John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, August 16, 1799
Töplitz 16 August 1799.
I received your N. 6. dated 3. June, about three weeks ago, at this
place, and should have replied to it sooner, but for a violent fever which seized me on
the first of this month, and confined me for about ten days— 1 It was only an intermittent, and paid me no more
than five visits; but they were long and severe enough to leave me very weak.— I think
myself now altogether recovered, and can moralize, upon the difference between human
purposes and their issues.— I came here with the hope that the baths and waters would
restore my wife to health— The journey was certainly of great service to her; but it is
yet a problem whether the baths will eventually do her good or harm— Hitherto, they have
had no good effect upon her, and instead of making her well, the result has been to make
me sick.— Yet they tell us so much of the efficacy of these baths, that we shall give
them their full chance, and propose to remain here untill the 10 th: of next month, after which we intend to pass three or four weeks at Dresden,
and return, about the middle of October to Berlin. 2
Your account of the federal City, is by no means calculated to
inspire confidence, in its progress, and does not tempt me to become a purchaser in it.—
I had much rather you should employ the remainder of my money, as you had the first
draught you made.— In general I wish you to be extremely cautious with regard to
speculation; every day’s experience more firmly convinces me that it is incompatible
with security, which is by far the most essential object to me.
The manner in which the public money has been squandered upon the
federal city, is not surprizing, to those, who recollect how the building of the
frigates was managed— Bulöw says in his book, after observing that Congress had granted
500,000 dollars towards building the city, that they must know such a sum, would effect
very little in America— 3 It appears that
the grant has been trebled, and yet has effected very little.— It might be doubled again
ten-fold, and still effect very little— All governments pay much dearer for the same
thing, than individuals, and our Government pays three times more than any other
The day before I left Berlin, I wrote you that I had drawn upon
M r: Pitcairn, for 2000 of your money, and I sent you at
the same time an order upon the Secretary of State for 1000 dollars, out of which I
desired you to pay yourself, according to the exchange at par between Philadelphia, and Hamburg, and pass the remainder to my credit in
accompt.
I have already twice written you that I had concluded to keep my
obligations in Holland; and will take your’s at par; authorising you to draw on the
Secretary of State, for 2000 dollars, in my name, on the 1 st: of January next; for which you will make over to me, your obligations. 4
By a letter from my mother of 12. June, I learn that my books had
then arrived from Lisbon, at Boston; but they had not reached Quincy.— I hope they were
in good condition.
Your two muskets have been sent to M r: Pitcairn, who has already forwarded them, or will send them by the first good
opportunity. 5
I am here not at all in the way of political news.— I can therefore
only tell you, that every day adds to the probability that the french will soon be
totally expelled from Italy.— Mantua capitulated on the 28 th: of last Month— Alessandria in Piedmont had done the same about a week
earlier— All Tuscany, and Lucca, are in possession of the imperialists— Naples is
restored to its original sovereign; and there remain under Moreau and Macdonald,
scarcely 30,000 men, of at least 120,000 with which the campaign in Italy was begun at
the close of March.— The fortresses of Tortona and Coni in Piedmont still remain to be
taken. 6
Your’s affectionately.
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