anxiety to shine in the varnish of an opposite reputation. Of all the qualities of a virtuous soul, pure integrity is the brightest-it takes no counsel from human law, nor from even the common propensities of our nature; the perfection from which it emanated, is its sole example and security-of this divine virtue, you have shewn me that Hamilton was totally destitute.

His Religion, as has been the case with thousands, might have been accommodated to political changes-I thank you for pointing me to the winding in the labyrinth from which his ostentation of religion sprang. Of his lubricity, what on odious picture you have drawn? Oh! he was too foul for "ablution by all the waters of Zemzem." I have not time and am too much fatigued to say more.

You propose to give me an account of "his talents and services in another letter." I wish to see a connected chain of these services, and their magnitude; since it has been announced by Coleman that years are to be occupied by some best gifted genius in penning his life. With veneration, &c.

WM. CUNNINGHAM, JR.

Hon. John Adams.

Dear Sir,

LETTER XLIX.

FITCHBURG, Sept. 23, 1809.

My letter of the 9th inst. had an enclosure, which it is so interesting to myself, as well as you, that it should get to your possession, that I cannot suppress my solicitude to be advised of its safe reception.

The present covers the last National Ægis, in which you will find your juvenile letter to your friend Webb, which I have caused to be inserted in that paper according to your intimations

on the first of the month.

If, in the introduction, I have not mounted to your just encomium, I have some refuge against mortification, in the knowledge, that a perfect delineation of greatness can the work of none but a master's hand-and, I have more than this. refuge in the consciousness of a disposition to lift you to your just grade.

I capitalized the prophetic parts of the letter, which have been fulfilled; and italicized the Latin, neither of which were done in the Anthology. But with all my care, the Printers disregarded the Latin word, dira, and used, as

the Anthology had done before them, the English word dire,and direfully it looks-The works of an author are so frequently garbled at the press, and his feelings disturbed by its orthographical inaccuracies, that even the case-men should be something above mechanicks.

Three days of this week, I was absent on a journey to Boston. I passed some hours at the Athenæum, and at the office of its founder, with even more satisfaction than I had anticipatedAn enterprise of so much utility, originating in the foresight and public spirit of Mr. Shaw, and seconded by his urbanity, industry and exactness, cannot fail of reaching a point that will give him an immortality of renown.

Yesterday I received your favour

of the 23d and had before in its season received

that of the 9th in good order, its enclosure unviolated.

My boyish letter to Dr. Nathan Webb appeared with more propriety in a Worcester paper than any where else. It is demonstrative evidence THAT JOHN ADAMS' DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ONE AND TWENTY YEARS OLDER

THAN THOMAS JEFFERSON'S. To understand my letter it is necessary to have lived at the time when it was written, when we were so angry with Great Britain for misconducting American affairs, and for leaving us exposed to the murders and depredations of French and Indians, that from my heart I wished we were independent of her, and left to ourselves to take care of our enemies, or perish in the struggle.

I presume the Latin word should be “dira” the "dreadful things" "the horrors" of war.-I remember the word "dire," and direful and dira were very fashionable among the boys in College, out of which I had just before migrated. but enough of this childish business. The thing is an oddity, that's all. You have made enough and more than enough of it, in.. your introduction.

Mr. Shaw's Athenæum is an honour to Bos. ton, to Massachusetts and to North America, and I hope no Tory Junto will

be able to de

Yet he and his

prive him of the honour of it.
Athenæum are too much under their thumbs.
Poor Democrats, Republicans and still poorer
Americans, are at the feet of John Bull and his
Calves. Matters cannot be much longer minced.
The truth must out.

With regard, &c.

I am your friend and relation,

JOHN ADAMS.

Mr. William Cunningham, Jr.

LETTER LI.

Dear Sir,

FITCHBURG, Oct. 17, 1809.

Your favour of the 27th ult. arrived when I was at Worcester, attending a session of the Supreme Court, to get some redress for a most gross and injurious fraud. Immediately on my return, I set out for Boston, whence Ì returned last evening. These jaunts have occasioned this delay in the acknowledgment of your letter.