Margaret Bayard Smith’s narration describing the mountain, the palace (i.e., Monticello) was in an expanded newspaper version of her Account of a Visit to Monticello, [29 July–2 Aug. 1809], which had appeared in the Richmond Enquirer, 18 Jan. 1823, and been widely reprinted.

On 3 Feb. 1823 Adams had written to his grandson, George Washington Adams: “I think you and your Brothers ought to imitate Mr Jefferson, A Virginian Lady who has given us a florid history of her visit to montecello, informs us that she saw in his sanctum, sanctorum, a huge folio Volume with the words Libel written on the back, upon opening it she found it consisted of Slips cut out of Newspapers, and pasted in the Book, Mr Jefferson informed her, they were a collection of defamatory papers printed against himself. Now I think that you and your Brothers, ought to make a collection for your Father, but in justice to your Country, you ought to preserve panegyricks, as well as the Philippicks. Some of my Children or Grand Children, ought to have done the same thing for me, my volume would have been the most splendid of all—I would get it bound in Moroco, gilt and Lettered, in honour of the taste and elegance, gold and diamonds of the contents” (MHi: Adams Papers).

Jonathan swift reflected enviously on Alexander Pope’s poetry skills in his Verses on the Death of Dr. S—, D.S.P.D. occasioned By reading a Maxim in Rochefoulcault (London, 1739): “In Pope, I cannot read a Line, But with a Sigh, I wish it mine: When he can in one Couplet fix More Sense than I can do in Six: It gives me such a jealous Fit, I cry, Pox take him, and his Wit.”

For Smith’s description of the large folio volume, see note 38 to her Account.

alexander hamilton attacked Adams in a Letter from Alexander Hamilton, concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States (New York, 1800; Sowerby description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends , no. 3237; reprinted in Harold C. Syrett and others, eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton [1961–87], 25:186–234). The second essay in a series by thomas paine, printed in the Washington National Intelligencer, 22 Nov. 1802, also disparaged Adams.

ridendo (ridentem) dicere verum quid vetat (“what is to prevent one from telling truth as he laughs”) is in Horace, Satires, 1.1.24–5 (Fairclough, Horace: Satires, Epistles and Ars Poetica description begins Horace: Satires, Epistles and Ars Poetica, trans. H. Rushton Fairclough, Loeb Classical Library, 1926, repr. 2005 description ends , 6–7).