1John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 15 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
as U.S. minister at The Hague. While in this post, Murray played a crucial role in promoting peace between the United States and France, following the XYZ Affair and the quasi war of 1799–1800. See
2Abigail Adams 2d to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
expressed her views with less reservation, and compared both the United States and France favorably to England in several respects. Her opinions there are quite similar to those of
3Abigail Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 12 March 1787 (Adams Papers)
Charles Alexandre de Calonne, comptroller general of the finances of France, sent a letter on 22 Oct. 1786 to Thomas Jefferson detailing a plan for improved commercial relations between the United States and France. The letter was published in the New York
4IV. John Adams to Charles Adams, 13 February 1794 (Adams Papers)
By the first Article of the Treaty of Commerce between the United States and France it is Stipulated that
5John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 December 1796 (Adams Papers)
...from their neutral system of policy, or engage in War with any European Power whatever.” His next letter, of 24 Dec., again emphasized the concerns over the presidential elections as well as the growing tensions between the United States and France in the wake of the Jay Treaty and Pierre Auguste Adet’s resignation.
6John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
Harper’s Observations upon the dispute between the United States and France are very valuable, and must I think prove very useful.Observations on the Dispute Between the United States and France … in May, 1797
7Thomas Boylston Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 February 1798 (Adams Papers)
Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France
8Abigail Adams to William Smith, 15 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France
9Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 22 April 1798 (Adams Papers)
Observations on the Dispute Between the United States and France
10Abigail Adams to Mary Smith Cranch, 8 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
“An act to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof,” prohibiting American ships from French ports and French ships from U.S. ports, was passed by the Senate in an 18 to 4 vote on 7 June. Of the ten senators absent,...
11Jeremy Belknap to Abigail Adams, 14 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
Observations on the Dispute between the United States and France
12Abigail Adams to William Smith, 29 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
, and note 2, below. On 25 June the Senate passed a bill 14 to 5 declaring the treaties formerly concluded between the United States and France void. The House debated the bill on 6 July, and after reducing the Senate’s preamble to the bill, passed it 47 to 37. The bill became law on 7 July (
13John Quincy Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 July 1798 (Adams Papers)
that the commissioners had “no prospect of success” in their mission. Gerry also offered the opinion that a war between the United States and France would lead to disaster for both sides (King to ...suspend all commercial intercourse between the United States and France was not taken up and said that the Anglo-American party would never succeed in sparking a war between the two countries....
14William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 21 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
on a bill in Congress that would further suspend relations between the United States and France (
15Thomas Boylston Adams to Joseph Pitcairn, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
...commissioners, Joseph Bonaparte; Pierre Louis, Comte de Roederer; and Charles Pierre Clarét, Comte de Fleurieu. Negotiations were slowed by contention over the Jay Treaty and the 7 July 1798 congressional act voiding all prior treaties between the United States and France, for which see vol.
16Thomas Boylston Adams to William Smith Shaw, 22 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Tingey, which implied that the United States and France were in a state of war. The
17Richard Cranch to Abigail Adams, 10 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
...April and September, culminating in the Convention of 1800. Negotiations were slowed by contention over the Jay Treaty and the 7 July 1798 act voiding all prior treaties between the United States and France. Officially dated 30 Sept. 1800 but signed on 1 and 3 Oct., the convention contained 27 articles that reaffirmed the “inviolable, and universal peace, and a true and sincere...
18John Quincy Adams to John Adams, 25 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
...American shipowners against losses, but they relented on that demand when it became clear that it put the entire negotiation at risk. The convention as negotiated included limited language on the subject, with Art. 2 stating that the United States and France would revisit the issue “at a convenient time,” for which see
19Thomas Boylston Adams to John Adams, 9 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
, Book II, ch. 17, sects. 283, 314. Art. 6 of the convention granted the United States and France most favored nation status, while Art. 25 of the Jay Treaty specified that neither the United States nor Great Britain would make treaties with other nations that would affect Anglo-American commercial relations. Although there was informal discussion...
20Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
Although the Treaty of Amity and Commerce concluded between the United States and France on 6 February 1778 differed from the Plan of Treaties in some ways, it clearly reflected the principles set down by John Adams. The accompanying Treaty of Alliance, however, did not (
21The Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
On this day the United States and France exchanged the official ratifications of the Treaties of Amity and Commerce and Alliance. The resolution was probably adopted by the congress on 4 May, immediately after it had completed its ratification of the treaties. Congress, after thanking Louis...
22Sartine to the Commissioners: A Translation, 16 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
The translator’s “U States” is clearly a misreading of “Etats respectifs,” that is, the United States and France.
23To John Adams from James Lovell, 16 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Incorrect in the sense that Arts. 11 and 12, which the United States and France had agreed to remove from the treaty, had been eliminated from the text of the treaty then in use in America. Thus, Lovell is referring to Art. 17 of the treaty as ratified (and to Art. 11...
24Instructions Respecting a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Netherlands, 29 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
between these United States and France, and being particularly attentive to the ninth, tenth and seventeenth articles of our treaty of Amity and Commerce with France numbered as they were finally ratified.
25From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 16 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
...received from Congress, full Powers and Instructions to treat with the States General, and to conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, consistent with the Relations already formed between the United States and France. And, that I have also received a Letter of Credence, as a Minister Plenipotentiary to their High Mightinesses; and another, to his most Serene Highness the Prince of Orange...
26Jean Henri David Uhl to John Adams: A Translation, 1 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
...ch. 7, § 115–116). Thus when a British warship or privateer found Prussian merchandise on a Dutch ship, that property would be counted free and returned to the owner. The United States and France followed the alternative principle that free ships made free goods, which provided that all, even neutral, property was subject to seizure on an enemy ship and that all, even enemy, property was...
27From John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 15 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
...a Britain, which produce an Explosion. if an American Should be known to Sollicit an Employment in India for an American, the East Indies would instantly be Seen, in Imagination, independent of Britain and in Alliance with the United States and France.
28To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1796 (Adams Papers)
...not yet appeared. He has only published a piece upon the English finances, which I sent you from London, and which in his own opinion amply revenges all the injuries and insults which the United States and France have received from Great Britain for the last four years.—What the present views of the American Representation in France are, I am unable to say but the final object of the french...
29Questions About French Grounds for Dissatisfaction, 5 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
..., or the actual means of offensive operations against the East India colonies of France. May not these things appear the more serious and delicate, because an existing treaty between the United States and France contains a guaranty of the dominions of the United States undertaken with a particular eye to the very power Great Britain with whom the article was formed and which first broached...
30To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 21 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
Answer—The provisions of the Commercial Treaty between the United States and France are for the most part unexceptionable, or at least as favorable as can be expected to be obtainable in a Treaty to be negociated at this time;—it will therefore be sufficient for the United States to manifest a...