Adams Papers
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To John Adams from the President of Congress, 18 December 1780

From the President of Congress

Philadelphia December 18. 1780

Sir

You will receive herewith enclosed, a Duplicate of my Letter of the 30th of July, with a List of the original Letters and Duplicates which I have had the Honor to receive from you since that Time.1

The Pleasure and Satisfaction which I have received from the Perusal of those Letters, especially that of the 26th of June with the Despatches accompanying it, makes me lament the Want of Leisure to answer your Correspondence. But Necessity compells me to confide in the Committee of foreign Affairs to give you the needful and particular Intelligence from this Part of the World. It is expected a Secretary for foreign Affairs will soon be established,2 and constantly devoted to the Business proper for such Department; which will remedy many Disadvantages we at present labour under.

I have the Honor to be with every Sentiment of Esteem & Respect sir your most obedient & most humble Servant

Sam. Huntington

RC (Adams Papers).

1. The enclosed copy of the 30 July letter is with this letter in the Adams Papers, but the list of JA’s letters has not been found.

2. The office of secretary for foreign affairs was established on 10 Jan. 1781, but the first secretary, Robert R. Livingston, was not appointed until 10 Aug. (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 19:43–44; 21:851–852).

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from the President of Congress, 18 December 1780
    Authors
    President of Congress
    Huntington, Samuel
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    18 December 1780

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from the President of Congress, 18 December 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-10-02-0243. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 10, July 1780 – December 1780, ed. Gregg L. Lint and Richard Alan Ryerson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1996, pp. 423–424.]