9691From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:149–150 . Adams discussed Great Britain’s shortsighted and self-defeating policy in refusing a just treaty and, as an example of Britain’s self-deception and misunderstanding of America, pointed to a peace proposal, rejected out of...
9692From John Adams to Patrick Henry, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:153–154 . Adams stated that Lee had attended to Henry’s requests contained in a letter of 5 March (above). He wrote that the ratified Franco-American treaties had been received, approved the actions of the congress, reported the...
9693From John Adams to James Lovell, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:148–149 . Adams announced the arrival of dispatches from the congress, including the ratified Franco-American treaties and letters from Lovell. He commented on the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and France and the relative...
9694To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Here inclos’d I have the honour to return you the letter you trusted me so obligingly. I’m in great impatience to get a printed copy of the Treaties. If you find it in the papers receiv’d by way of Brest, be So good as to Send it me, along with the other news you’ll think fit for publication. My Number 48 is ready, and I expect only the Treaties and such news as you are pleas’d to see...
9695Francis Coffyn to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave to refer you to the letter I had the honor of writing to you yesterday. This cheafly Serves to inclose a Certificate from the officers of the Admiralty Court of this Town, which I hope will in Some measure obviate the bad impression Poreau’s false insinuations may have occasion’d; however as I am determined to fill the measure to the brim, I shall take the liberty to send you...
9696Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform you that on the 28th of August Last I a Rived heare from London I had att that time Just obtained my Discharge, from the Belile Belle Isle man of war of Seventy four Guns. I was Impressed on board of her at Sea and without asking my Leave they made mee a mid Shipman on board. A few days after faling in with I Reland I Tok o the oportunity by a fishing boat to write to London to...
9697From John Adams to William Heath, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:156–158 . Adams reported the arrival on 8 July of the ratified Franco-American treaties, which were seen as fresh evidence of the increasing isolation of Great Britain and of the unlikelihood of the formation of a coalition of powers...
9698From John Adams to William MacCreery, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:155–156 . Adams discussed British reports of the evacuation of Philadelphia, congratulated MacCreery on the arrival of a ship in which he had an interest, and advised MacCreery that his description of the actions of Lafayette at...
9699Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to Ferdinand Grand, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We agree that the Bills drawn on you, by Mr. Williams, and paid by you according to the list herewith transmitted shall be charged to the Public Account of the United States; Mr. Williams to be accountable for the expenditure of all the sayd Sums to Congress or to any Person, or Persons appointed by Congress for that purpose, and to the Commissioners of the United States at the Court of France...
9700To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have receiv’d the papers you Sent me, and will make a proper use of them as soon as possible. When I have done with them they shall be returned you with my gratitude. I am with the greatest respect Your most humble and obedient servant PS Keppell’s fleet was still at St. Helen’s on the 6th. The mediterranean fleet under convoy of the Worcester was come into port, and also part of the Jamaica...
9701William Hodge to the Commissioners, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
By Yesterdays’ Post I had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 19th of April. What could have occasioned its not reaching my hands before now, I cannot say, unless the Person who was entrusted with sending it by the Post might have detained it to answer some particular purpose. You inform me in your letter that I am charged in your Bankers Account with upwards of one hundred thousand...
9702Benjamin Reed and Benjamin Bates to the Commissioners, 11 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Whereas Jerome Cazneau, Serjeant of Marines, on board said Ship, on her Arrival in said Port, obtain’d Liberty to go on Shore, and there maliciously, and falsely represented to the French Men in general of their Abuse on board said Ship, telling them he would not return to said Ship, and injoyning and perswading those Marines and French Men who belonged to the Ship, to quit the Ship, and in...
9703From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 12 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
There are Reasons to believe, that the Story of Commissioners appointed by Congress to meet the British Commissioners, is a Forgery. 1. Thomas Phillip Ludwell Lee, is mentioned as one of them, whereas there never was a Person of that Name in the Congress. There was once a Person of that Name it is true, in Virginia, a Brother of Richard Henry Lee and of Francis Light- foot Lee, two Members of...
9704Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 12 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since my Arrival at this Port, I have been much troubled with those Frenchmen I enter’d at Bourdeaux, although I Enlisted them according to your Honours Orders, which was by permission from the Admiralty; While on my short Cruze, some few words would pass as I understand between the Frenchmen and my other Sailors, but Contrary to Orders which they daily had the Perrusial off and likewise read...
9705The Commissioners to Francis Coffyn, 13 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 13 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:159–160 . In reply to Coffyn’s letters of 7 and 9 July (above), the Commissioners noted the “abundant Testimonies of your good Character” and declared that their confidence in him was undiminished. He was informed that whatever news...
