Having been Absent, on a Journey, I had not the Honour of receiving your Letters, until Yesterday when one of the Twenty Eighth of November inclosing a Resolution of Congress of the Same Day, and another of the third of December inclosing a Commission for Dr Franklin Dr Lee and Myself to represent the United States at the Court of France, were delivered to me in Boston. As I am deeply...
2From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 4 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had this Moment the Honour of yours of the 15. Ultimo and I thank you for your Kindness to Mr. Thaxter of whom I had not before heard, Since he left this Place. The Act of Congress inclosed in your Letter, I will take with me to Europe, for which Country I hope to embark in five Days in the Boston Frigate, not without Regret at having been delayed So long. I shall make out Six Copies of the...
3From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 1 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inform Congress, of my Safe Arrival in this City in the Frigate Boston after a most dangerous, and distressing Voyage of Six Weeks and four Days. The Situation of Things in Europe is so critical, at this Moment that, notwithstanding I am exhausted with the Fatigues of the Voyage, I am determined to proceed, the Day after Tomorrow, on my Journey to Paris. By all that I...
4From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 25 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Having had so short Notice of this Opportunity, I can only have the Honour of writing a few Lines, and of inclosing a few News Papers. If the Dispatches of the Commissioners, have not met with uncommon ill Fortune you must before this Time, have received the important News of the Treaty, as well as authentic Information of the Agonies of G.B. Whether she will plunge herself, with uniform and...
5The Commissioners to the President of the Congress, 20 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 20 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:168–170 ; also, with “The Function of Consuls” enclosed, in Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 2:650–653. The...
We have just received a Message from Monsr. Le Comte De Vergennes, by his Secretary, acquainting Us; that Information is received from England of the Intention of the Cabinet there, to offer (by additional Instructions to their Commissioners) Independence to the United States, on Condition of their making a Separate Peace, relying on their Majority in both Houses, for Approbation of the...
7From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 27 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, my dear sir for your kind Congratulations, on the favourable Appearances in our American Concerns, and for so politely particularising one of the most inconsiderable of them, my Safe Arrival in France, which was after a very inconvenient Passage of forty five days. Your Letter to Mr. Izzard, I had the Pleasure to send to him immediately, in Paris, where he resides, the Court of...
8From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 14 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress a few of the public Papers, which contain all the News that is passing. As it is uncertain by what Vessell the Gentleman will go who takes this, the Conveyance is too precarious, to send any Thing which ought not to be known to the Enemy. We are waiting with an impatient Anxiety, to hear from America, the last Accounts from thence having been brought by...
9From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 21 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to congress, the last Gazettes and a Plann of the various Manoeuvres in the late sea fight by which the masterly Movements of the French Fleet in every Situation, and the ridiculous Confusion of the late Lords of the ocean as they called themselves are Said to be truly represented. Whether it was Want of Skill in the officers, or whether it was a Want of Men to...
10From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 27 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose, the last Gazettes by which Congress will see the Dearth of News in Europe at present. We expect an Abundance of it at once soon, as We have had nothing from America Since 4. July. The French Fleet went out again from Brest the seventeenth: but We have not yet heard that the English Fleet is out. While the two Fleets were in Harbour, the British East India Fleet,...
11From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 7 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to congress, all the News Papers, I have by me. Enough to shew that We have nothing very important here, at present. The French and British Fleets are again at Sea and We hourly expect Intelligence of a Second Battle. But our Expectations from America are still more interesting and anxious, having nothing from thence, since the 3d of July, except what is contained...
12From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress, the latest Gazettes. We have no other Intelligence than is contained in them. Since the 11. July the Date of Lord Howes Letter, announcing the Arrival of the Compte D’Estaing off Sandy Hook, We have not a syllable from America by Way of England. In France We have nothing from America Since 3 July. This long Interval leaves a vast Scope for Imagination...
The last letter which We have had the Honour to write jointly to Congress, was of the Twentyeth of July, and as We have Sent Several Copies of it by different opportunities, We hope one of them at least will come Safe to hand. Since our last there has been an important Action at Sea, between two very powerfull Fleets, in which, in our Opinion the French had a manifest and great Advantage, but...
14From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 20 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose, the latest Gazettes, which contain all the News of Europe. The News from America by the Way of London, which is contained in the Courier de L’Europe of the fifteenth instant, has raised our Expectations and encreased our Anxiety. We are not without Apprehensions that the Compte D’Estaing, may fall in with the combined Fleets of How and Biron. The English are...
15From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 2 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose the latest Gazettes by which Congress will perceive, that We have no Intelligence from America, Since the Departure of the Comte D’Estaing from Sandy Hook. Our Anxiety is very great, but We hope that a few Hours will relieve it. In the Midst of a War in Germany, and between France and England, there was scarcely ever a greater Dearth of News in a Time of profound...
16The Commissioners to the President of the Congress, 7 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to inclose a Copy of the Declaration concerning the 11 and 12 Articles of the Treaty of Commerce, which we have received from his Excellency the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, in exchange for a similar one signed by us, in Pursuance of the Instructions of Congress. We have also the Honour to inclose Copies of a Correspondence with his Excellency Mr. de Sartine, the...
