1To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 10 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
A packet boat is arrivd from Jamaica which saild from thence the 29th Jany. with accounts of Fort Omoa being again in the possession of Spain, and that one of our Men of War has taken a Spanish Ship of War bound to that quarter of So America with Stores. She was piercd for 64 Guns but carryd only 52. The Jamaica fleet saild the 24th. Jany. Convoyd rather slightly only with a force of about two...
2To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 28 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
A Vessel from N York to Liverpoole which saild the 24th. June, brings advice that Clinton had got back to that quarter and gone up the No. River with 10,000 Men and several small boats. About a month ago an intimate friend shewd letters from that General mentioning that his intention was to try if Washingtons lines were forcible; I make no doubt this is the scheme he is upon—He will most...
3To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 2 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I wrote You from Ostend the 27th Ulo and stated what I had done with Dr. F. I arrivd here the last mail day but too late to look about me and to write so fully as I could have wishd. I found the intire kick up of the great ones to make much noise and to give universal pleasure. As the Parliament is not setting no fixd measure of the new people is yet talkd of and the reports are various and...
4To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am obligd to You for a letter the 14th Instant. My writing to You is from the motive of making You acquainted from time to time with any material movement or particular news from this quarter, which may be interesting or serving in any way the business you are engagd in; Your particular situation must put it out of your power to write when even you may wish to do so, and I by no means expect...
5To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 23 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am without any of your favours for some time. Not a word of news to write about that concerns your country. We English yet think that the Mynheers will trukle to, and we are even so idle as to suppose Russia will be with us. Four mails are due from Holland, and we are extreemly anxious for the Answer to our memorial. If it is possible to get it before it comes out in the foreign news papers,...
6To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 20 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am just arrivd here from London, and instead of personally waiting upon You I make so free as to send a messenger with this and its inclosure together with a few late News Papers. I have a matter of publick moment to mention to You; As well as to speak to a private affair of consequence to myself which will I think lead me in a very few days to Dr. F at Paris. My present purpose is to beg...
7To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 10 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Nothing material occurring, I did not write you on the last post day. Things were then in a train for other communications and I am in hopes to add something to this letter in the Evening before I seal it, from our friend. Mr. S ear les letter and some late ones from home via Nantes got to Him. Mr. L——ns treatment remaind with usual and unabated rigour till the 8th Instant. His Son and Mr....
8To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 14 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am obligd to You for the Book forwarded me by Mr. L–g–n, but unfortunately there is a sheet wanting in the most material part of it, that of the description and powers to the Senate, from Page 16 to 25 the leaves are wanting or rather page 17 to 24 inclusive. This however is of no material consequence as the book is but the report and not the Established new Constitution of the...
9To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had a sight of yours of the 15th, 17, and 18th Instant and am thankful for their inclosures. Whenever any publications worth notice, come to Your hands, send them in like manner and they will find immediate insertion here. The Courant being now the most generally read paper for early American intelligence, I constantly give the American papers to the publisher of that paper, and at any...
10To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of the 12th. We have no arrivals from Ama., or any thing new but what will be mentiond below. I am anxious to know if my letter to you of the 8th or 7th of last month got to your hands. The Behaviour of the Bearer of it to Ostend, who has been some days idling about London gives me strong suspicion that He did not do with the letter what He promisd me. I am uneasy about Him...
11To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 28 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I attend to what you mention by Capt. C. the 15th. Instant, and have in consequence, some days ago shippd for Ostend, in a box marked A, with a card direction to Monsr. Frs. Bowens Merchant there , sundry pamphlets and papers as you require; and have written to Mr. B to forward it on in the manner He may think safest, and to hereafter attend to any other parcels I may send in the same way. It...
Sent Apr. 25 a box markd Ɨ A . A Parcell of News Papers bound up 128 and 17 loose £1:15:9. Prior Documents 1 vol 5s 6—administration Desected 2s 6—Facts 2s—Burkes speech 1s 6—The Peoples barrier agt. Corruption 2s 6—2 Epistles to Washington 5s—Memorial to the Sovereigns of Europe 2s 6—Hartleys Letters to his Constituents 2s—Do. to the York Committee 6d—Considerations on the intended...
