1From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 28 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter by the Marquis de la Fayette I have received and it contained So handsome a Testimony to the Merit of that gallant young Nobleman, as well as so many judicious observations on other subjects that I have ventured to permit it to be translated and published. The Complaint against the Family of Lee’s, is a very extraordinary Thing indeed. I am no Idolater of that Family or any other:...
By the new Arrangement, which was brought by the Marquis de la Fayette I find myself restored to the Character of a private Citizen. The Appointment of a single Minister, at the Court of Versailles was not unexpected to me, because I had not been two Months in Europe, before I was convinced of the Policy, and indeed of the Necessity of such a Measure. But I ever entertained hopes that when the...
3From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 27 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, which your Excellency did me, the Honour, to write me, on the twenty first of this Month. This Testimony, from your Excellency, of those indulgent Sentiments with which his Majesty, is pleased to honour my Sincere Intentions, cannot fail to be preserved by me and my Posterity as a most precious Monument, and what, is of infinitely more importance, it cannot fail to...
4To John Adams from Leray de Chaumont, 25 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
D’après Le desir que vous avez temoigné hier devant moy de Retourner a L’amerique et Les inconvenients d’estre pris en Chemin et Conduit Chez vos ennemis J’ay Jugé que Le Sejour de Passi ne vous plairoit peutestre pas, et si vous aimiez mieux habiter unne franche Campagne. J’ay dans le Blesois unne terre meublée que Je n’habite pas, Je vous offre avec plaisir de vous en Laisser le Maistre tant...
In regard to your desire, expressed to me yesterday, of returning to America and the dangers of being captured and made prisoner by your enemies, I have been thinking that your continuance at Passy might not suit you, and that you might prefer to live inexpensively in the country. I have in the Blesois a property that I do not occupy and I offer, with pleasure, to leave you the master of it as...
6From John Adams to Leray de Chaumont, 25 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Honour of your kind Billet of this Days Date, and I feel myself under great Obligations for the genteel and generous offer of your House, at Blesois: But, if I do not put Dr. Franklin to Inconvenience, which I shall not do long, my Residence at Passy is very agreeable to me. To a Mind as much Addicted to Retirement, as mine, the Situation you propose would be delicious...
7From John Adams to James Warren, 25 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the I. Jany. was delivered me, by the Marquis de la Fayette. I wish I was as happy as you, in not being obliged to copy my Letters. Sense or Nonsense frivolous or weighty, I must copy every line I write, for I know not what Accusations may be brought against me, grounded on my Letters if I do not. My Letters are lyable to more Misfortunes and foul Play too than yours, and I keep no...
8From John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 24 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
This Evening I had the Honour of your Letter by Mr. Bradford. When that young Gentleman shall arrive, he shall be treated with all the Civility in my Power, and the best Advice that I am able to give him, shall be at his service. I fancy, sir, they exaggerate the Number of Troops both at N.Y. and R.I. I am persuaded there are not four Thousand Men at either. We have just received News from the...
9Household Accounts of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams at Passy, 1 October 1778 – 23 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
1778 1778 Octr. 1 Passy Octr. 1. 1778 Sir Pay to the honble. John Adams Esqr., or order the Sum of Six thousand Livres, and Charge the Same to Account of the Commissioners 6000. B. Franklin John Adams Oct. 2 Cabaret for Stationary, per Receipt 84. 10. 6 Washerwomans Account for D. Franklin 78. 12 Dennis Account
10From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Conversation with which you honoured me last Evening, has induced me, to give you the Trouble of this Letter upon the same subject. It is certain that a Loan of Money, is very much wanted, to redeem the Redundancy of our Paper Bills, and without it, it is impossible to foresee what will be the Consequence to their Credit, and therefore every service that may be rendered, in order to obtain...
11To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 21 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 16. de ce mois. Quoique vous Soïez désormais Sans caractère public en France, Soïez persuadé que l’estime et la considération que vous vous êtes acquises à juste titre n’ont aucunement diminüé, et je me flatte, Monsieur, que vous ne me priverez point du plaisir de vous en assûrer de bouche, et d’être en même tems...
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write me the 16th of this month. Although in the future you will be without of ficial status in France, rest assured that the esteem and consideration you justly earned has not in any way diminished, and I flatter myself, sir, that you will not deprive me of the pleasure of communicating this to you in person and being, at the same...
13From John Adams to James Lovell, 20 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I set down Simply to acknowledge over again the Receipt 1777 Decr I 8 21 1778 Jany. 20. Ap. 29. May 15. 16 Sept 25 3 others which accompanied some of the others without dates Oct. 24 of the Letters from you whose dates are in the Margin. These have been answerd, and I have wrote you at other Times. But there is a terrible Waste of Letters in the Sea. I cannot lay aside my Pen without Saying,...
14To John Adams from Ferdinand Grand, 17 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Grand has the honour of paying his respects to the Honorable Mr. Adams and begs leave to observe to him that the général Account he requires Since his arrival untill Mr. Franklin’s new Commission would not agree with all those he has furnishd in that Interval and which being a Series of Accounts united together would be in Contradiction with that required. It is not possible to dissect in...
15From John Adams to Ferdinand Grand, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
As I Shall soon have an opportunity of rendering an Account of my Short Stewardship, I must beg the Favour of you, to let Some of your People, make out a list of those Sums of Money, which I have drawn for and received seperately—another of those which Dr. Franklin and I have drawn for jointly—and thirdly an Account of those sums, which all of Us have drawn for together. I dont know indeed but...
