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 Benjamin Rush re: re: "Has America no soul?" and America's future

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01965 Author/Creator: Adams, John, 1735-1826 Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1810/06/28 Pagination: 2 p. 25 x 21 cm Order a Copy

Written from retirement at Quincy, bemoaning the state of America, its manipulation by European politicians and its potentially great future. Adams asks whether "America has no soul" since no one jumps to its defense. He also foresees, like many contemporaries, the westward course of empire.

Adams, John, 1735-1826
Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources