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Political Letter to Shepard re: Washington+Adams

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Washington Related

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Political Letter About President George Washington and John Adams

January 2, 1799, Letter Written to General William Shepard of Massachusetts While in Congress, Mentioning George Washington and Invoking President Adams, Very Fine.
12.5" x 8", 2 pages, written in brown ink on laid paper. The letter is addressed to "Hon(ora)ble William Shepard Esq(uir)e, Member of Congress, Philadelphia" and written by Ebenezer Mattoon, a veteran who served under General Shepard. This missive exhibits a few folds, and has a piece about 1" x 1" missing from the left side of both sheets due to the original red wax seal. There are trace amounts of chipping and toning, allowing this letter to remain in nice condition. Shepard was most famous for defending the Springfield Armory during Shays' Rebellion in 1796. With excellent political content, this letter refers to George Washington and President Adams in very high regard. The letter reads, in full:

"Amherst (MA), 2nd Jan(uar)y 1799 -- Dear General, I have with pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of December last. Thank you for the paper, and your information by the same, I should have been very happy in seeing the old General, could I have been with you, when you waited upon him; his Virtues are highly ornamented to the world; and we must feel happy that this western part of it can boast of him; Crown and Diadem sink before him, and high sounding titles disappear at the name of Washington. Nor can I overlook the great & good Mr. Adams our President - who by his friendship has rendered the United States such note and substantial services, and given us a character among the Nations of the Earth. I think Congress will pursue the means of defence he has pointed out - a Navy we must have, or we shall sooner or later, lose our existence as a Nation; at least I think there is the utmost hazard of it; and now is the time, the People are generally for it, in the Southern States, and not only for it, but very anxious for it. They see the necessity of it. And will with pleasure contribute towards it. The Tone progresses rapidly and is well approved by the great Body of the People, some five Demagogues oppose it, but they are five in number, and are falling into their merits contempt. My friend I speak freely to you; if any information that I can from time to time, give you, supporting the feelings of the People here, towards the measures of Government, would be of any service, I shall do it with pleasure, and by that means enable you to pursue them with a confederacy of support. I have nothing particular to mention from this quarter. You will before this reaches you probably hear that Lyon is elected. That is the report with us & I suppose true; I would thank you for communications as often is convenient. I am Dear Sir with great esteem your friend & humble servant, E. Mattoon. P.S. I understand Gen(era)l Brooks has resigned as there are no affairs in this Part of the Country. I would be content with the plan. But I do not solicit, that is not me."



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