Quincy December 4, 1805 Dear Sir I am half inclined to be very angry with you for destroying the Anecdotes and Documents you had collected for private Memoirs of the American Revolution. From the Memoirs of Individuals, the true Springs of Events and the real motives of actions are to be made known to Posterity. The Period in the History of the World, the best understood, is that of Rome from the Time of Marius to the Death of Cicero, and this distinction is entirely owing to Ciceros Letters and orations. There we see the true Character of the times and the Passions of all the Actors on the Stage…. Change the Names and every Anecdote will be applicable to Us. The Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, and the other of Octavious Anthony and Lepidus, the first formed by Caesar and the last by Octavius, for the purpose of worming themselves into Empire…have Analogy enough with Hamiltons Schemes, to get rid of Washington Adams Jay and Jefferson, and monopolize all Power to him Self…. You inquire what passed between W. and Hamilton at York Town? Washington had ordered or was about to order another officer to take the Command of the attack upon the Redoubt. - Hamilton flew into a violent Passion and demanded the command of the Party for himself and declared if he had it not, he would expose General Washington's Conduct in a Pamphlet. Thus you see It's proper power to hurt each Creature feels Bulls aim their horns and asses lift their heels. Hamilton's Instrument of offence were Libels, not true Libels according to the New York Doctrine, but lying Libells. The Storming of a Redoubt by a Boy, was to the Coup de Theatre or the Scenery of the Business, to make him afterwards Commander in Chief of the army and President of Congress, though there is no more qualification for either in storming a redoubt, than there would have been in killing a Deer in the Woods. The one proved him a good Partisan the other would have gained him the Reputation of a good Shot: but neither would fit him to command armies or govern states. I rejoice in your Prosperity and wish it may increase. If you have sold the copy right of your Medical Works for a thousand dollars, I am confident the Bookseller will have a good Bargain and make twice the profit of it, that you will. Those works are in universal esteem among the Faculty, and even with those who differ from you, on so many points. There is a concurrence, if not a combination of events that strikes me. Col. Burr, at Washington, General Dayton at Washington, General Miranda at Washington, General Hull returning from his government, General Wilkinson commanding in Louisiana &c &c. Enterprises of great Pith may be in a state of Coition. You may say perhaps that I am jealous. But there is a long History in my memory attached to several of those names, which suggests the possibility of profound Councils and great Results, whether good or not I will not [conj]ecture. If your government should risqué the giving offense to France by a war with Spain, I should be surprised. If I have been as tedious in this Letter as in my last, I will not be so long, lest I should disgust you with a correspondence which affords great pleasure to your Friend and humble servant John Adams Dr. Rush [docket]: John Adams 1805 Dr. Benjamin Rush Philadelphia