Adams Papers

From John Lathrop to John Adams, 30 January 1797

From John Lathrop

Boston 30 Jany 1797

Dear & Hond Sir,

Yours by the post, accompanying Dr Bancrofts learned work on permanent colors has been duely recieved.1 Agreeably to your request, at the meeting on the last wednesday, the Volume was presented to the Academy, and is considered a valuable addition to the Library.—

On your recommendation I nominated Dr Bancroft for a member, and he was unanimously approved by the Council: at the next meeting, the choice will no doubt be completed, and the certificate of his election will be forwarded by the first opportunity.

As that great and good Man, who has been at the head of our national Government from the first, has determined to retire, You will permit me Sir, to express the happiness we feel in the choice, which we are informed has been made of a President.— The unanimity of all the states at the northward of Philadelphia, is a circumstance which gives great pleasure to the friends of good order and Government.— I wish the aspect of publick affairs, more particularly as it respects foreign relations, was more peaceful.— We must do our duty and rely on a wise and righteous providence.

should you be pleased to make any communications to me, respecting the publick, they will be gratefully recieved: and according to the apostalick direction, what I may thus freely recieve, shall be freely communicated to my Brethren of the Clergy, of the College, and of the Academy, who are, almost without an exception, your real friends, and the friends of the present Executive

With great respect & esteem / I am / Sir / Your most obedt Sert

John Lathrop

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Honourable / […]e President.” Some loss of text due to a torn manuscript.

1Westfield, Mass., physician and British spy Edward Bancroft (1744–1821) wrote Experimental Researches Concerning the Philosophy of Permanent Colours, London, 1794 (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 , 15:673).

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