Printer-friendly page

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776 - Had a declaration... (page 3 of 3)

Third page of three-page letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776. The page reads:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. — I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. — Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

This letter continues from a second page. A previous letter is also available.

<img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://statelibrarync.org/learnnc/sites/default/files/images/adams_had_declaration_p3.jpg" width="1287" height="1780" alt="Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776 - Had a declaration..." title="Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776 - Had a declaration..." />
Usage Statement: 

All Rights Reserved

"All rights reserved" is a traditional copyright term that indicates that the copyright holder reserves for his/her/their own use all of the rights given to copyright owners under U.S. copyright law. Items that are included in NCpedia and/or ANCHOR with this rights statement appear by agreement or permission from the rights holder or the institution that holds the item. Click "Available at" to visit the website for the collection where the item appears for more information about the rights or specific uses allowed. For all other non-specified uses, please contact the copyright holder or item owner.