have saved the 4 or 5.000 guineas a head, and obtained a character of justice, which is valuable to a nation as to an individual. These considerations therefore leave her without inducement to plunder property, and take men in future on such dear terms. I neither affirm nor deny the truth of these allegations, nor is their truth material to the question; they are possible, and therefore present a case which will claim your consideration in a discussion of the general question; Whether any degree of injury can render a recourse to war expedient? Still less do I propose to draw to myself any part in this discussion. Age, and it's effects both on body and mind, has weaned my attentions from public subjects, and left me unequal to the labors of correspondence, beyond the limits of my personal concerns. I retire therefore from the question with a sincere wish, that your writings may have effect in lessening this greatest of human evils, and that you may retain life and health to enjoy the contemplation of this happy spectacle; and pray you to be assured of my great respect.

TH: JEFFERSON.

SIR,

LETTER TO THE HON. MR. ADAMS.

January 23, 1816. HAVING for more than a year devoted much of my time to an inquiry relating to war, that terrible scourge of guilty nations; I am desirous of having the fruit of my inquiries. examined by men, whose talents, situation and prospects will enable them to judge impartially. The Rev. Mr. Norton informed me that you had condescended to read my writings on some other subjects. This has excited a hope that you will read with candor what I have written on war and peace. I therefore send you a copy of "A Solemn Review of the Custom of War," and three numbers of the "Friend of Peace." Be pleased, sir, to accept them, with my best wishes for your present and future welfare.

I have sent similar copies to Mr. Jefferson, and intend soon to send to Mr. Jay. As I have no wish to conceal any part of my object in these communications, I will say I hope to obtain a testimony from three able and aged statesmen, before they shall leave the world, which may be employed in favor of the object which lies so near my heart-the abolition of the most fatal custom which ever afflicted the human family. I cannot but hope that you and the other two gentlemen have been preserved to this late period, to perform a service, which will be remembered with gratitude for many ages; and which shall contribute to the temporal and eternal salvation of millions of your fellow beings. A few words from such men, while on the borders of eternity, may be the occasion of unspeakable good.

With the pamphlets, I also send a copy of the Constitution of the Massachusetts Peace Society, which has been recently 'formed. It would add much to my happiness to see your venerable name in the list of subscribers. We have indeed many respectable names already; yours would add to the joy of many, and particularly to that of your sincere friend,

Hon. JOHN ADAMS,

formerly president of the U. S.

DEAR SIR,

MR. ADAMS' ANSWER.

Quincy, February 6, 1816.
I HAVE received your kind letter of the 23d of January,

and I thank you for the pamphlets enclosed with it.

It is very true, as my excellent friend, Mr. Norton, has informed you, that I have read many of your publications with pleasure.

I have also read, almost all the days of my life, the solemn reasonings and pathetic declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon, of St. Pierre, and many others against war, and in favor of peace. My understanding and my heart accorded with them, at first blush. But, alas! a longer and more extensive experience has convinced me, that wars are as neces

sary and as inevitable, in our system, as Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

Our beloved country, sir, is surrounded by enemies, of the most dangerous, because the most powerful and most unprincipled character. Collisions of national interest, of commercial and manufacturing rivalries are multiplying around us. Instead of discouraging a martial spirit, in my opinion it ought to be excited. We have not enough of it to defend us by sea or land.

Universal and perpetual peace, appears to me, no more nor less than everlasting passive obedience and non resistance. The human flock would soon be fleeced and butchered by one or a few.

I cannot therefore, sir, be a subscriber or a member of your society.

I do, sir, most humbly supplicate the theologians, the philosophers, and the politicians to let me die in peace. I seek only repose.

With the most cordial esteem, however,

I am, sir, your friend and servant,
JOHN ADAMS.

REVIEW OF THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH
MR. JEFFERSON.

My letter to Mr. Jefferson is inserted to show, that his testimony was requested for public use, and that in giving it a place in this work, I am not chargeable with publishing what he expected me to conceal. One paragraph in the letter to him is suppressed, because it related exclusively to the profession and employment of the writer, and could be of no use in the Friend of Peace.

The answer of Mr. Jefferson is regarded as a valuable document, adapted to the object for which it was sought. The approbation he has given of the sentiments of the Solemn Review and the Friend of Peace, is as full and explicit as could be expected of a gentleman in his situation. He

had been acquainted with the Solemn Review "some months" before he received it from me. The two Numbers of the Friend of Peace he had no occasion to "read steadily through" prior to answering, because his mind "assented to the propositions as soon as announced."

"Wars undertaken for the point of honor," he thinks "are aptly analogized with duelling," and that I have "reasoned with justice from one to the other." He adds" undoubtedly this class of wars is in general what you state them to be, 'needless, unjust and inhuman, as well as antichristian."

"Wars undertaken on account of wrong done," he "presumes will be treated of in future Numbers." After stating one object, which may be attained by such a war, he adds“The case you state of two boxers, both of whom get a 'terrible bruising,' is apposite to this." He then proceeds" to explain this by numbers," in reference to our late war with Great Britain. His statement of the case is made on the ground of what has been alleged on our part; but he very prudently says, "I neither affirm nor deny the truth of these allegations." Yet as such things "are possible," they "present a case," which he thinks "will claim" my "consideration in a discussion of the general question,-Whether any degree of injury can render a recourse to war expedient?" In this opinion I readily concur, and shall endeavor at a proper time to examine the "case" with fairness and candor.

"I retire," he says, "from the question with a sincere wish that your writings may have effect in diminishing this greatest of human evils, and that you may retain life and health to enjoy the contemplation of this happy spectacle."

This certainly is both friendly and respectful; nor could he have given a more decided approbation of the object of the Friend of Peace. For the testimony contained in his letter, Mr. Jefferson is entitled to my sincere and grateful acknowledgments; and I hope it will be a means of opening the eyes of thousands, as to the impolicy and inhumanity of

war.

REVIEW OF THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH

MR. ADAMS

As the opinions of Mr. Adams relating to war are so evidently repugnant to my own, it will probably be a question with many, why the correspondence with him has a place in this work. To such an inquiry it may be proper to answer,

First. Although the opinions of Mr. Adams are opposed to the object of the Friend of Peace, I regard his letter as expressing his real opinions, and without any unfriendly feelings towards me, or any wish to injure his country. He indeed wrote with a kind of characteristic frankness, which is apt to be less pleasing when it appears in opposition to one's own opinions, than when it appears in their favor. But he certainly had a right to answer my letter according to his own views of war. Nor have I yet forgotten the time when I should have approved some of the sentiments which he has avowed.

Second. Mr. Adams unquestionably understood me as requesting his answer for publication, in the hope that it would accord with my views, and aid the cause which I wish to promote, Had I, then, published the letter from Mr. Jefferson, which favors my views, and suppressed the one from Mr. Adams, he, and many others, might have thought me partial, and disposed to conceal the opinions of influential men, if they happen not to accord with my own. He might also have supposed, that had I conducted impartially, his letter would not only have counterbalanced the influence of Mr. Jefferson's, but have counteracted the tendency of the Friend of Peace.

It is however presumed, that Mr. Adams does not consider me as designing to bring evil on my country, but as misled by my feelings on the subject of war,—as he was when his "understanding and his heart accorded at first blush," with the "solemn reasonings and pathetic declamations of Erasmus, of Fenelon, of St. Pierre, and many others against war, and in favor of peace."

In the second Number of this work the reader may find,