Adams Papers

To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 May 1782

From Francis Dana

St: Petersbourg April 29th 1782 O.S. [10 May N.S.]

My Dear Sir

I cannot suffer this post to go off without conveying to you my most hearty congratulations for the great event, of the States General acknowledging our Independence, and upon the famous anniversary of the conception day of our Empire.1 Your patriotism, your zeal, and your inflexible perseverance, will now have their reward when you see the great end of your Mission so happily executed. Never was an alliance formed, I believe, with such cordiality and universal satisfaction among the people of that Republick: An alliance too which will give rise to the same energy of affections amongst us. This news which we received yesterday, has given a shock here; it is not well received: it is considered as a marked slight of the Mediation.2 True, it has deranged their System; but they must now make the best of it. The influence of America upon all the systems of Europe is irresistable, and will universally overthrow them where they are built upon principles repugnant to ours. Ours is founded in nature; theirs, too often, in chicane, in corruption, in little expedients. This is saying a great deal, but is it saying more than is true?

You will receive a letter from me of the 12/23 inst:3 You will not be surprised at any part of its contents when you recollect two circumstances attending it. Are there any hints in it which might be expatiated upon by a certain ingenuous hand?4

Adieu, my dear Sir, I shall ever rejoice in your successes and in your honours.

Yours &c

P.S. I am highly gratified to learn that it is probable that the worthy Baron Van der Capellen, will be appointed the Minister for our Country. This will be to come out of his persecutions with much glory. The Dutch Resident made a visit yesterday to give me the news.5 I have visited to day. He desires his particular complements to you. The Ambassador6 this week, returned a visit I had made him in consequence of an intimation he had given that it wou’d be agreable to him. I have visited him again to day on this occasion.

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr Dana. Ap. 29. 1782.” Filmed at 29 April, Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 356.

119 April 1782, the seventh anniversary of Lexington and Concord.

2For the Russian offer to mediate the Anglo-Dutch War, see JA’s letters to the president of Congress, 6 Aug. 1781, calendared, and to Benjamin Franklin, 25 Aug. 1781 (vol. 11:440, 467–471). The Dutch accepted Russia’s mediation on 4 March 1782 (De Madariaga, Armed Neutrality of 1780 description begins Isabel de Madariaga, Britain, Russia, and the Armed Neutrality of 1780: Sir James Harris’s Mission to St. Petersburg during the American Revolution, New Haven, Conn., 1962. description ends , p. 351).

3Of [23 April N.S]. (vol. 12:455–457).

4JA.

5This report, which was likely conveyed by Johan Isaac de Swart, the Dutch resident from 1773 to 1794 (Repertorium description begins Repertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter aller Länder seit dem Westfälischen Frieden (1648), ed. Ludwig Bittner and others, Oldenburg, &c., 1936–1965; 3 vols. description ends , 3:268), was erroneous and concerned Robert Jasper van Capellen van de Marsch, but for its currency, see Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol’s letter of 2 May, above. In fact, a Dutch minister to the United States was not appointed until 1783, and then it was Pieter Johan van Berckel, brother of Engelbert François van Berckel (Repertorium description begins Repertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter aller Länder seit dem Westfälischen Frieden (1648), ed. Ludwig Bittner and others, Oldenburg, &c., 1936–1965; 3 vols. description ends , 3:271; AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–?. description ends , 4:362).

6Probably the Marquis de Vérac, the French minister.

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