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Field name | Value |
---|---|
Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.03624 |
From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0081] July-September 1787 |
Title | David Humphreys to Henry Knox about academic trip to Boston, seeing John Quincy Adams speak and views on the Convention |
Date | 27 July 1787 |
Author | Humphreys, David (1752-1818) |
Recipient | Knox, Henry |
Document Type | Correspondence |
Content Description | Writes to Knox about his last trip to Portsmouth and Boston. Says he was present and "highly delighted" with most of the "Academic Excercises" held at the University of Cambridge [Harvard], including one by a young Mr. [John Quincy] Adams, who "distinguished himself by a manly & dignified oration on public Credit." Also discusses the government, saying "We are gladdened with Reports that the federal Convention is likely to adopt almost unanimously some energetic form of Government, & that it is made so palatable, there are hopes entertained, that it will be swallowed by the People - I wish it may be so, but I must confess I have yet my apprehensions." Writes about the possible appointment of "some diplomatic characters for England, Holland, &c" and how it will affect him. Discusses his writings on the "Anarchiad" and the blasphemers of the [Society of] Cincinnati. Writes, "the Philosophers who have taught that every thing degenerates in America. Yet plague on these same Americans if they do not reform their morals & politics soon, I shall wish them all safe in the land of Annihilation." |
Subjects | Society of the Cincinnati Post Office Literature and Language Arts Military History Continental Army Revolutionary War Philosophy Morality and Ethics Politics US Constitution Fraternal Organization US Constitutional Convention Global History and Civics Revolutionary War General Education President Economics Government and Civics US Constitution Federalists Diplomacy |
People | Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Humphreys, David (1752-1818) |
Place written | Hartford, Connecticut |
Theme | Creating a New Government; Education; Arts & Literature; Government & Politics |
Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
Additional Information | Humphreys, Washington's former aide-de-camp, is likely referring to the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia from May to September of 1787. The Convention ultimately led to the rewriting of the Constitution. "The Anarchiad: A New England Poem" was written by David, Joel Barlow, John Trumbull, and Lemuel Hopkins. |
Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
Transcript | Show/hide Download PDF |