From James Mease to John Adams, 20 August 1792

From James Mease

Philadelphia August 20th. 1792

Honored Sir

I have taken the liberty of presenting you with a copy of my inaugural dissertation which I published and defended on taking my Doctors degree in our University last May.—1 It appears in very nearly the original dress which it wore, on being presented in manuscript for approbation or rejection to the professors; having had but little time to pay any attention in correcting it. Considerable allowances must therefore be made for the inelegance of style, or choice of words, which appear in the work.— At the request of my friends, and in pursuance of my own inclination I have settled in this city, and if business continues to increase in the same proportion as it has began, I shall have no reason to complain. This you no doubt will think a bad sign, but as it happens that people will be sick, it is well that I have my share of the business.—

I hope Sir You will excuse the liberty I have taken in thus addressing you. Had not an absence from this City, and numerous avocations prevented me, I should have taken that liberty before. Be pleased to accept of my most grateful thanks for the attention you paid me, in the application to the secretary at War. You no doubt have seen by the papers that I resigned the commission,.—

To Mrs Adam’s my best respects are likewise due for the politeness she has always shewn me.— I am sincerely sorry that the air of our city has so far disagreed with her as to induce her to forsake it altogether. Please to present my compliments to miss Smith.—2

With every sentiment of / respect, I am Honored Sir / your obliged, & very humble servant

James Mease

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice President / of the United States. / Braintree”; internal address: “The Vice President of the United States—”; endorsed: “Dr Maese.”

1. Mease’s previous communication, addressed to either JA or Henry Knox, has not been found. Mease (1771–1846), University of Pennsylvania 1787, was a Philadelphia physician. He sent a copy of his dissertation, On the Disease Produced by the Bite of a Mad Dog, Phila., 1792, Evans, description begins Charles Evans and others, American Bibliography: A Chronological Dictionary of All Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America [1639–1800], Chicago and Worcester, Mass., 1903–1959; 14 vols., rev. edn., www.readex.com. description ends No. 24534. George Washington nominated Mease as a surgeon’s mate for the western army on 9 April and the Senate confirmed his appointment two days later. Mease attempted to preempt the process by declining the commission on 10 April and unsuccessfully pursuing the higher post of surgeon (ANB description begins John A. Garraty, Mark C. Carnes, and Paul Betz, eds., American National Biography, New York, 1999–2002; 24 vols. plus supplement; rev. edn., www.anb.org. description ends ; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series description begins The Papers of George Washington: Presidential Series, ed. W. W. Abbot, Dorothy Twohig, Jack D. Warren, Mark A. Mastromarino, Robert F. Haggard, Christine S. Patrick, John C. Pinheiro, David R. Hoth, Jennifer Stertzer and others, Charlottesville, Va., 1987– . description ends , 10:236–240, 246–248).

2. Louisa Catharine Smith, AA’s niece.

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: From James Mease to John Adams, 20 August 1792
Author: Mease, James
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 20 August 1792

Reference

Cite as: “From James Mease to John Adams, 20 August 1792,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-21-02-0097. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 21, March 1791–January 1797, ed. Sara Georgini, Sara Martin, R. M. Barlow, Gwen Fries, Amanda M. Norton, and Hobson Woodward. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2022, pp. 137–138.]

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