[ADAMS, John (1735-1826), his copy]. HUME, David (1711-1776). The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688. London: A. Millar, 1763.

Volume VII only (of 8, lacking vols. I-VI and VIII), 8vo (202 x 124 mm). Half-title. (Some minor spotting or browning.) Contemporary sprinkled calf gilt (rebacked preserving original spine, a few other repairs); custom slipcase. Provenance: Sold Charles Hamilton Galleries New York, 6 May 1971, Lot 5. "A new edition."

JOHN ADAMS' COPY SIGNED ON THE TITLE-PAGE, with an additional marginal annotation ("Nolle?") presumably in Adams' hand on p.177.

Adams' published writings and correspondence include numerous references to Hume's works, indicating that he read Hume carefully. In his Thoughts on Government (1776), Adams wrote: "Americans in this age are too enlightened out of their liberties, even by such mighty names as Locke, Milton, Turgot, or Hume; they know that popular elections of one essential branch of the legislature, frequently repeated, are the only possible means of forming a free constitution...Upon this principle, they cannot approve the plan of Mr. Hume, in his 'Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth'."

In a letter of 15 July 1813 to Thomas Jefferson, Adams wrote: " The English Commonwealth, the Fate of Charles 1st. and the military despotism of Cromwell had Sickened Mankind with disquisitions on Government to Such a degree, that there was Scarcely a Man in Europe who had looked into the Subject. David Hume had made himself So fashionable with the Aid of the Court and Clergy, Atheist as they call’d him, and by his elegant Lies against the Republicans and gaudy daubings of the Courtiers, that he had nearly laughed into contempt Rapin Sydney and even Lock." In the present copy, the marginal annotation presumably in Adams' hand refers to a paragraph about Cromwell.

Property from the Patrick Atkinson Collection, Minneapolis, Minnesota

[ADAMS, John (1735-1826), his copy]. HUME, David (1711-1776). The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688. London: A. Millar, 1763.