1To John Adams from Louis François Rolandeau, 2 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Les Bontés avec laquelle vous avez d’aignez prendre part a mon sort Est un acte si precieux pour moy que J’En Conserverai Eternellement la memoire. Ma situation Etoit devenu si accablante que Je me desesperai dy pouvoir surmonter sil ne vous Eut plut d’Eclatter vos bontés En me disant de vous faire passer un Etat de mes pertes dont je prend la liberte de vous mettre cy Joint vous priant dy...
Your kindness in deigning to take notice of my condition is so precious to me that I shall cherish it always. My situation had become so overwhelming that I despaired of ever surmounting it until you generously asked me to send you a statement of my losses, which I take the liberty of enclosing, and pray that you will consider my urgent need to return from Nantes to the United States. I...
En Conformite des ordres que vous M’avez fait l’honneur de m’addresser le 15. du mois dernier le Sr. Thomas Wilkinson a party hier pour la ville de St. Paul de Léon ou il vivra a ses fraix; et J’ay pris pour la Sureté de sa personne touttes les précautions possibles. J’attends de vos ordres ou de Monsieur Francklin sur vos prisonniersicy qui Coûtent bien de la depense la qui me donnent bien de...
In conformity with the orders that you had the honor to send me on the 15th of last month, Mr. Thomas Wilkinson left yesterday for the town of St. Paul de Léon, where he will live at his own expense. I have taken every possible precaution for the security of his person. I await your orders, or those of Mr. Franklin, concerning your prisoners here, who are a great expense and cause me much...
5C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 4 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Notre ami et moi nous nous proposons de faire faire un nouveau pas à sa Ville, plus grand encore, que les derniers qu’elle a faits; et nous espérons, s’il plait à Dieu de le bénir, et à vos ennemis de continuer à maltraiter cette Republique pour faire notre jeu bon, qu’il pourra nous conduire au grand et dernier, qui opereroit l’union parfaite des deux Soeurs. Pour cet effet, il faut garnir...
Our friend and I propose to undertake an initiative in regard to his town more ambitious than any yet attempted. With God’s help and that of our enemies, who further our strategy by continuing to mistreat this Republic, we hope that it will lead us into the final, great phase of establishing a perfect union between the two sisters. To achieve this we must give our friend additional material,...
7From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 6 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
It seems to me necessary, that each of Us may understand our affairs, and be able to render a clear and Satisfactory account to our Constituents, that We should settle two or three Questions that at present are undecided. It should be understood by each of Us, what Articles of Expence, are to be paid by Us both, jointly and what are to be discharged by each Separately. I will venture to give...
8Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 6 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ay recu, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 30 Aout derniere. J’ai envoyé a M. de Vergennes le Passeport necessaire au navire Angloise chargé de l’Echange des Prisonniers de l’Angleterre et des Etats-Unis, et je vais donner les ordres necessaires pour que vos Prisonniers Soient mieux Surveillés à Brest, jusqu’au Moment de l’Echange. J’ai l’honneur d’etre, avec...
I have received, gentlemen, the letter that you did me the honor to write on 30 August. I have sent to M. de Vergennes the necessary passport for the British vessel charged with the exchange of the prisoners held by England and the United States, and shall give the necessary orders to ensure that your prisoners at Brest will be more closely watched until the moment of exchange. I have the...
10From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to congress, all the News Papers, I have by me. Enough to shew that We have nothing very important here, at present. The French and British Fleets are again at Sea and We hourly expect Intelligence of a Second Battle. But our Expectations from America are still more interesting and anxious, having nothing from thence, since the 3d of July, except what is contained...
11From John Adams to William MacCreery, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 30 August I received two days ago, and forthwith laid it before both my Colleagues. You observe that Sea Men and Masters of Vessells escaped from England, complain of the Conduct of the Commissioners. Want of Money, and Want of Attention, you Say are their Complaints. Serious indeed! As to the first, I want to write a Volume, but will Spare you the Trouble, and content myself with a...
J’ai L’honneur de Vous adresser Le 1er. Volume de mon ouvrage. Vous verrés Dans mon Discours préliminaire que je me propose De faire L’histoire Des tribunaux de toutes Les nations, de parler De leurs principales Loix, Et De Rendre compte des fonctions de Leurs magistrats. Les Etats unis ont Leurs tribunaux, Leurs Loix Et Leurs magistrats; J’ose vous prier, Monsieur, de Vouloir Bien me procurer...
13Nicolas Toussaint Lemoyne des Essarts to John Adams: A Translation, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to send you the first volume of my work. You will see, in my preliminary discourse, that I propose to do a history of the tribunals of all nations, to deal with their major laws, and to give an account of the functions of their magistrates. The United States has its courts, laws, and magistrates. I take the liberty to ask you, sir, to provide me with the material necessary for...
14Horneca, Fizeaux & Co. to the Commissioners, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Nous venons de Recevoir par M. Withalle, le Livre contenant les Promesses du Congrés, Revêtües de leur Coupons et de Vos Signatures. Il ne nous manque, pour entamer, leur Négotiation; que vos ordres et Vos Instructions Relativement aux fraix, et aux alloüances que nous devrons accorder aux Preneurs en Sus de L’Interet Stipulé à 5 pour Cent. Nous avons l’honneur d’etre tres Respectueusement...
We have just received from Mr. Whitall the book containing the promissory notes from Congress, along with their coupons and your signatures. Now all we require to begin their negotiation is your orders and instructions relative to the expenses and allowances that we may grant the buyers in addition to the stipulated 5 per cent interest. We have the honor to be, very respectfully, gentlemen,...
