John

Abigail

     I never enjoyed better health in any of my journeys, but this has been the most irksome, the most gloomy and melancholy I ever made. I cannot with all my philosophy and Christian resignation keep up my spirits. The dismal prospect before me, my family, and my country, is too much for my fortitude.

         ”Bear me, some god! Oh quickly snatch me hence,
         To wholesome solitude, the nurse of sense;
         Where Contemplation prunes her ruffled wings,
         And the free soul looks down to pity kings.”*

     The day before yesterday a gentleman came and spoke to me, asked me to dine with him on Saturday; said he was very sorry I had not better lodgings in town; desired, if I came to town again, I would take a bed at his house and make his house my home; I should always be very welcome. I told him I had not the pleasure of knowing him. He said his name was Codman¹. I said I was very much obliged to him, but I was very well accommodated where I lodged. I had a clean bed and a very neat house, a chamber to myself, and everything I wanted.
     Saturday, I dined with him, in company with Brigadier Preble, Major Freeman² and his son, etc., and a very genteel dinner we had. Salt fish and all its apparatus, roast chickens, bacon, pease, as fine a salad as ever was made, and a rich meat pie. Tarts and custards, etc., good wine, and as good punch as ever you made. A large, spacious, elegant house, yard, and garden; I thought I had got into the palace of a nobleman. After dinner, when I was obliged to come away, he renewed his invitation to me to make his house my home whenever I shall come to town again.
     Friday I dined with Colonel, Sheriff, alias Bill Tyng.³ Mrs. Ross and her daughter Mrs. Tyng dined with us, and the court and clerk, and some of the bar. At table we were speaking about Captain MacCarty†, which led to the African trade. Judge Trowbridge said, “That was a very humane and Christian trade, to be sure, that of making slaves.” “Aye,” says I, “it makes no great odds; it is a trade that almost all mankind have been concerned in, all over the globe, since Adam, more or less, in one way or another.” This occasioned a laugh.
     At another time Judge Trowbridge said, “It seems, by Colonel Barré’s speeches, that Mr. Otis has acquired honor by releasing his damages to Robinson.‡” “Yes,” says I, “he has acquired honor with all generations.” Trowbridge: “He did not make much profit, I think.” Adams: “True, but the less profit, the more honor. He was a man of honor and generosity, and those who think he was mistaken will pity him.”
     Thus you see how foolish I am. I cannot avoid exposing myself before these high folks; my feelings will at times overcome my modesty and reserve, my prudence, policy, and discretion. I have a zeal at my heart for my country and her friends, which I cannot smother or conceal; it will burn out at times and in companies where it ought to be latent in my breast. This zeal will prove fatal to the fortune and felicity of my family, if it is not regulated by a cooler judgment than mine has hitherto been. Colonel Otis’s phrase* is, “The zeal-pot boils over.”
     I am to wait upon brother Bradbury to meeting to-day, and to dine with brother Wyer. When I shall get home, I know not, but if possible, it shall be before next Saturday night. I long for that time to come, when my dear wife and my charming little prattlers will embrace me.

     Your,
     John Adams
     Falmouth
     9 July 1774

Footnotes:

     * – John quotes a poem by Alexander Pope, “The Fourth Satire of Dr. John Donne Versified,” lines 184-187. Interestingly, John misremembered the first line. It should have read, “Bear me, some god! Oh quickly bear me hence,”.
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     ¹ – Richard Codman, a merchant from Falmouth.
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     ² – Brigadier Jedediah Preble, served under General James Wolfe in Canada before becoming a representative to the Massachusetts General Court. Enoch Freeman was a major in the Militia.
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     ³ – William Tyng (1737-1807), sheriff of Cumberland County, was recently commissioned as a Colonel by Governor Thomas Gage.
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     † – Captain MacCarty, unidentified, possibly a slave trader.
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     ‡ – Over the previous decade, Isaac Barré (1726-1802) had been a frequent speaker in the House of Commons, speaking up for the rights of the Americans. In a speech against the Stamp Act given in 1765, his use of the phrase “sons of liberty” to refer to the American patriots is one of the earliest known uses of that distinctive phrase.
James Otis Jr. had been assaulted on September 5, 1769, by John Robinson, a Crown Officer. John Adams represented Otis in his suit for damages. Despite winning £2,000, after receiving an apology, Otis refused to accept any damages beyond court costs, lawyer’s fees, and medical expenses.
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     * – Colonel James Otis (1702-1778) was the father of James Otis Jr., the aforementioned orator and propagandist against parliamentary rule.
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John