9706The Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 13 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 13 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:160 . The Commissioners advised Tucker that to improve the sailing qualities of the Boston , about which adverse reports had been received, he might, in order to replace his ballast, apply to J. D. Schweighauser for a quantity of lead...
9707To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 13 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I hope to make a proper use of your observations in the relation to the pretended nomination of the American Commissioners, and am very oblig’d to you for the trouble you have had to write out that account. As for the Treaty, I never would presume to publish it, were it not a translation of a publick and printed paper, and the more So as you may have Seen a copy of it verbatim in the Lond. Ev....
9708Sartine to the Commissioners, 14 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 14 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:161 ( JA ’s English translation). For the French text, see Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 94. Sartine noted that, because of the war, supplies from France to the inhabitants of the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon were in...
9709Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 14 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I received a Letter from Mr. Livingston of the 8th. Instant wherein he informs me that their is a possibility of an Exchange of Prisoners, a list of what I have on board I send your Honours inclosed with a List of the Men, I suppose must have been Recaptured in one of my Prizes, the other two arrived Eight or ten days past. I am only wating on your Honours how to proceed, in hopes to joyn...
9710To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 15 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am so unwell to-day that I cannot stir out. Will you have the goodness to expedite what is necessary for Mr. Livingston and he will bring the Papers for me to sign. I suppose a Commission, Instructions and our Orders for his sailing will be sufficient. Adieu RC ( PPAmP : Franklin Papers); addressed: “Mr Commissioner Adams Passi”; docketed in an unknown hand: “Hon. A. Lee Esqr to Hon J. Adams...
9711Sartine to the Commissioners, 15 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 15 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:161–162 ( JA ’s English translation). For the French text, see Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 94. Sartine’s letter concerned James Niggins and John Selby, prisoners at Nantes, who claimed to be American seamen pressed into...
9712The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:164 . The Commissioners told Sartine that the congress and the authorities in Massachusetts would be notified of his request, but that the presence of British warships on the Newfoundland and Halifax stations might make assistance to...
9713The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:163 . The Commissioners notified Schweighauser of Thomas Simpson’s appointment to command the Ranger and ordered him to provide Simpson with whatever he might need to prepare for sea. The Commissioners also informed him that the...
9714The Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:162–163 . The Commissioners informed Whipple of Thomas Simpson’s appointment to command the Ranger as part of a force under Whipple’s overall direction. He was ordered to make every effort to take or destroy the Jersey and Guernsey...
9715To John Adams from Thomas Greenleaf, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Pardon the presumption of addressing you in this manner at this unhappy Crisis of my life. Considering the distinguish’d nobleness of your sentiments, and your present exalted station as a support and defender of the American, glorious , Cause and persons, I at once resolve that this is an incumbent Duty on my part, and cannot entertain the least doubt but it will be attended too with that...
9716To John Adams from Edward Rutledge, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
The State of South Carolina, desirous of protecting her Trade, with as little Burthen to the United States as possible, has voted a Sum of Money for the purpose of purchasing three Frigates, has appointed Mr. Gillon to the Command of them and sent him to France to procure them. Satisfied as I am that, you would chearfully shew any Civilities, and if necessary, yield your Protection, to a Man...
9717From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
In your forty Eighth Number of Affairs de L’Angleterre et de L’Amerique I find, in Page sixth, marked number I. Resolutions des sauvages contre l’armee Angloise, and in Page 7 marked No. III. Adresse des Principaux Habitans de cette Ville a Robert Rogers, Major General (nomme par le Congres) et Commandant en chef des savages. Both these Papers, you may rely upon it, are Forgeries, and that no...
9718The Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We herewith communicate to your Excellency a Resolution of Congress relative to the Treaties, which we request may be laid before the King. Thereby his Majesty will perceive the unfeigned Sentiments of that Body, as well as those of the whole American People, whose Hearts the King has gained by his great Benevolence towards them, manifested in these Treaties, which has made so deep an...
9719C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Quoique je sois tous les jours avec le G—— F—— et avec notre Ami, cependant, comme il ne se passe rien d’extraordinaire, j’ai cru pouvoir différer de vous écrire, jusqu’à-ce que les Etats de la Province se séparassent. Ce qu’il y a eu d’essentiel pendant cette Assemblée, a été la proposition d’augmenter les troupes, laquelle ayant été absolument rejetée par la ville d’Amsterdam, n’aura...
9720C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Although I have seen the Grand Facteur and our friend every day, since nothing extraordinary has happened, I have postponed writing to you until the States General adjourned. The major question during this assembly was the proposal to increase troops, but because it was firmly rejected by the town of Amsterdam, it will certainly not be adopted. There were great debates in the Assembly on the...