Letters on Silesia,: written during a Tour through that Country in the Years 1800, 1801; then Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the Court of Berlin; and since a Member of the American Senate. In Two Parts .... Embellished with a New Map.

BY A FUTURE PRESIDENT OF U.S.A.
first edition tall 8vo. xiii, [3], 387, 1 (advt.)]pp., folding map, contemporary diced calf, decorative twisting gilt rolled border on sides, spine panelled by gilt hightlighted raised bands, large gilt tool at panel centres, black morocoo title label, marbled end papers, a few trivial patches of silverfish damage to leather surface on sides, corners slightly scuffed, else a very good copy.
Interesting near contemporary printed label for 'F. Kay's New Circulating Library' pasted at centre of front board.

John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), American diplomat, senator and the sixth President of the United States (1825-1829), is widely considered as one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history. In early life he had spent much time in Europe on diplomatic missions with his father John Adams, later President of the United States, during which time he learned several languages. Washington appointed him American minister to the Netherlands 1793 followed by appointments to Portugal and then Berlin in 1797. He remained in Germany until 1801 and his travels and observations in Silesia during that period formed the basis for this book.
The letters are addressed to Adams' brother, Thomas Boylston Adams, who published the letters without his brother's permission in the periodical Port Folio, and, in 1804 issued them in this edition. The first 29 letters, forming Part I, contain a journal of Adams' tour through Silesia "in which the topography, the agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and the morals and manners of the people of that Dutchy are accurately described". The last 14 letters, forming Part II, contain "a complete geographical, statistical, and historical account of Silesia; together with a detail of its political constitution, military, civil and ecclesiastical establishments, seminaries of education, literature and learned men".The rather attractive printed label on the front board for Kay's New Circulating Library, 2 Somerset Street, Portman Square, London is printed in various sizes of type inside a decorative border and gives the terms of subscription in some detail.