record number: 210962

white

The color white indicates letterbook copies in the Adams Family Papers manuscript collection at the MHS.

Dates:

24 May 1821

Original paper slip text:24 May 1821.

Author's location:

Montezillo

Original paper slip text:Montezillo

Unable to lookup name for quincy.

Author:

John Adams

Original paper slip text:JA

Search all documents with this name as: author, recipient, either

Recipient:

Mathew Carey

Original paper slip text:to Mathew Carey

Search all documents with this name as: author, recipient, either

Length:

2 p.

Notes:

Offered for sale, Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc., Sommerville, Mass., Catalogue 75 (June 1972), item 1. $3850.00
ALS Offered for sale, Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc., 154 Wells Ave., Newton, Mass., Feb. 1974, lot 2, $3950.
Adams acknowledges receipt of Carey's letter, but has not as yet received a "sett of papers" sent to him. "It would not be difficult to prove, that the policy of this country is erroneous in several particulars. We have an uncertain, a fluctuating, a fallacious and iniquitous standard of value, or rather no fixed standard at all. This is neither consistant with honor, equity or humanity. It destroys our morals, and corrupts our elections. I presume also to think that our constitutions of government are not yet so perfect as they should be. The legislative powers are too much blended with the executive. Alas - all Europe is still groping in the dark! A violent effervescence in favor of representative government, without sufficient knowledge of the system or organization necessary to form it and preserve it."
ALS offered for sale, Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc., Cat. No. 100 (Autographs & MSS of Presidents), 1974, Item 13, $3950. Same extract as on preceding slip, followed by an explanatory paragraph:
"The signature was originally removed from the present letter by cutting a strip, approximately 3/4 of an inch wide, from the bottom of the letter. This strip has been expertly replaced with the matching paper from the address leaf, and a cut signature of the period of the letter (and quite possibly the original signature...) has been...replaced in its proper position...."
and again, The Rendells, 1980, Catalogue 150 Item 40 $6000
ALS offered for sale, Diana J. Rendell, Inc., Waban Mass., 1984, Catalogue 1, item 1, $9,500.
ALS offered for sale, Diana J. Rendell, Inc., Waban MA, 1987, Catalogue 8, item 1, $10,000.

Find this document

Bookmark this record