Jeremy Belknap to John Adams, March 2, 1795

Boston March 2 d 1795

Dear Sir

Your favours of Jan y 23 & Feb 4 enclosing a Certificate from the Secretary’s office & M r Madison’s answer, with the History of Geneva have been duly rec d & I thank you for them; I am now waiting for M r Thomson’s answer which must be decisive , tho’ enough may be said without it to satisfy every person not excepting D r Kippis himself. When I shall have rec d this I will draw up something & send it to you for your revisal, before it goes any further.

Inclosed is a set of queries sent to me by a M r Tucker, Professor of Law in the College at Williamsburg— I had a few Copies struck off & have distributed them among such Gent n. as I think can give me the requisite Information. 1 Is it in your power to assist me? Was you as a Lawyer concerned in any Causes where Negroes sued for freedom before the Revolution? What arguments were used on either side? & how did the matter terminate? Do you remember a Petition in 1773 for the liberation of all the blacks? How was it supported & treated in the Gen l Court? 2

The two Proclamations which we had for the late Thanksgiving have made some noise among us. Some of my Breth n read the President’s only, others read it with the Govr’s endorsement I was among the former & have had the honor of being pointed at in the Chronicle for it; but I have not tho’t it worthy of an answer. A M r Bradford of Rowley has printed a democratic Sermon as a Contrast to Osgoods. I am told he is Brother to David Bradford the Pittsburg Shays. 3

I suppose the placing of the State’s arms & those of the U.S. was a fancy of the Printer’s—but I cannot say which is so placed as to have the superiority.

The Castle flag was not hoisted nor the Guns fired on the President’s birth day! 4

What I said of the Zodiac was intended for no one’s inspection but your own.

I am sir with great Respect your / most obed Serv t

Jeremy Belknap

PS. Any little pamphlet that you may have to spare will be acceptable—

I send you one of J Winthrop’s which is more popular than his first 5