1111. To Hendrik Calkoen, 17 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your eleventh Question, will give an Opportunity of making Some Observations upon a Subject, that is quite misunderstood, in every Part of Europe. I shall answer it with great Pleasure according to the best of my Information, and with the utmost Candour. The Question is. How great is the present Debt of America? What has she, occasion for yearly, to act defensively? Are those Wants Supplied,...
1212. To Hendrik Calkoen, 17 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
We are now come to your Twelfth Head of Inquiry, which is. What Countenance have the Finances? How much does the Expence exceed the Yearly Income? Does the annual Revenue, deriving from the Taxes, increase or diminish? in the whole, or in any Particulars? and what are the Reasons to be given for it? Here I am apprehensive, I shall find a Difficulty to make my self under Stood, as the American...
1313. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your thirteenth Letter Inquiry is, “Of what Resources might America hereafter Still make Use of?” There are many Resources, yet untried, which would certainly be explored, if America Should be driven to the Necessity of them. 1. Luxury prevails in that young Country, not withstanding all the confident assertions of the English concerning their Distress, to a degree, that retrenching this alone...
1414. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The fourteenth Question is “What is the Quantity of Paper Money in Circulation? What Credit, the Inhabitants have for it, in their daily Business? What designs the Inhabitants have by maintaining its Credit? What by preventing its Increase? and in what manner do they realize it?” The Quantity of Paper Bills, in Circulation on the 18 of March last, was Two hundred millions of Paper Dollars. The...
1515. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your fifteenth Quaere is “Does not the English Army, lay out its Pay, in America? at how much can the Yearly benefit be calculated? Are not the Prisoners, provided for in America? Who has the Care of their Maintenance? How was Burgoines Army supplied?” When the English Army, was in Boston, they bought all that they could, and left considerable Sums there in silver and Gold. So they did at...
1616. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Sixteenth, Inquiry is, “Who looses most by desertion? Do the English and German Deserters, Serve voluntarily and well in the American Army? How, can those who do not enter into the Army subsist?” These Questions, I answer with great Pleasure. There has been, from the Beginning of the War to this day, Scarcely an Example of a native Americans deserting from the Army to the English. There...
1717. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Seventeenth, Inquiry is “whether We have any Information that we can rely on, concerning the Population? has it increased or diminished, Since the War?” In some former Letters, I have made Some Observations upon the Subject of the Increase of Mankind in America. In the Year 1774, There was much private Conversation, among the Members of Congress, concerning the Numbers of Souls in every...
1818. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 18. Does Sufficient Tranquility, Contentment and Prosperity reign, in those Places where the War does not rage? Can one Sufficiently Subsist there, without feeling the oppression of the Taxes? Does Plenty abound there? Is there more than is necessary for Consumption? Are the People well affected and encouraged to pursue the War, and endure its Calamities, or is there Poverty and...
1919. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 19. Is not Peace very much longed for in America? might not this desire of Peace induce the People to hearken to Proposals appearing very fair, but which really are not So, which the People might be too quick in listening to, and the Government forced to accept? The People, in all Ages and Countries wish for Peace, human Nature does not love War. Yet this does not hinder Nations from...
2020. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 20. Has there not been different opinions in Congress, with Regard to this, (i.e. to Proposals appearing fair, which were not so) from whence Animosities have arisen? There has never been any Difference of Sentiment in Congress, Since the Declaration of Independancy, concerning any Proposals of Reconciliation. There has been no Proposals of Reconciliation made, Since the 4. of July...