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ADAMS, John Quincy (1767-1848), President . Autograph letter signed ("Eugenio") to "Monsieur P.J. Munro chez M. Franklin Ministre Plenipo: des Etats Unis de l'Amerique Passy prs /Paris," The Hague, 9 February 1784. 2 pages, 4to, integral address panel in Adams's hand, postal markings, remains of wax seal, recipient's docket, a few minor repairs to address leaf .
ADAMS, John Quincy (1767-1848), President . Autograph letter signed ("Eugenio") to "Monsieur P.J. Munro chez M. Franklin Ministre Plenipo: des Etats Unis de l'Amerique Passy prs /Paris," The Hague, 9 February 1784. 2 pages, 4to, integral address panel in Adams's hand, postal markings, remains of wax seal, recipient's docket, a few minor repairs to address leaf . A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD FUTURE PRESIDENT IN EUROPE Without doubt one of the very earliest letters of John Quincy Adams in private hands. Ebullient and playful in tone, it was written at age 16 from the Hague (where his father, John Adams held the post of U.S. Minister to the Netherlands), and addressed to a classmate, P.J. Monro, nephew of John Jay, who then resided with Benjamin Franklin at Passy. "Quousque tandem Abutere Catilina Patientia nostra? Anglicé. How long, thou lazy fellow, will it be before thou payest thy debts? Is this your promise of Punctuality; you tire my Patience, as the immortal Milton says. Consider: I have been near a month here, and have not received one Line from you, in answer to three; mortal long Letters that I have written....If you have a Mind to know what curiosities there are hereabouts, only say so, and I shall find enough for several Letters...You may remember, that in my last, I gave you a description of my situation, which I believe, did not make you wish yourself in my Place...it is not changed, nor do I expect it will change, while I remain here; but man can accustom himself to almost any thing; and I begin to find my Situation less disagreeable already: I have an excellent Library at my disposition, and you may imagine that I visit it, pretty often, and I am translating Virgil's Aeneid into writing....Every translation, without excepting Dryden['s], give[s] a very poor idea of that admirable Poem, which I think is very near if not quite equal to our Paradise Lost. Besides this I read a good deal of English and French Poetry; and have lately renew'd my acquaintance with my favorite Shakespeare and for exercise, once or twice a week I mount an horse and ride three or four miles out of town....I make Shift to Pass my time, without suffering so much from ennui as you would suppose: however, a little company would not be amiss...And now let me ask you, how are you? what matters are going forward in and about the great City [Paris]? whether they are as busy, at balooning, as ever? [the Montgolfier brothers' balloon ascents, begun in August 1783, had attracted much attention]. How many french men have broke their necks at it?; and how many suffocated themselves with gas? and all sorts of matters....There is one question, which I have many times asked, and have never been able as yet to get an answer. It is about the health of Mr. Ridley...at the same time, you may let me know, how all the good folks, our Countrymen, do in and about Paris...tell me whether your uncle [John Jay] is returned from England? how he does?, if there are any late Vessels, or any news from America &c. &c &c...I enclose you an ode, which I hope will give you entertainment...." The future President's European sojourn lasted from age 10 until 17. He had studied at at the Passy Academy with some of Franklin's grandsons, then later at the University of Leyden, mastering Greek, Latin, French, Dutch, and some Spanish. "By the time he returned to America in 1785, [he]...was an urbane, mature young man with more first-hand knowledge of world affairs than many American politicians twice his age" (W.A. DeGregorio, Complete Book of American Presidents, 1989, p.92). Since 1975, American Book Prices Current records only one Adams letter of earlier date.