Choice ALS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.25 x 9, October 13, 1810. Lengthy handwritten letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, a leading Philadelphian physician, politician, and social reformer who attended the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. Adams continues his running argument over the need to include Greek and Latin in the curriculum of American schools, integrating it into a gloomy conversation on American politics. Filled with candor, wit, and prescience, the letter exemplifies Adams' brilliance as a scholar and political thinker.
In part: "Mrs. Adams says she is willing you should discredit Greek and Latin, because it will destroy the foundation of all the Pretensions of the Gentlemen to Superiority over the Ladies, and restore Liberty, Equality and fraternity between the Sexes. What does Mrs. Rush think of this?…Suppose we should agree to study the original languages especially the Arabic, instead of Greek and Latin. This would not please the Ladies so well, but it would gratify Hobbes much better. According to many present appearances in the world many useful lessons and deep maxims might be learned from the Asiatic writers. There are great Models of Heroes and Conquerors fit for the Imitation of the Emperors of Britain and France. For example in the Life of Timur Bec, or Tamerlane the great we read Vol. 1, p. 202…'He has been often heard to say, that it was neither agreeable or decent, that the habitable world should be governed by two Kings: according to the words of the Poet, 'as there is but one God, there ought to be but one King, all the Earth being very small in comparison of the Ambition of a great Prince.'"
He continues: "Where can you find in any Greek or Roman writer a sentiment so sublime and edifying for George and Napoleon. There are some faint traces of it in the conduct of Alexander and Caesar but far less frank and noble, and these have been imprudently branded with Infamy by Greek and Roman orators and Historians. There is an abundance more of such profound Instruction in the Life of this Tamerlane as well as in that of Gengizcan [Genghis Kahn], both of which I believe Napoleon has closely studied. With Homer in one Pocket, Caesar’s Commentaries in the other Quintus Curtius under his pillow and the Lives of Mahomet Gengizcan and Tamerlane in his Port Folio…this Man has formed himself: but the Classics among them have damped his ardor and prevented his rising as yet to the lofty Heights of the Asiatic Emperors. Would it not be better that George and Napoleon should forget all their Classicks mount at once to all sublimities of Mahomet Gengizcan and Tamerlane? In that case one or the other must soon succumb and would it not be better that one such should govern the globe than two?"
He picks up the letter on October 15th, writing: "Thus far I had written, when your favour of the 8th with your Invention a Tranquilliser was given to me…The Tranquilliser is a very ingenious Mechanical Invention and I hope will be beneficial to that most deplorable Portion of our Species for whom it is intended. But to be serious, if I were possessed of Sovereign Power over your Hospital, (provided I could do it secretly so that No Mortal should know it, but you and I), I would put you into your own Tranquilliser, till I cured you of your Fanaticism against Greek and Latin…My friend you will labour in vain. As the Love of Science and the Taste for the fine Arts increases in the World, the Admiration of Greek and Roman Science and Litterature will increase. Both are increasing very fast. Your Labours will be as useless as those of Tom Paine against the Bible, which are already fallen dead and almost forgotten."
He then turns more overtly to politics: "Our Financial System and our Banks are a Species of fraudulent opposition upon the Community. But you would think me mad enough for your Tranquillising Chair if I should say there is no remedy but to return to a circulating Medium of Gold and Silver only. Commerce has in all times made wild work with elections, but it never invented so artful a scheme of corruption for that purpose as our American Banks…At times I see nothing to prevent our country both North and South America from becoming in another century if not this, a Theatre for Gengizcans, Mahomets, Tamerlanes, Charlemagnes, Napoleons, Burrs and Hamiltons. Our People are the shrewdest and most sagacious, that I know: but yet they are so easily deceived; and are in fact so universally deceived in many essential Points, that they afford no certain Resource for honest and able Men: and for what I see, they will not open their eyes till they themselves will be obliged to have recourse to the Ratio Ultima Popularum Rerum Publicarum et Regum. We know how this always ends." In fine condition.
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