21From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 14 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
A Jealousy of American Ships, Seamen, Carrying Trade, and naval Power, appears every day more & more conspicuous. This Jealousy, which has been all along discovered by the French Minister, is at length communicated to the English. The following Proclamation, which will not increase British Ships and Seamen, in any proportion as it will diminish those of the United States, will contribute...
22From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 13 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Coll o: Ogden arrived with the originals, of what we had before received in Duplicates by Cap n: Barney. The Ratification of the Dutch Treaty had been before rec d. & exchanged. The Ratification of Their High-Mightinesses is in the safe Custody of M r: Dumas at present, at the Hague.— I believe we shall accept of the mediation of the two Imperial Courts at the Definitive Treaty, as...
23From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 12 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Reports have been spread, that the Regency of Algiers has been employed in fitting Ships to cruise for American Vessels. There are reports too, that Spain has an Armament prepared to attack their Town. How much truth there may be in either, I cannot pretend to say. Whether Congress will take any Measures for treating with these piratical States must be submitted to them. The Custom of these...
24From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 11 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
As there are certain particulars, in which it has appeared to me that the friendship of a French Minister has been problematical at least, or rather not to exist at all, I have freely mentioned them to Congress; because I hold it to be the first duty of a public Minister in my Situation, to conceal no important Truth of this kind from his Masters. But Ingratitude is an odious Vice, & ought to...
25From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
In the present violent heat of the Weather, and feverish state of my own health, I cannot pretend to sit long at my Pen, and must pray you to accept of a few short hints only. To talk, in a general stile, of Confidence in the French Court & ca. is to use a general language, which may mean almost any thing, or almost nothing.— To a certain degree, and as far as the Treaties and Engagements...
26From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 9 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Since the dangerous fever I had in Amsterdam, 2. years ago, I have never enjoyed my health: Thro’ the whole of the last Winter & Spring I have suffered under weaknesses & pains, w h: have scarcely permitted me to do business: The excessive heats of the last week or two have bro’t on me a fever again, which exhausts one in such a manner as to be very discouraging & incapacitates one for every...
27From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 7 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
We cannot as yet obtain from M r: Hartley or his Principals an explicit consent to any one proposition whatever: Yet England & France, & England & Spain are probably agreed, and Holland I suppose must comply. Our last resource must be to say we are ready to sign the Provisional Treaty, totidem verbis, as the Definitive Treaty. I think it is plain that the British Ministry do not intend to sign...
28From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 3 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
On the last Ambassador’s day, w h: was last Tuesday, D r: Franklin, M r: Jay & myself, waited on Mons r: de Vergennes, who told us he tho’t he had agreed with the Duke of Manchester, but that his Grace had not yet rec d. the positive approbation of his Court— The Comte advised us to make a visit, all together, to the Ambassadors of the two Imperial Courts. Accordingly yesterday morn g: we...
29From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday D r: Franklin, M r: Jay, & myself met to prepare the Definitive Treaty, and made so much progress in it, that tomorrow we shall be ready to communicate to M r: Hartley the result: But I have small hopes of obtaining any thing more by the Definitive Treaty.— The Duke of Manchester & the Comte d’Aranda have arranged every thing between England & Spain, and are ready to finish for their...
30From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
A few Vessells have arrived in England from various Parts of America, and have probably made the Ministry, Merchants and Manufacturers less anxious about a present Arrangement of Commerce. Whether these Vessells have rashly hazarded these Voyages against the Laws of their Country, or whether they have Permission from Congress or their States We are not informed. It would have been better no...