13To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It has been some Weeks since I have heard from you and indeed near a month since I wrote myself. You may easily suppose the cause, and that I had nothing material to communicate. In a former letter you mentiond to me your willingness to help Captains M——y or C——m to some pecuniary aid should they need it. The long confinement of these brave and unfortunate men makes every small donation...
14To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
London 9 January 1781. RC Adams Papers . printed : Digges, Letters Letters of Thomas Attwood Digges , ed. Robert H. Elias and Eugene D. Finch, Columbia, S.C., 1982. , p. 348–349. This letter, written “Tuesday night late,” quoted verbatim an account of the French attack of 6 Jan. on the Island of Jersey that appeared in the London Gazette Extraordinary of Tuesday, 9 Jan., but see also a report...
15To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 14 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 28th ultimo and 7th Instant came both to hand since mine of the 10th and I began from yesterday to forward the two news papers as directed. You need not apologise for any trouble given me of this sort, for I shall be always glad to serve You. The Books you request in both these last letters will be forwarded by a Ship to Amsterdam to sail in a few days; there are other...
16To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 29 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter by Mr. Barnet (who was Capn. and supercargoe of a Ship of Chamonts taken and carryd into Ireland) of the 8th. Instant, I have put in the common conveyance two letters for you the 10th. and 23d. Instant, which I hope reachd your hands. A freind going to Holland promises to put this in the first Post Office abroad. Since my last, there has been nothing whatever from America, nor...
17To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 11 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
My long silence has not been owing to any want of regard or attention to you, but has been solely occasiond by the imprudence and folly of some young men, whose conduct has produced a general hunt after Amns., the stoppage of letters, seizure of baggage &c. &c.—and it seems as if it would never have an end. The last who went from here Mr. W arren may have explaind in part what has happend. I...
18To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 15 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
We are all so very busy in Election bustles that hardly anything political is talked of. The Ministry seem to be going on swimingly in getting in Creatures of their own so that their majority in the next will be more decided than in the last Parliament. The Poll has ended for the City and the members are Hayley, Kirkman, Bull, and Newnham. The last tho a Torey beat Sawbridge by 79 Votes....
19To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I expected when I gave you the last West Inda. accounts the 9th. Instant that my next would be some thing about America but we have yet not a tittle from that quarter which bears the face of authenticity. The Inclosd Gazette account from Rodney is all we have new, and even Englishmen who think rightly are by no means pleasd with the account altho the writer has stiled it a defeat of the French...
20To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 3 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry to inform You that Mr. Heny. Lawrens and two other Amn. Gentlemen Prisoners in England. They were taken in a small packet on the banks of New foundland about 24 days ago and sent to St. Johns, where Admiral Edwards thought the capture so important as to immediately dispatch the Vestal Frigate Capt. Keppell with them, and the mail which was also taken, to England. Mr. Adams Laurens...
21To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 2 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
You will have read, before this can reach you, the Gazette account of the Chas. Town Expedition; which is universally esteemed here rather a disagreeable account for Government, and plainly indicative of very great doubts if Clinton will succeed or not. I am perswaded by all I can hear He will be a second time disgraced and baffled in his attempts on that place. A parcell containing Pamphlets...
22To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 23 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since the sailing of Adml Barrington there has been much surprise and speculation as to His destination, and an express just arrivd from Plymouth announces that a few days ago and not many leagues off Brest one of His look out frigates the Artois Cap McBride fell in with an outward Bound India Fleet of 4 line of Battle ships (two armed en flute) and about 20 sail of Transports, four of which...
23To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 17 with an inclosure to JT, as well as one of the 27th both got safe which was particularly satisfactory, as a friend who is now a fellow Citizen of yours and who left me about the 24th Ultimo may have before now explaind. He could explain to You every thing that I for the present wish explaind. Things are not worse, but insults and aggravation increase. Nothing can exceed the...
24To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 25 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you the 22d (by a friend Mr. S. H——l——y) nothing material has transpird and the arrival of news by a small Vessel from Boston to Bristol has not removd in any measure the gloom on the generality of countenances here in consequence of the late disaster to the outward bound East and West India Fleet. Tho I have seen J ohn T emple we have no exact accounts by this vessel to Bristol....
