Letter from John Quincy Adams to Asbury Dickens, Esquire, Secretary of the Columbian Institute, October 4, 1822

Asbury Dickens Esq[[superscript]]r[[/superscript]]. Secretary to the Columbian Institute. Washington 4.[[underlined]]October 1822.[[/underlined]] Sir In requesting you to make known to the Columbian Institute my acceptance of the honour which they have conferred upon me by electing me their President, I should do injustice to my own feelings and to theirs, by forbearing to add the expression of the deep regret with which in common with them I lament the occasion there has been for this Election - Grateful as I am for this testimonial of the favourable regard of the Society, I should have felt less diffidence in receiving it, could I have flattered myself that I should be enabled worthily to Supply the place of a Predecessor, in whom Simplicity of Heart, purity of principle and unblemished integrity, formed the basis of a character, of which the meekness of a quiet Spirit, the most comprehensive benevolence, and an ardent and active zeal for the Interest and promotion of Science were the congenial Ornaments. With my thanks for the very obliging manner in which you have notified to me the choice of the Society I pray you, sir, to accept the assurance of respect, with which I am, your very obed[[superscript]]t[[/superscript]]. serv[[superscript]]t[[/superscript]] John Quincy Adams.

From John Q. Adams. From John Q. Adams, accepting the appointment of President of the Columbian Institute, dated 4[[superscript]]th[[/superscript]]. Oct. 1822. [[double line]] [[to right, text rotated 180 degrees]] Communicated 2[[superscript]]d[[/superscript]] Nov 1822 and Read. [[below]] Asbury Dickins Esqr Secretary to the Columbian Institute. Communicated and read, 2[[superscript]]d[[/superscript]]. November, 1822.