John Adams to John Trumbull, February 13, 1795

Philadelphia Feb. 13. 1795

Dear Sir

I had yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your kind Letter of the Sixth, and am Sorry to find that your health is so indifferent that the cold Season has so much confined you.

I am very ambitious of the honour of curing you and in order to gain your Confidence, I will, like other Empiricks, tell you one of my remarkable Cures, already performed.

Some years ago, I made a Visit at New York to Sir John Temple, whom I found upon his Couch, in a State of total Dejection and Despondency. “He was very ill”— “He was past recovery.” “He should never go out any more.” “He was afraid to die”—“but die he must.”— In this Strain he ran on for Sometime, without one Word from me. At length however I ventured to put in a Word— If you are determined to die, Sir John, there is no more to be said— It is easy to find means—Nay I tell you, you are now in a fair Way—persevere and you will infallibly die and that very soon. Why what would you have me do? If you will let me quack for you and will punctually follow my Prescriptions I will warrant you life and health and Spirits for many Years. Pray tell me what you mean? Take your hat and Cane, every day at twelve o Clock and walk moderately, five miles—then return to dinner and towards Evening take your horse and ride five or ten miles more. Where did you get
that notion? from D r Cheyne in my Youth.— 1

I took my Leave and thought no more of my Patient for Six or nine Months, after which I met Sir John on Horseback in the Street, who stoped and accosted me “sir you know not what obligations I am under to you. I owe my Life to you—I should certainly have died if you had not made me that Visit— I took your Advice and am now as well as ever I was in my Life.[”]

As I had rather save the Life of M r Fingall 2 than that of twenty British Knights, I most earnestly recommend the same Regimen to you, and I will forfeit all my Reputation as a Physician, if it has not the same Success.

Before I rec’d your Letter M r Mitchell, who seems to be your Sincere friend, who thinks you the greatest Genius Connecticutt ever produced, and what is better still an honest and Usefull Man, mentioned to me with great regret that you had given in your Resignation as Attorney General for the County. He says the Court have not accepted it, and hopes they will not but that you will, find yourself better and resume it. He desires me to write you his earnest request as well as mine that you would. 3 I most heartily join him in this Prayer.

Inclosed is one more Letter to M r Jay which I pray you to file with the others I sent you in my last. 4 The Plan and Resolution of refusing to treat till a Commission should arrive to treat with the Minister of U.S. was mine long before M r Jay was associated with me in the Commission for Peace: I suggested it to him and he heartily and ably joined me and Franklin could do nothing without Us.

You have raised up in Connecticutt a Group of Men of Wit and Humour and Poetry, such as America never saw before and will not again see in a Century. Swift is as wicked a Wit as any of you— And you have a Clump of Tall Trees here, overtopped by no state in the Union.

We are waiting with Impatience for my Friend Jays Treaty with Britain—May it Secure Us Peace.

“Peace is my dear Delight: not Fleurys more

But touch me and no Minister so sore.” 5

you see I have not forgotten all my Poetry, tho I never could make any.

I am, my dear sir as usual / your hum ble ser t

John Adams