101From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 21, 19 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 19 March, 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 333–335). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:560–561. In this letter, read in Congress on 22 July, John Adams repeated, almost verbatim, the newspaper accounts of British naval movements and the...
102From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 22, 20 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 20 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 337–338). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation: “No. 22 delivered Mr. Izard.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:561. With this letter, read in Congress on 1 Aug., John Adams sent copies of the London...
103From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday Evening I was honoured with Your Excellency’s Letters of the 9th & 11th Instant, with the papers to which they refer. The several subjects they respect will have my attention and consideration as far as circumstances and when opportunity will permit. I can only trouble Your Excellency upon the present occasion with a request, that the whole of the proceedings in the case of Major...
104From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 23, 23 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose the English Papers of the eleventh thirteenth and fourteenth of March. The Courier de L’Europe and the Hague, Leiden and Amsterdam Gazettes. We are in hourly Expectation of great News from Holland, Ireland, England, Spain, and above all from America and the West Indies. I have not a Letter from America, since I left it, except one from my Family of the tenth of...
105From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 23 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s Favors of the 14th & 19th Instant the latter covering the latest accounts you had received from the Southward. I have just received authentic advice from the Enemy, by which their whole Army under General Clinton was said to be at James Island the 4th of this month and about to take possession of Stono-ferry. The account comes...
106From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 24, 24 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Burke’s Bill not being as yet public, we are not yet informed of the Extent of it. But as it already appears, that it strikes at the Department of Secretary of State for America, at the Board of Trade, there seems to be little Reason to doubt that it goes further and strikes at the American Board of Commissioners, at all the American Judges of Admiralty, Governors of Provinces, Secretaries...
107From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 25, 24 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 24 March 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 353–356). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 24 & 25 deliverd Mr. Izard 25th. March 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:570–572. In this letter, received by Congress on 31...
108From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 26, 26 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 26 March 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 357–360). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:573–576. In this letter, received by Congress on 31 July and read on 1 Aug., John Adams used material taken from British newspapers to describe the celebrations on 2 March...
109From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 26 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform Congress, that from the importance of the subject and the difficulties we have experienced in our provision and Forage supplies, I have been induced in the course of a few days past, with the assistance of the Quarter Master General and the Commissary Generals of Provision & forage to make an Estimate of the quantity of each of these Articles, which would be necessary...
110From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 27, 27 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 27 March 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 361–364). In this letter, received by Congress on 31 July and read on 1 Aug., John Adams wrote that war “is now generally considered as a Contest of Finances; so that the Nation which can the longest find Money to carry on the War, can generally hold out the longest.” Adams believed that Great Britain, because of its heavy taxation since 1774, had...
111George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 27 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 27, 1780 . Asks that Congress send Brigadier General Du Portail to the South where a good engineer is needed. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
112From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 27 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
In the present situation of Southern affairs much will no doubt depend on the having an able Engineer in that Quarter. I have a very good opinion of the Gentleman now there in this line, but the confidence I have in General Du Portails abilities makes me think his presence would be of the greatest utility. Though we may sensibly feel the want of him here should any active operation commence;...
113From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 28, 28 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 28 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 365–366). With this letter, received by Congress on 31 July and read on 1 Aug., John Adams sent newspapers and reported on John Jay’s arrival in Spain. See Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 March , and note 3 (above). RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 365–366.)
114From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit Your Excellency the Extract of a Letter of the 23d Instant, which I received to day from Colo. Vanschaick. This will inform Your Excellency, that the Indians have lately made Two incursions on our Frontiers & taken Five of the Inhabitants of Tryon County & killed one & captured a Guard of Thirteen Militia posted at Skeensborough. I wish I had no other intelligence...
115From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 29, 29 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 369–372). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 26, 27, 28 & 29 were delivered to Mr. Izard 29th. March 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:578–580. This letter, received by...
116From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 30, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, March 30 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 383–384). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:581–582. Read by Congress on 11 Sept., this letter contained an account of a confrontation in February between several corps of Irish volunteers and a...
