CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Sir,

LETTER I.

QUINCY, Nov. 28th, 1803.

I received on Saturday your favour of the 21st-had before received the copy of your Oration, which you mention in it, and since that, have received the other, that you sent first. For all these favours I thank you.

The Brochure, which contains much valuable matter, I have read with a lively interest, and high pleasure. I wish I had patience, and leisure, however, to make a few friendly remarks. But, as I have not, I shall confine myself to one or two questions. The first is, have you not fallen too deeply in love with Mr. Ames' style? The second is, where you found your authority for your quotation in (n. p. 10) page 31 and 32, which you say is from Mr. Jefferson's Letter to Judge Wythe, 1776. I never knew nor heard

of any letter to Judge Wythe from Jefferson. The words quoted, viz :-"The dignity and stability of Government in all its branches," &c. are taken from my letter to Judge Wythe, in

1776.

Some time in January or February, I believe, in 1776, or if I am mistaken in the recollection of the month, certainly, very early in that year, I wrote the pamphlet in question, which Richard Henry Lee procured to be printed by Dunlap, in Philadelphia, under the title of Thoughts on Government, in a Letter from a Gentleman to his friend.-Being applied to by a printer many years after, I gave permission to re-print it, with my name, who wrote it, and Mr. Wythe's, to whom it was written. By the quotation you make, I suspect that some rascal has reprinted it, and imputed it to the name of Mr. Jefferson.

I wish you success, Sir, in your literary pursuits and all others, and am, with kind regards to your family, your most obedient servant,

Mr. William Cunningham.

JOHN ADAMS.

Dear Sir,

LETTER II.

FITCHBURG, Dec. 2, 1803.

I duly received your favour of the 28th ult. I know your time is much employed, yet, I cannot restrain the wish, that you would have "patience and leisure to make the friendly remarks" which arose on the perusal of my performance. I am sufficiently sensible of inaccuracies to be admonished, for the future, against too much confidence in my own information. A friendly eye to discover faults, and a friendly hand to correct them, are benefits which a just precaution recommends to writers of more accuracy and of better advantages than myself.

In answer to the two questions proposed in your letter, I say-That if my style is like Mr. Ames', I may with truth assert, that I am not a copyist. I think myself tolerably well acquainted with the merits of Mr. Ames: while I admire the strength of his imagination, I must say that I think it greater than the solidity of his judgment: I am deeply sensible of obligation for your friendly hint.

My authority for the quotation (n. p. 10) is the federal prints. If my memory is faithful, the letter to Judge Wythe has been imputed to Jefferson in a number of them. I found the extract I used in Thomas' Massachusetts Spy, which is generally considered correct :—I herewith forward the paper for your inspection. I cannot conceal my mortification at not being informed of the real author of the letter; nor can I suppress my indignation at the intention, or incautiousness which steals from one and cheats another. If you would suggest a method for the correction of the error in my publication, I would most readily conform to it.

Permit me to renew remembrances to your family, and to assure you of my being, with profound respect,

Dear Sir,

Your most Ob't. Serv't.

Hon. John Adams,
Quincy.

WM. CUNNINGHAM, JR.

Dear Sir,

LETTER III.

FITCHBURG, Jan. 10, 1804.

I have ascertained that Mr. Adams' Sermon at the Dudleian Lecture was not published; a copy was deposited in the archives of the University, agreeably to the will of Judge Dudley. I am informed, in a letter from the Rev'd. Mr. Cushing, of Ashburnham, that it was a laboured discourse on the validity of Presbyterian Ordination, for which Mr. Adams was much complimented.

I have for some time been collecting materials to present the Public with a full view of the character and conduct of Mr. Jefferson. I am informed that such a work is preparing by Mr. Colman of New-York, under the eye of Gen. Hamilton. If I should really find the design in better hands, I shall relinquish it. I am, at present, encouraged by the promised aid and patronage of some valuable friends. If I should proceed in the work, the time most favourable for effect at the ensuing election will be chosen for its appearance.