The United States of North America in Congress Assembled impressed with a high sense of the wisdom and magnanimity of your high Mightinesses and of your inviolable attachment to the rights and liberties of mankind and being desirous of cultivating the friendship of a Nation eminent for its wisdom Justice and moderation have appointed the honble. John Adams late a Delegate in Congress from the...
The United States of America in Congress Assembled impressed with a deep sense of your wisdom and magnanimity and being desirous of cultivating the friendship of your Highness and of the seven United Provinces of the Netherlands who have ever distinguished themselves by an Inviolable attachment to freedom and the rights of Nations, have appointed the honorable John Adams late a delegate in...
3From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam 1 January 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC, Misc. Papers , Reel No. 1, f. 204–211. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:219–222. Read in Congress on 19 Nov., this letter contained the texts of Britain’s manifesto of 20 Dec. 1780, which constituted a...
4To John Adams from the President of Congress, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
You will receive herewith enclosed, a Commission as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Provinces of the low Countries, with Instructions for your Government on that important Mission; as also a Plan of a Treaty with those States, and likewise a Resolve of Congress relative to the Declaration of the Empress of Russia respecting the Protection of neutral Ships &c. Proper Letters of Credence...
5To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I will no longer omit to acquaint you of my safe arrival here; I shou’d have done it before, but I wished first to obtain the sight of the British Declaration against the Dutch; which I cou’d not effect, till the last evening. Will the Dutch remain firm, and in good earnest set about the equipment of their Navy? If they will, we may hope something from their exertions. Let me have your...
6To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to congratulate your Excellency on the Commencement of the New Year and to assure your Excellency of my sincere Wishes, that it may be productive of all Happiness and the most perfect Liberty to You and Yours and our Country in General. I think your Excellencys Mind must be much occupied at present. The late desperate Step, which England has taken has I believe astonished Most....
7To John Adams from John Bondfield, 2 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
A Vessel that left Annapolis in Virginia arrived at this port yesterday. The English under Col. Leslie enterd the Bay and landed at Hampton, they retreated a few days after, leaving their Camp Kettles and other Baggage in Camp. Their precipitate retreat is supposed from Advices received of the Landing of a considerable Body of French Troops at George Town in South Carolina. Lord Cornwallis was...
8To John Adams from James Lovell, 2 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor of Sepr. 20th. reached me at Christmas. I inclose you a Resolve but am not able to give you a Copy of what I officially wrote to cover it by Col. Palfrey and by Way of Boston. You will oblige me by returning a Copy of that Letter which ought to appear in the Books of the Committee for foreign Affairs, those Books being soon I hope to be placed in some regularly established Office....
9From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 3 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 1st. of this Year, and thank you for your kind Congratulations, which I return with equal Sincerity. My Mind is, as you conjecture much engaged at present, and altho I am not able to do much towards midwifing the great Events, with which the Times are pregnant, yet I dont think the less, nor the less anxiously about them for that. Englands temporary Security,...
10To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 3 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had this Day the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 31 Ultimo; which gives me the greatest Satisfaction. I think with your Excellency, that the Emperor cannot engage in this Contest without being abundantly paid by England, whose Resources will thereby be diverted from Acting directly Against Us, but it is worth her while to pay Him the Utmost in order to Embroil France. In...
11From John Adams to the President of Congress, 4 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Notwithstanding the Influence of the English Nation; notwithstanding the Influence of old Prejudices and Habits; notwithstanding the Apprehensions that are entertained for immense Sums in the English Funds, and for the sudden destruction of an innumerable Navigation at the Commencement of a War, and above all notwithstanding the Authority and Influence of the Stadtholder, I am confidently...
12From John Adams to the President of Congress, 5 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
On the 10 of Nov. 1780 The Memorial of Sir Joseph York to the States General, was presented for a Disavowal, Satisfaction proportioned to the Offence, and Punishment of the Guilty. The 28 Nov. a formal Disapprobation of the States General, of the Conduct of the Regency of Amsterdam. 12. December: Second Memorial of Sir J. York, for a Satisfaction proportioned to the Offence, and the Punishment...
13To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 5 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Altho hostilities, and seemingly rigourous ones, have commencd between your Country and mine, I see no reason why our former freindships may not be kept up and you and I communicate by letter as we were used to do. I got your favor of the 18th. and hope eer this the two parcells of Books which were then missing have got to hand. There were Receipts taken for them but as I have not been able...
14To John Adams from James Lovell, 6 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hope the Papers which you will receive by this opportunity will give you personal Satisfaction as well as facilitate the Purposes of your Commissions. I have already sent several Copies of the Diary of Congress of Decr. 12th. 1780 as follows. “Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Committee to whom was referred the Letter of June 26 from the honorable John Adams, whereupon...
15To John Adams from Francis Dana, 7 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I seize with avidity upon the opportunity of sending You the enclosed Philadelphia Paper of the 25th. of October, and, in the words of Govr. Jefferson, your much respected Friend, “of congratulating your Excellency on the small dawn of good Fortune, which at length appears in the South.” Our Countreymen seem to be in motion, and at least are bravely attempting to bring about a happy change in...
16To John Adams from James Lovell, 8 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Herewith goes a Letter which I this day received from Mrs. Adams with a Request that I would superscribe it and deliver it to the Care of Colonel Palfrey, or of some other, he being gone. The Discontent in the Pensylvania Line of the Army can give the Enemy no solid Satisfaction; for, an evident Proof that it does not rise from Disaffection to our Cause has been given by a Discovery and...
