261John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letters with great Pleasure. They let me into many Misteries before impenetrable. The Journal which caused Such Wonder, was intended to be sent to M r Jackson. But recollecting the frequent Injunctions of your Secretary, to be minute: to Send him even the Looks of Ministers to be Sure, Conversations, and considering that in the Conferences for the Peace, I had been very free,...
262John Adams to Baron Franz von Reischach, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose in Confidence Copy of the Resolution of Congress of the 29 Day of October last, which I take it for granted has been communicated by M r Franklin and M r Jay. I am just now informed, that an Express which I lately Sent to Paris, on his Return, has been arrested at Brussells, and is detained there. He has with him, three Trunks containing my Manuscript Books and...
263John Adams to Baron Franz von Reischach, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Honour of your obliging Favour of this Days Date, and I beg of you to accept of my Thanks for your prompt and polite Answer to mine of this Morning. It was the House of Wilhem and Jan Willink of Amsterdam who sent off this Express for me and I am not certain of his Name, but I believe it is Egberts. It is only within a few Days that he was arrested. He may have a...
264John Adams to James Warren, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your amiable Son, has done me the favour of his Company, here, for a Day or two, and this Morning goes to Amsterdam, intending to return to England at the End of the Week. From London He embarks Soon for Lisbon. My Son returned with him from London where I sent him to meet his Mother and Sister. But He was dissappointed as well as I.— I Still expect M rs Adams every day: but her last Letters,...
265John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received your Favour of Yesterday and am very Sorry to find by it that my Express is arrested at Brussells. This Express was Sent to Paris Solely upon Affairs of the United States of America and my private Affairs. In the three Trunks he has with him there is nothing but my Manuscript Books and Papers, Cloaths of myself, Son & servants and Ninety Six Spoons and Forks larger and...
266John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 1 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
When I was in London last November & December I amused myself often, by running into Booksellers Shops, and purchasing now and then a Book, which I had occasion for. My Son who was lately in London had them embarked for Rotterdam, where, I was last night informed they are arrived. It was said that they must be entered at the Custom House, and that a Value must be set upon them by the owner,...
267John Adams to States General of the Netherlands, 2 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Le Sousigné Ministre Plenipotentiaire des Etats Unis de L’Amerique, a l’honneur de prier Vos Hauts Puissances, de vouloir faire depêcher, ou de lui accorder Un Passeport pour L’Entree libre, ou bien un Ordre a L’Amirauté de laisser passer librement, et Sans payer des Droits, deux malles ou Coffres et une Caisse marquèes I. A. contenans des Livres appartenans au Sousigné, et venus de Londres à...
268John Adams to States General of the Netherlands, 2 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Le Sousigne Ministre Plenipotentiaire des Etats Unis de L’Amerique, a l’honneur de proposer, qu’il laissa l’année passée, a Paris, quelques Effets, en Habillemens, Papiers, Livres, Argenterie &c dont il S’etoit Servi pendant Son Sejour dans cette Ville—qu’il envoya, il y a quelque tems, un Exprès, nommé Egberts D’Amsterdam, pour transporter ces Effets a la Haye; que le dit Expres est...
269John Adams to the president of Congress, 3 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Soon after the Signature of the Preliminary Articles of Peace, I requested, of Congress, their Permission to return to America. This Request they did not at that time judge proper to grant, me, but on the contrary resolved that a Commission should be sent to me, M r: Franklin & M r: Jay, to make a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain. But as no such Commission has arrived in Europe, the...
270John Adams to the president of Congress, 5 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Having been obliged to come to Holland, the Beginning of this Year to obtain Money, to prevent M r Morriss Bills from being protested, I have remained here untill this Time, in Expectation of receiving the further Commands of Congress. From the Resolution of the 1. of May 1783 and from many private Letters, I expected that a Commission would have arrived to the late Ministers at the Peace, to...
271John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 11 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
Is there no News from Egberts our Express? What can have happened to him? or become of him? Is he dead, or Sick? I Sent you a Passport for him a Week ago, I hope you rec d it. I am really very anxious about my Papers. To have Papers of Such Importance to the Publick and to myself, So long in coming, and no News or Account about them, is very distressing. I beg you Gentlemen to let me know what...
