Description:

John Adams ALS on "Massachusetts Spy" and "moral and political opinions of Virginia"

A short letter signed by John Adams just following his term as President of the United States. 2pp of a bifolium, measuring 8" x 10", Stony Field, Quincy, dated March 31, 1801. Signed "John Adams" and addressed to Worcester printer, Isaiah Thomas Jr. Adams writes to Thomas about recent publications of "The Massachusetts Spy", a Boston newspaper. With flattened mail folds, light toning, and a few areas of staining. Slightly uneven edges. There is a very small tear at the top of the first page. With a bold and clear signature. The letter appeared previously at Parke-Bernet Galleries in 1957 at the auction of the estate famous autograph dealer Forest Sweet of Battle Creek, Michigan.

The letter reads in full:
"I have received your favor of the 25th, with the Numbers of the Massachusetts Spy inclosed, and I thank you for your civility in sending them. I am, much pleased with their appearance, and the sentiments which predominate in them. You will say this is natural enough, because they are in general conformable to my own, and certainly favorable and friendly, if not partial to me. Your offer, to continue to send them is very kind and obliging. I have a strong curiosity to know, whether the County of Worcester has really become a Proselyte to the moral and political opinions of Virginia or not. Can you inform me? My compliments to your father, if you please."

"The Massachusetts Spy" was an 18th-century newspaper published by Isaiah Thomas in Boston, Massachusetts. First started in Boston sometime around 1770, it was a heavily political weekly paper that was constantly on the verge of being suppressed by the Royalist government. The newspaper had to be relocated from Boston to Worcester following "the April 6, 1775 issue" - just before the Battles of Lexington and Concord as well as the subsequent Siege of Boston. The paper was later published by Thomas' son, Isaiah Thomas, Jr.

In 1801, the Jeffersonian Republicans took charge of Congress, the presidency, and the national administration. Upon coming to power, they made it a priority to roll back what they deemed to be state-building excesses of their Federalist predecessors. Adams may have believed that, with Jefferson in power, he would attempt to implement the policies of him home state Virginia on other states. When the Commonwealth of Virginia had rebelled from England during the American Revolution, it created its own constitution as an independent state. And, when Virginia finally joined the United States, its government still functioned much as it had as a colony. It had a legislature, but that body and the county courts were dominated by an elite of what one historian has called "Gentlemen Freeholders." From 1776 until 1850, the government of Virginia continued to function on its original principles, and the Virginia constitution was not significantly changed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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