Abigail

     Our Justice Hutchinson* is eternally giving his political hints. In a cause this morning, somebody named Captain Mackay as a referee. I said, “An honest man?” “Yes,” says Hutchinson, “he’s an honest man, only misled“–”he, he, he!”–blinking and grinning. At dinner today somebody mentioned determinations in the Lord’s House (the Court sits in the meeting-house). “I’ve known many very bad determinations in the Lord’s house of late,” says he, meaning a fling upon the clergy. He is perpetually flinging about the Fasts, and ironically talking about getting home to the Fast. A gentleman told me that he had heard him say frequently that the Fast was perfect blasphemy. “Why don’t you pay for the tea? Refuse to pay for the tea! and go to fasting and praying for direction! Perfectly blasphemy!”
     This is the moderation, candor, impartiality, prudence, patience, forbearance, and condescension of our Judge.
     Samuel Quincy said yesterday, as Josiah told me, he was for staying at home and not going to meeting as they, i.e., the meetings, are so managed.
     Such is the bitterness and rancor, the malice and revenge, the pride and vanity, which prevail in these men. And such minds are possessed of all the power of the province.
     Samuel makes no fortune this court. There is very little business here, it is true, but S. gets but very little of that little–less than anybody.
     Wyer retains his old good nature and good humor, his wit, such as it is, and his fancy, with its mildness. Bradbury retains his anxiety, and his plaintive, angry manner; David Sewall his softness and conceited modesty.
     Bradbury and Sewall always roast Dr. Gardiner at these courts, but they have done it more now than usual, as Gardiner had not me to protect him. See how I think of myself!
     I believe it is time to think a little about my family and farm. The fine weather we have had for eight or ten days past I hope has been carefully improved to get in my hay. It is a great mortification to me that I could not attend every step of their progress in mowing, making, and carting. I long to see what burden. But I long more still to see to the procuring more sea-weed, and marsh mud, and sand, etc.
     However, my prospect is interrupted again, I shall have no more time. I must prepare for a journey to Philadelphia, a long journey indeed! But if the length of the journey were all, it would be no burden. But the consideration of what is to be done is of great weight. Great things are wanted to be done, and little things only I fear can be done. I dread the thought of the Congress’ falling short of the expectations of the continent, but especially of the people of this province.
     Vapors avaunt! I will do my duty, and leave the event. If I have the approbation of my own mind, whether applauded or censured, blessed or cursed, by the world, I will not be unhappy.
     Certainly I shall enjoy good company, good conversation, and shall have a fine ride and see a little more of the world than I have before.
     I think it will be necessary to make me up a couple of pieces of new linen. I am told they wash miserably at New York, the Jerseys, and Philadelphia too in comparison of Boston, and am advised to carry a great deal of linen. Whether to make me a suit of new clothes at Boston or to make them at Philadelphia, and what to make, I know not, nor do I know how I shall go–whether on horseback, in a curricle, a phaeton, or altogether in a stagecoach I know not.
     The letters I have written, or may write, my dear, must be kept secret, or at least shown with great caution. Mr. Fairservice goes tomorrow: by him shall I send a packet. Kiss my dear babes for me.

     Your¹,
     John Adams
     Falmouth
     6 July 1774

     I believe I forgot to tell you one anecdote. When first came to this house it was late in the afternoon, and I had ridden thirty-five miles at least. “Madam,” said I to Mrs. Huston, “is it lawful for a weary traveller to refresh himself with a dish of tea, provided it has been honestly smuggled, or paid no duties?” “No, sir,” said she, “we have renounced all tea in this place, but I’ll make you coffee.” Accordingly I drank coffee every afternoon since, and have borne it very well. Tea must be universally renounced, and I must be weaned, and the sooner the better.