272John Adams to J. F. Rosart & Co., 18 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Letter of Yesterday with seven Copies of the English Translation of the Abby de Mably’s Letters. I have read part of the Translation and it seems to be well done: But I have read the whole of the Translator’s preface, and can find no other fault in it, than that it is not so long as I wish it. His observations are so good, that I wish he had treated more at large a...
273John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 19 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d your Letters of the fifth and ninth, and at last my Trunks are arrived, so that I am now collected into one Spot. I shall. be much obliged to you, to settle my Account, according to your own Judgment as soon as possible. I would not charge any Thing wrong, nor willingly any thing that shall appear to be so. Yet I ought in Justice to charge what is right. As to my coming to Paris,...
274John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 19 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of your Letters of the 27 of June and 4. July, and Should advise your Excellency to present the C. de Mercy, a Copy of the Instruction as you propose. By the Length of Time, We have been left without Information respecting foreign Affairs, and by other Circumstances, there are greater Divisions among our Countrymen, respecting these as well as their Finances, than are...
275John Adams to William Smith, 19 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d your’s of the 13 th and 16 th: the last contains the most agreeable News I have heard a long time.— If M rs: Adams should arrive, I believe it will be the most prudent thing she can do, to purchase as strong and decent a Coach of four Places, as can be had for 150 Guineas, in this she may come to the Hague, and go in it with me to Paris if I should have occasion to go there—I...
276John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 20 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your Favour of Yesterday, I have to inform you, that I have received my Trunks, brought by the Express, and approve of your paying him the Sum of an hundred Ducats for all Charges and charging the Same to the United States of america. You will please to mention in your Article of Charge that it is for an Express Sent to Paris to carry a Quantity of Bills of Exchange to M r Barclay...
277John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 27 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have a Letter from M r: Jefferson of 19. June by which it appears, that he will be at Paris by the Latter end of August, where I am to join him and D r: Franklin in the Execution of orders which he brings with him. Will you be so good as to give me, the Earliest Notice, of his Arrival, and that of Col l: Humphreys who may be expected before him. My Friends have arrived in London, will come...
278John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 27 July 1784 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the opportunity, by M r: Bingham, to enclose to your Excellency, Copy of a Letter from M r: Jefferson, by which it appears that we are joined in some affairs which will give me the Occasion to visit Paris once more, and reside there for some little time at least. As M r: Jefferson will not probably arrive before the latter End of August, and nothing can be done before he comes, I...
279John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 3 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have accepted two Bills drawn by my Wife to be paid at the House of Mess rs Willinks and Shall accept two more to be paid by Mess rs Fullers in London. Please to charge these and all the Monies I Shall draw in London at the Same House to the United States as part of my Salary Tomorrow I go to London, and thence directly to Paris with my Family, to meet M r Jefferson who is joined with M r...
280John Adams to Matthew Clarkson, 18 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I wish well enough to the University of New York, to give you every Letter of Recommendation to Gentlemen in Holland which I can give with Decency, if you should determine to go there: But I have already tryed Such an Experiment, in favour of D r Wheelock, the President of Dartmouth Colledge, with so little Success, that I cannot advise you to make an Attempt. It is unnecessary to enter into...
281John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 25 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I had a tedious Passage of two Days from Helvoet and was at last obliged to Land at Leostoff a dozen Leagues from Harwich, and ride from thence twenty four miles in a Cart before I could find a Post Chaise; but on Saturday noon, I had the Satisfaction of meeting my friends in perfect Health at the Adelphi Buildings in London, I never set my Foot in any other House, till next Morning at ten,...
282John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 25 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am at length, Sit down once more to Business, at Auteuil, a Village near Paris, where I have taken a convenient House, with a pleasant Garden in a fine Situation near the Forrest of Boulogne, Sufficiently elevated above the River Seine and the low Grounds as well as far enough distant from the putrid Streets of Paris, to afford me a reasonable Hope of preserving my Health, during the Time...
283John Adams to Joseph Palmer, 26 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received with great Pleasure your friendly Letter of the 16. of June by my dear M rs: Adams, who with our daughter and eldest Son, are happily settled with me at this Place, about three miles from the City, and very near the great Forrest of Boulogne, which is my Park without any Expence I am very sorry to learn from your Letter that your private affairs have been embarassed and I wish you...
