John Adams to Benjamin Rush, July 15, 1789

New York July 15 1789

Dear Sir

I have read D r Rush, de moribus
Germanorum, with pleasure. 1

As I am a great lover of paradoxes, when defended with ingenuity, I
have read also the Phillippic against Latin and Greek, with some amusement: but my
reverence for those Languages and the inestimable treasures hoarded up in them is not
abated. Jean Jaques Roussseau’s phillippic against the arts and sciences 2 amused informed and charmed me—but I have loved
and admired arts and sciences the better from that time to this— What an ingrate was he
to employ arts and sciences to abuse them? and are you much better, to use the knowledge
and skill you derived from Latin and Greek to slander those divine Languages

Yours Ut Supra

J A