Description:

John Quincy Adams
Washington, D.C., January 23, 1831
John Q. Adams Exceptional Letter: "The characters of kings are not only History, but make the History of Nations and the World" PSA/DNA
ALS
A superb content and association autograph letter signed "J. Q. Adams, 4pp. 8" x 9.5", Washington, January 23, 1831. Adams writes a lengthy commentary to Richard Rush on two bi-folia sheets, penned perfectly and clearly. In fine condition and one of the most beautifully composed Adams letters we have encountered! With PSA/DNA certificate.

In part: "…When Lorel Brougham and Vaux was Harry Brougham, you remember the Spark of Electricity emitted by him in the simple but comprehensive words ‘The Schoolmaster is abroad.' Whether the Lord Chancellory of England upon his wooljack will be quite as great as an admirer of the ubiquity of the Schoolmaster…is a question for which I am awaiting the solution in some fresh coruscation from that Northern Light which is shedding its portentous Radiance over the European Hemisphere, and foreshadowing the Tempest which you from the centre of Pennsylvania, with the grounding Alchemy of the Press, have explained…I have read your answer to the address of the Rhode Island Pocket [?] masters; and the two Articles under…the Signature of Temple…They have pleased and instructed me…But in giving me much information, they have somewhat excited my curiosity for more…Your analysis of the composition of the British Administration which immediately succeeded that of Wellington…sufficiently demonstrates that on this point your opinion concurs with mine. The penetrating observation and keen discriminating power which you apply to the delineation of Caracter, can escape no reader worthy of giving your papers a second perusal. With all this impressed upon my mind, I have sometimes asked myself whether you do not occasionally transfer to your Portrait the lofty spirit of your own Soul, and the expansive Benevolence of your own heart, and whether the fair side of your picture is not a reflection from the mirror of the Painter, rather than a touch of the pencil from the real life of the original. For example…in the fascinating exhibition you have made of William the Fourth, have you not given him credit for the virtues that he does not possess? Have you not decorated the brow of a Claudius or a Nero, with the chaplet of Titus? That all the virtues should have concentrated themselves in the person of William the 4th from the moment when the King's most Excellent Majesty George the 4th had ceased to live was of course an Article to read to all the Courtiers at St. James's. But the profoundest of all historians has told us that of all the Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar to Adrian [sic, Hadrian], the character of only one had improved after investment of the imperial people, and one was neither weak nor eminently vicious before. But William the fourth? Setting aside the base degradation of a blood royal, which draws down upon him the blast of indignation from the Counsel of Queen Caroline, now his Attorney General, what has there ever been in the life of the life of the Duke of Clarence, or Prince William Henry, which can warrant one syllable of premature panegyric upon the virtues of King William…I bear no ill-will to William the 4th…I was going to remark that the character of Kings, not only are History, but make the History of Nations, and of the World…". Much more!'

Adams' eloquent response in this letter refers to something Rush wrote on the subject of Great Britain, but we have not succeeded in identifying it, making this letter most worthy of further research.

John Quincy Adams and Richard Rush were close political allies and clearly shared an intellectual interest in history. Both were intimately familiar with British politics: Adams served as the U.S. Minister to Britain from 1814-1817, and Rush succeeded him. When Adams was elected President in 1825, he recalled Rush from Britain and appointed him as Secretary of the Treasury. Rush then joined the ticket as Vice Presidential candidate in Adams' 1828 reelection campaign, but their bid was unsuccessful.

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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    Dimensions:
  • 8" x 9.5"
  • Artist Name:
  • John Quincy Adams
  • Medium:
  • ALS

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