Papers of John Adams, volume 17
I cannot omit the Opportunity of writing by Monsr de le Etombe who is going to France & will take the Care of this Letter. You must not expect it will be a long one. There are many Things which I wish to say to you, but the Tremor of my Hand is so increasd that I am put to Difficulty to guide my Pen.
Our Merchants are complaing bitterly that Great Britain is ruining their Trade, and there is great Reason to complain; but I think much greater, to complain of too many of the Citizens thro’ the Common wealth who are imitating the Britons in every idle Amusement & expensive Foppery which it is in their Power to invent for the Destruction of a young Country. Can our People expect to indulge themselves in the unbounded Use of every unmeaning & fantastick Extravagance because they would follow the Lead of Europeans, & not spend all their Money? You would be surprizd to see 217the Equipage, the Furniture & expensive Living of too many, the Pride & Vanity of Dress which pervades thro’ every Class, confounding every Distinction between the Poor & the Rich and evincing the Want both of Example & Oconomy
Before this reaches you, you will have heard of the Change in our cheife Magistrate. I confess it is what I have long wishd for. Our new Governor has issued his Proclamation for the Encouragement of Piety Virtue Education & Manners and for the Suppressing of Vice.1 This with the good Example of a first Magistrate & others may perhaps restore our Virtue.
Monsieur le Etomb’s true Decency of Manners has done honor to your Letter of Recommendation.2
Mrs A joins in sincere Respects to your Lady & Family. / Adieu my dear sir
RC (Adams Papers).
In his proclamation of 8 June, Massachusetts governor James Bowdoin urged a return to Christianity’s “excellent System of Morals,” warning citizens to expect punishment for “Blasphemy, profane Cursing and Swearing, Profanation of the LORD’s-Day, Gaming, Idleness, Drunkenness, and every other Species of Vice, when such Offences shall be committed” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, A Proclamation, for the Encouragement of Piety, Virtue, Education and Manners, and for the Suppression of Vice, Boston, [1785], Evans, No. 19085).
On 11 March 1781, JA wrote letters of introduction for Philippe André Joseph de Létombe, then the new French consul at Boston, to AA and Isaac Smith Sr. (
AFC
, 4:89–91) and to Samuel Adams (NN:Bancroft Coll.) and to the Rev. Samuel Cooper (LbC, APM Reel 102). In his letter to Samuel Adams, JA wrote that “I think, America will find in this Gentleman, a worthy, able Friend of his own Country and of ours.”
This will be delivered you by The Sieur De le Tombe Consull General of France for the four New England Governments, who during his Residence here have behaved to universal Acceptance, I recommend him to your kind Attention.
I embrace this opportunity to trasmit you an Authenticated Copy of an Act passed the General Court of this Commonwealth at their present Session entituled an Act for the Regulation of Navigation & Commerce,1 I have not time to make any Observations upon this Act, as the Vessell is just upon Sailing, but presuming it would be agreable to you to have a sight of it as soon as possible I determined not to miss the Oportunity & should be glad to be favoured with your Sentiments upon it; It is apprehended simular Measures will 218be adopted by the Other States: Other Acts & measures are now under the Consideration of the Assembly for the promotion of Trade and Commerce Which as soon as determined upon I design to forward to you: I conclude with my best Respects to yourself and Mrs Adams / Your most Obedient humble Servt
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “[Hi]s Excellency John Adams Esqr.” Some loss of text due to a cut manuscript.
The enclosure has not been found, but for the act of 23 June and subsequent unrest in Boston, see William Smith’s letter to JA of 2 May, and note 2, above.