284John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d your Favour of the Second of June by M r Tracy. as I Stopped in London only a few Hours, I had not an Oppertunity to see him: but I flatter myself with the Hope of Seeing him and M r Jackson here, where at length I am happily established with my Family. M r Jefferson and M r Humphreys are arrived, and Shall Soon begin our Work. I am So near D r Franklin, that it is but a pleasant...
285John Adams to James Warren, 27 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received yours of the 29 of June, by M r Jefferson, whose appointment gives me great Pleasure. He is an old Friend with whom I have often had Occasion to labour at many a knotty Problem, and in whose Abilities and Steadiness I always found great Cause to confide. The Appointment of this Gentleman, and that of M r Jay and M r: Dana are excellent Symptoms. I am now settled with my Family at a...
286John Adams to Benjamin Waterhouse, 8 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received your friendly Letter of the 19. June, by my dear M rs Adams, with great Pleasure and Shall ever be obliged to you for a Line when you have Leisure.— I am very glad our University has so able a Professor of Physick, and I doubt not you will soon Silence all Opposition. I should be obliged to you for your two orations. All Paris, and indeed all Europe, is at present amused with a Kind...
287John Adams to Joseph Willard, 8 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received, by M rs Adams, the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me on the eighth of June last, together with a Vote of the President and Fellows of Harvard College of the first of April 1783, and a Diploma for a Doctorate of Laws elegantly engrossed and the Seal inclosed in a Silver Box. This Mark of the approbation of So respectable a University does me great Honour and is more...
288John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 9 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 15 of June and am happy to inform you, that M r Jefferson and M r Humphrey are Arrived, as well as my Family with whom I am once more Settled. The Appointment of M r Jefferson is a very happy one. He is as active in Business as he is able, and has nothing So much at Heart as the real Service of his Country. I have known him of old. We have acted together...
289The American Commissioners to the Baron von Thulemeier, 9 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of His Prussian Majesty and the Citizens of the said States founded on the principles of equality reciprocity and friendship, may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the twelfth day of May last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the said States to the Subscribers as their...
290John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 16 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your obliging Letter of the 2 d of this Month, with the Papers enclosed I have heard nothing from Congress nor from M r Morris respecting the last Loan, excepting a few Lines from that Superintendant of Finance, of Thanks for the Assistance given him. The Adjournment of Congress is I Suppose the Reason. In the latter End of October, Gentlemen you will be so good as to draw the...
291John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 10 th. as well as the two former, with their Inclosures. The first I Sent by M r Tracy a Sure hand, by the Way of London, and the two Latter, I shall Send the Same Way by another private Hand, so that all three will go safe and as soon or sooner than by the Way of L’orient The two Abbys who continue their freindly and brotherly Course of Life, very often...
292John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 10 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
My Colleague M r Jefferson, has orders from Congress to receive a sum of Money in Europe for his necessary accommodation, and not readily finding it, I have ventured to draw upon you in his favour for Six Thousand Florins which I request you to honour. I am requested also to draw upon you for about a Thousand Pounds sterling in favour of Coll Humphreys Secretary of our Legation to enable him...
293John Adams to the president of Congress, 20 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Letters from M r Dumas will communicate to Congress, the present State of affairs, between their High Mightinesses and the Government general of the Austrian Low Countries. Those, who have negotiated for the Emperor, appear to have presumed too much upon the Fears and Divisions of the Dutch, and to have compromised too hastely his Authority and Dignity. The Dutch, neither...
294John Adams to Thomas Cushing, 25 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
Within a few days I have rec d your Favour of the 16 of August, with the Resolve of the General Court of the 6 and 7 of July. The Line between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia gave me much Uneasiness at the Time of the Negotiation of the Provisional Articles, and Still continues to distress me. I knew that the French in former Times, had a Practice of erecting an holy Cross of Wood upon every...
295The American Commissioners to the Conde de Aranda, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter you did us the honour to write us on the 27 th day of Sept r last, and we thank you for your care in transmitting to your Court, the information of our appointment to treat with it. You desire to be informed if one or more of us can repair to Madrid for the purpose of conducting & concluding the negotiation, because that it is the system of your Court in matters...
296The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12 th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
297The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that...
