To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 10 March 1790
From Jeremy Belknap
Boston March 10 1790.
Dear Sir
By your indulgence in permitting me to ask you any questions, I am emboldened to send you one of my circular letters; by which you may see that I intend to leave no practicable source of information unexplored. If it should be in your power to suggest any thing relative to either of the topics mentioned, I should be happy in receiving the communication.
There is another point about which I wish for satisfaction, & I know no person more capable of giving it than yourself. The annalist Chalmers had free access to the Plantation Office in London; where he found many things much to his purpose.1 There are also doubtless many which might serve mine; but I cannot go to Europe. Can you tell me, Sir, whether that Office is under such regulations as that an American might have access to it—& if it is, do you know of any person who might be employed—& do you think a search there could be made without any considerable expense?
I am Dr sir with much Respect / Yr obliged & obedt Servt
Jeremy Belknap
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hoñ Dr Adams—”
1. For George Chalmers’ scholarship, see Belknap’s letter of 18 July 1789, and note 1, above.