To John Adams from Joseph Willard, 13 May 1789
From Joseph Willard
Cambridge May 13th. 1789.
Sir,
I have just received a letter from Dr Price, enclosing one to your Excellency, which he desires me to convey to you, and I now transmit it.1
Your Excellency may remember the application to you, respecting Dr Minto.—2 So many and weighty are the national affairs, in which you are engaged, that the Corporation can hardly expect that you should have opportunity to attend to the matter yourself; but if your son Col. Smith has made any enquiries upon the subject, I should take it as a favor, if you would let me know the result of his enquiries, the first opportunity, as the Corporation are obliged to come to the choice of a Professor, by the 23d day of the next month.
As your Excellency’s time must be greatly taken up with the affairs of the Public, I will not infringe upon it; but ardently praying that you may have the divine blessing, in all your exertions to serve your Country, I beg leave to subscribe, / with sentiments of the highest esteem / and respect, / Sir, / your Excellency’s most humble / and obedient servant
Joseph Willard.
RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency / John Adams LL.D.”
1. Richard Price’s letter to JA was of 5 March, above.
2. Born in Coldingham, Scotland, Walter Minto (1753–1796) studied with David Hume at the University of Edinburgh, served as a tutor in Pisa, Italy, and returned to his alma mater to teach mathematics in 1783. He immigrated to New York City in 1786, and from 1787 until his death Minto was a professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Princeton College (William C. Alexander, “Walter Minto, LL. D.,” The Princeton Magazine, 1:38–47 [1850]).