Adams Papers

From François Adriaan Van der Kemp to John Adams, 9 December 1794

From François Adriaan Van der Kemp

Kemp-wick— at the Oneida Lake 9 Dec. 1794.

Sir!

I Should not have importuned your Excell̃—this Year with another Letter did I not believe it dutiful to acquaint you, with everÿ material change, in mÿ circumstances—not that I Consider them important enough to merit much your Excell̃. attention, but that it Seems to bestow Some importance on me, in persuding me Self, that you believe me not unworthy of communicating them with you.

The coúncil of appointment of this State had appointed me, unanimous, as an adsistant justice and Justice of the peace for this countÿ—and maÿ particular Situation, in an infant Settlement in the western parts, with other considerations, has overcome my resolutions—for a while—and persuaded me to the acceptance of this office, ’though I Shall be obliged to the Sacrifice of a part of my precious time, and Some additional expences—1 I hope howewer to endeavour, as long as I am continued, to acquit me selves, with decencÿ, and, if possible, to preserve the good opinion of mÿ well-wishers.

To this moment I have not yet been happy enough—to See D’avila’s discourses—’though I wrote, more than once for them to N. york and Philadelphia— I Shall consider it, as a particular mark of your Excellency’s continued kindness towards me, if the one or other time, your Excell̃—finds an opportunity of favouring me with their perusal.

France Verifies our predictions—and shall bring the doctrine of the Defence &. to the greatest degree of moral evidence— Tallien shall be humbled in his hour, if they continue in the same track—2 It is a change of measures what can Save France, not a change of men. three years Longer continuence of this anarchical despotism and the hopes of enjoying civil and Political Liberty Shall be lost for ever for more than twenty millions of men. Rather a Laborious Life of a forgotten farmer in the western parts—than the brilliant greatness of those Parisien leaders, who to daÿ are Patriots—and to morrow traitors—and rather the approbation of few honet neighbours, than the noisy applause, of an infatuated mob—

Permit me the Satisfaction to send your Excell̃e—from time to time—a few Lines— I Shall not abuse of this favour and few—Sir—are Sufficient, to remember your Excell̃—that—what others may protest, I really am with the Sincerest attachment and highest esteem / Your Excell̃’s most ob̃: and / humble Sert.

Fr. Adr. vanderkemp.

RC (Adams Papers).

1New York governor George Clinton appointed Van der Kemp a justice of the peace in September. Van der Kemp served until 1798, when he declined reappointment (Van der Kemp, Autobiography description begins Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 1752–1829: An Autobiography; Together with Extracts from His Correspondence, ed. Helen Lincklaen Fairchild, New York and London, 1903. description ends , p. 130).

2Parisian journalist Jean Lambert Tallien (1767-1820) helped to end Maximilien Robespierre’s bloody tenure. As a leader of the Thermidorian reaction, Tallien was instrumental in defeating the royalist invasion of Brittany in 1795 (Bosher, French Rev. description begins J. F. Bosher, The French Revolution, New York, 1988. description ends , p. lviii; AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara Martin, Hobson Woodward, and others, Cambridge, 1963– . description ends , 11:12).

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