On Napoleon`s rule and the occupation of Spain - photo 1
On Napoleon`s rule and the occupation of Spain - photo 2
On Napoleon`s rule and the occupation of Spain - photo 3

On Napoleon`s rule and the occupation of Spain

Lot 125
17.01.2024 11:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 37 800
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1119215
Lot 125 | On Napoleon's rule and the occupation of Spain
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
On Napoleon's rule and the occupation of Spain

John Adams, 5 February 1811

ADAMS, John (1735-1826). Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") to Henry Guest, Quincy, 5 February 1811.



Three pages, bifolium, 180 x 226mm (light scattered staining, two tiny tears along middle of centerfold, and two minor fold tears along right margin).



"Is Napoleon a greater ‘tyrant’ than Louis, or his army more ‘rascally’ than that of Germany, Holland or England?" Cooped up at home enduring a six-day blizzard, which "...blockaded all roads worse than King George's proclamations..." Adams writes to Henry Guest (1727-1815) on current affairs, but not before taking a moment to reflect on his advancing age, admitting that "...It is not at all improbable that I may 'get the start of you to the world of souls.' There will shall have neither snow storms nor political earthquakes, no politicians, no conquerers, no philosophists..." While he remained with the living, Adams continued to muse on current affairs with Guest, with whom he had exchanged letters on the subject of Napoleon's machinations to control Spain. Adams opens by noting "Don Onis's Motto for your Invention, is excellent. 'Liberatad O La Murete." is admirable for a War Flail," likely a reference to a pair of military inventions that Guest had presented to the Chevalier do Onis, Spain's ambassador to the United States, to assist his country in its ongoing war to throw off French domination.* "...Of the war in Spain...I can form no competent judgment," Adams writes, but he takes time to draw interesting parallels with the current situation and the War of the Spanish Succession: "About a hundred years ago, Louis [the] 14th set up the Duke of Anjou and the Roman Emperor. The Queen of England and the State of Holland set up the Archduke Charles of Austria, for King of Spain, and after ravaging and desolating that Kingdom for many years, and consuming the lives of two or three hundred thousand soldiers, Louis carried his point at last. Is Napoleon a greater ‘tyrant’ than Louis, or his army more ‘rascally’ than that of Germany, Holland or England? Fifty years ago I saw a history of Mesnager, an emissary that Louis 14th sent over to England...after some secret conferences with the secret agent of the Ministry, and finding that terms of peace were not to be had upon Louis’s conditions, he had resort, according to his instructions, to his ulterior measures. He made Inquiry after the fine writers... of these, he engaged a number upon which they thought generous to write for him. As the passion of the English is for war, he studied to gratify it... the newspapers appeared full of paragraphs and speculations, recommending a vigorous prosecution of the war...Bulky pamphlets issued from the press urging and elaborately proving the policy and necessity of a vigorous prosecution of the War...It was not long before the City of London advanced with an address to the Queen humbly recommending to her Majesty a vigorous prosecution of the War...In due course of time, Parliament met, and was opened by a speech from the throne in which the Queen recommended to her faithful Lords and Commons, a vigorous prosecution of the War... The speech was answered by the House of Lords and House of Commons, assuring her Majesty of the zealous support of her faithful and loving subjects in a vigorous prosecution of the War...The War was prosecuted till the Allies were exhausted and compelled to consent to the Spanish Succession in the Treaty of Utrecht. I fear Napoleon is pursuing Mesnager’s policy and that he will have Mesnager’s success."



_____________

*Although in the present letter Adams acknowledges a letter from Guest dated 20 January 1810, that letter has not been located. The Massachusetts Historical Society holds another letter from Guest to Adams (20 August 1810) in which Guest writes, "Eight years back I formed an instrument that would strike 30 deadly strokes in a minute and remain charged, and offered to the (then) secretary of war, to shew it, to any person, whom he should for that purpose for his judgement; but, as he took no notice of my offer, I kept it from the sight of all my friends, as a deposit for time of need.—Some time after the Chavalier De Onis, ambassador from Spain, arrived here…. I thought it a good opportunity, by these instruments, to check the carrier of the destroyer of mankind, and relieve the Spanish nation, from their deadly foe. That I was possessed of such an instrument, and a coat of mail, that secured the breast, and bowels, from the power of swords of any description, and the keenest bayonet, weighing about two pounds. About a dozen of each is gone to Spain, as samples, in different Vessels. I have recommended that they should be immediately made in Spain, and 100,000 put in the hands of the Peasantry; that is, if military Gentlemen there, approve of them." “To John Adams from Henry Guest, 20 August 1810,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-5552.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
12.01.2024 10:00 – 17:00
13.01.2024 10:00 – 17:00
14.01.2024 13:00 – 17:00
15.01.2024 13:00 – 17:00
16.01.2024 10:00 – 17:00
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

More from Creator

On his short trip to England
On his short trip to England
$100
An appointment of a former Revolutionary War officer
An appointment of a former Revolutionary War officer
$500
On pears and a lost portrait by a female artist
On pears and a lost portrait by a female artist
$20 000
John Adams's own, signed copy
John Adams's own, signed copy
$10 000
A legal case involving free Black people in Massachusetts
A legal case involving free Black people in Massachusetts
$1 000

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.