Footnotes:

     * – Justice Foster Hutchinson (1724-1799), an associate justice of the Superior Court, brother of Thomas Hutchinson, one of John’s most frequent targets for rancor, given Thomas Hutchinson’s support of British policies.
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     ¹ – This time John actually signed the letter for a change! Huzzah! Just thought I’d point this out, since I mentioned previously that most of the time he didn’t bother to sign them, for some unknown reason. Now back to our regularly scheduled letter!
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John

Abigail

     I spent an hour last evening at Mr. Wyer’s, with Judge Cushing*. Wyer’s father, who has a little place in the customs, came in. He began upon politics, and told us that Mr. Smith¹ had a fast last week which he attended. Mr. Gilman² preached, he said, part of the day, and told them that the judgments of God upon the land were in consequence of the mobs and riots which had prevailed in the country; and that turning to me old Wyer said, “What do you think of that, Mr. Adams?”
     I answered, “I can’t say but mobs and violence may have been one cause of our calamities. I am inclined to think that they do come in for a share; but there are many other causes. Did not Mr. Gilman mention bribery and corruption as another cause? He ought to have been impartial, and pointed out the venality which prevails in the land as a cause, as well as tumults.” “I think he did,” says Wyer. I might have pursued my inquiry, whether he did not mention universal pilfering, robbery, and picking of pockets which prevails in the land,–as every man’s pocket upon the continent is picked every day by taking from him duties without his consent. I might have inquired whether he mentioned the universal spirit of debauchery, dissipation, luxury, effeminacy, and gaming, which the late ministerial measures are introducing, etc., etc., etc., but I forbore.
     How much profaneness, lewdness, intemperance, etc., have been introduced by the army and navy and revenue; how much servility, venality, artifice, and hypocrisy have been introduced among the ambitious and avaricious by the British politics of the last ten years. In short the original faulty causes of all the vices which have been introduced are the political innovations of the last ten years. This is no justification and a poor excuse for the girls who have been debauched, and for the injustice which has been committed in some riots; but surely the soldiers, sailors, and excisemen who have occasioned these vices ought not to reproach those they have corrupted. These Tories act the part of the devil. They tempt men and women into sin and then reproach them for it, and become soon their tormentors for it. A tempter and tormentor is the character of the devil. Hutchinson, Oliver³, and others of their circle, who for their own ends of ambition and avarice have pursued, promoted, encouraged, counseled, aided, and abetted the taxation of America, have been the real tempters of their countrymen and women into all the vices, sins, crimes, and follies which that taxation has occasioned. And now by themselves and their friends, dependents, and votaries, they are reproaching those very men and women with those vices and follies, sins and crimes.
     There is not a sin which prevails more universally and has prevailed longer than prodigality in furniture, equipage, apparel, and diet. And I believe that this vice, this sin, has a large a share in drawing down the judgments of Heaven as any. And perhaps the punishment that is inflicted may work medicinally and cure the disease.

     John Adams
     Falmouth
     6 July 1774

Footnotes:

     * – Judge William Cushing (1732-1810), an associate justice for the Superior Court of Massachusetts.
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     ¹ – Rev. Thomas Smith, minister from Falmouth.
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     ² – Rev. Tristram Gilman, also a minister from Falmouth. On a totally random note, I think “Tristram” is my new favorite name! It sounds like the name for some sort of product you’d see on a late-night infomercial, doesn’t it? Oh, oops, sorry, that really doesn’t sound very historic and intellectual, does it?
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     ³ – Peter Oliver (1713-1791) was Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court, but John may be referring to Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver (1703-1774), who along with his brother in law Thomas Hutchinson was a frequent target of John’s resentment. However, Andrew Oliver had died on March 3, 1774.
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     Dear Abigail,

