“ habitants, and excite the Government to suppress the Puritans, and send over settlers in thier stead, from among the Royalists and the disciples of Archbishop Laud.

"That such a Work had been written, has been known by tradition and I have enquired for it, more than half a Century: but have never been able to learn that any Copy of it ever was seen in this Country. The Berlin Adventurer is I believe the only one in America. It is possible however that some straggling Copy of it may be in Virginia, and if you have ever seen or heard of it, I shall be obliged to you for the information.

"I know not whether you have in your library, extensive and well chosen as it is, any of our New England Histories. If you have and feel any inclination to know any Thing of this Cliffords Inn man, this incendiary instrument of spiritual and temporal domination; you may find it in 1. Neals Hist. New England 111- 1. Hutchinson 8. 31, Winthrops Journal 20. 27. 321. 352. 2. Belknaps Biography 332 . . .”

Adams then wrote a full analysis of the work, and quoted in full the complimentary verses at the beginning, and the Author’s Prologue (also in verse). The letter then continued: “. . . In no part of the Work has he said any thing of M ^r. Wollaston his Commander in Chief, to whom he was only second, in command of the Party.

"But it was of Wollaston, I was most interested to enquire. I knew enough of Morton, and was therefore much disappointed in perusing the Book.

"The Original Indian Name of the spot possest by the Party was Passonagisset, but the People of the Company changed it to Mount Wollaston by which Name it has been called to this day. Morton, however, after the departure of his Leader for Virginia, chose to alter the Name, and call it Mare Mount from it’s Possition near the Sea and commanding the prospect of Boston Harbour and Massachusetts Bay. In his 132 page He gives us a History of the Ceremonies instituted by him in honor of this important Nomination. Several songs were composed to be sung. A Pine Tree, Eighty feet long, was erected with a pair of Bucks Horns nailed on the Top. On May Day this mighty May Pole was drawn to its appointed Plan on the summit of the Hill by the help of savages males and females, with sound of guns, Drums, Pistols and other Instruments of Musick. A Barrel of excellent Beer was brewed, and a Case of Bottles, (of Brandy I suppose) with other good Chear, and English Men and Indians sannups and squaws, danced and sang and revelled round the May-pole till Bacchus and Venus, I suppose, were satiated. The Separatists called it an Idol, the Calf of Horeb, Mount Dagon, threatening to make it a woeful mount and not a merry Mount. It is whimsical that this Book, so long lost, should be brought to me, for this Hill is in my Farm . . .”

Jefferson replied to this in a long letter dated from Monticello December 28: “ . . . recollecting that Nathaniel Morton in his New England’s Memorial, gives with minuteness the early annals of the colony of New Plymouth, & occasionally interweaves the occurrences of that on Massachusetts bay, I recurred to him, and, under the year 1620. I find he notices both Wollaston and Thomas Morton, and gives with respect to both, some details which are not in Hutchinson or Winthrop. as you do not refer to him, and so possibly may not have his book, I will transcribe from it the entire passage, which will prove at least my desire to gratify your curiosity as far as the materials within my power will enable me . . . ”

Jefferson then copied a passage from Nathaniel Morton’s New England’s Memorial, pages 93 to 99, on five closely written pages in his handwriting. At the end of his quotation Jefferson wrote “ So far Nathaniel Morton,” and continued: “ . . . the copy you have of Thomas Morton’s New English Canaan, printed in 1687 [ sic -- Ed. ] by Stam at Amsterdam, was a second edition of that ‘infamous and scurrilous book against the godly.’ the 1 ^st. had been printed in 1632. by Charles Green in a 4 ^to. of 188. pages, and is the one alluded to by N. Morton. both of them made a part of the American library given by White ”