1823.] 
principles lead, and in what wili they end? 
In more freedom and humanity, I am 
clear: but when, or how? 
I am, &c. 
In his next letter, dated from New 
York, only ten days after, he returns to 
the consideration of this subject :— 
The great revolutjon in France is won- 
derfal, but not supernatural. ‘The hand 
of Providence is in it, I doubt not; work- 
ing, however, by natural and ordinary 
means, such as produced the reformation 
in geligion in the sixteenth century. ‘That 
all men have one common nature, is a 
principle which will now universally pre- 
vail; apd equal rights and equal duties 
will, in-a just sense, I hope be inferred 
from it. But equal ranks and equal pro- 
perty never can be inferred from it, any 
more than equal understanding, agility, 
vigor, or beauty. 
I am delighted with Dr. Price’s sermon 
on patriotism. But there is a sentiment 
or two which I should explain a little, 
He guards his hearers and readers, very 
judiciously, against the extremes of adula- 
tion and contempt. ‘The former is the 
extreme (he says,) to which mankind in 
general have been most prone.” 
The generality of rulers have treated 
men as your English horse-jockies treat 
their horses,—convinced them first that 
they were their masters, and next that 
they were their friends; at least, they 
have pretended to doso. Mankind have, 
I agree, behaved too muchi like horses,— 
been rude, wild, and mad, until they were 
mastered ; and then been too tame, gentle, 
and dull. 
I think our friend should have stated it 
thus :—The great and perpetual distinc- 
tion in civilized societies has been between 
the rich,—who are few; and the poor,— 
who are many. When the many are mas- 
ters, they are too unruly; and then the 
few are too tame, and afraid to speak out 
the truth. The few have most art and 
union, and therefore have generally pre- 
vailed in the end. The inference of wis- 
dom from these premises is, that neither 
the rich nor the poor should ever he suf- 
fered to be masters. They should have 
equal power to defend themselves ; and, 
that their power may be always equal, 
there should be an independent mediator 
between them,—always ready, always 
able, and always interested, to assist the 
weakest. Equal Jaws can never be made 
or maintained without this balance. You 
see, I still hold fast my scales, and weigh 
every thing in them, ‘The French must 
finally become my disciples, or rather the 
disciples of Zeno; or they will have no 
equal laws, no personal liberty, no pro- 
perty, no lives, 
In this conntry the pendulum has vi- 
brated, * * . * * * 
France has severe trials to endure from the 
Stephensiana, No. XXIII. 
333 
same cause. Both have found, or will 
find, that to place property at the mercy 
of a majority who have no property, is— 
commitlere agnum lupo. My fundamental 
maxim of government is—never trust the 
lamb to the custody of the wolf. 
Towards the latter end of November, 
1790, Mr. Adams, together with all his 
family, removed to Back-hill, near Phi- 
ladelphia ; exeept his son, John-Quincy, 
who was bred to the bar, and at that 
time practised as a counscllor at Bos- 
ton. In ashort letter to Mr. B. Hollis, 
immediately before his departure, he 
expresses himself thus :— 
This country, too, is as happy as it-de- 
serves to be. A perfect calm and con- 
tentment reigns in every part. The new 
government enjoys as much of the confi- 
dence of the people as it onght to enjoy.; 
and has undoubtedly greatly promoted 
their freedom, prosperity, and happiness. 
We are very anxious for the cause of 
liberty in France, but are apprehensive 
that their constitution cannot preserve 
their union. Yet we presume not to judge 
for them, when will be the proper time, 
and what the method of introducing tie 
only adequate remedy against competi- 
tions. You know what I mean. 
Mrs. Adams,* also, was the occasional 
correspondent of the subject of this 
memoir; and a few passages from one 
of her letters, dated New York, Sept. 
6, 1790, shall be here transcribed. 
My dear Sir,—If my heart had not done 
you more justice than my pen, I would dis- 
own it. I place-the hours spent at the 
Hyde among some of the most pleasurable 
of my days, and I esteem your friendship 
as one of the most valuable acquisitions 
that I made in your country,—a country 
that I should most sincerely rejoice to ‘vi- 
sit again, if I could do it. without crossing 
the ocean. 
I have a situation here, which for natu- 
ral beauty may vie with the most delicious 
spot Leversaw. Itisa mile and a half 
distant from the city of New York. The 
house is situated upon an eminence; at an’ 
agreeable distance flows the Hudson, bear- 
ing upon-her bosom the fruitful produc- 
tions of the adjacent country. On my 
right hand are fields, beautifully varie- 
gated with grass and grain to a great ex- 
tent, like the valley of Honiton, in Devon- 
shire. Upon my left, the city opens to 
view, intercepted here and there by a 
rising ground, and an ancient oak. In 
front, beyond the Hudson, the Jersey 
shores present an exuberance of rich well- 
cultivated soil. The venerable oaks, and 
broken ground covered with wild shrubs, 
which 
® Mrs, Adams’s maiden name Abigail. 
Twice married, © believe, 
> 
