Adams John (1735-1826)

Adams, John (1735-1826), Signed letter, Quincy, January 14th, 1823, one page, to Messrs. Timothy Cooley, Oliver Parsons and James Cooley, Committee [for an unnamed School], acknowledging their request from books from his library, (Softness to paper, and old mildew, fold weakness and separations to right fold with some staining near top and minor losses along central horizontal fold). Text in full: Gentlemen, I am honoured with your letter of the 9th January 1823. It would give me great pleasure to send you any books for the use of your Classical School, but I have already given my library to a Classical School in Quincy excepting a very few which are a necessity of Life to me. I send you the second and third volumes of my Defence, of the first volume I have but one copy. Of the Discourses on Davila I have but one copy, which I call the fourth volume of my Defence. How these four volumes will be considered by Posterity, I know not. They were written with great sincerity and great anxiety unpolished as they are, that must remain for I can never correct or revise them. With my sincere wished for the increase of your library, and the prosperity of your Society and with a duplicate of the second and third volumes - I have the honor to be very respectfully your most obedient Servant, John Adams. Note: The recipients of this letter are connected to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The Timothy Cooley referenced is likely Dr. Timothy Mather Cooley who was a Trustee Read more…