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I shall receive your proposed publication and read it with the
pleasure which everything gives me from your pen。 Although much of a
sceptic in the practice of medicine； I read with pleasure its
ingenious theories。
I receive with sensibility your observations on the
discontinuance of friendly correspondence between Mr。 Adams and
myself； and the concern you take in its restoration。 This
discontinuance has not proceeded from me； nor from the want of
sincere desire and of effort on my part； to renew our intercourse。
You know the perfect coincidence of principle and of action； in the
early part of the Revolution； which produced a high degree of mutual
respect and esteem between Mr。 Adams and myself。 Certainly no man
was ever truer than he was； in that day； to those principles of
rational republicanism which； after the necessity of throwing off our
monarchy； dictated all our efforts in the establishment of a new
government。 And although he swerved； afterwards； towards the
principles of the English constitution； our friendship did not abate
on that account。 While he was Vice President； and I Secretary of
State； I received a letter from President Washington； then at Mount
Vernon； desiring me to call together the Heads of departments； and to
invite Mr。 Adams to join us （which； by…the…bye； was the only instance
of that being done） in order to determine on some measure which
required despatch； and he desired me to act on it； as decided；
without again recurring to him。 I invited them to dine with me； and
after dinner； sitting at our wine； having settled our question； other
conversation came on； in which a collision of opinion arose between
Mr。 Adams and Colonel Hamilton； on the merits of the British
constitution； Mr。 Adams giving it as his opinion； that； if some of
its defects and abuses were corrected； it would be the most perfect
constitution of government ever devised by man。 Hamilton； on the
contrary； asserted； that with its existing vices； it was the most
perfect model of government that could be formed； and that the
correction of its vices would render it an impracticable government。
And this you may be assured was the real line of difference between
the political principles of these two gentlemen。 Another incident
took place on the same occasion； which will further delineate Mr。
Hamilton's political principles。 The room being hung around with a
collection of the portraits of remarkable men； among them were those
of Bacon； Newton and Locke； Hamilton asked me who they were。 I told
him they were my trinity of the three greatest men the world had ever
produced； naming them。 He paused for some time： 〃the greatest man；〃
said he； 〃that ever lived； was Julius Caesar。〃 Mr。 Adams was honest
as a politician； as well as a man； Hamilton honest as a man； but； as
a politician； believing in the necessity of either force or
corruption to govern men。
You remember the machinery which the federalists played off；
about that time； to beat down the friends to the real principles of
our constitution； to silence by terror every expression in their
favor； to bring us into war with France and alliance with England；
and finally to homologize our constitution with that of England。 Mr。
Adams； you know； was overwhelmed with feverish addresses； dictated by
the fear； and often by the pen； of the _bloody buoy_； and was seduced
by them into some open indications of his new principles of
government； and in fact； was so elated as to mix with his kindness a
little superciliousness towards me。 Even Mrs。 Adams； with all her
good sense and prudence； was sensibly flushed。 And you recollect the
short suspension of our intercourse； and the circumstance which gave
rise to it； which you were so good as to bring to an early
explanation； and have set to rights； to the cordial satisfaction of
us all。 The nation at length passed condemnation on the political
principles of the federalists； by refusing to continue Mr。 Adams in
the Presidency。 On the day on which we learned in Philadelphia the
vote of the city of New York； which it was well known would decide
the vote of the State； and that； again； the vote of the Union； I
called on Mr。 Adams on some official business。 He was very sensibly
affected； and accosted me with these words： 〃Well； I understand that
you are to beat me in this contest； and I will only say that I will
be as faithful a subject as any you will have。〃 〃Mr。 Adams；〃 said I；
〃this is no personal contest between you and me。 Two systems of
principles on the subject of government divide our fellow citizens
into two parties。 With one of these you concur； and I with the
other。 As we have been longer on the public stage than most of those
now living； our names happen to be more generally known。 One of
these parties； therefore； has put your name at its head； the other
mine。 Were we both to die to…day； to…morrow two other names would be
in the place of ours； without any change in the motion of the
machinery。 Its motion is from its principle； not from you or
myself。〃 〃I believe you are right；〃 said he； 〃that we are but passive
instruments； and should not suffer this matter to affect our personal
dispositions。〃 But he did not long retain this just view of the
subject。 I have always believed that the thousand calumnies which
the federalists； in bitterness of heart； and mortification at their
ejection； daily invented against me； were carried to him by their
busy intriguers； and made some impression。 When the election between
Burr and myself was kept in suspense by the federalists； and they
were mediating to place the President of the Senate at the head of
the government； I called on Mr。 Adams with a view to have this
desperate measure prevented by his negative。 He grew warm in an
instant； and said with a vehemence he had not used towards me before；
〃Sir； the event of the election is within your own power。 You have
only to say you will do justice to the public creditors； maintain the
navy； and not disturb those holding offices； and the government will
instantly be put into your hands。 We know it is the wish of the
people it should be so。〃 〃Mr。 Adams；〃 said I； 〃I know not what part
of my conduct； in either public or private life； can have authorized
a doubt of my fidelity to the public engagements。 I say； however； I
will not come into the government by capitulation。 I will not enter
on it； but in perfect freedom to follow the dictates of my own
judgment。〃 I had before given the same answer to the same intimation
from Gouverneur Morris。 〃Then；〃 said he； 〃things must take their
course。〃 I turned the conversation to something else； and soon took
my leave。 It was the first time in our lives we had ever parted with
anything like dissatisfaction。 And then followed those scenes of
midnight appointment； which have been condemned by all men。 The last
day of his political power； the last hours； and even beyond the
midnight； were employed in filling all offices； and especially
permanent ones； with the bitterest federalists； and providing for me
the alternative； either to execute the government by my enemies；
whose study it would be to thwart and defeat all my measures； or to
incur the odium of such numerous removals from office； as might bear
me down。 A little time and reflection effaced in my mind this
temporary dissatisfaction with Mr。 Adams； and restored me to that
just estimate of his virtues and passions； which a long acquaintance
had enabled me to fix。 And my first wish became that of making his
retirement easy by any means in my power； for it was understood he
was not rich。 I suggested to some republican members of the
delegation from his State； the giving him； either directly or
indirectly； an office； the most lucrative in that State； and then
offered to be resigned； if they thought he would not deem it
affrontive。 They were of opinion he would take great offence at the
offer； and moreover； that the body of republicans would consider such
a step in the outset as arguing very ill of the course I meant to
pursue。 I dropped the idea； therefore； but did not cease to wish for
some opportunity of renewing our friendly understanding。
Two or three years after； having had the misfortune to lose a
daughter； between whom and Mrs。 Adams there had been a considerable
attachment； she made it the occasion of writing me a letter； in
which； with the tenderest expressions of concern at this event； she
carefully avoided a single one of friendship towards myself； and even
concluded it with the wishes 〃of her who _once_ took pleasure in
subscribing herself your friend； Abigail Adams。〃 Unpromising as was
the complexion of this letter； I determined to make an effort towards
removing the cloud from between us。 This brought on a correspondence
which I now enclose for your perusal； after which be so good as to
return it to me； as