To John Adams from John Manley, 6 June 1781

From John Manley

Mill Prison June 6th. 1781

Hond. Sir

I presume the Liberty of presenting to your Honor my Destressing Situation, that long Captivity has much impaired my health, and what adds still to my Misfortune, that I am deprived of every Friendly Communication, as I have not received a Letter from America since I have been a prisoner which is almost two Years. My good Friend Mr. Diggs has been my only support And he having left this Kingdom is the reason of my giving your Honor the present Trouble of requesting your Assi[stanc]e, to send me a small supply of Cash, which [I do] not Doubt but you will be well convinced I stand greatly in need of, as I can call Heaven to Witness that I am not Master of one sixpence. The Number of Prisoners in this prison is two Hundred and Twenty Eight, Eighteen haveing this day entered into the British Service, and are still Entering, owing to their being no Exchange and the shortness of our allowance, which scarcely will give one good Repast. I can inform you that the Continent is indebted to me for Services in Seventy Six, and Seventy Seven.

From your Most, Obedt. & Most Humbl. Servt.

John Manley1

P.S. If I should be so fortunate as to Obtain Any relief from you, should be glad you would Direct to the Revd. Robert Heath Plymouth.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Honble John Adams Esqr Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Care of Messrs J de Neufville & Son Amsterdam”; endorsed: “C. John Manley, Mill Prison recd & ansd June. 6. 1781.” JA’s reply was in fact dated 26 June, see note 1. A tear caused by the removal of the seal has resulted in the loss of several characters.

1. For John Manley’s capture and imprisonment, see vol. 10:62. For JA’s reply of 26 June, see his letter of that date to Silas Talbot, and note 1, below. Manley wrote a similar letter to Benjamin Franklin on 4 June (Franklin, Papers description begins The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, ed. Leonard W. Labaree, William B. Willcox (from vol. 15), Claude A. Lopez (vol. 27), Barbara B. Oberg (from vol. 28), Ellen R. Cohn (from vol. 36), and others, New Haven, 1959– . description ends , 35:121–122).

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: To John Adams from John Manley, 6 June 1781
Author: Manley, John
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 6 June 1781

Reference

Cite as: “To John Adams from John Manley, 6 June 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-11-02-0268. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 11, January–September 1781, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Richard Alan Ryerson, Anne Decker Cecere, Celeste Walker, Jennifer Shea, and C. James Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003, pp. 361–362.]