1To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 4 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I find you, & I must agree , NOT to disagree , or we must cease to discuss political questions. I could as soon believe that the British parliament, never had once a right to tax America, as believe that a fourth major part of the citizens of New york were federal , or that many of the federal minority were so, from proper motives.— I know from good authority that some of the leading...
2To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 12 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Ever since the last week in Octo r I have been engaged in composing & delivering a new Course of lectures on the theory & practice of medicine in the College of this city. This arduous business has employed me so closely that it has seperated me from my friends,—detatched me from all Other pursuits—and—what I regret most of all, has deprived me for a while of the pleasure of your...
3To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 4 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your proposition for doing justice to the late Army of the United States becomes both popular & practicable in proportion as it is contemplated. Many people are Converts to it, who at first considered it as impracticable & impolitic. Among these I have reason to believe is A Gentleman from South Carolina who bore a decided part in the Opposition to you on the floor of Congress. He is a...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 15 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this letter Mr. Andrew Brown has applied to me as One among many witnesses of his zeal in promoting the Adoption of the fæderal constitution by means of his paper, and has requested me to add my testimony, of his faithful and meritorious services, to that of his Other friends . His sacrifices to his principles, and to the best interests of our Country have been great. The...
5To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 24 February 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your remarks upon the Conduct of the tories, and the “young fry” who are now crouding into the Councils of our Country, perfectly accord with my own Observations. The present convention & assembly of Pennsylvania, and the present Corporation of Philad a: are all filled chiefly with men who were either unknown in 1776, or known only for timidity or disaffection. Your old friends have mingled...
6To John Jay from Benjamin Rush, 2 August 1796 (Jay Papers)
Permit me to request your Acceptance of a Copy of a medical Work which I have just published. It contains some new proofs of the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in our Country, and of Course cannot fail of being interesting to the first Citizen of the state of New York. Until the domestic Origin of the yellow fever in the United States be admitted, we shall always hold, the health,...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 4 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you a humble tribute to the memory of our great republican and philosophical friend Mr. Rittenhouse. It is a feeble expression of respect for his Character compared with yours, in your defence of the genius of the Americans. Few such men have ever lived, or died in any Country. Accept of my Congratulations upon your election to the Vice President’s Chair of the United States, and...
8To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 10 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
I congratulate you upon the prospect of the funding System being delayed ’till the next session of Congress. I hope an election will intervene, before you meet again. Should this be the case, I think it probable that no One of our members who has voted against your motion, & in favor of the leading principles of Mr Hamilton’s report will be reelected. I have long deplored the temporary...
9To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 18 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I expected that the establishment of the federal Goverment, and the reformation of the Constitution of Pennsylvania would have gratified all my wishes for the prosperity of my Country, and have left me to enjoy in private life the pleasures of science and professional pursuits. But I find I cannot be an indifferent Spectator of the great Question which now agitates your house. It involves in...
10To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 15 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have been so long accustomed to regard all your opinions upon goverment with reverence, that I was disposed upon reading your last letter, to suspend my belief in republican Systems of political happiness; but a little reflection led me again to adopt them, and upon this single principle, that they have Never had a fair tryal. Let us try what the influence of general science & religion...
11To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 21 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
From an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances, I find myself under the influence of the same difficult command in corresponding with the Vice President of the United states, which the King of Syria gave to the Captains of his chariots.— “Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the King of Israel.”— The subjects upon which we differ are monarchy — titles —& the latin & greek...
12To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 24 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
… [Encloses a pamphlet with the request] that you would not suffer it to go out of your hands without guarding against the possibility of its finding its way into a newspaper.… I shall next week send four or five copies of it to Mr. Jefferson. [Also encloses] Dr. Price’s Sermon preached before the Revolution Society in London.… It suggested to me an idea of your house addressing the national...
