My Son having Sent me a coppy of your valuable Book, the President has read it with great satisfaction and pleasure; I have not as yet been able to go through the whole of it, myself having resignd it into the hands of miss Hannah Adams the Authoriss of a Work entitled “a veiw of Religious opinions.” She is about republishing the third Edition of that Work with considerable additions, and Some Questions arrising in her mind upon which she is seeking information She has stated them in the inclosed paper and I have undertaken to be the organ of communication to you in her behalf. being sensible from the well known benevolence of your Heart, that you will take pleasure in aiding a Lady who has discoverd such close application and intence study in giving to the world Labouriuss investigation the proof in the accomplishment of a work highly usefull to the world. in this singular pursuit of a Lady.2

In works of fancy and imagination, several of my Fair Country-women have shone, nor have they unsuccessfully courted the Muses. but this Lady has struck out upon a new and untroden path; with an industery, and perseverence which few could equal; You will perceive that in stateing all the various Religious opinions, and different Sects which have existed, she has avoided giving any judgment of her own, cautious of giveing offence to any. She is a woman of uncommon diffidence, modest and unassumeing plain & unaffected in her manners.— decent and modest in her apparal, silent in mixed company, never speaking upon literary Subjects but when drawn out by others. her early Education was in a Country Village, under a Father who 3 She has an uncommon tallent of collecting the sense of an Author, and comprising it in few and comprehensive words—

If a Letter under cover to the Late President of the United States addrest to miss Hannah Adams, Medway—shall be carefully conveyed to her—

I embrace this opportunity Sir of presenting my respectfull and affectionate regards to Mrs Boudinot and Mrs Bradford, in whose Friendship and Society I have enjoyed many pleasurable hours; and whose continued regard and esteem I hold as one of the choicest blessings left me— I have had experience “that Friends grow not thick on every bow, nor every Friend unrotten at the core”4

In the Rural shades of Quincy: and the domestic occupations of a Farm; we enjoy a tranquility which unruffeld by party Spirit, hopeing for peace upon Earth, and breathing good will to Man—

With sentiments of / Respect I subscribe / Your Friend

Last Evening we received Letters from Berlin of April the 14th with the agreable intelligenc of Mrs Adamss safe delivery upon the 12th of a son, tho She had been very ill & remaind so for three days. mr Adams writes, that she was then much better, and he hoped out of Danger— I congratulate You my dear Madam upon this Event

I wrote to you last week.1

with an affectionate remembrance to all Friends— / I am Yours &c

Your favors of the 7th: & 31st: of March & 3d: of April, are yet unacknowledged, though they have been some time received. No vessel has sailed directly for your port, since I last wrote; until the ship Benjamin, on board of which I sent you a packet of the port folio. I also sent a packet for my Brother, but I apprehend he will have left 99 Berlin before it can arrive, though possibly he may not have embarked for home.1

The Spectateur & another pamphlet have likewise been received from you; but this pamphlet addressed by my brother to my father, & enclosed by you to me, was unfortunately put on board a ship, bound to NewYork, though said, on the cover, to be sent by the Pennsylvania, for this place; coming by post to me, it inflamed my postage bill, rather more than a poor attorney can bear without grumbling; so I charge you to be more careful, in future, how you enclose pamphlets to me, which are addressed to another person. Congress, conferred the privilege of franking, upon John Adams, but they were not so generous to his son.2

I thank you for all your political intelligence. Poor, free, imperial Hamburg! How art thou bandied about, like a football, kicked, cuff’d & squeezed, until thou hast scarce breath enough left to sigh a complaint, at thy indignities! Thou has been convicted, at sundry times & in divers manners of being rich, and because thou wouldst not fight, thou fain must pay. I hate to see the weak trodden under foot, but since the abrogation of the law of Nations, this has been a trick of the times. I think however, that these little, paltry, insignificant, trading towns, which are mock-dignified by the epithet of free & imperial Cities, are such a burlesque on sovereignty, that I care little who takes them under protection, provided it be a power competent to the service.3

I presume you get newspapers from this place, and therefore I need not tell you any thing about the heinous sins of our political rulers. They are chronicled every day in the vehicles of scandal, otherwise called free presses. There is sore complaint at removals from Office, and there is unceasing clamor that so few removals are made. The sovereign, begins to bellow, about the loaves & fishes, which are the very quintescence of Republicanism. The Alpha & Omega of democracy. “We have yet gained little,” say the Republicans, if any federal officer be continued in employ, and it is beginning to transpire, that the triumph of principle, in the late struggle of parties, is nothing more than the triumph of the unprincipled office-seekers of the Country.4

We hear & read every day, that our fathers fought & bled for the sake of establishing a free & independent republic— Well, we had flattered ourselves, (till lately, when we have been bettered informed) that we had been living under a republican form of government, & some have been foolish enough to think, that the Country has 100 prospered under the administration of the two first Presidents; but we are now assured, by all the democratic prints, that the Independence, that which was declared in 1776. was never established till the 4th: March 1801.5

My dear Sir, you seem to retain a respect for the good sense of my Countrymen & are willing to believe, that fair argument & free discussion, will yet avail, in preserving our political institutions. I advise you to banish this impression, as too destitute of foundation, for if a people were ever befooled & besotted with intemperate zeal for any thing, my Countrymen certainly are, for the name of Republicanism. But enough. I ought, like Noah’s sons to step back & cover the nakedness of a parent.

I believe “a political intolerance, as despotic as wicked,” is about to commence. Hitherto we have seen but little of it, though I have looked for it, more than other’s, who have more faith than I had in smooth words. You I think may calculate upon being removed, provided any body should want to be Consul at Hamburg.6

Your old friend Clinton has again got into the saddle upon the back of NewYork. The good beast called the sovereign, had always a propensity to be ridden by this jockey, and only threw him out of his seat, by stumbling over Jay.

Our NewYork & Boston friends are well. The enclosed half Centinel will afford you some reading—7

With great esteem I am, dear Sir, / your friend & hble Servt: