John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, May 21, 1797
The Hague 21. May 1797.
My dear Mother.
The last Letter I have received from you is dated the 11 th: of last November. I know not whether since that time the
multiplicity of your own avocations or the uncertainty where your Letters would find me
have prevented you from writing to me. However it be I cannot suffer a long period to
pass without writing, on my part, and I feel already culpable in some degree, when I
reflect, that I have not written you since the 8 th: of
February.— 1 I have indeed kept my
correspondence with my father very active and frequent. So that for whatever information
I can give of news and politics you will find no vacancy; but a mother; and especially
the best of mothers, loves to hear from her children something about themselves.— I am
so sensible of this, and feel so much the common disposition of tattling about myself,
that I can scarce ever read over a letter written to you without blushing a little at
the strain of uninterrupted egotism into which it constantly slides.— I hope you will
receive this as partly apologizing for the long intervals which sometimes elapse between
the dates of my Letters to you.
About the 10 th: of last month, I
received my commission for Lisbon, and my recall from this mission. But as it has
appeared to me rather expedient for the public service to delay than to hasten my
departure I am still here.— In about three weeks from this. I expect to sail either
directly from Amsterdam, or else to send my baggage from thence, and go
myself first to London. This last plan would suit me best, but I know not whether it
will be possible.
By my baggage, I mean principally my books for I have scarcely any
other. I have never kept house here, as indeed I could not, and am therefore not
encumbered with furniture. But I have collected a small parcel of books, valuable for
their contents though not by their splendor, and I cannot reconcile myself to part with
them. They have been gathered with a real intention of use, and not for shew, though
even in this, comparatively speaking, solitude, I am able only to snatch here and there
a moment for the entertainment and instruction they afford.— The practice however of
purchasing books at all the sales (which are frequent) and a certain reserve, which has
kept me much out of what is called la Societé, or la bonne
compagnie , or has accompanied me into it, have given me a formidable reputation
as of a student, which I but ill deserve.— I am not completely idle, but my father would
think me inexcusably indolent.
In speaking of la bonne compagnie, I must tell you what it is.— The
National Assembly and the various offices created under it, have collected here a
considerable number of wealthy families, from various parts of the Country.— The
influence and example of the french Minister has been constantly used, to unbend the
reserve which characterizes the manners of this People, and to introduce among them the
sort of sociality which prevails in France. He has formed a sort of Court about him,
more numerously attended, and more assiduously cultivated than that of the Stadholder
under the old Government. 2 The example
has spread with more or less extent among the members of the present Government, and
their numerous and crowded parties have assumed an appearance of gaiety and splendor,
which forms a counterpart to the dulness and dissatisfaction very discernible among the
People in general.— As the french of the present day affect to have taken for their
model the conquering policy of the Romans, I often think that in this instance they have
adopted the system pursued by Agricola, among the Britons, in a situation not very
different. The writer of his life, though his son in Law and a Roman, makes a reflection
upon the occasion, concerning the effects of that policy upon the Britons, which the
Batavians of the present day, much less warlike and much more civilized might however
forcibly apply to themselves. 3
My brother has consented to go with me to Lisbon; but he was so
desirous before his return home, to get at least a transient view of France, that he has taken the present opportunity for a short trip to Paris. He has
been gone about five weeks; and I expect him back now in the course of a few days. My
last Letter from him is of the 11 th: — I gave him a letter to
M. Arnoux, who treated him with much kindness and attention, and in his answer to my
introduction, requests me to present his respects to you.— You remember the pretty young
Lady, we used to see at Mess rs: de Chalût, and who was
afterwards recognized as the farmer General’s daughter.— She is married and has five
children.
My friends in Boston, have left off writing to me altogether. I
have scarcely received a letter from thence these twelve months. I find that the want of
punctuality from American correspondents is proverbial.— I find by the newspapers that
M r: S: Adams has declined being re-elected as Governor of
Massachusetts.— His age and infirmities are entitled to repose, and his retirement from
the public service, will prove his best security to preserve unimpaired the grateful
sense of his former exertions in the cause of his Country.
I am unwilling to enter with you upon the subject of politics.
Europe is still the theatre of stupendous Events, which crowd upon one another with a
rapidity and a violence that baffle all anticipation, and leave not a moment for the
wonder of common minds to subside. The Emperor has made his Peace with France, having
the Republican armies almost at the gates of Vienna.— The Government of Venice, the most
antient in Europe, expires almost without a groan, in the hands of a Corsican stripling,
whose name two years ago might have been hidden under a dogs ear on the rolls of Fame,
but which at this moment disdains comparison with less than those of Caesar or
Alexander. 4 The British power is
crumbling to pieces from every corner of its foundations. A new order of ages is
advancing with gigantic strides, and would to Heaven there were better grounds to
promise ourselves that with it Saturnian times are about to roll round again.— “Vain
wisdom all, and false philosophy.” 5 There
will be vice, while there is Man. So said two thousand years ago, one of the most
penetrating judges of human Nature that ever surveyed the species, and so with whatever
reluctance, must repeat every cool observer of the present times. 6 Corruption is an Antaeus that rises with fresh
vigour from every point of contact with his mother Earth, and never, never will a son of
Jove appear, to wrest him from his hold and strangle the monster in the air. 7
My prose is running mad. Let me rather return to the plain and simple assurance that I am, as I shall ever remain
with the tenderest sentiments of gratitude and affection, your Son.
John Q. Adams. 8