Adams Papers

From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 July 1799

Quincy July 27, 1799

Sir

I have recd your favour of the 20th. and have no Objection to the plan you propose of raising a Company of Cavalry.—“Our means”! I never think of our means without shuddering! All the Declamations as well as Demonstrations of Trenchard & Gordon, Bolingbroke Bernard & Walpole, Hume, Burgh and Burke, rush upon my Memory and frighten me out of my Witts. The system of Debts and Taxes is levelling all Governments in Europe. We have, a Career to run to be sure and some <before Us> time to pass before We arrive at the European Crisis. But We must ultimately go the same way. There is no practicable or imaginable Expedient to escape it, that I can conceive.

J. Adams

NNGL.

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