Papers of John Adams, volume 21
r.
a.
Permit me to introduce to your Notice Mr. Samuel Miller the Son of a much esteemed
Clergyman, late of Dover in the Delaware State, and formerly known to you,
as I understand, there were some Connections between your Families. He has
undertaken a Tour to Boston to learn the political and ecclesiastical State
of your Country, before he settles himself in a Pastoral Relation to any
Church.1 He is a young
Gentleman of a liberal Education, an amiable moral & religious
Character, modest Deportment, & promising Abilities as a Preacher. I
need say no more, to secure to him, from the V. President of the united
States of America, the Attention, which his more important Business will
allow.
I am with the greatest Regard for your public &
private Character / honble. Sr. / your most obedt. / & very humble Servt.
RC (MHi:Adams-Hull Coll.); addressed: “His
Excellency / John Adams Esqr. / V. President
of the United States of America / now at / Boston”; internal address:
“Honble. John Adams / V. President of
the U. S. of America”; endorsed: “Dr Ewing. June 18. / 1792”; notation
by Ewing: “per favr. of / Mr. Miller.”
Ewing (1732–1802), Princeton 1754, presided over the
First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where JA
frequently attended services. Rev. Samuel Miller (1769–1850), University
of Pennsylvania 1789, became a professor of ecclesiastical history at
Princeton Theological Seminary in 1813. His father, Rev. John Miller
(1722–1791), originally of Boston, was minister of the united
Presbyterian churches of Dover and Duck Creek Crossroads (now Smyrna),
Del., from 1749 until his death (
AFC
, 10:261, 290,
321; Madison, Papers,
Retirement Series
, 2:460; Washington, Papers,
Presidential Series
, 13:346; Samuel Miller, The Life of Samuel Miller, 2 vols., Phila.,
1869, 1:16; Philadelphia American Daily
Advertiser, 12 Aug. 1791).