51C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 3 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Following the dispatch of my letter of 30 October, I went to wish our friend a good trip. He will return this evening. Mr. Baker, Secretary of the Amsterdam Admiralty, made a command appearance before the Pensionary, Mr. van Berckel, who, sensing that the Secretary wished to sound him out, took the opportunity to express himself in no uncertain terms. “Sir,” he said to him, “let the Admiralty...
52C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 4 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Our friend and I propose to undertake an initiative in regard to his town more ambitious than any yet attempted. With God’s help and that of our enemies, who further our strategy by continuing to mistreat this Republic, we hope that it will lead us into the final, great phase of establishing a perfect union between the two sisters. To achieve this we must give our friend additional material,...
53C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 23 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
This letter is only to confirm yesterday’s letter and the fact that everything is moving forward. This morning I saw the ambassador who treated me very graciously and with charming good humor. He thinks, as does our friend, that it would be appropriate for you to be here for a few days, not to take any action, but rather just to present yourself without any affectation. A secret dispatch by a...
54C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 24 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
The States of Holland will not be able to form a resolution for another fifteen days or three weeks. This is because the next assembly finally demanded a translation of the proposal. Meantime this proposal has made a great impression and has caused the Anglomanes a lot of pain. I hope, sir, that you will be able to acquiesce to yesterday’s proposal, and by doing so you will alleviate the pain...
55C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 19 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
My last was of the 16–18 of this month. Contrary to our expectations and to our great surprise, nothing happened today at the Assembly of Holland. There were no deliberations, only the reading of the Ambassador’s latest memorandum. Today I have had five meetings with the Ambassador, and as many with our friend (once at the edge of town where he was dining). To the Ambassador I wrote the...
56To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 25 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
Ce pays est conquis & soumis au vainqueur. Il ne manque plus que la soumission d’Amsterdam; & je ne vois pas de meilleur parti qu’elle puisse prendre pour sa conservation. En l’attendant, nous som̃es ici à la merci à tous moments de la populace & du soldat. Le pouvoir exàcutif & judiciaire ne nous protege guere. J’ai sauvé jusqu’ici ma personne, famille & maison de la destruction, en ayant...
57C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 27 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Last Saturday I had the honor to receive your letter of 10 October. It is exactly as it should be. The Grand Facteur is very satisfied with it. I went the same day to read it to our friend and gave him a copy, attested by my signature. He was extremely pleased and assured me, several times, that it would make a very good impression on the Burgomasters of his city, who were anxious to know your...
58C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 18 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since my last letter of the 13th, with the enclosure from France directed to you, I have been somewhat troubled because I did not know that Messrs. De Neufville received the packet that contained the enclosure. The memorial is sufficiently known throughout the republic and Europe at this time. This is due to the dispatches from the publishers as much as it is to the vying newspapers that have...
59C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 28 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’espere que vous avez reçu la Lettre du 23, que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire d’Amsterdam, et dans laquelle se trouvoit votre Minute de la Lettre en question. Nous sommes deux ici, et un à Amsterdam, qui comptons les momens jusqu’à ce qu’elle me revienne de votre part en forme, afin que je puisse la présenter &C. Nous sommes convenus, que j’ajouterai de bouche l’insinuation, d’avoir cru...
60C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 6 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Today I am sending His Excellency Mr. Franklin the third and final issue of the Gazette de Leyde , in which I had Clinton’s letter inserted according to your and his wishes. I also have sent it to other newspapers, both in and out of the country, notably to Hamburg and a friend in Amsterdam who has promised to send a copy to London. I still think that this letter, as it appears in the American...
61C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 25 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
In a letter of this same day, which I have already mailed, I forgot to include some essential news. President van den Santheuvel’s report made to the high mightinesses of your last requisition, was taken ad referendum on the last day of the Dutch assembly, by all cities of this province. We will see what will come of it. The states will reconvene a week from tomorrow. RC ( Adams Papers ). This...
62To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 8 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Votre Lettre à l’Ambr. du 25 Nov. lui est bien parvenue. Il n’étoit pas en ville à son arrivée; et voilà ce qui a causé quelque retard à sa réponse, de même les occupations qu’il a trouvées à l’occasion de la garantie de l’Emprunt résolue Lundi dernier unanimement. Au reste cette Négociation est déjà remplie; et nombre de Rentiers lambins se gratent la tête présentement, d’être venu trop tard...
63C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 2 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Today I have the honor to send you the resolution of which I have already spoken. What delayed me a little was my recent trip to Amsterdam, a bothersome cold which I brought back with me, and the three copies which I had to make to send in successive letters to the congress. This piece fully deserves to be published in both French and English for the service of the United States because of the...
64C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 9 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere étoit du 2 de ce mois. Vous verrez par les deux traductions ci-jointes à quoi en sont les affaires en Allemagne, et que l’on peut s’attendre, d’un ordinaire à l’autre, à apprendre que les hostilités ont commencé en Allemagne. Il paroît ici, depuis quelques jours, une brochure remplie de déclamations, mal cousues ensemble, contre l’Angleterre, sous le titre Le voeu de toutes les...
65C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 26 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have nothing new to relate to you except that I just learned that several Amsterdam merchants will make a démarche to the British minister to send deputies to London to negotiate restitution for their belongings captured at St. Eustatius. Several good patriots, even though they also suffered losses, refused to participate in the deputation, headed by Mr. H——. Those from Rotterdam also...
66C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Upon returning here, Tuesday evening, I went to see our friend. He told me that nothing had been decided yet, but that, in spite of all that might still happen tomorrow, things would end well. I knew what he meant. He also told me that Sir Joseph Yorke’s excessive influence on an important person manifested itself more and more, and that there was no doubt that the latter had made secret...