16From John Adams to Thomas Greenleaf, 8 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter to me from Forton Goal dated in July I have lately received, and altho I most Sincerely condole with you under the Misfortune of your Captivity, yet I rejoice with you in the Continuance of your Health and in the Humanity, and Charity, and Friendship of your British Benefactors. As to the Assistance you are to expect, you may be assured and you may assure your fellow Prisoners,...
17John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 8 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
This morning Arrived the Privateer Schooner Success—Attwood Master from Virginia. She left Cheasapeak Bay 13 July. The Captains inteligence consists that the ninth Comte d’Estaing saild from the Bay for New York remained in the Bay five French Frigates. Some English Prisoners are brought in here taken by American Privateers their enlargement or detention is optional in the Captures no claim...
18From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 3d I duely received and am very much obliged to you for the Trouble you have taken in Writing to my dear Mrs. Adams, and in sending her a few Merchandises to the amount of 229 Livres: 6 s: 9 d which Sum I will immediately pay to Mr. W. T. Franklin as you desire, and I should have been very glad to have paid an additional sum for your Commissions. We are in the Midst of an...
Passy, 9 September 1778. RC in Adams’ hand PPAmP . printed (with enclosure): Magazine of American History, 12:462–463 (Nov. 1884). Franklin and Adams sent the Council a letter of 10 Aug. from Thomas Hutchinson to Dr. James Lloyd of Boston, concerning land owned by Hutchinson’s sister, Grizell Sanford, and enclosing his and his sister’s powers of attorney. Franklin and Adams had opened the...
20The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We received yours in which you hint that it is wished by some of our Friends that the Commissioners would propose a Treaty to your Government. It would really be a great Pleasure to them to be instrumental in cementing a Union between the two Republics of Holland and the United States, by a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, similar to that lately concluded with France, or varying where...
21The Commissioners to John Ross?, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 29 of August We duely received. We return you the Contract inclosed in it. We are neither instructed nor authorised, to discharge your Debts, whether contracted in a private Capacity or otherwise, and if We were, our Finances would not enable Us to do it, at present. In one of your Letters you Say you have certain Merchandises on Hand to ship to America, which you will not ship...
22C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Je fus hier 2 fois chez le g—— F——, et 2 fois chez notre ami. Voici ce qui se passa hier matin à l’Assemblée d’Hollande. Amsterdam présenta son avis pour la non-augmentation de l’Armée, afin d’être inséré dans les Actes de la Republique, ajoutant, que puisque par-là-même il alloit être imprimé pour l’usage de chacun des Membres, qui pourroient le lire à loisir, on ne vouloit pas exiger de la...
23C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I met twice with the Grand Facteur and twice with our friend. Here is what happened in the Assembly of Holland yesterday morning. Amsterdam presented its proposal, to be inserted in the acts of the republic, opposing an increase in the size of the army, adding that since it would be printed for the use of each member who could then read it at leisure, it seemed unnecessary to try the...
24The Commissioners to Caron de Beaumarchais, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
In a Letter We have received from the Committee of Commerce of the 16 May We are informed that they had “ ordered Several Vessells lately to South Carolina for Rice, and directed the Continental Agents in that state to consign them to y our Address. ” In the Letter from Mr. Livingston to Us dated Charlestown So. Carolina 10. June 1778 he has Subjected the Cargo of the Theresa Thérèse to our...
25The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Captain Daniel McNeill of Boston in the State of Massachusetts Bay Commander of the American Privateer, which has been so successfull against the Common Enemy in the North seas and White seas had the Fortune to retake a French Vessell from a Guernsey Privateer, after she had been in the Enemy’s Possession more than three days, which Prize he has brought into Port Louis. He represents to Us...
26The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
By some of the last Ships from America, we received from Congress certain Powers and Instructions, which we think it necessary to lay before your Excellency, and which we have the Honor to do in this Letter. We have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Contract made between the Committee and Mr. Francy, a Copy of Mr. Francy’s Powers, and a Copy of the list of Articles to be...
27Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Monsieur Montaudouin has this Day received a Letter from Monsieur Kergariou Commander of the French Frigate L’oiseau off Bellisle, informing him that the Guernsey and Jersey Privateers which infest this Bay, obtain Provisions at Bilboa under the Flag of the United States, pretending to be Americans. I think it my Duty to give you this Information and hope some Means may be found to prevent...
28From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress, the latest Gazettes. We have no other Intelligence than is contained in them. Since the 11. July the Date of Lord Howes Letter, announcing the Arrival of the Compte D’Estaing off Sandy Hook, We have not a syllable from America by Way of England. In France We have nothing from America Since 3 July. This long Interval leaves a vast Scope for Imagination...
29The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the fifth instant We have received. We wish better Health to Captain Ayers, and a safe Passage to his Vessell, which is at sea before now no doubt, if not however she is to sail forthwith, without further orders. Your Draughts for the Account inclosed will be duely honoured. But you must distinguish that Part of it, which belongs to Mr. Adams in his private Capacity from the other...
30C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
En me referant à mes deux dernieres du 4 et 9 de ce mois, je continue aujourdhui, que j’ai appris de notre ami, que demain, dans l’Assemblée d’Hollande, on s’occupera d’une matiere très importante, savoir des déprédations commises par les Anglois tout récemment sur nombre de vaisseaux hollandois; que tous les négociants d’Amsterdam en Corps vont incessamment faire présenter une adresse à LL....