From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 February 1781

To the President of Congress

Amsterdam, 1 February 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC, Misc. Papers, Reel No. 1, f. 244–254. printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Washington, 1889; 6 vols. description ends , 4:244–248.

In this letter, read in Congress on 19 Nov., John Adams provided an English translation of the Convention for an Armed Neutrality that Russia and Denmark signed on 28 June [9 July N.S.] 1780. It was, according to Adams, “one of the most brilliant Events, which has yet been produced by the American Revolution.” He then commented on the Convention’s provisions with regard to contraband and noted that Sweden had acceded to it on 21 July [1 Aug. N.S.] 1780 followed by the Netherlands on 5 [i.e. 4] Jan. 1781. For additional information regarding the accession of Denmark and Sweden to the armed neutrality, see Adams’ letter of 14 Aug. 1780 to the president of Congress (vol. 10:68–74).

RC in John Thaxter’s hand (PCC, Misc. Papers, Reel No. 1, f. 244–254). printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Washington, 1889; 6 vols. description ends , 4:244–248.

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Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 February 1781
Author: Adams, John
Recipients: President of Congress
Huntington, Samuel
Date: 1 February 1781

Reference

Cite as: “From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 February 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-11-02-0065. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 11, January–September 1781, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Richard Alan Ryerson, Anne Decker Cecere, Celeste Walker, Jennifer Shea, and C. James Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003, p. 96.]