16From John Adams to Gabriel de Sartine, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
By the late Appointment of Dr. Franklin to be a Minister plenipotentiary at this Court, I am left at Liberty to return to my own Coun try, as it does not appear that Congress, have any further Service for me to do in Europe. I therefore wish to return, as Soon as possible. But the English have heard So much of me, in Times past that I should be very loth to be exposed to their Goodwill. If it...
17From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening, I had the Honour of your Letter of the thirteenth of this Month, in answer to mine of the Eleventh. I thank your Excellency, for the Politeness, with which you have agreed to my Proposition of a Conference upon the Subject of Mr. Deanes Address, to the People of the united States. At the Time, when my Letter of the Eleventh, was written and Sent to your Excellency, there were...
18To John Adams from Jonathan Williams III, 16 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I arrived at Brest last Wednesday, in twenty five days Passage from Boston, and had the Pleasure of spending a day with Mrs. Adams the week before, at Braintree; She was then well and wrote the inclosed for my Care. Mrs. Adams had occasion for some solid Coin to answer some particular Purposes and I had it in my Power to afford her ten Guineas, for which She gave me the inclosed Bill; I know...
19From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 14 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss de la Fayette did me, the Honour of a Visit, Yesterday, and delivered me, your Favour of the 25. of October. I am not sorry, as Things have been ordered, that mine of May 24 did not reach you till 24 Octr. because as the new Arrangement was previously made, it cannot be said that I had any Hand in accomplishing it. Yet I am glad the Letter has arrived because it will shew that the...
20From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 14 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit you, three Letters, received by the Marquiss de la Fayette. I send you the Letters from Mr. Adams and Mr. Lee that you may know their Sentiments. All that is said of Mr. me, in both these Letters I hope you will omit. They are only Compliments, and I fancy Mistakes. What is said also, of General Sullivan in Mr. Adams’s Letter should also be omitted. And what is...
I had Yesterday, the Honour of your Favour of the 28 Octr. inclosing a Resolution of Congress of the 22 of the same Month, to which I Shall give all the Attention in my Power. I have great Satisfaction in the Reflection, that I have hitherto endeavoured with much Sincerity, to conform to the Spirit of it. What you recommend to me, viz. to communicate to the Ministers of other Courts, Such...
22From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged to you for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival, and agreable Accommodation at Paris. I assure you, Sir, I have no Objection to the “Splendid Gayety of a magnificent Court,” in a Country, where Manners, Habits and the Constitution of the Country Government make it necessary, which I hope however, will never be the Case in America. He must be of a Strange Disposition,...
23From John Adams to James Lovell, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 24 Oct. is before me. I have received several Letters from you every one of which I have answered, and written you many more. But so many Vessells have been taken, that I fear many have miscarried. We have been totally in the dark about every Thing at Philadelphia, for a very long Space of Time, yet private Persons learnt all—untill the Address of Mr. Deane to the People, a...
24To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, with a Contemporary Translation, 13 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recû Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avés fait l’honneur de m’Ecrire Le 11. de Ce mois, et Conformement a vos desirs je n’ai point appellé le Secours d’un traducteur pour prendre Connoissance de Son Contenû. Je ne suis pas moins peiné que vous Monsieur, de l’appel au peuple d’amerique que M. Silas Deane a Publié. Il ne m’apartient pas de qualifiér Cette demarche; C’est a vos souvrains...
I have received the letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 11th. instant and agreable to your desire I have not submitted its contents to the inspection of a Translator. I am no less hurt than yourself Sir at the Appeal which Mr. Silas Deane has made to the people of America. It does not belong to me to qualify this step. Your re spective sovereigns must judge of the measure...
26From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 12 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We duly received the Letter which you did us the honor of writing on the 9th. of Feb. accompanyed with a Letter from Mr. Pringle, herewith you have the Draught of an Answer to that Gentleman, which you are requested, if you approve of it to subscribe and forward. As Mr. Lee is best acquainted with the Places, Persons and Officers to which Mr. Pringle must apply—it is requested of Mr. Lee to...
27Arthur Lee and John Adams to John Julius Pringle, 12 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letter of Feb. 9. offering your Services to the public by going to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners. We have considered this Subject and judging it necessary to send some Person upon this Business, We have determined to accept of your Proposition, and We desire you to prepare yourself for the Journey, with all convenient Dispatch. Your Instructions shall be...
28The Commissioners’ Accounts with Ferdinand Grand: Doit Compte des Etats Unis par Messieurs Franklin, Lee et Adams chez … (Adams Papers)
1778 Debit Credit Novemb. 12 Pour Solde du précédent Compte. 439728. 15. 7. Pour une traite de Mr. Hy. Laurens Président du 7. 9bre. 1777. à 30. jours de vue, dont ces Mrs. ont été debités deux fois au lieu d’une. 900. 12 Acceptation de M. B. Franklin à une traite de J. Philips du 28. Septemb. à uso 1200. 17 Payé à Mr. Arthur Lée sur recu 4800. 18 Acceptation de Mr. B. Franklin, à traite de...
29From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 11 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
As Your Excellency reads English perfectly well, my first Request is, that you would do me the Favour to read this, without a Translation after which I Submit it to your Excellency to make what Use of it, you shall think proper. I have hitherto avoided, in my Single Capacity, giving your Excellency, any trouble, by Letter, or Conversation: but the present Emergency demands that I should ask...
As your Separation from the Ranger, and the Appointment of Lieutenant Simpson to the Command of her, will be liable to Misinterpretations and Misrepresentations by Persons who are unacquainted with the real Causes of those Facts. We hereby certify, that your leaving the Ranger was by our Consent, at the express Request of his Excellency Monsieur De Sartine, who informed Us that he had occasion...