1To John Adams from Bidé de Chavagnes, 19 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Quoyque je ne puisse scavoir par personne positivement si vous estes a paris de retour de vos voyages, l envie que jay de scavoir de vos cheres nouvelles, de celle de vos chers enfants et patriotes, mengage a avoir lhonneur de vous ecrire cette lettre, quand elle devroit voyager aprés vous. Je desire fort que votre santé nait point souffert des longues et dures courses que vous avez fait, et...
Although no one could tell me positively if you were in Paris back from your journeys, I felt a desire to find out any news from you, your dear children and patriots. It is for this honor that I have engaged myself to write to you, even if the letter has to travel to find you. I hope very strongly that your health has not suffered from the long and hard course that you have had, and that you...
3To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 17 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Hope this will find Your Excellency’s Health well established, and that your Disorder has not left the Remains usually attendant on it, but that your wonted Spirit and Fortitude are continud, for indeed, they are necessary to you at this Juncture, if I am rightly informed of a late transaction in America, which has grievd and Confounded me above Measure. The Hints given me of it are...
4To John Adams from Henry Grand, 14 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
At the receit of your Letter I imparted your observations, concerning your Account, to Dr. Franklin, for the consideration of which he demanded a few days, it is but lately that he answered me verbally, “that he had allowd and payd to Mr. Fr. Dana all that was due to him for his Salaries, and that he was doing the Same with respect to you by means of his order to give you credit for 120.000,...
5To John Adams from Francis Dana, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is not through want of attention that I have omitted to this time, to acquaint you of our arrival in this City. We reached it, after some perils, on the 27th. of Augt. N.S. sufficiently fatigued I assure you. For from Leipsic I began to travel day and night, and continued this practise all along the remaining distance. At Berlin we rested, or were rather stopped, nine days by the...
6Enclosure: Key for a Code System, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
No. 1. The Empress. or Russian. 2. The Emperor—Austrian 3. The King. 4. The Minister—Ministry. 5. Prussia—Prussian. 6. Sweden—Swedish. 7. Denmark—Danish 8. Holland—Dutch. 9. France—French. 10. Spain—Spanish. 11. Britain—British. 12. Congress—America 13. United States—American. 14. Prince de Potemkin. 15. Comte de Panin. 16. Comte D’Ostermann. 17. Dr. Franklin. 18. Mr. Adams. 19.
7To John Adams from Job Field and Others, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
We Are Extreamly Sorry To Troughble you with A Letter of this Kind, But Our Unfortunate Situation In A Kingdom Remote From All Our friends And Distitute of Cash, Drives Us to the Necessity of Requesting You for the Sake of our Parents Wich Ware Your Neighbours and Acquaintances To Supply Us With Some Small Sums of Cash—Wich You may Either Carge to Our Parents, or Our Selfs, And the Same Shall...
8To John Adams from Jean Luzac, 6 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Ce fut avec la plus grande satisfaction et reconnoissance, que je reçus, il y a quelque tems, de la part de Votre Excellence, le Recueil des Constitutions et autres Actes fondamentaux de la République Fédérative, qui s’est formée dans le Nouveau-Monde. J’en ai témoigné ma gratitude à Mr. Thaxter; mais il est de mon devoir de présenter à Votre Excellence même mes vifs et sincères remercîmens....
9Jean Luzac to John Adams: A Translation, 6 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
It was with the greatest satisfaction and gratitude that I received, some time ago from your Excellency, the collection of constitutions and other fundamental acts of the federative Republic formed in the New World. I expressed my gratitude for this to Mr. Thaxter, but it is my duty to express my great and sincere thanks to your Excellency. If this collection is by itself a testament worthy of...
We had the pleasure to receive several letters from you before we left St. E– the contents of which were properly attended to, our answers have good reason to think did not reach you. Since that period our sufferings have been very great, but for prudential reasons must be silent thereon. Beg to refer you to Mr. Jno. Witherspoon, who take the liberty of introducing to you. With the greatest...
11To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 31 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duly received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 17th. Instant inclosing a Copy of one from Mr. John Ross, acquainting me with the Presentation to you of 51 Bills Drawn in his Favour the 22 June last on Mr. Henry Laurens; for the Sum of 40,950 Guilders; and desiring to know whether I will pay them. I have already paid or provided for the Payment of all the former Congress...
12To John Adams from Winslow Warren, 29 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Mason here has received letters from his Father in Virginia to the 3 of June which inform him that at that time the Marquis la Fayette’s force consisted of about 4000 men 1200 of which were Continental troops. That he would be joined in few days after that by Genl. Wayne with 12 or 1500 Men which would make his force superiour to Genl. Cornwallis but that the British had so much the...
13To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 22 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter, of the 18th. Instant, This Day. Indeed, Sir, the Dutch have Acted Nobly. They have astonished their Friends and confounded their Ennemies and have shewn that the contempt, in which they have hitherto been held, did not result from the Body of the people. But whilst this Engagement in the old stile may serve as an Hint to the English ought...
14Commission to Conclude a Tripartite Alliance with France and the Netherlands, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Whereas a union of the force of the several powers engaged in the War against Great Britain may have a happy tendency to bring the said War to a speedy and favourable issue, and it being the desire of these United States to form an Alliance between them and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Know Ye therefore that We confiding in the integrity prudence and ability of the honorable John...
15Instructions to Conclude a Tripartite Alliance with France and the Netherlands, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
By The United States in Congress Assembled. The report of the Committee on the communications of the honble. the Minister Plenipotentiary of France was taken into consideration, and thereupon— Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles, be directed to inform his most Christian Majesty that the tender of his endeavours to accomplish a coalition...
