1From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
The News that M r. Brantzen wrote to our Friends before I left the Hague was true The King of Great Britain under the Great Seal of his Kingdom has by Patent constituted Richard Oswal Esq r. his Minister Plenipo y. to treat with the Ministers of the United States of America. Who would have thought that G. B. would be the 3 d. Power in Europe to acknowledge the Independence of America— You may...
2From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 13 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
D r: Franklin I suppose has written to London & consented to exchange Sir J. Jay, for L t: Coll o: Dundas— He rec d. a letter fm. the late Advocate of Scotland, proposing such an Exchange—which he communicated to his Colleagues & we advised him to agree to it— M r: Brantzen is greatly & justly respected here, and is as friendly & communicative to me as I desire— You have known a little of my...
3From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Preliminary Articles are only to take place, when France & G. Britain shall have agreed: but as they are not yet published by the British Ministry, it is not proper that We should publish them as yet— Your Dispatch to M r Livingston, which I rec d. Yesterday, I gave to M r. Franklin who sends it off to day. I don’t know what to say about M r. Van Arp’s Passport—it is not necessary, if the...
4From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
returning this Evening from Versailles, where I had been to make the Compliments of the Season, I found your favours of 26 and 27. of Dec r. The Letters inclosed Shall be forwarded as you desire. The Dutch Ministers here have no Occasion for my Assistance. Non tali Auxilio &c— I have the Honour to be more particularly acquainted with M r Brantzen, who is certainly a very able Man, and...
5From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have yet to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of the 26. 27. 30. & 31 of Dec r. and 2 of January. Your Dispatches are sent along as you desire.— I hope you are, quite recovered from your Indisposition. I can give you no Information concerning Peace. it is given out that the point will be decided here to day or Tomorrow: others Say that the Duke de la Vauguion is to make the Peace at...
6From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 29 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Upon receiving the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 24 th. late last evening, I went immediately to consult with my Colleague, M r: Jay—and we agreed to go this morning to D r: Franklin. Accordingly we went today to Passy & communicated your letter to him & after recollecting the Powers we have received, we all agreed that I should make you the following answer— You will readily...
7From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
I rec d last night your Favour of 30 of January, with the Copies of Letters inclosed.— I am not at all Surprized at the Sentiments expressed in those Copies, nor am I able to give any Satisfactory Answer to the pungent Questions, which I read there.— I feel very Sincerely afflicted for our Friends without being now able, and without having ever been able to do them any Service.— I could tell...
8From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 7 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have heard no News of my Son, Since he was in Stockholm, the Beginning of December, although I was led to expect his arrival at the Hague by the End of that month—we are now in February and I hear nothing of him, which gives me much Anxiety, least he should have fallen Sick or met with Some other unfortunate accident. I there any way of writing to Stockholm, Lubeck, Copenhague or Hamborough...
9From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 22 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 13. is received, and I thank you, for the Trouble you have taken concerning my son, and I beg you to present my most hearty Thanks to the Duke de la Vauguion for the Compassion he had for me in my affliction and for the Trouble he has taken, in writing to the Minister of France at Hambourg, and to M r D’Asp for writing to Stockholm Elsineur and Copenhagen.— I have within a few...
10From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 23 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
In answer to the questions in your’s of 18 th , I beg leave to inform you, that in my opinion M r. Dana is the only proper person in Europe to treat with anybody in Europe about the Armed Neutrality and the Liberty of Navigation— It is true, our former Power is not expressly revoked, but I consider M r. Dana’s Commissions in form to be an implicit and tacit Revocation of ours—so that I dare...
11From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your’s of the 11 th. You will please to accept of my thanks for the kind Care you have taken of my Son, who is I hope before this with you, and to repeat my humble thanks to the Duke for his goodness upon this Occasion. My Younker ought to think himself highly honoured; by the Notice that has been taken of him by so many respectable Personages. M r. D’Asps Letter I will send...
12From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 28 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Letter for Philadelphia, inclosed in your’s of the 18 th , I have caused to be inclosed to M r. Morris, unsealed as it is, desiring his Attention to its Contents— But I should think M r. Van Berckel had better see for himself first— As he goes in a Frigate, he may carry every thing he wants, and perhaps he may please himself better at home than in America, in the Articles of Furniture & ca...
13From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 16 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to the Inquiry of M r Fagel you will please to inform him that the Letters of Credence of M r Van Berckell should be addressed “To the United States of America in Congress assembled” “Friends and Allies.” The King of France indeed has added the Word “great.” “great Friends and Allies.”— But I think it would be much better to leave out the Word great and all other Epithets.— Congress...
14From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your Favour of 25. Ult. I can only say that I have no Information of the United States having acceeded to the armed Neutrality, on the Contrary I have Reasons to doubt it. My Son, I hope behaves to your Satisfaction and that of Madame Dumas, follows his Studies with Ardour and writes to me, every Post, takes a Walk in the Wood every day &c. Does he Speak the German? has he lost...
15From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 16 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 9 th. We remain here in the Same State of Indecision, which We have been in these Three Months, uninformed of every Thing in America uncertain of the System in England and unable to See one day before Us. My Situation is as pleasant as it has been for a long Course of Years Sure that whatever may be well done will be ascribed to other People, and that whatever...
