John Quincy Adams to James Brooks commenting upon his "essay" in defense of British actions in China during the Opium War - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC05508.001
From Archive Folder	Collection of documents relating to religion and spirituality
Title	John Quincy Adams to James Brooks commenting upon his "essay" in defense of British actions in China during the Opium War
Date	20 January 1842
Author	Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848)
Recipient	Brooks, James
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Adams comments upon his "essay" in defense of British actions in China during the Opium War. He maintains that he confined himself "to the question of right from wrong between the parties, as it stood upon the ransom of Canton." He bases his judgments on two principles: the equality of men and the love of God and neighbor. Adams alludes to Chinese demands of submission, and contrasts that with the Britons, "a Christian nation of Freeman" whom he hopes will practice mercy and moderation.
Subjects	President Religion Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Asia Drugs Morality and Ethics Christianity
People	Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848) Brooks, James (1810-1873)
Place written	Washington, D.C.
Theme	The Presidency; Religion; Foreign Affairs
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Notes: Written shortly after Adam's famous defense of the British in the Opium War with China. Bohea was the first black tea to came to Britain and thus became a synonym for all teas.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide James Brooks Esqr., Express Office, New York Washington 20 Jany. 1842 Dear Sir, I have received your note of the 17th inst. I have no time now to finish my Essay upon the war between Great Britain and China[.] My Lecture was confined to the question of Right and Wrong between the parties, as it stood at the ransom of Canton. Whether I live to finish it depends upon him under whose eye the principles of my argument were penned -- the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God. The principles are two. First, all men are born equal and entitled to unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Second - thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. The first of these principles contains the whole Science of Politics. The second the whole Science of Religion. When the gates of Hell shall prevail against them, my lecture shall be answered. Until then an Alexandrian Library of Lectures cannot answer it. Of the conduct and issue of the War, it is not yet time for neutrals to speak with confidence. Perhaps the children of the celestial empire in their superiority to [2] the rest of mankind may ultimately compel the outside barbarians to become again reverently submissive and tributary to the great emperor of the flowery land to perform the Kotou [Kowtow] with nine knocks of the forehead on the floor to supplicate subalterns by a Pin for the privilege of purchasing and paying for Bohea tea; and to sign bonds that they shall be strangled by their own consent, if they should ever attempt to bring a chest of opium within sight of the celestial empire. Should the Britons, on the other hand, prove themselves as far above their adversaries in the art of war as a Christian nation of Freemen is in the career of human improvement above an atheist nation of slaves, I hope - would I could promise, that the free Christian Warrior will sheath his sword in mercy and in moderation. I am Dear Sir, very respectfully yours, John Quincy Adams.

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