16To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 16 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I yesterday received Dispatches from Congress, refusing for the present, the Dismission I had requested, and ordering me upon an Additional Service, that of being join’d with yourself and Messrs. Jay, H. Lawrence and T. Jefferson, in Negociations for Peace. I would send you a Copy of the Commission, and of another which authorizes us to accept...
17To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 12 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since my last of the 6th. Instant there have been several Arrivals in France from America. I have Letters from Philda. of the 20th. June, tho’ none from Congress. The Advices are, that General Green has taken all the Enemy’s Out Posts in So. Carolina and Georgia, and that their Possession in those Provinces is reduc’d to Charlestown and Savannah. In North Carolina they also have Wilmington....
18To John Adams from William Jackson, 12 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Could I have supposed that Your Excellency would have returned to Amsterdam before the Ship sailed, I should certainly have done myself the honor and agreeable satisfaction of waiting upon you before I left this Country—but this pleasure is denied me—and I am scarce allowed time by Mr. Thaxter’s immediate departure to bid Your Excellency farewell in this abrupt manner —but I lean with...
19To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 11 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
On my return to this Town I found a Letter from London informing me that the 20£ was paid according to order. The Gentleman, who executed this Commission is named Bridgen and his address is Bridgen & Waller London, putting a little, b thus under the Seal, which prevents his Partner opening the Letter. He sent me the inclosed Copies of an Ode. I find in his letter the following Paragraph: “I...
20To John Adams from John Bondfield, 7 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
We have many American Vessels arrivd within these five or six days past most of them belonging to No. Carolina but last from the West Indies, the situation of the Army’s preventing their return and will detain them in a foreign Trade til a change takes place, the latest advices we have by them are of May consiquently them at hand Via London are later and more circumstial. Our letters from...
21To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 6 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I some time since gave Orders as you desired to Mr. Grand, to furnish you with a Credit in Holland for the Remainder of your Salary to November next. But I am now told that your Account having been mixt with Mr. Dana’s, he finds it difficult to know the Sum due to you. Be pleased therefore to State your Account for two Years, giving Credit for the Sums you have receiv’d, that an Order may be...
22To John Adams from Henry Grand, 6 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
After due Consideration we agreed upon sending your two trunks of Books, by land, which I have had executed, having first had them plumbed, by which means all Visitation is prevented. I have consigned them à la Veuve Desmeth à Anvers who will send them on to Fizeaux Grand & ce. pursuant to your desires, you have here inclosed the Note of my charges thereto, for which I place 34 10 to your...
23To John Adams from the Committee for Foreign Affairs, 21 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I do not find by President Huntington’s Letter Book that he has forwarded the within Resolve of July 12th. respecting your Powers of Sept. 29th. 1779 therefore I take the Opportunity of two Vessels which are to sail in a few Hours, to communicate it doubly. The whole of the Proceedings here in regard to your two Commissions, are I think, Ill judged but I persuade myself no dishonour was for...
24To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I think your Excellency will not be Surprized to find that I am stil at Amsterdam. Mr. Dana is so well Accompanied on his Route, that it was quite Unnecessary any one Else should attend him; and the Difficulties daily arising in the Dispatch of the South Carolina take from me any certainty of leaving this Place yet awhile. Tis true we are told that she will go on such a day and such a day. But...
25To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois. C’est par une Suite de la confiance que je mêts dans vos lumières et dans votre Zèle pour votre Patrie, que je vous ai confié les propositions des deux Cours Impériales, et que je vous ai prié d’y faire les observations dont vous les jugeriez susceptibles. Les choses ne sont pas encore assez avancées...
26The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 13th of this month. It was owing to the confidence I placed in your judgment and zeal for your country that I entrusted to you the propositions of the two imperial courts and requested that you would make such observations as you might think them susceptible of. Things are not yet sufficiently advanced to admit of...
27To John Adams from Edward Bridgen, 13 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the direction of our Mutual Friend Mr. Jennings I have sent to Ostend to the Care of Messrs. Theodoor Van Moorsel & Co. there, a Small packadge of Books Viz: Two Parliamentary Registers. The principles of Law and Goverment, and (by Mistake) a Novell called the Revolution which I was not apprized of untill too late. You will also find 2 large 4to. Volumes of the Memoirs of Thos. Hollis Esqr....
28Enclosure: A Resolution on a Treaty of Commerce, 12 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the United states in Congress assembled Resolved That the commission and instructions for negotiating a treaty of Commerce between these United states and Great Britain given to the honorable John Adams on the twenty ninth day of Sep tember one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine be and they are hereby revoked. Extract from the minutes The content of all or some notes that appeared on...
29To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Adams, and sends such of his Trunks as can be got at; W.T.F. in whose Chamber it is suppos’d there may be more, being gone to Paris; and having with him Mr. F’s Carriage prevents his waiting on Mr. Adams immediately as he would otherwise wish to do; but Mr. F. requests the Honour of Mr. Adams’s Company at Dinner to-morrow. RC ( Adams Papers ).
30To John Adams from William MacCreery, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am not skill’d in writing introductory Letters—I must however write one to make you acquainted with a Gentleman whose conversation you will find, at least, very agreeable. In these intrigueing times, when Politicians are obliged to Speak with caution in all companies, look at all Men with a suspicious Eye, and speak to them with reserve, an introduction becomes very Necessary, as it is apt...