Abigail Adams to Benjamin Rush, October 18, 1800

Quincy October 18 th 1800

Dear Sir

I acknowledge the receipt of Your two favors one of the
9th and one of the 13 th . I am sorry You have
felt yourself So much hurt by the report of a Man, whose object is apparent
to every candid Mind. he feels himself an appostate, and like the first
appostate, he is ready to curse those beams of light and truth which Show
the height from which he has fallen.

To be wounded in the House of our Friend’s is a calamity
of the Most poignant nature, 1 and the President has had, during the present summer an uncommon Share of
virulence leveld at him, from those who have been firm Supporters of
Washingtons administration, whose voices and pens were employed in holding
him, and his measures in the highest estimation. these same Gentlemen have
become the most inveterate opposers of the President, and for no other
reason, than because he chose to act and think for himself, contrary to
their opinion, and those with whom they are in strict, and close alliance—
the Embassy to France has been the source of all their enmity. The News
papers in this state, particuliarly the Centinal, which upon all former
occasions, has been a supporter of government, has upon this, 2 become the vehicle of the party denominated the Essex junto. it would be a
Hurculian labour to trace all the falshoods which have been made, and
propagated for the purpose of bringing into the Government a Man, who as
they express themselves “will take Counsel” 3 in other words, one whom they can
Manage—

The President says he has three times already been tried
by his Countrymen upon the Charge of attachment to Monarchy and so far
acquited, as to receive their Suffrages. to the World he has publishd his
opinions. if in his writings they find truths which they can not realish, as
dean swift said of the Maxims of Rouchfoucault in him [“]they argue no
corrupted mind, the fault is in Mankind” 4

I never distrusted your regard, or attachment to a
Friend, of More than “thirty Summers ripening” 5 and must have much more credible
testimony than Mr T Cox’s to believe any insinuations which could be Made to
your disadvantage

If there can be any measures calculated to excite a Wish
in the breasts of our Countrymen for a permanant executive Majestrate, 6 it must arise from the
corruption of Morals introduced by frequent Elections, from the indecent
calumny which sports with the purest Characters; and strives to level them
with the meanest; which filches from the most Meritorious, that which is
dearer than life, their Good Name—that precious ointment which they have
stored up to embalm their memory. the prostration of truth and justice has
been the cause in all ages, of producing tyranny, More than ambition, and
our Country, will in Some future day, smart under the Same Lash. 7

Present Me affectionatly to Mrs Rush whom I hope to see
in the course of a fortnight, and be assured / My dear sir of the friendship
/ of Your Humble servant

A Adams 8