1To John Adams from Harry Innes, 30 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
Pardon me if my zeal for the public good hath induced an address to you in your official capacity different from the common rotine of business; yet sir when you reflect on both the importance & delicacy of the subject, I trust this deviation will be excused as I would not be willing to commit myself upon the occasion to any other person except yourself. Thro’ the medium of a correspondence...