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Browsing: Adams Family Correspondence, Volume 3
Docno: ADMS-04-03-02-0241
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 1780-03-21
John Quincy Adams to John Adams
[dateline] Passy March 21st 1780
[salute] Hond. Sir
I yesterday asked Mr. Pechigny if he thought it would do brother Charles any good
to begin upon Latin at present, he answered me, { 314 } that on the contrary, that he thought that it would spoil his taste for it; That he
must conjugate verbs about a month, and then he might begin upon Latin, he desired
me to ask you if you thought his proposition good and if you should he would Set Brother
Charles upon conjugating verbs immediately, and if you Should not he would keep him
upon Latin.1 Please to give my respects to M[ess]rs. Dana and Thaxter. I am your dutiful and affectionate Son,
[signed] John Quincy Adams
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Monsieur Monsieur Adams Hotel de Valois rue de Richlieu a Paris,” with
sender's address in JQA's hand: “Pension de Mathematiques.” Postmarked: “21 8e. Lvee. K/EI E/P.D,” all stamped
impressions; endorsed: “My Son March 21. 1780.” See facsimile reproduced as an illustration
in this volume, and for an explanation of the postal markings see Descriptive List
of Illustrations, p. John Quincy Adams Consults His Father About His Brother Charles' Studies following
212xvii–xviii, above.
1. This is sufficiently confusing even for a twelve-year-old adviser to his father on
the studies of a younger brother. As JA's reply of the next day (below) makes clear, JQA by “conjugating verbs” meant conjugating French verbs; and in the last clause he must have meant, not “keep,” but startCA “upon Latin.”
Docno: ADMS-04-03-02-0242
Recipient: Adams, Abigail
Date: 1780-03-21
James Lovell to Abigail Adams
[dateline] March 21st. 1780
I most sincerely rejoice with you on the safe Arrival of Mr. Adams in Spain after
so short a Passage tho' attended with some Hardships.
In addition to the News in the Prints I venture, upon some confidential assurances
from the worthy Genl. Lincoln, to excite your Hopes as to our affairs in that Quarter.1
It is recommended to redeem the continental Currency at 40 for 1 and to model the
Tender Laws equitably. It is a Thing of uncertain Event and the Balance of Blessings
and Cursings consequent cannot shortly be fixed. It is one of those Decisions about
which much very much may and will be said on both Sides. I believe that most of those
who said nay here on the Determination were glad it was carried against them. I cannot
see how the Continent can suppose that Congress has any separate Interest to guide
their Determination on this important Point.2
[salute] Yrs. affly.,
[signed] J Lovell
RC (Adams Papers).
1. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln's defense of Charleston, S.C., had no such happy outcome
for the American cause. See Massachusetts Historical Society, Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Benjamin Lincoln Papers, Boston, 1967, p. 11–13 and passim; see also note 1 on JA to Isaac Smith Sr., 26 May, below.
2. See Congress' resolutions of 18 March (JCC, 16:262–267). For their { 315 } background and sequels see E. James Ferguson, The Power of the Purse: A History of American Public Finance, 1776–1790, Chapel Hill, 1961, chs. 3–4. See further below, Richard Cranch to JA, 26 April; John Thaxter to JA, 7 Aug., especially note 5.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2017.
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/
http://www.masshist.org/apde2/