117From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 31, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose to Congress Copies of certain Letters, which I have had the Honor to write to the Comte de Vergennes, and of others which I have recieved from him. It seems that the Presentations of the American Commissioners and Ministers Plenipotentiary have not been inserted in the Gazette, which occasioned some Uneasiness in the Minds of some of our Countrymen, as they thought...
118George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 31 March 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 31, 1780 . Encloses and discusses a report of the commissioners for prisoner exchange who met at Amboy. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
119From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 31 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the Report of the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed to meet at Amboy the 9th instant, for the purpose of settling a General Cartel, by which, Congress will perceive that the present attempt has been as unsuccessful as all the former, and from the same cause. In January, I was honored with a letter from the Minister of France, informing me of his having...
120From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 2 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of addressing Your Excellency on the 28th Ulto, I have received intelligence, which seems to place it beyond doubt, that the Enemy are about to make a further imbarkation of Troops from New York, and the common opinion is, that they are going to reinforce Sir Henry Clinton. Lord Rawdon’s brigade, said to consist of his own Regiment & of Brown’s, Fanning’s & Another corps:...
121From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 32, 3 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 395–400). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “No 32 delivered Capt. Landais 3d. April.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:593–596. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 11 Sept.,...
122From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 33, 3 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 387–394). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:588–592. John Adams began this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, by paraphrasing the first portion of William Lee’s letter of 30 March...
123George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 3 April 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 3, 1780 . Pleads cause of officers of additional regiments. Discusses dissatisfaction in Army. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
124From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 3 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have frequently had the honor to address Congress on the subject of those Corps; which are unconnected with the lines of particular States. Satisfied of the numerous perplexities, under which they labour; it is with pain and reluctance I trouble them with repeated representations of the same nature; but in the present case it is so indispensible something should be done, that I cannot...
125From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 34, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 405–408). printed : various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 12 July and the Boston Independent Chronicle of 3 Aug. 1780. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, John Adams paraphrased the resolutions praising Henry Grattan for his efforts on behalf of Ireland in the Irish Parliament...
126From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 35, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 409–410). printed : various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 12 July and the Boston Independent Chronicle of 3 Aug. 1780. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, John Adams provided the text of a resolution adopted by the City of London on 22 March concerning the maintenance of a...
127From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 36, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 413–414). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 33, 34, 35 & 36 were delivered Capt Snelling on the 8th April 1780 at the Hotel de Valois by Mr Adams.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. ,...
128From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 37, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 6 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 417–423). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided Congress with a substantial extract from Sir James Marriott’s decision in the case of La Sybellina Hillegonda , one of the Dutch vessels seized by Como. Charles Fielding from the convoy under the protection of Adm. van Bylandt. Marriott condemned the ship because...
129From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 38, 7 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 7 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 425–431) printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:599–602. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, Adams provided accounts of the arrival of Russian couriers at The Hague on 30 March with...
130From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 7 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to acquaint Your Excellency, that I have just been advised of the sailing of the Detachment from New York, which I mentioned in my Letter of the 2d as being about to embark. The intelligence I have received upon the subject, is contained in the following Extract of a Letter from Colo. Dayton; dated the 6th at Elizabeth Town. “I have just received certain intelligence of the...
131From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 39, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 433–435). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:602. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided a list of forty-six British naval vessels lost for a variety of reasons...
132From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 40, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Duplicate The Memoire of the Prince Gallitzin, Envoy Extraordinary of all the Russias to the States General, presented the third of this Month, is of too much Importance to the United States of America, and their Allies, to be omitted to be sent to Congress. It is of the following Tenor. High and Mighty Lords., “The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary of her Majesty the Empress of all the...
133From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 41, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 441–442). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided the text of the British ministry’s statement to the Dutch Ambassador, Comte de Welderen, that there would be no extension of the three week time limit given the States General to answer Sir Joseph Yorke’s memorial of 21 March. RC in John...
134From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 42, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 443–446). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:604– 606. Received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, this letter included a series of newspaper accounts of events at Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris, Malta,...
