Lengthy LS, written in the hand of Adams’s granddaughter, Susanna Boylston Adams, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 9.75, August 7, 1820. Adams writes from “Montizello,” the whimsical name (meaning “Little Mountain”) he gave his small farm in Quincy, Massachusetts, to Samuel Wyllys Pomeroy, owner of the Bull’s Head Tavern. Adams thanks Pomeroy for his “sentiments on Indian Corn and its Cultivation…. I agree with you in opinion that although the grain has been too exclusively cultivated in New England it ought not to be rejected nor disgraced. It is a nourishment of inestimable value—both to men and animals. The beef and pork of this Country well fatted with Indian Corn or meal is preferable to any other I even found in Europe—excepting in Spain—where their pork is fatted with the same grain—though of a smaller species—and perhaps excepting some beef in France which is fatted on Lucerny grass—But if the qualities of this vegetable were much less excellent than they are—it is worth cultivating as an ornament…. In walking around these splendid scenes which they call Ornamented Farms…which the Common People in England will not be allowed to be called Gardens but pleasure grounds—I never failed to regret that I could not see an American Cornfield…. Were I a gentleman of fortune and disposed to plan a Decorated Farm in a walk of five or six miles as I have sometimes taken in Europe—I would not fail to distribute half a dozen fields of Corn at proper intervals and distances, to release the eye by its charming verdure from the fatigue it suffers in viewing so vast a variety of splendid objects and to complete the beauty of the picture. I have been of opinion that America is under infinite obligations to this nutritious grain for without it our Ancestors could not have subsisted and maintained possession of this Country.
You allude Sir with great complaisance to some of the happiest days of my life—those which I passed with the Trustees and other Literary Societies in Boston and Cambridge, the relinquishment of which has been to me one of the severest privations of my Old Age—In this Country you know, it is impossible to exclude Politicks entirely from conversation in any society and I found that my opinions and sentiments upon National and State Policy were not in perfect harmony with these Gentlemen who composed those societies and I felt that I was a restraint upon conversation. But this alone would not have induced me to resign and not the Infirmitys of Advanced Age and certain considerations of Domestic Economy rendered it impossible for me to discharge with punctuality the duties of my station. I must not conclude without expressing my obligations to all those societies for their uniform respect and politeness to me which was as great as my heart could desire—now without expressing the high esteem and sincere affection I have constantly entertained for their Characters—and especially for yourself.” Professional silking, intersecting mailing folds (one through last letter of signature), some scattered flecks of paper loss along folds on second page, mild show-through from text on reverse, and a small edge ding and tear to bottom of second page, otherwise fine condition.
This amazing piece of American presidential correspondence features Adams’ fond look back on his life. At the time in his mid-80s, the esteemed statesman and chief executive shares his thoughts from raising the ire of his literary friends to touting the superiority of American Indian corn to European species—as well as making an impassioned defense for the dietary virtues and even the aesthetic beauty of America's Indian corn. “It is a nourishment of inestimable value—both to men and animals. The beef and pork of this Country well fatted with Indian Corn or meal is preferable to any other I even found in Europe,” he notes. Adams also recalls his visits to all of the great estates in England, and "in walking around these Splendid scenes...I never failed to regret that I could not see an American Cornfield." If he was ever "a Gentleman of Fortune," Adams says wistfully, capable of laying out grounds of his own, "I would not fail to distribute half a dozen fields of corn at proper intervals." A letter of superlative content, originally part of the Forbes collection. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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