From John Adams to William Tudor, 15 March 1791
To William Tudor
Philadelphia March 15. 1791
Dear sir
Thank you for yours of Feb. 27.—1 You Seem to threaten me with a Place in the Pages of some Tory Historian. If the Party “to a man Supposed me the most energetic Plotter and intrepid Projector of all the Authors of the Revolution” I shall no doubt have it. The Papers signed Novanglus, and the Controversy with Brattle about the Independence of the Judges they could be no strangers to. nor could they be uninformed of the share I had in the Controversy between the House of Representatives and Hutchinson about the supremacy of Parliament any more than of the Impeachment of Oliver.2 From these Things which they remember, though all the rest of the World have forgotten them, they had some Reason to suppose me as deep as any body in the Plott: accordingly I was informed in England that I was one who stood proscribed on the Records of the Privy Council. However they ascribed to me a thousand Scurrilous and mean publications in the Newspapers, and have accused me of Savage designs towards them of which I was incapable. I have long expected that my Memory would be blackened by a thousand Lyes, from that quarter: but there is another region from which Volumes of Obloquy will be found in dastardly Secret Letters, concerning me. I mean From the Tools and slaves of Franklin in France England Holland and elsewhere. I expect more Lyes and slanders from that Quarter than from the Tories, who to do them Justice, if they were not more honest, as I believe, they were less ungenerous Ennemies I know. never did the little Passions of Envy Jealousy and Rivalry operate with more malignity on any human heart, than they did in that of that old Dotard, against me. I hold however in deep Contempt all the scandal that Scrib Ecritoirs can vomit forth. Both Tories and frenchified slaves have ever been compelled to acknowledge my Integrity a[nd] this will preserve me. Have you heard of any one of [the] Tories who has written or intends to write the History.?
I rejoice that Congress are rising in Popularity. may they rise and shine more and more to the perfect day. I am happy that it has fallen to my share to do some thing towards setting the Machine in motion. It has done more and better in two years than I expected, and in two years more if I can keep my Machine agoing so long, I may see it so established as to receive my Quietus with comfort.
The good that I can do as a Farmer at Braintree will be very little, unless it be to my own health. The President is going southward as far as Georgia, and I hope besides establishing his health will do as much good as he did in his northern Tour.3 Much still depends upon his Life, which I am thankful is a very good one.
I owe the Marine Committee a Letter and many Thanks. I have waited in hopes of having to write that something was done: but Congress had not time to compleat any Thing.4
I hope your Neighbour my son behaves like [a] good Sprig or young shoot of the Law: he can har[dly be] yet called a Limb.5
I am with sincere Esteem, my [dear] / sir yours
John Adams
RC (MHi:Tudor-Adams Correspondence); addressed: “William Tudor Esqr. / Boston.”; internal address: “Judge Tudor.”; endorsed: “15 March 1791”; notation by JA: “Free / John Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 115. Text lost where the seal was removed has been supplied from the LbC.
1. Vol. 20:483–484.
2. For JA’s Novanglus letters and his role in the Mass. General Court’s 1774 impeachment of loyalist Peter Oliver, chief justice of the province, see vol. 2:vii, 7–17, 216–226.
3. For George Washington’s southern tour, see Henry Knox’s letter of 10 June 1791, and note 4, below.
4. In previous sessions, JA laid the Boston Marine Society’s petitions and related documents before the Senate. The society sought to establish pilot regulations, clarify federal and local supervision of lighthouses, and create a marine hospital. All of these matters remained pending when Congress adjourned on 3 March (vol. 20:xxxii, 380, 381, 457–459, 461).