Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04899

Author/Creator: Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848)

Place Written: Washington, D.C.

Type: Autograph letter signed

Date: 22 August 1828

Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 25.5 x 20 cm.

Summary of Content: Comments on ”An Act for the relief of surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution,” Secretary of Treasury Rush’s health, and the difficulty of his position. Anticipates Rush’s resignation and thanks him for his service. Also discusses a classical essay by Rush’s son, commenting on ancient Rome and the superiority of the statesman over the warrior. Docketed by Rush.

People: Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848., Rush, Richard, 1780-1859.

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Full Transcript: (Private.), Richard Rush - Secretary of the Treasury - Washington, , Quincy 22, August 1828 , Dear Sir., , I have received your letters N. 1. and 2. with their enclosures and am gratified by inferring from them an improvement of your health since the day of my leaving the City, when I was deprived by your indisposition of the pleasure of seeing you., , The Act for the relief of surviving officers and soldiers of t Army of the Revolution has added a heavy burden of duties to the Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, surcharged with them as it was before - I regret this circumstance chiefly as it has deprived you of that temporary relaxation from oppressive occupations, which was essential to the restoration of your health - your. persevering determination to allow yourself no respite from those duties, will I hope be duly appretiated (sic) by those for whose benefit they are performed, , This aggravation of official labour has perhaps unadvisedly devolved upon you. It has reconciled me to the anticipation that [2] your superintendence of the Treasury Department, will certainly termina with the ensuing Winter - you will leave a place never easy to be fined;_:, never less easy than when vacated by you., , I thank you for the classical Essay of your Son which had already attracted my attention before I knew who was the author. His quotation from Cicero’s Offices, is certainly very apposite to his argument - Rome was essentially a military, and conquering Republic - The military character, and military were therefore in the highest estimation, from the foundation of the City, until the age of Cicero - He had before him Hosts of Heros; few Statesmen and no Philosophers - But the superiority of the Statesman over the Warrior was never more signally manifested than in his person, person, when compared with Julius Caesar - This is no doubt a controverted point, and I remember it was said a year or two since that Emperor of Austria himself, told the Students at some University in his dominions, that Learning was of no use in affairs of Government and that he considered learned men, as good for little or noting. We leave you known authorities to the gamepoint nearer home - Your Son will be taught in better School - He will join us in the hope that whatever doctrines may prevail, the result may still be auspicious to our Country. , With the highest regard and consideration, I remain, your. friend J.Q. Adams, Verso: The President, Quincy-Aug 22. , 1828, Private, Speaks of my , Labours as Secretary, of Treasury, in a kind way;, and of the classical, essay of my son in , the same way.

Keywords/Subjects: Presidents

Sub Era: The First Age of Reform