17To John Adams from the President of Congress, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed are two letters of Credence, mentioned in my other Letter of this Date; the one addressed to the Stadtholder; the other to their high Mightinesses the States General &c. You will please to observe the Cover of each is unsealed, that you may take them off and superscribe the Address on each of the enclosed Letters that are sealed, in the proper Stile and Titles on each of them...
18To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
London 9 January 1781. RC Adams Papers . printed : Digges, Letters Letters of Thomas Attwood Digges , ed. Robert H. Elias and Eugene D. Finch, Columbia, S.C., 1982. , p. 348–349. This letter, written “Tuesday night late,” quoted verbatim an account of the French attack of 6 Jan. on the Island of Jersey that appeared in the London Gazette Extraordinary of Tuesday, 9 Jan., but see also a report...
19To John Adams from Joshua Johnson, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
My last was on the 29 July since which I am deprived of any of your ever esteemed favours. Inclosed I forward you an American News Paper of the 3d. November which contains matter of the greatest consequence to us and which I most seriously hope will proove true. I most certainly should have addrest you before this on a subject interesting to myself had I been furnished with your address on...
20To John Adams from the President of Congress, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Congress consider your correspondence with the Count de Vergennes on the subject of communicating Your Plenipotentiary Powers to the Ministry of Great Britain as flowing from your Zeal and Assiduity in the service of your country: but I am directed to inform you that the Opinion given to you by that minister relative to the time and circumstances proper for communicating your powers and...
21To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Paris 10 January 1781. RC Adams Papers ; filmed at 12 July 1780, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 352. Designated “No. 9,” this letter is written on the lower half and reverse of the triplicate of the Committee for Foreign Affairs’ letter of 12 July 1780. It was a covering letter for several documents brought to France by Thomas Bell of the Chevalier de La Luzerne and James Josiah of the...
22To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
In June last I returned to this State, and have since been favoured with your several Letters of the 23d. and 29th. of Feby., 19th. of March, 28th. of April, 23d. of May and 24th. of June, with the pamphlet by the Baron de Arundl, whom I have not had the Pleasure of seeing. Mr. Dalton informed me in July last that notwithstanding the Friendship of yourself and Doctor Franklin, in the Affair of...
23To John Adams from Stephen Sayre, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am, not many days since favour’d with your Letter of the 6th.; and as your Excellency wishes to be further infor’d on the subject, it is my duty to reply. Perhaps some good may arise to our Country if you assist me in my endeavours while here. It was what I supposed, but I am exceedingly sorry you have no powers to make a begining of a trade from this port, which, tho’ now somewhat indirect...
24To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of March last I have but lately received. It was Sent by the Post, I suppose from Newport. When the Gentleman you recom mend in it, Monsr. Petry, comes here, it will give me pleasure to make Boston agreable to him. I wish we could have had more of your assistance in compleating the plan of government. Some of the alterations made in it after you left us, were by no means for the...
25To John Adams from William Temple Franklin, 11 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Letter your Excellency honour’d me with dated the 7th. of last Month, I duly received. The Pleasures of Amsterdam must be sad indeed, when you wish for the Gout as a Remedy for your Ennui : If I may judge from the Sufferings of my poor Grand father, I fancy you would prefer the Malady to the Cure. Capt. Bell and Capt. Josiah are arrived at L’Orient, from Philada. a small Vessel likewise is...
26To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 12 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Ce n’est pas proprement le Courier attendu, mais une Lettre des Plénipotentiaires de Petersbourg qui est arrivée, datée du 19 Dec. O.S. dernier, annonçant que l’Impératrice étoit contente de tout, quelle avoit vu les 2 derniers Memes. Britanniques présentés par S. J. Y. à L. h. P., et qu’elle en avoit été plus indignée qu’étonnée: que la Signature devoit se faire le 23e. O.S. c’est-à-dire, 4...
27C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 12 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
This is not the expected post, but rather a letter dated the 19th of last December O.S. that has arrived from the plenipotentiaries at St. Petersburg, announcing that the Empress was satisfied with the situation; that she has seen the last two British memorials presented by Sir Joseph Yorke to Their High Mightinesses and is more indignant than surprised by them; that the convention would be...
28From John Adams to the President of Congress, 14 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
In an Excursion, which I have lately made through the principal Cities of this Province, Haarlem, Leyden, the Hague and Rotterdam, I have had an Opportunity of percieving that there is a Spirit of Resentment against the English very general among the People. Notwithstanding this, every thing is so artfully retarded—the Manifesto, the Letters of Marque, and above all the decision of the Court...
29From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last night, on my arrival home, I found your Favour and Thank you for the Intelligence it contains, which I shall transmit, as you desire. The English have captured a great number of Dutch Ships: The Dutch however are still flattering themselves, with Hopes that the quarrell will be made up: that the English will all these Ships.&c. &c. &c. So little do they Know the Character of the King,...
30Code Used in Correspondence between John Adams, Francis Dana, and James Searle, 14 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
AZ. Congress Francisco—Deane Macedon—Alexander RR—Bancroft X—Williams D.D—Franklin D.D.J—Franklin Junr. SS—Foulke Missa—Jay Merry—Carmichael Snapo—Chamont Adventure—Beaumarchis Renardo—Gerard Angelica—Vergenes De Novo—De Castres Grex—States General Grego—Stadholder Steady—Mr. Adams Funn—J. Searle Dortje—Regency of Ams.