     I have a great deal of leisure, which I chiefly employ in scribbling, that my mind may not stand still or run back, like my fortune. There is very little business here, and David Sewall, David Wyer, John Sullivan and James Sullivan, and Theophilus Bradbury¹, are the lawyers who attend the inferior courts, and consequently, conduct the causes at the superior.
     I find that the country is the situation to make estates by the law. John Sullivan, who is placed at Durham in New Hampshire, is younger both in years and practice than I am. He began with nothing, but is now said to be worth ten thousand pounds lawful money, his brother James allows five or six or perhaps seven thousand pounds, consisting in houses and lands, notes, bonds, and mortgages. He has a fine stream of water, with an excellent corn mill, saw mill, fulling mill, scythe mill, and others, in all six mills, which are both his delight and his profit. As he has earned cash in his business at the bar, he has taken opportunities to purchase farms of his neighbors, who wanted to sell and move out farther into the woods, at an advantageous rate, and in this way has been growing rich; under the smiles and auspices of Governor Wentworth², he has been promoted to the civil and military way, so that he is treated with great respect in this neighborhood.
     James Sullivan, brother of the other, who studied law under him, without an academical education (and John was in the same case), is fixed at Saco, alias Biddeford, in our province. He began with neither learning, books, estate, nor anything but his head and hands, and is now a very popular lawyer and growing rich very fast, purchasing great farms, etc., and a justice of the peace and a member of the General Court.
     David Sewall, of this town, never practices out of this county; has no children; has no ambition nor avarice, they say (however, quaere³). His business in this county maintains him very handsomely, and he gets beforehand.
     Bradbury, at Falmouth, they say, grows rich very fast.
     I was first sworn in 1758. My life has been a continual scene of fatigue, vexation, labor, and anxiety. I have four children. I had a pretty estate from my father; I have been assisted by your father; I have done the greatest business in the province; I have had the very richest clients in the province. Yet I am poor, in comparison with others.
     This, I confess, is grievous and discouraging. I ought, however, to be candid enough to acknowledge that I have been imprudent. I have spent an estate in books. I have spent a sum of money indiscreetly in a light, another in a pew, and a much greater in a house in Boston. These would have been indiscretions, if the impeachment of the Judges, the Boston Port Bill†, etc., etc., had never happened; but by the unfortunate interruption of my business from these causes, those indiscretions became almost fatal to me; to be sure, much more detrimental.
     John Lowell‡, at Newburyport, has built himself a house like the palace of a nobleman, and lives in great splendor. His business is very profitable. In short, every lawyer who has the least appearance of abilities make it do in the country. In town, nobody does, or even can, who either is not obstinately determined never to have any connection with politics, or does not engage on the side of the Government, the Administration, and the Court.
     Let us, therefore, my dear partner, from that affection which we feel for our lovely babes, apply ourselves, by every way we can, to the cultivation of our farm. Let frugality and industry be our virtues, if they are not by any others. And above all cares of this life, let our ardent anxiety be to mould the minds and manners of our children. Let us teach them not only to do virtuously, but to excel. To excel, they must be taught to be steady, active, and industrious.

     John Adams
     York, 29 June 1774

     Footnotes:

     ¹ David Sewall – Theophilus Bradbury: At this time, Adams was visiting York, in what we would today refer to as the state of Maine. However, up until 1820, York was a part of Massachusetts. Adams was visiting in order to do business at the circuit court there. The men listed in Adams letters would go on to fulfill rather interesting destinies. The Sullivan brothers would both support the Revolution. John (1740-95) became one of the first brigadier generals of the Continental Army and eventually became Governor of New Hampshire. James (1744-1808) became a prominent legislator and jurist in Massachusetts. David Wyer (1741-76), friends with Adams since college, became a successful lawyer at Falmouth; we’ll hear more about him in future letters. David Sewall (1735-1825) was a Harvard classmate of Adams’. Theophilus Bradbury (1739-1803) later served in the U.S. Congress and on the Massachusetts Superior Court. And he has one of the coolest names I’ve ever heard.
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     ² Governor Wentworth: Governor John Wentworth (1737-1820) was a classmate of Adams’ at Harvard, who succeeded his uncle, Benning Wentworth (another great name), as Royal Governor of New Hampshire from 1767 to 1775.
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     ³ quaere: i.e., inquire about this.
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     † the impeachment of the Judges, the Boston Port Bill: Adams had drawn up an impeachment of Chief Justice Peter Oliver because he would not renounce a salary grant from the crown. Adams and other Whigs feared that if judges were paid by the royal government and not the elected assembly, they would lose their independence.
     The Boston Port Bill was enacted by the Parliament of Great Britain on March 30, 1774 in retaliation for the Boston Tea Party, and was part of what was referred to in the Colonies as the “Intolerable Acts” or “Punitive Acts”. It outlawed the use of the Port of Boston for “landing and discharging, loading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise” until such time as restitution was made to the King’s treasury (for customs duty lost) and to the East India Company for damages suffered. In other words, it closed the port to all ships, no matter what business the ship had. This angered both Loyalists and Patriots, as they felt the entire city was being unfairly punished for the acts of only a few individuals. More from Wikipedia.
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     ‡ John Lowell: Lowell (1743-1802) would go on to serve in the Continental Congress and became one of Adams’ staunch Federalist friends.
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