John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, April 11, 1802

Quincy 11. April 1802.

My dear Brother.

Since my last letter to you, I have not had the pleasure of
receiving a line from you— 1 I have it not
yet in my power to unpack my books, and consequently not to take out and send you those
belonging to you. But I have sent you a set of the Massachusetts Laws, and a copy of the
translation from Bülow, by the Sylvia, Captain Seth Daggett, who has already sailed, and
will probably reach Philadelphia as soon as this letter. 2

I suppose you will learn from the newspapers the general result of
our election for Governor, Lieut t: Governor and Senators—
M r: Strong will probably have a much larger majority this
year than the last, and M r: Robbins comes in by an equal
majority as lieut t: Governor— You will see my name upon the
Suffolk list of Senators, and perhaps be a little surprized, that I suffered it to be
run. But as it was extremely doubtful and generally doubted, whether it could be carried , I did not choose either to shrink, or even to have
the appearance of shrinking from the trial.— So I did not decline— And indeed a man may
as well be busy about nothing for the public as for himself— 3

Our friends here, are well.

Your’s affectionately

A. 4