To John Adams from Edward Bridgen, 13 July 1781
From Edward Bridgen
London July 13 1781
Sir
By the direction of our Mutual Friend Mr. Jennings I have sent to Ostend to the Care of Messrs. Theodoor Van Moorsel & Co. there, a Small packadge of Books Viz: Two Parliamentary Registers. The principles of Law and Goverment,1 and (by Mistake) a Novell called the Revolution2 which I was not apprized of untill too late.
You will also find 2 large 4to. Volumes of the Memoirs of Thos. Hollis Esqr. sent you by a Friend to Man.3 2 Small Pamphlets called the Means of National defence by a Free Militia4 those I beg your Acceptance of. One also by a Friend5 of these you may have as Many as you please if you think they will be acceptable to your Friends.
Be pleased to know that the friend Edmond Jenings takes the liberty to assure you, Sir that I am allways at your command Yr. very huml. Servt.
Edwd: Bridgen6
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed by John Thaxter: “Mr. Bridgen 13th. July 1781”; notation by Bridgen: “To A A”; for which, see Jenings to JA, 19 July, below.
1. Principles of Law and Government, with An Inquiry into the Justice and Policy of the Present War, and the Most Effectual Means of Obtaining ... Peace, London, 1781, is in JA’s library at the Boston Public Library ().
2. An advertisement for The Revolution, A Novel that appeared in the London Chronicle of 14–16 June stated that “the moral of this Work is founded on the situation of the kingdom with respect to America and the common enemy.” A notice in the Chronicle of 3–5 July added that “this work is written on the plan of an epic poem.”
3. Francis Blackburne, Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, 2 vols., London, 1780. Thomas Brand Hollis, Thomas Hollis’ heir and Blackburne’s patron sent the volumes to JA, but they did not arrive (vol. 10:67–68; see also Edmund Jenings to JA, 17 Sept., below). Only the second volume is in JA’s library at the Boston Public Library ().
4. Probably [Granville Sharp], Tracts Concerning the Ancient and Only True Legal Means of National Defence, by a Free Militia, London, 1781. A copy of the 3d edn., London, 1782, is in JA’s library at the Boston Public Library (same).
5. Neither the friend nor the pamphlet have been identified.