Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Adams, Abigail (1744-1818) to Richard Rush

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02291 Author/Creator: Adams, Abigail (1744-1818) Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 November 1814 Pagination: 1 p. : address : free frank ; 23 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Addressed to Rush as Attorney General in Washington, D.C. Encloses a letter received from her son, John Quincy Adams, to the President, James Madison, and states that he may read the political parts to the President if he desires. States that the letter is John Q. Adams opinions on the "farce" of the peace negotiations with Britain during the War of 1812, and should not be made public. Comments upon the fate of Alexandria, Virginia. Finishes by saying, "I have not a word to say, in vindication of the conduct of my own native State, but much to deplore." Free frank of John Adams.

This letter was written at the height of the War of 1812, three months after the British burned Washington and sacked Alexandria.

Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818
Rush, Richard, 1780-1859
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848
Madison, James, 1751-1836

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