135From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 10 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of inclosing a New York paper of the 8th which gives a more particular account of Admiral Rodney’s success than any we have yet seen. I cannot but hope that the enemy have dressed it in the most unfavorable Colours for us. I have the honor to be with very great Respect Your Excellency’s Most obt Servt P.S. since my last I have recd information from New York that another...
136From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 43, 11 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 11 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 447–450). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:610– 611. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, Adams listed twenty-five English counties and nine cities and towns that had, between...
137From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 44, 14 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 14 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 451–455). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:612–614. This letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, included reports from Constantinople, Copenhagen, London, and The Hague concerning the...
138From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 45, 15 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 15 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 455–461). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:615–618. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included newspaper accounts from Hamburg, Leghorn, Madrid, Paris, and London...
139From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 46, 17 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Late Letters from Dantzick, imply that Commerce was become very languishing there, for Some time, excepting for Ships timber, which bore a very good Price there, on Account of the English, which they carried away, as well in their own Vessells as those of Dantzick. The new face, which the Affairs of Europe, are about to take, from the Alliance formed between the Powers of the North, for the...
140George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 April 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] April 17, 1780 . Reports that the Maryland Division has marched to relief of Charleston. Discusses advisability of expedition against the enemy at Penobscot. Describes British attack on Paramus. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
141From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the Detachments of Infantry already made from hence to the Southward & the One now on the march —and from the probability there is, that the Enemy mean to prosecute their measures in that quarter with vigor, I have thought it expedient to send a respectable reinforcement of Artillery—Officers & Matrosses there likewise. I would however beg leave to suggest that I find it may...
142From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 17 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your Excellencys dispatches of the 6th and 9th of April. The Maryland division marched this morning—with the first regiment of Artillery and eight field pieces besides those attached to the Brigades which will be useful at any rate essential if an accident should happen to Charles Town—The want of Waggons has unavoidably retarded the march of the Troops till this time. I...
143From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 47, 18 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 18 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 467–469). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:620–624. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided newspaper accounts regarding a petition by Swedish merchants...
144From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 48, 18 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
It is my Duty to transmit to Congress, as soon as Prudence will admit, every Thing which deserves Consideration, as having either a direct or an indirect tendency to Peace, or even to Negotiation for that important Object. The inclosed Letter has been transmitted to Paris in such a Channel, that I have Reasons to believe it was particularly intended for my Inspection. It is from a Gentleman,...
145From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 50, 23 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 23 April 1780. LbC ( Adams Papers ). Although a note to the Letterbook copy of Adams’letter of 3 May to the president of Congress (No. 58, calendared, below) indicates that this letter was sent and the Journal of Congress shows it to have been received on 19 Feb. 1781 ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , Washington, 1904–1937; 34...
146From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 51, 24 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 24 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 495–498). printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:626–628. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams sent intelligence derived from newspaper reports originating at Stockholm,...
147From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 52, 25 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 25 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 500–503). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included long newspaper accounts from Dublin of events in Ireland, particularly the progress of the volunteer movement, and from London of the efforts of the British ministry to bring about a resolution of the Irish problem. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 500–503.)
148From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 53, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
At last, even the Morning Post, of the eighteenth of April, confesses, that the Memorial from the Empress of Russia to the States General, has dissipated all their golden dreams of an Alliance, with the Czarina. It was announced to us last Week, that a Russian Squadron had left Cronstad, with an Intention to sail to our Assistance, nay some of the public Papers went so far as to announce their...
149From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 54, 28 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 28 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 508–510). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:635–639. In Wharton’s printing, the dates for the paragraphs beginning “Hague 23. April” and “Hague 22 April” should be reversed. This long letter, which Congress received...
150From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 28 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge Your Excellency’s dispatches of the 15th, which have been duly received. Colo. Ward, whose appointment to the Office of Commissary of prisoners they communicate, went to the Eastward soon after he returned from philadelphia. It is probable Your Excellency was acquainted with this circumstance; however I have thought it material to mention it, that you might know...