16From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 29 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your Favour of the 23 d. of May.— I regret extreamly that I must loose the opportunity of the Company of M r Vanberckel to America: but there is no appearance, that the definitive Treaty will be Signed in Time to allow me that Satisfaction and Advantage. The Treaty with Sweeden is now printing with a Collection of the Constitutions and Treaties, which is making under the...
17From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d. your favor of 30. ult o. — I am very apprehensive that the Gentleman you conversed with concerning the Loan is decieved, as his worthy Brother was on a former occasion, by whose Advice chiefly I was led to open the Loan with those three Houses. He was then of opinion, that even ten Millions might be obtained; whereas the three Houses have not been able to obtain in a year, so...
18From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 26 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
It is Sometime Since I had a Line from you or my Son. I hope all is well. I can give you no News. There is a Species of Witchcraft governs in England which keeps them from knowing their own Minds.— and a similar malignant Spirit reigns in America and prevents Us from getting any Intelligence from thence.— I sometimes feel Wroth enough, to wish for the Revival of an old Spirit to hang these...
19From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 10 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
It has ever been my intention to come in Person to the Hague, and take Leave of their High Mightinesses, with all the Respect in my Power, before my departure for America. it is still my design. If it is the usage of their High Mightinesses, as you Say it is, to make a Present of a Chain upon the occasion, it will be very agreable to me to accept it, and in the Language of my Countrymen I hope...
20From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 28 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been So taken up with Royal Societies and Royal Accademies, with British Musæums and Sir Ashton Levers Musæum with Wedgwoods Manufactory of Earthen Ware and Parkers of Glass, &c that I have not had time to write you a Line. You Observe I say nothing of Politicks for although I have been introduced to the great Politicians at their Desire I have not found them Sufficiently well disposed...
21From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 4 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
Last Night I received your favour of the 28 th Nov r: and hope in future to hear often from you, although I dont expect to be informed of the Politicks of the Country, so particularly as heretofore, yet you may write freely under the Same Cover. I should be glad, however to know, truly what has happened upon the Frontiers; I hope the Comte de Linden will be appointed notwithstanding the...
22From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the fifth of this Month and wish it were in my Power to inform you precisely whether I am to reside in future at the Hague, or not. But it is not.— Congress have Sent, by Capt. Jones, Powers to me jointly with the other Ministers At the Peace to treat with all the Powers of Europe, that may be disposed to treat, and this together with the difficult Work of...
23John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 25 August 1784 (Adams Papers)
I had a tedious Passage of two Days from Helvoet and was at last obliged to Land at Leostoff a dozen Leagues from Harwich, and ride from thence twenty four miles in a Cart before I could find a Post Chaise; but on Saturday noon, I had the Satisfaction of meeting my friends in perfect Health at the Adelphi Buildings in London, I never set my Foot in any other House, till next Morning at ten,...
24John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 10 th. as well as the two former, with their Inclosures. The first I Sent by M r Tracy a Sure hand, by the Way of London, and the two Latter, I shall Send the Same Way by another private Hand, so that all three will go safe and as soon or sooner than by the Way of L’orient The two Abbys who continue their freindly and brotherly Course of Life, very often...
25John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 November 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 26. Oct r: with the seven Questions inclosed. I have answered these Questions to the best of my Judgment, believing it to be my Duty to give to my enquiring Countrymen, all the satisfaction in my Power upon such occasions. I should wish too to gratify the Dutch merchants, and all others as far as I can in Character. But we must above all Things have the...
26John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 11 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received in due Season and in good Condition your Favour of the 7. of Nov.— But D r Franklin being confined to his House by the Stone, and M r Jefferson in Paris, by other Sickness, I have been [th]e only American Minister who could move, and have been obliged to oscillate So much between Auteuil, Passy and Paris that I have had no Time to answer you. I presume you must have been misinformed...
27John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 22 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Capture of one or two of our Vessells by the Barbary Rovers, obliges Us to think Seriously of treating with the Port, Morocco, Algiers Tunis Tripoli, and the rest. But We wish to be informed as nearly as We can, how much the Expences of every Kind will amount to. let me beg the Favour of you then, to apply to M r Bisdom and M r Vanderhope and inquire of those Gentlemen, what Presents they...
28John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 29 [30] March 1785 (Adams Papers)
last night on my return from Versailles and the Sight of the gallant young Duke of Normandy. I found your Favour of the eighteenth with its Enclosures which I delivered as soon as I had read it to our Secretary M r Humphreys as I propose to do all of your future letters to be by him transmitted regularly every Month, with our Dispatches to Congress, who are now Sitting at New york with his...
29From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 11 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday your favour of the 3 d . The Letters you Sent me from America I have received. one Packet contained old News Papers, the other the Ratification of my last Loan. I have received the orders of Congress to go to London according to the Article you read in an English News Paper which appears to have been copied, from a Gazette of New York. I have received too a Commission and...
30From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d. yours of the 12 th and thank you for your Congratulations and kind Wishes of Success. As Congress have not yet dissolved my Relation to the Republick of the United Netherlands, I cannot yet take Leave, but I hope to have Leave to go over from London for that Purpose, upon the Arrival of my Letter of Recall or of another Minister to Succeed me. I have received So many personal...