Description:

John Adams, "The Father of the American Navy," thanks a prominent naval historian "for the copy in two volumes of the naval history." _Written during the War of 1812: one of the great tests of American naval prowess

Autograph Letter Signed, "John Adams," 1 page, 8" x 9.75", Quincy, January 25, 1814 to naval historian Thomas Clark in Philadelphia. Typical folds, text and signatures bold and dark, minor expert archival restoration to edges, small bit of expert archival tissue repair toÿverso, none affecting text or signatures, overall very good to fine condition.

This rare January 25, 1815 autograph letter twice signed by John Adams, written to naval historian Thomas Clark, speaks to Adams' renowned stature as "Father of the American Navy." During the Revolution, when the Continental Congress hoped that a small naval force could helpÿoffsetÿthe uncontested exercise of British sea power, Adams championed the founding legislation that called for fitting out armed vessels for national service, as well as the creation of a Marine Committee to oversee naval affairs. Before year's end, again in large part due to Adams' lobbying, Congress authorized the construction of a small fleet. "It was Adams who drafted the first set of rules and regulations for the new navy, aÿpointÿof pride with him for as long as he lived." In addition Adams rigorously studied naval armaments and strategy, "and would call his work on the naval committee the pleasantest part of his labors... In the advocacy of sea defenses he stood second to none" (McCullough, 99-100).

Adams' letter reads, in full: "I thank you for your polite and obliging letter of the 17th and for the copy in two volumes of The Naval History of the United States, and for several copies of your Proposals for publishing a History of U.S. The Plan is ample and judicious, and I wish you every Encouragement in the execution of it. Mr. Trumbull of Connecticutt [sic] has published a general History of this country. I have not seen it since it was printed. It is probably familiar to you. I am so ill at present that I cannot enlarge. Your Proposals shall be distributed to the best of my Judgment. I have given one to the modest Gentleman who would not allow his name to appear, and told him at the same time, Contemptu Famae, Fama Augetur,"


Naval historian Thomas Clark served in the War of 1812, where he was a "captain of engineers and employed in the defenses of the Delaware River" (20th Century Biographical Dictionary). HisÿNaval Historyÿfirst appeared in a one-volumeÿeditionÿin 1813, and was issued in an expanded two-volume edition in early January 1814. Not long after publication of the first edition, Adams wrote Thomas Jefferson: "Have you seen theÿNaval Historyÿby Mr. Clark, published by Mathew Carey at Philadelphia? I wish I had time and Eyes and fingers to write much to you on this Subject" (Cappon, 326). Jefferson, who would also receive a copy of the first edition, subsequently wrote Clark with suggestions for the proposed expanded edition. On its publication Jefferson praised the work for "ensuring to us the preservation of the facts as they occur." In Clark's preface to the first edition, he warmly "acknowledged the valuable assistance of John Adams" and in his preface to the 1814 edition, again spoke of Adams while also noting, with regret, that it was only the "want of proper documents, and the hurry of the work" that prevented him from pursuing "the observations of Mr. Jefferson... on the Tripolitan war" (Sowerby 262).

Clark'sÿNaval Historyÿ"was distributed widely and was immensely popular. John Adams felt it was the decisive factor in persuading a largely agrarian populace to support an American Navy" (Green,ÿMathew Carey, 28). Considered "the first book which attempted to treat the subject as a whole" (Winsor,ÿNarrative and Critical HistoryÿV7:416), it is also famous as "the foundation on which James Fenimore Cooper wrote hisÿNaval Historyÿ[1839]" (Scharf & Thompson,ÿHistory of Philadelphia, 1139). The integral autograph address leaf, bearing Adams' autograph free frank, is addressed to "Thomas Clark Esquire, No. 37 South Second Street Philadelphia." Along the top edge is the faint trace, in an unidentified hand, of "Quincy Ms Jany 26th," likely acknowledging receipt, as does the word ""Answered," also in an unknown hand, at one side. Trace of wax seal to integral address panel. See Sabin 13377, 13378; Howes C446.ÿ

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