Adams Papers Digital Edition

Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 March 1780 JQA JA John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 21 March 1780 Adams, John Quincy Adams, John
John Quincy Adams to John Adams
Hond. Sir Passy March 21st 1780

I yesterday asked Mr. Pechigny if he thought it would do brother Charles any good to begin upon Latin at present, he answered me, 314that on the contrary, that he thought that it would spoil his taste for it; That he must conjugate verbs about a month, and then he might begin upon Latin, he desired me to ask you if you thought his proposition good and if you should he would Set Brother Charles upon conjugating verbs immediately, and if you Should not he would keep him upon Latin.1 Please to give my respects to Messrs. Dana and Thaxter. I am your dutiful and affectionate Son,

John Quincy Adams

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Monsieur Monsieur Adams Hotel de Valois rue de Richlieu a Paris,” with sender's address in JQA's hand: “Pension de Mathematiques.” Postmarked: “21 8e. Lvee. K/EI E/P.D,” all stamped impressions; endorsed: “My Son March 21. 1780.” See facsimile reproduced as an illustration in this volume, and for an explanation of the postal markings see Descriptive List of Illustrations, p. xvii–xviii, above.

1.

This is sufficiently confusing even for a twelve-year-old adviser to his father on the studies of a younger brother. As JA's reply of the next day (below) makes clear, JQA by “conjugating verbs” meant conjugating French verbs; and in the last clause he must have meant, not “keep,” but start CA “upon Latin.”

 James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1780 Lovell, James AA James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1780 Lovell, James Adams, Abigail
James Lovell to Abigail Adams
March 21st. 1780

I most sincerely rejoice with you on the safe Arrival of Mr. Adams in Spain after so short a Passage tho' attended with some Hardships.

In addition to the News in the Prints I venture, upon some confidential assurances from the worthy Genl. Lincoln, to excite your Hopes as to our affairs in that Quarter.1

It is recommended to redeem the continental Currency at 40 for 1 and to model the Tender Laws equitably. It is a Thing of uncertain Event and the Balance of Blessings and Cursings consequent cannot shortly be fixed. It is one of those Decisions about which much very much may and will be said on both Sides. I believe that most of those who said nay here on the Determination were glad it was carried against them. I cannot see how the Continent can suppose that Congress has any separate Interest to guide their Determination on this important Point.2

Yrs. affly., J Lovell

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln's defense of Charleston, S.C., had no such happy outcome for the American cause. See Massachusetts Historical Society, Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Benjamin Lincoln Papers, Boston, 1967, p. 11–13 and passim; see also note 1 on JA to Isaac Smith Sr., 26 May, below.

 2.

See Congress' resolutions of 18 March ( JCC , 16:262–267). For their 315background and sequels see E. James Ferguson, The Power of the Purse: A History of American Public Finance, 1776–1790, Chapel Hill, 1961, chs. 3–4. See further below, Richard Cranch to JA, 26 April; John Thaxter to JA, 7 Aug., especially note 5.