Adams, John, 1735-1826 to Rev. Dr. Walter re: Europe's political strife, system of checks and balances

Some edge losses at top right, affecting a few letters. A rare letter, written as president, commenting on his writings on government, and their influence on the Federal constitution and his depair over Europe's political and military strife. He thanks Dr. Walter for sending two volumes of essays from Count Rumford and then elaborates of his system (in his book Defense of the Constitutions of the United States) of checks and balances between an executive and legislative branch. He writes in part that the three volumes of the Defense "were written with a view of not only compassing the ferment in America which produced Shay's [sic] Rebellion, but with a hope of laying before the French Nation, and all Europe, some Considerations, which had not been much attended to for a century past...." Discussing the system of checks and balances he writes "[i]t is an Attempt to place Government upon the only Philosophy which can ever Support, the Constitution of human Nature.... The Emulations of the Legislative and Executive Authorities are made to check each other.... And by no other means were ever human Passions restrained...." Adams appeals to history and then adds "Had I possessed the Leisure of a Man of Letters, I might have made it shorter...."