Jeremy Belknap to Abigail Adams, May 30, 1798
Boston May 30 1798
Dear Madam
Yesterday morning I had the honour of writing to the President
& enclosing my fast Sermon. 1 At
noon, I had the very great pleasure of voting for him as President of the Academy to
which office he was re-elected unanimously; 2 & before night I received your very
obliging favour of the 24 th with the Books & the
extract, for which I return you my cordial thanks. 3 As I had not seen Robinsons work (tho’ D r morse had promised to lend it to me) I suppose I am at
liberty to consider it as my own; tho’ I will lend it to M r Cranch. I hear there is a proposal of reprinting it here. 4 The extract is copied & sent to John
Russell to be published in his Commercial Gazette tomorrow. I have titled it “Extract
of a letter from a Gent n of good information in Europe”
Russell knows tht it came from me & that I have a Correspondent at Hamburgh, which
is enough to satisfy him & any person who may make inquiry of him. 5 Pray, Madam, is the Dupont mentioned in the Extract the same person who is sent to succeed
L’Etombe as Consul Gen l ? and is he or will he be received
in that Character?
The Confidence which you repose in me, & your kind wishes for
my health & usefulness require my warmest gratitude. It is every one’s duty at
this critical time to say & do all in his power to serve his Country in its
religious & political Interests & I hope I shall not be backward to perform
mine. Should there be any services in the Cause of truth, virtue, genuine liberty
& the public safety which you or the man you love best can recommend to me I shall
be very happy to receive your commands.
Notwithstanding the dark & threatning aspect of the political
hemisphere yet I do not think it equal to what we passed through in 1774 & 1775.
Under the present Executive Administration of our federal Government, I enjoy as much
tranquillity of mind as Eneas did when navigating the Streight between Sicily &
Italy under the conduct of Palinurus, whilst Scylla &
Charybdis foamed & roared on either side & Etna thundred over his head. 6 I pray most sincerely for the
preservation of the life, health & vigour of our Palinurus & hope he will not think of a retreat till like our Friend Washington,
he shall have the prospect of a Successor to whom the helm may be safely committed.
Let his heart be fixed & his confidence be placed in that guardian power which
“rides in the Whirlwind & directs the Storm.” 7 I think nothing would be a more proper subject
of contemplation & consolation for him that the Text of John Cotton’s Election
sermon in 1633. You may find it in the book of Haggai ch. ii. ver. 4. 8
After our last Commencement I sent Governor Wentworth one of our
College Catalogues & mentioned to him the pleasure it gave me to see the names of
2 Gentlemen so dear to me printed in Capitals in the Class of 1755. at the same time I
repeated some expressions of affectionate regard toward him which I had heard from the
President a little while before. I added respecting the latter that “I felt myself
very happy in his advancement to the chief Magistracy of the Union, because I believed
there was more political sagacity in his head than in all the crowned heads of
Europe.” His answer, which was not designed for any eye but mine, I take the liberty
of sending for your perusal together with two specimens of Nova Scotia Poetry, which
may afford you some amusement. 9
I am, Madam, with great respect, your friend / & humble
serv t
Jeremy Belknap
I hear that M rs Black is immoderately
fond of her baby!