3401The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 13 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society We have received the Letter which you did us the honour to write on the 12th. Inst. and shall take the first Opportunity of conveying to Congress the agreable Information contained in it. The Sentiments & Sensations which the Re-establishment of Peace between our two Countries,...
3402John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 27 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed to Congress. By what Vessell it...
3403The American Peace Commissioners to David Hartley, 30 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society; press copy of copy: National Archives The American Ministers Plenipotentiary for making Peace with great Britain, present their Compliments to Mr. Hartley. They regret that Mr. Hartley’s Instructions will not permit him to sign the Definitive Treaty of Peace with America at the Place...
3404Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain, 3 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Public Record Office; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two.) Early on the morning of September 3, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and William Temple Franklin rode into Paris carrying four official copies of the treaty that would end the War for American Independence. Joined by Adams,...
3405To George Washington from John Adams, 19–20 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
In Complyance with your Request, I have considered of what you proposed, and am obliged to give you my Sentiments, very briefly, and in great Haste. In general, Sir, there will be three Committees, either of a Congress, or of an House of Representatives, which are and will be composed of our best Men, Such, whose Judgment and Integrity may be most relyed on. I mean the Committee on the State...
3406To George Washington from John Adams, 6 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
As your Excellency has asked my Opinion of General Lees Plan, as explain’d in his Letter of the fifth instant, I think it my Duty to give it, although I am obliged to do it in more Haste than I could wish. I Suppose the only Questions which arise upon that Letter are whether the Plan is practicable; whether it is expedient; and whether it lies properly within your Excellencys Authority,...
3407To George Washington from John Adams, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this Letter Francis Dana Esqr. of Cambridge, is a Gentleman of Family, Fortune and Education, returned in the last Packett from London where he has been about a Year. He has ever maintained an excellent Character in his Country, and a warm Friendship for the American Cause. He returns to share with his Friends in their Dangers, and their Triumphs. I have done myself the Honour to...
3408To John Jay from John Adams, 13 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26 th . of April, and am very happy, to have at last recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but some how or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest abilities, and the most...
3409To John Jay from John Adams, 15 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I shall not always stand upon Ceremonies, nor wait for Answers to Letters, because useful Hints may be given, which would be lost if one were to wait Returns of Posts. The British Channel Fleet is reckoned this year at from thirty to thirty seven Ships of the Line, but it is well known that they depend upon Seamen to be pressed from their first West India Fleet, in order to make up this...
3410To John Jay from John Adams, 28 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
3411To John Jay from John Adams, 26 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
By the last Post, I recieved from L’Orient a sett of fresh Instructions from Congress, dated the 16 th . of August, and with the more pleasure as I am enjoined to open a Correspondence with your Excellency, upon the subject of them. I presume You have Copy by the same Vessel; but as it is possible it may have been omitted, I shall venture to inclose a Copy, and hope it may pass unopened. I...
3412To John Jay from John Adams, 28 November 1781 (Jay Papers)
I had the Honour to write you, on the 26 instant by the Post a Conveyance which I am determined to try, untill I am certainly informed of its Infidelity, in which Case, I will ask the favour of the French or Spanish Ambassador, to inclose my dispatches. I received by the last Post, a Duplicate of Dispatches from Congress the originals of which I received some time ago. I presume you have rec d...
3413To John Jay from John Adams, 28 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you, that Friesland has taken the Provincial Resolution to acknowledge the Sovereignty of the United States of America, and to admit their Minister to an Audience, and have instructed their Deputies in the Assembly of their high Mightinesses at the Hague to make the Motion in eight days from this. The States of Holland have also taken my last Requisition and...
3414To John Jay from John Adams, 8 July 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Duke de la Vauguion has this Moment, kindly given me Notice, that he is to Send off a Courier this Evening at Eleven, and that the Dutch Fleet has Sailed from the Texel this Morning. I shall take Advantage of the Courier Simply to congratulate you on your Arrival at Paris, and to wish you and M rs Jay, much Pleasure, in your Residence there.— Health, the Blessing which is Sought in vain,...
3415To John Jay from John Adams, 10 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
It was with very great pleasure that I rec d . this morning your kind favor of the 2 d . ins t . I am surprised to learn that your & M rs : Jay’s health have been disordered in France where the air is so fine— That your anxieties have been very great I doubt not—that most of them were such as you ought not to have met with, I can easily conceive— I can sincerely say, that all mine, but my...
3416To John Jay from John Adams, 13 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
The public Papers announce Fitzherbert’s Commission to be, to treat “With the four Powers at War with Great-Britain” But whether they mean Hyder Aly, or the Mahrattas, is uncertain. I have obtained Intelligence of a Paper addressed lately from the Court of St. James’s to the Courts of Vienna and Petersbourg, as well as that of Paris, in which are the following words, viz t . Sa Majesté...
3417Preliminary Articles of Peace, 30 November 1782 (Jay Papers)
Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald Esquire the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, in behalf of his said Majesty, on the one part; and John Adams Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, ^ and Henry Laurens, ^ four of the Commissioners of the said States for treating of Peace with the Commissioner of his said...
3418Declaration of Cessation of Arms, 20 February 1783 (Jay Papers)
By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of The United States of America For Making Peace with Great Britain A Declaration of The Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea, as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty The King of Great Britain and the United States of America Whereas Preliminary Articles, were Signed, at Paris, on the thirtieth Day of November last, between the Plenipotentiaries of his Said...
3419Draft of Resolutions on Lord Drummond’s Peace Proposals, [22? August 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Resolved that the articles inclosed by Ld. Drummond to Ld. Howe whereby it is proposed ‘that it shall be ascertained by calculation what supply towards the general exigency of the state each separate colony shall furnish, to be encreased or lessened in proportion to the growth or decline of such colony, and to be vested in the king by a perpetual grant, in consideration whereof Great Britain...
3420To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 26 May 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this Morning, the Pleasure of your Favour of the Sixteenth inst, by the Post; and rejoice to learn that your Battallions, were so far fill’d, as to render a Draught from the Militia, unnecessary. It is a dangerous Measure, and only to be adopted in great extremities, even by popular Governments. Perhaps, in Such Governments Draughts will never be made, but in Cases, when the People...
3421To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 29 June 17[80] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Mazzei, called on me, last evening, to let me know that he was this morning at three to Sett off, on his Journey, for Italy. He desired me to write you, that he has communicated to me the Nature of his Errand: but that his Papers being lost, he waits for a Commission and Instructions from you. That being limited to five Per Cent, and more than that being given by the Powers of Europe, and...
3422[To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 23 June 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 23 June 1783 . There is recorded in SJL , under date of 16 Apr. 1784, the receipt of a letter from “J. Adams. Paris. June 23. by Mazzei.” Mazzei landed at Hampton, Virginia, in Nov. 1783, but he did not forward Adams’ letter for some months; see Mazzei to TJ, 4 Apr. 1784 , and Mazzei, Memoirs , p. 274. Adams’ letter to TJ has not been found.]