21 lines, in ink, 1st page of 4-page lettersheet. 25x20 cm.(9¾x8").

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) writes during his term as the sixth President of the United States, to William R. Prince, proprietor of the Linnaean Botanic Garden in Flushing, Long Island: "Sir, My best acknowledgments are due to you for your very obliging letter, and for the interesting treatise on Horticulture with which it was accompanied. Your establishment has long been advantageously known to me by reputation; though my own wandering course of life has prevented me from deriving from it advantages which I should have sought had I been stationary and possessed a garden to cultivate... Your desire that Congress at this next session may notice and patronize your establishment, will deserve their grave consideration, and has the good wishes of your friend and fellow citizen, [signed] J.Q. Adams." Provenance: L. Bradford Prince, Governor of New Mexico Territory.