Adams Papers
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From John Adams to John C. Gray, 24 July 1822

Quincy July 24th. 1822

dear Sir

My Friendship for your family must be my apology for neglecting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your Oration, I presume to reckon among my friends, your Grand Father Mr Chipman of Marble Head—he was a Brother barrester at law, And I spent a week with him in the year 1764 in the same house and at the same Court in Pownalborough and found him an able lawyer, and an amiable Man; though we differed in political opinions, my friendship for your honored Father & Mother, and personal regard for yourself, must be my excuse for trespassing on your indulgence—Your Oration has been read to me, I find it ingenious, well written & extremely well adapted to the occasion & the period—The conversion of the town of Boston into a City, is an event of no small importance in the history of this Nation.—If I were capable of writing I might perhaps propose to you some theorem or problems for your solution. Is not the growth, the unnatural growth of our Cities the effect of a paper Currency, & is <not> a paper currency a just & honest Medium of trade & commerce, Ask Governor Hutchinson, whose character & Memory, some of your family at least hold in veneration, as I myself do in many respects he was so great a Master of Coin and Commerce that if he could arrise, I would give him absolute power over the whole currency of the Nation, if I Could But Ambition entered into his head & triped up his heels, as the Girl <said> in the lying Valet says of love—“it is the devil.” —

You may show this letter to your Father & Mother, Brothers & Sisters, but by no means let it appear in print, for I know not what dreadful effects it might have upon the Name Character and Person, of your friend & humble Servant

John Adams

MHi: Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.

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