Details
ADAMS, John Quincy, President. Autograph letter signed ("A") to Thomas B. Adams, St. Petersburg, 4 March 1812. 4 full pages, 4to, small hole affecting several letters, otherwise fine.
ON THE EVE OF WAR WITH BRITAIN: "I CANNOT RECONCILE MYSELF TO THE IDEA OF A WAR...WHICH CAN ONLY PROMOTE THE PURPOSES OF FRANCE"
Adams, having endured another harsh winter as Minister to Russia, writes to his brother, Thomas Boyleston Adams (1772-1832), an attorney in Philadelphia. Adams gently rebukes his brother's silence: "...you have not availed yourself of any one of the channels of Communication that I had suggested to you." After discussing family matters, he turns to politics and referring to his declining a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, writes: "The government...will fix us here for another Winter. I am rejoyced that the seat upon the Bench which had been assigned to me has been now allotted to another, but I sometimes regret the loss of the opportunity...to return home." War with Britain being imminent, he continues: "All the information that we receive from the United States...indicates a disposition and measures leading to War. As far as these may consist in preparations and in the raising of a force sufficient to give weight to our claims for right and redress of wrong, it gives me pleasure to see them. But I cannot reconcile myself to the idea of a War...which can only promote the purposes of France [and] that is forced upon us by the stupid obstinacy of the British Cabinet." Predicting Napoleon's invasion of Russia, he writes: "War between France and Russia is generally expected here...If it should actually break out this Spring, you will have heard of actual hostilities before you receive this letter." He talks of how "French troops have taken military possession of Swedish Pomerania" before concluding with news that U.S. "affairs in France are said to be in a favourable situation. I hear that Mr [Joel] Barlow [U.S. Minister to France] has already concluded an advantageous Treaty of Commerce." War with Great Britain was, as he predicted, declared on 18 June; Adams was later to serve on the commission sent to Ghent to negotiate the final peace treaty.
ON THE EVE OF WAR WITH BRITAIN: "I CANNOT RECONCILE MYSELF TO THE IDEA OF A WAR...WHICH CAN ONLY PROMOTE THE PURPOSES OF FRANCE"
Adams, having endured another harsh winter as Minister to Russia, writes to his brother, Thomas Boyleston Adams (1772-1832), an attorney in Philadelphia. Adams gently rebukes his brother's silence: "...you have not availed yourself of any one of the channels of Communication that I had suggested to you." After discussing family matters, he turns to politics and referring to his declining a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, writes: "The government...will fix us here for another Winter. I am rejoyced that the seat upon the Bench which had been assigned to me has been now allotted to another, but I sometimes regret the loss of the opportunity...to return home." War with Britain being imminent, he continues: "All the information that we receive from the United States...indicates a disposition and measures leading to War. As far as these may consist in preparations and in the raising of a force sufficient to give weight to our claims for right and redress of wrong, it gives me pleasure to see them. But I cannot reconcile myself to the idea of a War...which can only promote the purposes of France [and] that is forced upon us by the stupid obstinacy of the British Cabinet." Predicting Napoleon's invasion of Russia, he writes: "War between France and Russia is generally expected here...If it should actually break out this Spring, you will have heard of actual hostilities before you receive this letter." He talks of how "French troops have taken military possession of Swedish Pomerania" before concluding with news that U.S. "affairs in France are said to be in a favourable situation. I hear that Mr [Joel] Barlow [U.S. Minister to France] has already concluded an advantageous Treaty of Commerce." War with Great Britain was, as he predicted, declared on 18 June; Adams was later to serve on the commission sent to Ghent to negotiate the final peace treaty.