17From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 3 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress, the latest News Papers: As they contain the Speech at the Opening of Parliament, and Some of the Debates in both Houses upon the Addresses in Answer to it, they are of very great Importance. I learn by Some Newspapers, and private Letters that an opinion has been prevalent in America, that the Ennemy intended to withdraw from the united States, and...
18From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 8 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose, to Congress one other Copy of the Speech, at the opening of Parliament, together with the Debates in Consequence of it. The Hints in those Debates, especially those given out by Lord Suffolk, are confirmed by the general Strain of Intelligence from London. Letters from Persons, who are supposed to know, announce the Determination of the Cabinet to be, That Clinton...
19From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of a very agreable private Letter from you, while in Paris, which I answerd, having executed your Orders, as soon as received. Whether you received my Answer I dont know. I have had a Stormy Voyage, but not more so than the Scaene you have been in, at Land. I wish I may have escaped with as much Hon our, as you have done: but have little Reason to believe it, for I can...
20From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 25 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the fourth of the Month, gave me great Pleasure. But I am afraid that you and Some others of my Friends felt more for me, in the Aukward Situation, you mention, than I did for myself, ’tho I cannot Say, I was wholly insensible. I could not help laughing a little at the figure I cutt, to be sure. I could compare it, to nothing, but Shakespeares Idea of Ariel, wedged by the Waist,...
The united States of America, To all to whom these Presents shall come send Greeting. Whereas his most Christian Majesty our great and beloved Friend and Ally hath informed us by his Minister Plenipotentiary whom he hath appointed to reside near us, that their Imperial Majesties the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany actuated by Sentiments of Humanity and a desire to put a Stop to...
22II. Joint Commission to Negotiate a Peace Treaty, 15 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled. To all to whom these presents shall come send Greeting. Whereas these United States from a sincere desire of putting an end to the hostilities between his most Christian Majesty and these United States on the one part, and his Britannic Majesty on the other, and of terminating the same by a peace founded on such solid and equitable principles...
23III. Instructions to the Joint Commission to Negotiate a Peace Treaty, 15 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Instructions to the Honble. John Adams Benjamin Franklin John Jay Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson ministers plenipotentiary in behalf of the United States to negotiate a Treaty of Peace Gentlemen You are hereby authorized and instructed to concur in behalf of these United States with his most Christian Majesty in accepting the Mediation proposed by the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of...
24From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 15 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
By a certain anonimous Letter you have had a Specimen of the infernal Arts which have been and are practised, to create Misunderstandings among American Ministers. There has been an uninterupted succession of them ever since I have been in Europe. Whether they are to be attributed to Inventions of Our Ennemies or to Still baser Intrigues of pretended Friends, or to impudent Schemes of...
25From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 18 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the inclosed Letter open for me to read. It appears to be from one, who had a remarkable kind of Benevolence towards the U. S. Such as has memorably appeared through the whole War, in almost all Countries, I mean the benign Inclination to be American Agents Jobbers, Officers, Ambassadors, Generals and Kings. Inclosed is a Copy of Fitzherberts Commission. Pray inclose it to...
26From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 6 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose a Resolution of Congress of the 17 of September, enjoining upon us all, Attendance on the Negotiations for Peace, and if it were not Presumption to Suppose, that any Thing could be added to So pressing a Desire of Congress, I would beg Leave to add my most earnest Entreaties that you would be so good as to join Us as soon as possible. It would give me the highest...
27From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 12 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r Storer arrived Yesterday with your kind Letter of 6 March, with its Inclosure. I know not what to Say to the Subject of this Inclosure. it is a Mystery which Time will unriddle and to time I leave it, So entirely that I dont think it necessary to Say any Thing to our Colleague about it. Appearances, on the Side where you are, dont please me more than you. But I hope the Weather will soon...
28From John Adams to Henry Laurens, 12 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last Night I received your Favour of 25. Ult. The Box I had received a few days before, and had delivered to M r Jay and the Comte de Moustier, the Articles addressed to them. The Spectacles fit my Eye very well, and I thank you Sir for your Care in procuring them. As soon as I shall have the Pleasure to See you, I will pay you the Cost of them according to the Receipt which came with them. I...
29John Adams to Henry Laurens, 11 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received yours of the third of this Month, accompanied with the Packet, put into your Hands by M r Reed, I have also received, as I Suppose the two or three Letters which went to Bath and were returned to M r stockdales, and am obliged to you for your Care of them. Upon my Arrival at the Hague, from London, one of the first Things I did, was to look for the Letters you demand. I...
30George Washington to Henry Laurens, 16 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, March 16, 1778 . States that command of Forts Montgomery and Clinton should be placed under general command of the Highlands. Has appointed Major General Alexander McDougall to that general command. Sees no prospect of carrying out intended expedition against Canada. LS , in writing of H, Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives. Laurens had succeeded John Hancock as...