensible of it in 1770 as I am in 1787. To talk of liberty in such a state of things! Is not a Shattuck or a Shays as great a tyrant, when he would pluck up law and justice by the roots, as a Bernard or a Hutchinson, when he would overturn them partially? You see I have not forgotten old stories any more than you. I am sorry, however, that you recollect the old affair of the letters, in which I ever believed you as innocent as myself, and more so, too. I had long since forgotten it, or at least all unpleasant feelings occasioned by it. Although those letters gave offence to some men whom I always esteemed, there were other sentiments in them which contributed to apprise the continent early of what I was about, and to prepare their minds for it. Those letters are the first monument extant of the immortally glorious project of Independence.1 Instead of blushing at them altogether, I glory in them, and so will my grandchild that I hope to see next spring. You will oblige me much, Sir, by any communications you can spare the time to make me.

[1 ]Mr. Adams had his three sons at Cambridge at the same time.

[1 ]The allusion is to the intercepted letters. See vol. ii. p. 411, note.