From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1787

To Benjamin Franklin

Grosvenor Square Jan. 27. 1787

Sir

Dr White has been So obliging to me, as to take with him to America, two Volumes, one for your Excellency and one for the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, of a Production of mine, Suggested by the late popular Phrensy in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It contains my Confession of political Faith, and if it is Heresy, I shall I Suppose be cast out of Communion. But it is the only Sense, in which I am or ever was a Republican, and in Such Times I hold concealment of Sentiments to be no better than countenancing Sedition.— Let me beg your Excellencys Acceptance of one Volume, and that you would present the other to the Philosophical Society, with my respectfull Thanks for the Volume of their Transactions, transmitted me by your Excellency in their Name.— That Work is in good Reputation here.

Mr Dilly has often requested me to mention to your Excellency, his great desire of publishing a new Edition of your Works, and a Sketch of your Life. and his Inclination is much quickened Since he learnt that you had been advised to write it, with your own Hand. inclosed is a Note which I received from him this morning.1 Mr Dilly is as honest a Man as any of the trade here, and as much esteemed by Men of Letters, so that, I believe you may depend upon his honour and skill. My Regards to Mr Franklin and / Mr Beach,2 if you please. with great / Respect I have the honour to be, sir, your / most obedient & humble servant

John Adams

RC (PPAmP:Franklin Papers); internal address: “His Excellency / Dr Franklin.” LbC (Adams Papers description begins Manuscripts and other materials, 1639–1889, in the Adams Manuscript Trust collection given to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1956 and enlarged by a few additions of family papers since then. Citations in the present edition are simply by date of the original document if the original is in the main chronological series of the Papers and therefore readily found in the microfilm edition of the Adams Papers (APM). description ends ); APM Reel 113.

1. The note from the London bookseller Charles Dilly has not been found, but Franklin indicated in his 18 May reply to JA that he would “write soon to Mr Dilly” (Adams Papers description begins Manuscripts and other materials, 1639–1889, in the Adams Manuscript Trust collection given to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1956 and enlarged by a few additions of family papers since then. Citations in the present edition are simply by date of the original document if the original is in the main chronological series of the Papers and therefore readily found in the microfilm edition of the Adams Papers (APM). description ends ). Dilly subsequently printed Philosophical and Miscellaneous Papers: Lately Written by B. Franklin (London, 1787).

2. JA refers to Franklin’s grandsons William Temple Franklin and Benjamin Franklin Bache.

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1787
Author: Adams, John
Recipient: Franklin, Benjamin
Date: 27 January 1787

Reference

Cite as: “From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 January 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-18-02-0300. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 18, December 1785–January 1787, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Sara Martin, C. James Taylor, Sara Georgini, Hobson Woodward, Sara B. Sikes, Amanda M. Norton. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016, p. 563.]

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