1From John Adams to Francis Dana, 8 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The King of G. Britain, by Patent under the Great Seal of his Kingdom has created Richard Oswald Esq, to be his Minister Plenipotentiary to treat with the Ministers of the United States of America. Thus G. B. is the 3 d Power in Europe, to acknowledge our Independence, She can no longer therefore contend that it is a Breach of the armed Neutrality or an Hostility against her to acknowledge...
2From John Adams to Francis Dana, 6 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
You may easily guess from your own Feelings, what mine may be in communicating to you, the Intelligence that the Preliminary Treaty, to be inserted in the diffinitive Treaty was Signed on the 30 Decr. by the Plenipotentiaries on each Side.— We have tolerable Satisfaction in the Missisippi the Boundaries, & the Fisheries and I hope not much to regret with regard to the Tories or any Thing else....
We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, when France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy, were compleated, on the thirtieth of last Month. To Us, at this...
4From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Nov r. 14/25 I recieved the night before last, & went out with it yesterday to Passy. D r. Franklin & I agreed to desire M r. Grand to give Orders to the Banker his Correspondent at S t. Petersbourg to furnish You with the Sum of Money You may have occasion for, so that your Treaty may be made as soon as You please. I should not be surprized, if the English Minister to the...
5From John Adams to Francis Dana, 5 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of December 30 th. , I recieved last Night. Orders are long since gone from M r. Grand to his Correspondent at S t. Petersbourg, to furnish You the Money You want.— You will find our Treaty inaccurate and blundering, but You will pardon all our Bulls, when You know the Haste and the Danger We were in, and think that We have done very well. I should advise You not to hesitate a Moment...
6From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured Yesterday with yours of 15 Jany. O.S. You must have learnt, sometime that the Peace is made, and the Armistice. You can no longer hesitate to make known your Errand. Whether the Advice of the Marquis de Verac is for it or against it, I should think you would now go to the Minister.— Your Instructions are Chains Strong Chains.— Whether you shall break them or no as We have been...
7From John Adams to Francis Dana, 24 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of 14 th. February —and am not without hopes of receiving from Congress, in a few days, directions for advancing the money to you: But five thousand Pounds sterling is an enormous sum, and, in the opinion of some, more than the Treaty, in the present Circumstances will be worth. D r: Franklin started to me a doubt, whether you had not been imposed upon, and told of a...
8From John Adams to Francis Dana, 18 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Favour of March 12. O.S.— It has for Sometime been my Intention to embark for the Blue Hills as soon as the definitive Treaty should be Signed, or even Sooner if the Acceptance of my Resignation, which I transmitted on the 8 th day of last December, Should arrive before that Event. M r Vanberckel will Sail from the Texel in June, and it would be agreable to me to go...
9From John Adams to Francis Dana, 1 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favour of the 16 of March, and in answer to it, I do assure you that I do not intend to decline taking a Seat in Congress, if any State in the Confederation shall think it worth while to offer me one. I am grown very ambitious of being a Limb of that Sovereign. I had rather be Master than Servant, upon the Same Principle that Men Swear at High Gate never to kiss the Maid,...