Abigail Adams to Benjamin Rush, post 21 September 1801
Abigail Adams to Benjamin Rush
[post 21 September 1801]1
Dear sir
I ought to have acknowledgd Your kind favour of July 23 at an earlier period; but the heat of Summer usually unfits me for every occupation; and I never expect to conquer that disposition to an intermitting fever which always assails me whenever I am debilitated by Heat, or any other indisposition; I have had a very severe attack of the disorder incident to the Fall, and tho it did not amount to a Dysentary, it reduced me very much— I am recovering from it, tho Slowly. I thank you sir for the communication Which you inclosed to me. I have given it to my much valued Friend Doctor Tufts, who has himself used Mercury with beneficial effects in Similar cases—2
The Life of Christopher Ludwick will be read with pleasure by all Lovers of virtue honor and Patriotism;3 it is a model for youth, but my dear Sir these days of prosperity Luxery and dissipation are not those in which such characters flourish; we have an intire new Theory in Religion Morals & politicks, corresponding with our State of Society; they will have their preponderance untill heaven in wrath punishes us for talents misemployd, blessing and benifits wantonly thrown away, and this fair land, now the once the abode of freedom, becomes the prey of some bold Tyrant all the Social feelings which bind man to Man & harmonize Society, are wearing away; and bitter party Spirit & Calumny and falshood are linked together to lay prostrate all those kind affections, without which Life is a curse instead of a blessing do not most of the evils described grow out of our government, and shall we not e’er long be convinced that the passions of men are not held and restrainded by Silken cords, by the still
small voice of reason and argument that Liberty which is unrestrainde is a plethora in the political constitution.
you mention having made a collection of annecdotes which relate to our Friend—4 truths are not always to be spoken at the present period they woud be Scoffd at; persecution has followd that Spirit of independance which would not be dominered over by any party, but which undeviatingly pursued that System which has produced the unexampled prosperity of the country; lets others act with the same candour and firmness.
I cannot close my Letter without thanking you for your kind and Friendly attentions to my Son and his Family upon their arrival in your city— My son spoke of it with gratitude— I pray you sir to present my affectionate remembrance to mrs Rush and be assured that the prosperity & happiness of yourself and Family will give the Sincerest pleasure to / your assured Friend and humble / Servant
A Adams
Dft (Adams Papers); notation by CFA: “Copy. Dr Rush.” Filmed at [Aug. 1794].
1. The dating of this letter is based on the date of JQA’s arrival in Quincy (JQA to TBA, 27 Sept., below).
2. In his letter to AA of 23 July (Adams Papers), Rush enclosed an “Account of the successful Use of Mercury in the Consumption.” The enclosure has not been found, but Rush similarly addressed the subject in letters to New York physician Edward Miller on 18 March, 20 May, and 19 June, later publishing them as “An Account of the Salutary Effects of a Salivation, and also of Tonic Remedies, in Pulmonary Consumption,” The Medical Repository, 5:5–10 (1802) ().
3. Rush also likely enclosed the Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 30 June, which included his account of the life of Christopher Ludwick (b. 1720), head baker for the Continental Army during the American Revolution, who died on 17 June. The tribute described Ludwick as an example of “successful talents and virtue, to those classes of people who constitute the majority of mankind” (Philadelphia American Daily Advertiser, 19 June; Rush, An Account of the Life and Character of Christopher Ludwick … First Published in the Year 1801, Phila., 1831, p. 5).
4. In his 23 July letter, Rush discussed his collection of the “most remarkable Opinions, and Speeches” that JA delivered between 1774 and 1777. The doctor had collected notes and pamphlets since the Revolutionary War in the hopes of writing a history of the conflict, and in the summer of 1800 he used them in drafting an autobiography that included short biographies of delegates to the Continental Congress. Rush described JA as “a most sensible and forcible speaker” but wrote that his vice presidency and presidency were marred by “prejudices in favor of the British constitution.” Rush did not send JA the sketch, but on 13 July 1816 his son Richard Rush sent JA an edited version, one that did not include the description of his “prejudices” (, 19:387, 388; 20:249; , p. 1, 2, 140, 143).