Adams Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-05-02-0042

Benjamin Waterhouse to Abigail Adams, 22 January 1783

Benjamin Waterhouse to Abigail Adams

Boston Janry. 22d 1783

Madam!

Yesterday I received your very obliging Letter1 and return you many thanks for your willingness to serve my interest. Some of my friends seemed to wish as I did to have some testimony of how I stood in Mr. Adams’ opinion through you. I prefered it to giving them such letters of his as I had in my hands. However your answer not arriving in time I gave President Willard four letters of Mr. Adams’, and one of Dr. Franklins—they were mere letters of friendship and contained what every body might have seen, yet I am always rather nice in regard to letters when the writers are absent. When I come to Braintree I will show them to you. I unexpectedly found a powerfull party against the confirmation of the Vote of the Corporation, on account (ostensibly) of my being in England—and my not being a Son of Harvard.2

If I found I was like to come in with a general consent I would accept most joyfully that arduous and important post but otherwise I had rather be without it, for from the very nature of our Art, and the mode of teaching of it, even an old Man, with twice my knowledge and experience would stand in need of every indulgence—and I shall never be hardy enough to open my mouth in public when I know there are numbers of shrewe’d Men looking after me for evil.

My most respectfull Compliments to Miss Adams and Master Charles. I am with every sentiment of respect Your most obedient humble Servant.

B. Waterhouse

RC (Adams Papers).

11 Not found, but see Waterhouse to AA, 7 Jan., above.

2Waterhouse’s only degree was his M.D. from Leyden (1780); Harvard awarded him an honorary M.D. in 1786 (Harvard Quinquennial Cat. description begins Harvard University, Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates, 1636–1930, Cambridge, 1930. description ends , p. 1150). In an autobiographical letter written some years later, Waterhouse did not mention his difficulties in gaining the appointment but stressed his political harassment by Massachusetts Federalists who controlled the college in the days of the Jeffersonians’ ascendancy (MHS, Procs. description begins Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections and Proceedings. description ends , 54:159–165 [Jan. 1921]).

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