ID 1119215
Lot 125 | On Napoleon's rule and the occupation of Spain
Valeur estimée
$ 30 000 – 50 000
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."
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*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.
| Artiste: | John Adams (1735 - 1826) |
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| Catégorie maison de vente aux enchères: | Lettres, documents et manuscrits |
| Artiste: | John Adams (1735 - 1826) |
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| Catégorie maison de vente aux enchères: | Lettres, documents et manuscrits |
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
Вы уже сделали ставку в € 40 000 и ставка принята аукционным домом. Если вы хотите ее уменьшить, то обратитесь напрямую в администрацию аукционного дома.
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
Вы не можете делать ставки в данном АД, т.к. были внесены в черный список.
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
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| Numéro de lot | 125 |
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| Maison de vente aux enchères | CHRISTIE'S |
| Date de l'enchère | 17.01.2024 |
