Benjamin Rush to John Adams, July 9, 1807
Philadelphia July 9th: 1807. My dear friend, I once met Alexander Cruden the Author of the Concordance of the Scriptures at Charles Dilly’s. He was then about 70 years of…
Benjamin Rush was an American revolutionary, a Founding Father of the United States and signatory to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educator, and the founder of Dickinson College. Rush was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress. He later described his efforts in support of the American Revolution, saying: "He aimed well." He served as Surgeon General of the Middle Department of the Continental Army and became a professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia July 9th: 1807. My dear friend, I once met Alexander Cruden the Author of the Concordance of the Scriptures at Charles Dilly’s. He was then about 70 years of…
Philadelphia Decemr 15. 1807. My Venerable & dear friend, An inflammation in my eyes which for several days has confined me to my house, and rendered writing difficult and painful,…
Philadelphia July 13. 1808 My dear Old friend The Campaign of Summer diseases being opened,—and my duties calling me at all hours of the day into the field of sickness…
Philadelphia Augst 24. 1808 My venerable & dear friend, In Contemplating the events that have lately taken place in Spain, and their probable Consequences, I < , Start deletion, we…
Philadelphia Octobr 21. 1808 My dear Friend, The election in Pennsylvania has issued in a manner totally unexpected by the federalists, and beyond the expectations of the Democrats. I was…
Philadelphia Jany 13. 1809 My dear friend, In a situation such as you have seen a Sea Captain in a Gale of Wind, I sit down to acknowledge the receipt…
Philadelphia March 13th. 1809 My excellent friend When a young man I read Sidney upon government. In one of his Chapters, he agitates the following question—“Whether A civil War, or…
Philad[ , Start insertion, el , End, ]phia June 14. 1809. My Dear sir My son Richard who has been a customer for the Aurora ever since he lived at…
Philadelphia July 26th: 1809. [. . .] nd, I enclose you three numbers of Duane’s papers that you may see in what manner the late news from St James’s has…
August. 5th: 1809. “salus, honor et bonus Appetitus.” to use the Words of Molière— from Dear sir ever / Yrs Benjn: Rush
Philadelphia Septr: 6th 1809. My dear friend, Although for many years past I have read nothing, but books upon medicine on week days, & upon Religion on Sundays, and have…
Philadelphia October 17th: 1809 My dear friend Who were the ancestors and posterity of Homer, Demosthenes, Plato and Aristotle? who were the ancestors and posterity of Cicero, Horace and Virgil?…
my dear friend, Philadelphia Decemr: 5th: 1809 I picked up some time ago a magazine in which I met with a revival of the Old controversy concerning the divine Origin…
[ , Start insertion, ca. Jan.-Feb. 1810 , End, ] My venerable Old friend of 1774 Accept of my thanks for your last letter.—I enclose you a few numbers of…
Philadelphia Feby 1. 1810 My dear & excellent friend With this letter you will receive a bundle of Auroras, and another of the same size by the post of the…
Philada June 12th: 1810. My dear friend, Every moment of Amusement that I am able to afford you, is an Addition to my happiness, for which reason I send you…
June 20th: 1810. Wealth, respect and friendship! from your grateful and affectionate friend. Benjn: Rush War with the “great hammer of the whole earth” to use the words < of…
Philada July 4th: 1810. Dear and venerable friend I have no objection to your knowing that by the “great hammer of the earth” I meant Napoleon. George the 3rd: I…
Philadelphia Septr: 8th. 1810 My dear friend, Mr Denny is the principal writer in the portfolio. He is precluded from introducing politicks into it by its proprietor Mr Sam Bradford,…
Philadelphia Decemr 21. 1810. My dear friend, We read of Hurricane Months in the West Indies. Men of business are exposed to them no less than the West India islands.…
Philadelphia March 4th: 1811 Dear Sir Herewith th[ , Start insertion, r , End, ]ough the politeness of Mr Quincy you will receive the < , Start deletion, [. .…
Philadelphia July 20th: 1811. Dear old friend The 4th of July has been celebrated in Philada: in the manner I expected. The military men, and particularly one of them, ran…
Philada Augt 6. 1811 My dear old friend, You may tell your friend Mr Cranch that I included my Correspondent among the men who were so prominent in madness as…
Philadelphia Septr 20th: 1811 My dear Sir I shall begin my letter by replying to your daughters. I prefer giving my Opinion & Advice in < you > her Case…