13To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 17 July 1790 (Madison Papers)
Count Andreani is just such a man as you have described him to be in your letter. Is it not disgraceful to our Country to suffer its natural productions to be explored & described only by foreigners? Are we safe in committing so important a part of our history to men who are imperfectly acquainted with our language, and who from receiving their first impressions of us thro’ the Medium of...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 17 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Being obliged to lecture every day at 4 oClock, it will not be in my power to accept of your kind invitation to dinner on friday next. The difficulty, and novelty of the subject of my present course of lectures (Physiology and Pathology) has prevented my claims upon you for a visit. It has been the only cause of my having neglected to call more frequently upon you. But be assured my dear Sir,...
15To John Adams from Benjamin Rush, 13 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
Your last letter is a treasure.— Every Sentence in it is full of instruction. I have often contemplated that passion in mankind to concentrate all their homage and Admiration in One Man , in all the revolutions which advance knowledge or happiness.— Cicero Observed it, and deplored it in the fame and power of Pompey. I have thought at last that I had discovered in this weakness in human...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 4 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after the accession of Mr: Mifflin to the Government of Pennsylvania, he gratified his resentment against me for opposing his election, by removing my brother from a Seat on the bench of the supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The public clamor against this cruel and arbitrary measure, and the numerous testimonies which rose up in favor of my brother’s integrity and Abilities in the execution...
17To John Jay from Benjamin Rush, 9 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
The bearer of this letter is Caleb Lownes—a respectable Merchant of our city, and a gentleman to whom the science of Morals, and humanity owe great obligations.— He visits your city in Order to impart to the Commissioners for building your penitentiary house, the result of his experience in the Construction and government of our own. Your station, but what are more, your principles & feelings...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 4 February 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Communication upon the Subject of the large Claws, and bones of the Lyon kind Animal , will arrive time en’o to have a place in the Volume of the transactions of the philosophical Society which is now in the press. I have Often been struck with the Analogy of things in the natural, moral and political world. The Animals whose stupendous remains we now and then pick up in our Country, were...
19To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 10 March 1790 (Madison Papers)
I once knew a Swedish Clergyman in this city, who told me that when he preached in the Country, he always studied his Congregation first , and Afterwards his sermon. Something like this Should be done by legislators. They should perfectly understand the character of the people whom they represent, and Afterwards suit their laws to their habits and principles. I suspect the present Congress...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 4 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. Tench Coxe who has been called upon to share in the toils of our new Goverment, has solicited the honor of an introduction to you. He has acquired great reputation and many friends by his singular zeal, and industry in promoting the Adoption of the federal Goverment. His valuable publications discover genius, taste and extensive information. The two inclosed essays in the...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 26 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you a few copies of the tract on the manufactory of Maple Sugar. It owes its existence to your request. It therefore has a right to claim your Support under all the congenial infirmities it derived from the hand of Dr. Sir yours very Affectionately, RC ( NjP ); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Jan. 1792 and so recorded in SJL . The work enclosed by Rush was his An account of the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 26 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer John Hall, a freeman has been encouraged to apply to you to dispose of one of your female Slaves to whom he was married while he resided in Virginia. The man bears a good Character, and from the number of worthy people in our city who have taken an interest in his happiness, I have no doubt but he will faithfully comply with any engagement he may enter into, to pay the full price...
23To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 27 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your polite letter, I have only to repeat my congratulations to you for the honor you have done to the claims of justice and patriotism by your motion. The small number of the minority that rose to support it, does not lessen its merit. The decision upon that great Question will leave a stain upon our Country which no time nor declammation can ever wipe away. History will decide...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 1 March 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this letter Mr. Weld a young Gentleman of amiable manners, and good education was introduced to me by a letter from an old Scotch friend now settled in Dublin. In travelling through the United States he could not be satisfied without paying his respects to Mr. Jefferson. What strange events have happened in our city since your retirement from public life! The late honourable...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 28 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. Parry Hall wishes to reprint your notes on the state of Virginia . He is One of our most correct printers, and a worthy man. Should you incline to add any thing to the work, or to make any Alterations in it, he will gladly obey your instructions. From Dr Sir Yours sincerely RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 30 Mch. 1793 and so recorded in SJL . Hall, a printer, bookseller,...