67To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 3 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
L’incluse vous apprendra tout ce qu’il y a de nouveau ici. Nos amis ne sont guere contents du Mémoire Russe. Pour moi, je ne trouve pas que la Russie Soit blamable de ne pas se presser de secourir la Rep., jusqu’à-ce qu’elle voie que celle-ci arme tout de bon: autrement on pourroit bien ici lui laisser tout le fardeau de la guerre maritime, en ne se tenant que sur la défensive. Tout ceci...
68C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 27 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since your departure from here, nothing has happened except that yesterday the province of Holland made a resolution to the Russian court refusing the peace proposal from London. The resolution was communicated to the states general yesterday, after which the states of Holland adjourned until next Wednesday. Here are several letters that were brought to me from the inn. I offered to pay the...
69C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 28 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Voilà, Messieurs, la quintessence de douze pages Hollandoises in folio, que je viens de par courir. Les dépêches de Cologne, Paris, Elseneur, Hambourg, Bruxelles, Londres, et Smyrne ne contiennent rien qui puisse vous interesser. On a ici la nouvelle sure d’une suspension d’armes en Allemagne jusqu’au ier. d’Août; et lon croit généralement que la paix s’ensuivra. Le Roi a fait venir ses...
70To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 23 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
En réponse à l’honorée vôtre du 19e. je pourrai vous faire voir quand il vous plaira que l’expression Treaties with France and Spain est dans la Copie Angloise manuscrite que vous m’aviez remise ici, et qui a servi à l’Imprimer. J’ai assuré de vos complimens Mr. Manson , en le priant de les garder pour lui: car, entre nous, il faut prendre garde que ces Messieurs ne nous exposent pas. Ils ne...
71To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous aurez reçu ce soir une Lettre que j’ai fait enrégistrer No 4 par le Chariot de Poste, parti d’ici à Une heure après midi. Je dois ajouter, de la part de notre ami ici, qu’il est nécessaire que vous vous abouchiez au plutôt avec Mr. Van Berkel le Pensionnaire, et Mr. Bikker le fils, et que tous trois vous ayiez une conférence sérieuse et décisive, dès demain, s’il est possible, chez Mr....
72C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 5 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
The reason that I did not write sooner is that I had planned to spend last week with you during our friends’ absence here. But my domestic affairs prevented me from leaving, for one reason or another, and now our friends have returned, which requires my presence. A week ago Thursday, before the adjournment, the resolution with France very nearly happened. Only the town of Brille, which agrees...
73To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 12 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Vous aurez reçu par Mrs. De Neufville un paquet contenant 25 Exemplaires du Meme. dans les trois Langues. Aujourd’hui je vous envoie un autre paquet sous couvert de Mr. Van Arp, contenant une 15ne. de chacun. J’en ai encore 60 que j’ai mis à part pour vous, et que je vous enverrai quand je saurai si vous les voulez avoir tous à Amsterdam, ou si vous aimez mieux les trouver ici ou à Leide....
74C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 3 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I was mortified to find that you had just left your inn, when I came to call on you after having met with some patriots. I hope we can make up for it on your next trip here. Meantime, I hasten to give you the enclosed, not only for you to be so kind as to forward it, with your dispatches, but also so that you may read it. Everything it contains is as reliable as it is interesting. The third...
75C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 3 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of 31 January and 2 February together this morning. I am very delighted that all’s well in America . In response, I tell you, that all’s well at St. Petersburg , because I heard on good authority the day before yesterday, that an express post arrived the day before that from the minister of that Court in response to the departure of Sir Joseph Yorke, and that the...
76C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 18 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last evening I visited an influential friend who, upon learning my surprise that your memorial was back at the clerk’s office and, as I understood it, was considered thrown out or rejected , told me that the expression was exaggerated and that the memorial was left there for brand new consideration. Everyday we expect the dispatches from St. Petersburg. We were assured in advance that they...
77To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 5 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Quoique j’aie loué des Chambres ici pour moi, et que mon Epouse et ma fille ayent pris des mesures pour passer l’Eté à la Campagne et l’hiver à Gertrudemberg, cela ne nous empêchera point d’entrer de tout notre coeur dans le projet que vous proposez; et nous nous promettons d’en rendre l’exécution aussi agréable et avantageuse pour V. Exc quelle le sera pour nous. J’en serai quitte pour payer...
78To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 24 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous aurez vu ce matin, par ma Lettre d’avis et Traite d’hier de ƒ10,000 à vue, lesquelles vous auront été présentées par Mr. Moliere, Négociant de votre Ville, ce qui concerne la transaction touchant votre hôtel ici. Le nombre de ceux qui m’ont témoigné le plaisir que cela leur fait est grand. Les Anglomanes gardent le silence avec moi. Un seul, des plus outrés, me demanda hier si le fait...
Copie du paper qui accompagnoit la Resolution que j’ai portée ce soir à &c. Sans égard à une Traduction très fautive que le Gazettier d’Amsterdam vient de donner de la Résolution du Congrès general des Etats Unis de l’Amérique du 5 Oct. 1780, apparamment d’après quelque Gazette Américaine, il est de mon devoir de communiquer à S. E. M—— une vrai Copie, en langue originale, de cette Résolution,...
80C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 17 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I did not have the time last evening to forward to you the letter that His Excellency the French Ambassador gave me in response to your letter to him of the 8th instant. The Pensionaries of Amsterdam, Dordrecht, and Haarlem have all asked me to thank you for your kindness in sending them Congress’ resolution. Those from Amsterdam, in particular, regret that the present circumstances did not...