To the Inhabitants of Newbury Port. Gentlemen The[struck: ir] address of the Inhabitants of the ancient, populous, and wealthy. Town of Newbury port [struck: illegible], passed without a dissentient voice, at a late meeting, as certified by your select men, and presented to me by your Representative in Congress [struck: Mr.] Bartlett, does me great honor – The astonishment, and Indignation, you express at the contempt with which a spirit of conciliation has been repelled, your resolution never to complain at the loss of the blessings of peace and neutrality, when constrained, to sacrifice them, to the honor, dignity and essential interests of your Country; to resist with which a spirit of conciliation has been repelled, your resolution never to complain at the loss of the blessings of peace, and neutrality, when constrained to sacrafice them to the honor, dignity and essential Interests of your Country; to resist with becoming dignity, any vain attempt to derogate, from our common sovereignty, or to degrade our national character, from the rank it now justly holds among nations; to convince the world, that you are alike uninfluenced by corruption, and by fear; that you are not a divided people, the miserable slaves of foreign influence, do equal honor to your hearts and Judgment. Your reliance, with full confidence on the wisdom, and patriotism, of every branch of the Government, and the solemn pledge, of your lives and fortunes. Fortunes, to support the measures of the Legislature and administration, to preserve, and secure the happiness, dignity and essential interests of the United States, are all the assurances which the best of Governments, could desire from the best of Citizens – John Adams Philadelphia May 8th 1798- [docket:] President, Letter May 8th. 1798.