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, John, 1735-1826 to Richard Rush

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05573 Author/Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826 Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 December 1816 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket : free frank Height: 24.7 cm, Width: 19.6 cm Order a Copy

Adams in retirement to Rush as Attorney General. Written from "Montezillo," a playful reference to Adams' own home in Quincy, Massachusetts. References Rush's letter of 29 September 1816. In that letter Rush related a story about a horseback excursion to Monticello to visit Jefferson. Tells Rush about a 500 mile journey he undertook by horseback from Massachusetts to Baltimore in 1777. Tells of treacherous crossings of the Hudson and Raritan Rivers. Mentions that he has heard high praise of Monticello from various travelers. Tries to tempt Rush to make a trip to visit him, saying the journey is much easier than it used to be in the late 1770s. Says if he comes he will show him the magnificent "natural Beauty" of his home as compared to the "vast Wilderness" Rush saw on his trip to Monticello. Gives an introduction for a Colonel Sumner and his sister to Rush. Says his father's letters do honor to his memory, "But at present they would break up an hundred hornets nests."

Rush, Richard, 1780-1859
Adams, John, 1735-1826

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources