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 Reverend Colman

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02852 Author/Creator: Adams, John (1735-1826) Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 January 1814 Pagination: 1 p. ; 23.4 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy

Adams in retirement to Colman (also called Coleman by Abigail Adams in GLC 2515), a minister in a neighboring Massachusetts town. References various works of literature and says Spencer's Fairy Queen is a work of genius. Jokingly says his life has become wrapped up in books, "I have the Vanity to claim a distant remote kindred to the Family of Searches ... But this drop of Searches blood has drawn up on me a flood of Volumes from all quarters." Says his granddaughter is reading to him from "Tuckers Vision," a book Colman loaned Adams.

Quincy Jan.14. 1814
Dear Sir
I thank you for the Loan of Tuckers Vision. Homer as we have him, was not his Effort of Genius. Compilations of Homer were made by Lycurgus, by Solon, and by Pysistratus, and the most learned men in Greece were employed in forming that Sacred Book. Spencers Fairy Queen, though we have but half of it, is the greatest Effort of genius, that I recollect. But not so entertaining or instructive as the vision. I wish his uncle Locke had introduced him to Zoroaster to Sanchoniathon, to Confusius and to Brama and to Hiram and Solomon, and Melekisedeck, King of Salom
I have the Vanity to claim a distant remote kindred to the Family of Searches: about as near as Dr Styles's relation to Sir Thomas, in the 15th generation. But this drop of Searches blood has drawn upon me a flood of Volumes from all quarters, and has involved me in more business at this moment than at any former period of my Life.
Every Thing I receive from you affords me delight. Caroline reads the vision to me by Candle Light when I cannot see.
Accept, dear Sir, my thanks my Esteem and respect
John Adams

Revd. Mr Colman.

Adams, John, 1735-1826
Adams, Abigail, 1744-1818

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources