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

TO THOMAS BRAND-HOLLIS. - 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 THOMAS BRAND-HOLLIS.

Braintree, 3 December, 1788.

If I had been told at my first arrival, that five months would pass before I should write a line to Mr. Brand-Hollis, I should not have believed it. I found my estate, in consequence of a total neglect and inattention on my part for fourteen years, was falling to decay, and in so much disorder as to require my whole attention to repair it. I have a great mind to essay a description of it. It is not large, in the first place. It is but the farm of a patriot. But there are in it two or three spots, from whence are to be seen some of the most beautiful prospects in the world. I wish the Hyde was within ten miles, or that Mr. Brand-Hollis would come and build a Hyde near us. I have a fine meadow that I would christen by the name of Hollis Mead, if it were not too small. The hill where I now live is worthy to be called Hollis Hill; but as only a small part of the top of it belongs to me, it is doubtful whether it would succeed. There is a fine brook, through a meadow, by my house; shall I call it Hollis Brook?

What shall I say to you of our public affairs? The increase of population is wonderful. The plenty of provisions of all kinds amazing, and cheap in proportion to their abundance and the scarcity of money, which is certainly very great. The agriculture, fisheries, manufactures, and commerce of the country are very well, much better than I expected to find them. I cannot say so much of our politics. The constancy of the people in a course of annual elections has discarded from their confidence almost all the old, stanch, firm patriots, who conducted the revolution in all the civil departments, and has called to the helm pilots much more selfish and much less skilful. I cannot, however, lay all the blame of this upon the people. Many of my brother patriots have flattered the people, by telling them they had virtue, wisdom, and talents, which the people themselves have found out by experience they had not, and this has disgusted them with their flatterers. The elections for the new government have been determined very well, hitherto, in general. You may have the curiosity to ask what share your friend is to have. I really am at a loss to guess. The probability at present seems to be, that I shall have no lot in it. I am in the habit of balancing every thing. In one scale is vanity, in the other comfort. Can you doubt which will preponderate? In public life I have found nothing but the former, in private life I have enjoyed much of the latter.

I regret the loss of the book-shops, and the society of the few men of letters that I knew in London; in all other respects I am much better accommodated here. Shall I hope to hear from you as you have leisure? A letter left at the New England Coffee House will be brought me by some of our Boston captains.

TO RICHARD PRICE.

New York, 20 May, 1789.

I last night received your friendly letter of March the 5th, and am happy to find that I have a place in your remembrance. There are few portions of my life that I recollect with more entire satisfaction than the hours I spent at Hackney, under your ministry, and in private society, and conversation with you at other places. The approbation you are pleased to express of my speculations on the subject of government, is peculiarly agreeable to me, because it goes a great way to convince me that the end I had in view has been in some degree answered, and will be more so. It was not to obtain a name as an author, or a reputation for literary talents, that I undertook the laborious work. If such had been my object, I certainly should have taken more time to digest and connect it. But it appeared to me, that my countrymen were running wild, and into danger, from a too ardent and inconsiderate pursuit of erroneous opinions of government, which had been propagated among them by some of their ill informed favorites, and by various writings which were very popular among them, such as the pamphlet called Common Sense, for one example, among many others; particularly Mrs. Macaulay’s History, Mr. Burgh’s Political Disquisitions, Mr. Turgot’s letters. These writings are all excellent in some respects, and very useful, but extremely mistaken in the true construction of a free government. To accomplish the good I had in view, I thought it would be more useful and effectual, to lay facts, principles, examples, and reasonings before my countrymen, from the writings of others, than in my own name. This has given an air of pedantry to the books, which I despise; but it has answered the end in a manner more effectual than if I had contrived it with more art to promote my own reputation. Our new Constitution is formed, in part, upon its principles, and the enlightened part of our communities are generally convinced of the necessity of adopting it, by degrees, more completely.

Your monthly reviewers thought themselves very sagacious in conjecturing that I had a point to carry! They will now, I suppose, glorify themselves in the belief that their conjecture was right, and that I have carried my point. Shrewd, however, as they think themselves, they are mistaken. Had my books been contrived for any selfish purpose, they would have certainly been modelled in a more popular manner. If those writings have contributed to procure me the confidence of my fellow-citizens, I shall rejoice in them the more as a sure proof that they have convinced many already, and that they will continue to operate a complete reformation of every thing yet wrong, and produce in the end what I think the most perfect form of government. I am now very happy with our illustrious chief and many of my old friends, and firmly trust in the goodness of Providence for aids to accomplish the great work of forming institutions for a great continent, which may leave them their liberty and happiness for many generations.