John Adams to Thomas Brand Hollis, June 1, 1790

NewYork June 1 1790

My dear friend

Nothing mortifies me more than the difficulty I find to maintain
that correspondence with you which when I left England I thought would be some
consolation to me for the loss of your conversation.

We proceed by degrees to introduce a little order into this
Country, and my public duties require so much of my time, that I have little left for
private friendships however dear to me. By General Mansell I send you a small packet
which will give you some idea of our proceedings. 1 The French seem to be very zealous to follow
our example: I wish they may not too exactly copy our greatest errors and suffer in
consequence of them greater misfortunes than ours. They will find themselves under a
necessity of treading back some of their too hasty steps as we have done.—

I am situated on the majestic banks of the Hudson, in comparison
of which your Thames is but a rivulet; and surrounded with all the beauties and
sublimities of nature. Never did I live in so delightful a spot— I would give—what
would I not give to see you here?— Your library and your cabinets of elegant and
costly curiosities, would be an addition to such a situation which in this country
would attract the attention of all. In Europe it is lost in the croud. Come over and
purchase a paradise here, and be the delight and admiration of a new world; marry one
of our fine girls and leave a family to do honor to human nature when you can do it no
longer in person. Franklin is no more, and we have lately trembled for Washington—
Thank God he is recovered from a dangerous sickness and is likely now to continue many
years. His life is of vast importance to us.— Is there any probability of a
fermentation in England, sufficient to carry off, any of her distempers? I wish her
happy and prosperous, but I wish she would adopt the old maxim—“Live and Let live.”
Will there be a compleat revolution in Europe both in religion and government? Where
will the present passions and principles lead and in what will they end? In more
freedom and humanity I am clear: but when? or how?— My affectionate regards to Doctor Price and all our
good friends—and beleive me yours dum spiro

John Adams.

Rhode Island is become one of us on the 29 May.