25To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 12 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
All your favours to the 27 ultimo and particularly that with a disagreeable inclosure came safe to hand, and I should be glad to know the parcells I forward get safe. I have attended regularly to your order, and they go by every post. I have no news to relate to you. Were I to attempt to describe the present dispositions and folly of us Englishmen it would fill pages. The opinion that America...
26To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 16 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since my last there has been no material occurrence but what will be announced in the Papers save the arrival in Scotland of two vessels one from N York the 5 mar and the other from Chas Town the 24th Feby. the letters by the latter is not yet out nor is there any particular accots given out but those of the old kind that the Garrison were chearful healthy and in no fears &ca. &ca. Those...
27To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 20 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
A Servant of the De Neufvilles going to Amsterdam early in the morning gives me an opportunity of sending a letter to you for Mr. Ridley in Maryland which I beg you to give to the first safe hand bound to America. We are still without any authentic accounts from N. York or the quarters of the British Army tho the general Town report is that Ministry have been some days in possession of bad...
28To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 29 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am much obligd to you for a letter and some news papers by a friend. I have not yet seen the principal person concernd in the Flag to Bristol, he not having yet got to Town but hourly expected. A Townsman of Yours also a passenger in that vessel Has been with me, and mentioning to him that I was about to write to you, and asking if he had any news or letters from your particular freinds, He...
29To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 10 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of the 6th there has been no material incident relative to Mr. H. L——s Commitment; nor is the rigour of his confinement abated. No person whatever can speak to Him but in hearing and sight of the two attending Messengers. It is said the Secy. of States order will produce admittance to his room, but nothing else. Some of his torey relations, and a Mr. Manning a Merchant of the...
30To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 3 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your line with an inclosure the 24th. ultimo, wrote to the partys, and am now busey in putting forward four of the Horses requird by my new Correspondant. By the time limited, I hope to send Him a set that will compleat His Carriage. As 17 or 18 have been sent from me since the 6th of last mo., I hope a considerable part of them will answer and give a good temporary lift. A...
31To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 12 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I put on board a vessel which saild yesterday, the Books mentiond in the margin. I thought the Treaties might be servicable to You, and I mention the other particular pamphlets that you may prove whether all I send by that conveyance will come to hand. I have not heard from You since the letter ordering me to stop the sending the Papers via Ostend. There has been nothing material in the news...
32To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 5 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Altho hostilities, and seemingly rigourous ones, have commencd between your Country and mine, I see no reason why our former freindships may not be kept up and you and I communicate by letter as we were used to do. I got your favor of the 18th. and hope eer this the two parcells of Books which were then missing have got to hand. There were Receipts taken for them but as I have not been able...
33To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
My Friend Mr. B—— will give you the news by the Cartel I some time ago mentiond to you to have arrivd from Boston at Bristol, as well as the proceedings here relative to that Cartel. I send you also by Him a Book and seven lately publishd Pamphlets. There has been a dearth of these sort of publications during the summer, but probably by the meeting of Parliament several political writers will...
34To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
It was not until the 14th Instant that any person Whatever was permitted to see Mr. Laurens in the Tower. On that day after repeated applications for admission, Mr. Manning, and Mr. Laurens Jur. (a youth of 16 or 18 who has been some years at Warrington school) was permitted to see Him. An order went signd from the 3 Secretarys of State Hillsborough, Stormont, and Germain, to the Govr. of the...
35To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
My letters of the 9th., 26th., and 29th., ultimo have not, I fear, all got safe to hand; that of the former date was probably lost when the packet was taken. I continue to forward you Pamphlets and New Papers via Ostend as Neutral vessells sail, and shall do so until I have some orders to the contrary. Mr. F. Bowens at Ostend receives and forwards them to the Hotel Vallois to you; I mentiond...
36To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 20 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The close confinement of our friend and the denyal of all visits, the use of pen, ink and Paper, as well as all newspapers, still continues with unabated rigour. No person but His Son accompanyd by Mr. Manning has yet found way to Him, and these have been peremptorily refusd a second visit. It now appears that Government find him nothing but His furnishd appartments, Mr. L ordering his own...
37To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 22 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I understood from seeing a letter lately from Paris there had appeard at a Dutch Bankers in that City sundry seconds of Bills for acceptance the first of which had been paid by regular indorsements to Vieve Babet and Co., Nantes, which seconds of Bills appeard to have been taken among Mr. L—s papers and forwarded to Paris unindorsd for acceptance. This causd some uneasiness at Paris; the Bills...
