ADAMS, John (1735-1826), President . Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH ("My Dear Friend"), Braintree, 10 September 1779. 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank In fine condition.
ADAMS, John (1735-1826), President . Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH ("My Dear Friend"), Braintree, 10 September 1779. 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank In fine condition. DRAFTING CONSTITUTIONS FOR PENNSYLVANIA AND MASSACHUSETTS: "I HOPE WE SHALL SUCCEED -- IF WE DO NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCE..." A warm, cheerful letter to Rush, at a critical period when the former colonies were working to draft their own constitutions. Not long before this letter, the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention had appointed a sub-committee of Adams, Bowdoin and Samuel Adams to write that state's constitution. As the author of Thoughts on Government , Adams became its primary author. He writes: "I am indebted to you, for more Letters, than I can repay at present: but declaring myself a Bankrupt, you must accept of a few Shillings in the Pound; indeed I suspect the Debt is greater than I know of, having seen in the Courier de l'Europe part of a letter from you to Dr. Dubourg, which was intercepted, in which you refer him to me for a long Letter, upon our military Affairs etc. But this letter...never reached me in France. I was sensibly afflicted at this Loss, for there are no Letters I prize more than yours, because none to me are more instructive, and in Europe I was terribly for want of information from this country." "How goes on your Government? When I arrived I found the Massachusetts, in Sober Earnest endeavouring at last to frame a Constitution. The People have done themselves Honour, even choosing a great Number of the most respectable Men, into the Convention, and there has been hitherto great Harmony among them. My native town of Braintree did me the Honor to choose me into this Society of Worthies, upon my first arrival, and although I foresee I shall have a laborious Piece of business of it, yet I am much pleased with the opportunity of having a Share in the great Work. It is impossible for Us, however, to acquire any Honor as so many fine examples have been so recently sent us; although we shall deserve some degree of Disgrace if we fall much short of them. It will not be easy to please this People; but I hope we shall Succeed -- if we do not, I don't know what will be the Consequence. We must look to Europe or the other States, for what I know, for a set of legislators. My best respects to your agreeable Family, and all our friends in Philadelphia..."
ADAMS, John (1735-1826), President . Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH ("My Dear Friend"), Braintree, 10 September 1779. 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank In fine condition.
ADAMS, John (1735-1826), President . Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH ("My Dear Friend"), Braintree, 10 September 1779. 1½ pages, 4to, integral blank In fine condition. DRAFTING CONSTITUTIONS FOR PENNSYLVANIA AND MASSACHUSETTS: "I HOPE WE SHALL SUCCEED -- IF WE DO NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCE..." A warm, cheerful letter to Rush, at a critical period when the former colonies were working to draft their own constitutions. Not long before this letter, the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention had appointed a sub-committee of Adams, Bowdoin and Samuel Adams to write that state's constitution. As the author of Thoughts on Government , Adams became its primary author. He writes: "I am indebted to you, for more Letters, than I can repay at present: but declaring myself a Bankrupt, you must accept of a few Shillings in the Pound; indeed I suspect the Debt is greater than I know of, having seen in the Courier de l'Europe part of a letter from you to Dr. Dubourg, which was intercepted, in which you refer him to me for a long Letter, upon our military Affairs etc. But this letter...never reached me in France. I was sensibly afflicted at this Loss, for there are no Letters I prize more than yours, because none to me are more instructive, and in Europe I was terribly for want of information from this country." "How goes on your Government? When I arrived I found the Massachusetts, in Sober Earnest endeavouring at last to frame a Constitution. The People have done themselves Honour, even choosing a great Number of the most respectable Men, into the Convention, and there has been hitherto great Harmony among them. My native town of Braintree did me the Honor to choose me into this Society of Worthies, upon my first arrival, and although I foresee I shall have a laborious Piece of business of it, yet I am much pleased with the opportunity of having a Share in the great Work. It is impossible for Us, however, to acquire any Honor as so many fine examples have been so recently sent us; although we shall deserve some degree of Disgrace if we fall much short of them. It will not be easy to please this People; but I hope we shall Succeed -- if we do not, I don't know what will be the Consequence. We must look to Europe or the other States, for what I know, for a set of legislators. My best respects to your agreeable Family, and all our friends in Philadelphia..."
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