298John Adams to the president of Congress, 3 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
D r Franklin has lately communicated to M r Jefferson and me a Letter he has received from the Comte de Vergennes and another from M r Grand. The first informs that M r Marbois had informed him, that upon his application to the Superintendant of Finances, he had received an Answer by M r Governieur Morris, that Letters Should be written both to Amsterdam and Paris to provide for the Payment of...
299John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 26. Oct r: with the seven Questions inclosed. I have answered these Questions to the best of my Judgment, believing it to be my Duty to give to my enquiring Countrymen, all the satisfaction in my Power upon such occasions. I should wish too to gratify the Dutch merchants, and all others as far as I can in Character. But we must above all Things have the...
300John Adams to Francis Dana, 4 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I presume this will meet you in Congress where No Doubt it is less irksome to Serve than heretofore, but not yet So agreable as it ought to be, and must be made.— The States will find themselves obliged to make their Delegates more comfortable & more honourable, if they do not See a Necessity of giving more Power to that assembly.— Many Gentlemen in Europe think the Powers in the Confederation...
301John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 4 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
We are going on, with as much dispatch as the Nature of our Business will admit of, and We proceed with wonderful Harmony, good Humour and Unanimity. The D r , is confined to his House and Garden by the Stone as he thinks. He has not been farther from Home, than my House at Auteuil which is within a mile of his, for these twelve months. He cannot ride in a Carriage, because the motion of that...
We received the Letter your Excellency did us the honour of writing to us the 8 th Ult o. together with the copy of your full powers to treat with us. M r Adams had as you suppose, preserved a copy of the project of a Treaty that had been concerted between your Excellency & him; but having by instruction from the Congress our Sovereign certain new articles to propose in all our Treaties with...
303VII. To the Baron von Thulemeier, 13 February 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of the 24 th: of Jan y. did not reach me, untill two Days ago. I communicated the Observations, inclosed in it, immediately to my Colleagues, who will transmit you our Answers, as soon as Health, and other Circumstances will admit. I have communicated to them also, your personal and confidential observations to me. They will have great Weight as they ought to have. I am weary of...
We had the honour of receiving your Letter of Jan ry: 24. covering a translation into French of the Draught of a treaty proposed between His Majesty the King of Prussia & the United States of America, together with answers to the several articles. We have considered them with attention, & with all those dispositions to accomodate them to the wishes of His Majesty which a respect for his...
Having assembled together at this place about the latter end of August we proceeded in obedience to the commands of Congress to notify our appointment and its objects to such Powers as we thought it adviseable at that time to address. We wrote a circular letter in the form N o. 1. to the Ambassadors or other Ministers residing here from the courts of Saxony; the two Sicilies, Sardinia, Venice,...
306John Adams to Baron von Thulemeier, 19 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter which you, did me the Honour to write me the twelfth of this Month: We also received the Honour of your Letter to M r: Franklin, Jefferson, and me, and agreed readily upon an answer, which I hope will be satisfactory, although M r: Humphreys our Secretary of Legation has not yet transmitted it. We have been cautious of sending it by the Post, in these inquisitive...
We have received the Extract of the letter from Monsieur de Sa of the 24 th Oct r 1784 which your Excellency was pleased to send us by the hand of the Secretary of your legation. “That in consequence of our letter your Excellency might assure us that Her Most faithful Majesty will be very glad to have the best correspondence with the United States, and that we may explain to your Excellency...
308John Adams to Marquis de Castries, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
According to your desire, I have committed to writing the two or three Observations, on the business of Masts, Yards, and Bowsprits which I had last tuesday the Honour of making in Conversation with your Excellency at Paris. The eastern Parts of the Massachusetts, particularly the Counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, and more especially the Lands lying near the four great Rivers, which...
309The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your grace did us the honour of writing us on the 24 th. day of Last month, and we received with much Satisfaction the assurances on the part of his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States of america that Can tend to the establishing a System of mutual & permanent advantage, to the...
310The American Commissioners to Francesco Favi, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received your letter of the 16 th. of Nov r. wherein you are pleased to inform us that you had communicated to His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Tuscany the overtures we had the honour of making for the establishment of a treaty of Amity & Commerce between the Subjects of His Royal Highness & the Citizens of the United States of America; that these were agreeable to him, and that...