38To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 29 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I hope my letter of the 26 By Mr. H——y B——m——d and a parcell of Books will get safe to your hands. Since that period, the arrival of news from N York by the Virginia Packet, which Saild the 1st Instant has depressd the spirits of the people and put them deeper into the dumps than they were ever before Elated. Every thing hare is in extreem. Nothing could exceed the folly of Exultation about...
39To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet been able to see Mr L, he having left Town just before my return to it and not having got back till yesterday. Without my urging to Lord S–ne the propriety of immediately speaking to Mr L on the matter of my message to You and for releasing him from every tye here, I found His Lordship had concluded to make his approaches to that quarter, for most assuredly it is the right one,...
40To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I got here this day and am nearly about the hour to Embark. I find I passd Mr Laurens Jnr at Rotterdam, as some questions were askd in the Hotel Where I put up for a person answering my description, from one who was at another Hotel who did not leave His name, but answered the description of Mr Laurens. I stopt at the Hotel Angleterre at the Hague and found that P. Wentworth had gone from...
41To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I acknowlegd the Receipt of yours the 28th Octo. and 7th Instant in my last letter of the 14th. Since that day no material move with regard to our friend; but I am in consultations now and then to fix upon some mode by a motion in Parliament to have him put on parole or releasd by Bail. By the inclosd letter you will discover as much as I have yet been able to discover of the writer who...
42To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 24 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few lines on the 18th and 22d Instants chiefly to inform you the news of those days, but as they were forwarded by the usual conveyance of Post (my not knowing you were then in Holland) I suppose they will not get to hand earlier than this letter; which is born by a particular friend Mr. Saml. Hartley a relation of D. Hartleys. He is a considerable Merchant of this place and goes...
43To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 6 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am thankful for your late favor and shall send you the Books desird by first opportunity. Mr. Henr. Laurens was brought to Town last night, rather in better health. He was lodgd that night in the Messengers House in Scotland Yard, and denyd all sort of communication with his friends—or those who wishd to speak to Him. He was Examined at noon at Lord G. Germains and committed by a Warrant of...
44To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have wrote you by Common post the 20th and 28th of last Month, and Capt Cozeneau, whom you know something of, and who goes to Dr. F on the business of the Cartel which He conducted from Boston to Pensance gives me an oppertunity of sending this letter, to gether with the news papers of the day and some pamphlets and papers which may open to you a little of the state of politicks here. I wish...
45To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 3 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
In a letter from Mr. L of the 16th Feby. I find He was good enough to mention me to You and that you gave direction for any letters I might have occasion to write to be forwarded a Mons. Mons. Fernando Raymond San, Nogiciant chez Mons. Hocherau Libraire Pont neuf Paris. I shall be very happy in giving you any information of movements here that may come to my knowlege because in doing so I am...
46To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your last is of the 25 Sepr. Mr. W.S.C. lately got the annexd note —it is Sent for your government. No news but what you will read in the papers as soon as this Letter—A great portion of the people here are hurt and as much astonishd as You can be at the treatment Mr. L—— has met with—the rigour is no ways abated. This, with Lord Cornwallis’s military Executions and cool butchery of...
47To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 7 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of the 3d. a Gazette Extraordinary, has announcd the arrival of dispatches from Adl. Digby, who is returnd with the fleet and spanish prizes from Gibraltar, and brought in with him a french 64 Gun Man of War and three store ships bound under Her Convoy from L’Orient to the East Indies. The French and Spaniards seem lately to have been totally unadvisd as to the movements of...
48To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 31 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
We have not the least news from the Westward more than the publick papers will announce, but in hourly expectations of some from N York. Our grand fleet passd Plymo. the 27th. and these winds have probly put them on their intendd station for Cruizing. A small fleet has saild to N York—a frigate or so with 10 or a doz store Ships and Merchantmen, but no troops or any thing like any. Four Ships...
49To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 22 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am thankful for your favor and its inclosure of the 15th Instant. I hope my parcells go regularly for I never omit to put them in the common conveyance. Let me know if the present rupture will make any alteration. When you write Mr. W.S.C. you are requested not to direct but only mark the letter thus X on the seal part, and put it under a Cover directed to Mr. Stockdale Bookseller Piccadilly...