11From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 2 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
After Settling a Point or two here, I now think myself at Liberty to inform you, that I have indeed the Honour, to be a Minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, “vested with full Powers and Instructions to confer, treat, agree and conclude with the Ambassadors or Plenipotentiaries of his most christian Majesty and of his Britannic Majesty, and those of any other Princes or...
12From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 15 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 6 and 12 of April are before me. The last received to day. I thank you, sir, for so readily, undertaking to announce &c. As to going to England upon any Errand for me, the Time is not yet come. I must avoid every Thing of that Kind yet. The Memorial from Russia, refutes at once all the Lyes of Seven Years growth, which is one Point. It does more. It threatens, an Union of all...
13From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 19 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have only time at present, to beg the favour of you, to procure the inclosed, to be inserted in all the English newspapers. There is not a Circumstance exagerated, and the half is not told. RC with enclosure ( Adams Papers ); notation on back of enclosure: “printed in the English Papers.” For the possibility that JA wrote two letters to Jenings on 19 April, see Jenings’ letter of 24 April ,...
14Enclosure: A Newspaper Article, 19 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams, Mr. Dana, and Mr. Thaxter, who are arrived, at Paris, came from Boston, in the French Frigate, the Sensible, which had the Misfortune to Spring a Leak, Soon after She Sailed, which increased to Such a degree, that they were obliged to keep two Pumps, constantly going by night and day, the passengers taking their turns, altho, the Crew consisted of Three hundred and fifty men....
15From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 20 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a little Pamphlet, which was written by me in the Year 1765, and published at Boston, afterwards reprinted in England, under the Title of “a Dissertation on the Cannon and the feudal Law.” It is a kind of philosophical and political Rhapsody, written when I was not very old, and when I had certainly Seen very little of this World, and knew but little of Men or Things. It was ascribed,...
16From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 22 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
If you think that any thing I sent you lately is improper for publication, I hope you will stop it, or alter and correct it, by your own discretion, or delay it, till you think the time, proper. A vessell has arrived at Bilbao, from Newbury Port, by which I wrote to Congress and to my friends from Corunna, she brings news that two Vessells which lay at Bilbao when I was there, have also...
17From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of the 22d have just recieved. I wrote You a Line the 22d. Am happy to find that We agree so well in Opinion concerning the Equity of the Russian Negotiation. If that Court had gone farther, and endeavoured to abolish the whole doctrine of Contraband, excepting in Case of Siege, I should have thought it a beneficial Improvement in the Law of Nations. I can’t see, that because two...
18From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for yours of 24. The Pamphlet, was printed by Almon, at the Desire of a Mr. Hollis who took an extravagant mild fancy to the dissertation on the cannon and feudal Law, had it printed and bound in an elegant manner, and sent it as a present to Harvard Colledge in Cambridge, with a Compliment written in it with his own Hand. It was a long story, but it began with these Words “this is...
19From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to acknowledge that yours of 2 and 7th. are yet unanswered. I never read Linguet, till yours of 2d. I went and subscribed. He is ingenious, but a sort of Nat. Lee, I think. The English have trumpeted their omnipotence, till they have put his Imagination in a Turmoil, as well as many others. The English Powers, really consist more in the fears of their Ennemies than any thing else....
20From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of 22, with the Letter, which I return, unable to comprehend the meaning of it. I am informed by Mr Jay and Mr Charmichael both, that Sir John Dalrymple is at Madrid, with his Lady, travelling from Portugal, thro Spain and France for her Health, as is given out. He had a Passport from the Spanish minister. He has seen the Imperial Ambassador, the Duke of Alva, and Some...