John Adams to Richard Peters, June 18, 1789

Richmond Hill June 18 th. 1789—

Dear sir—

Success you say, in yours of the 15 th. stamps a substantial value upon measures, Yet the Motto under a Picture of O. Cromwell,
is not without its Justice

Careat successibus, opto,

Quiquis, ab Eventu, facta notanda putat. 1

It is a saying in France, “We can never be ruined, for if our ruin
had been possible, it would have been accomplished long ago, since the wisest Heads in
France have been these hundred Years employed in doing all they could to effect it”—
Something very like this may be said with great truth of our own Country.

Tho I think we are not out of danger of divisions, yet upon the
whole I rest with you in an humble Confidence that we all will end well— I am settled on
the beautiful banks of the Hudson and expect M rs. Adams
daily— Tho I shall be as happy as a Priest I shall have no Objection to as good a
Residence on the Schuylkill or Delaware, if my superiors should command me to remove

Yet we have so much to do, that it would be a pitty to interrupt
our deliberations with any questions about Place at present—

I am Sir, with great esteem— / Your Most Obedient

J. Adams.