1The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 10 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 April 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:44–46 . Drafted by Benjamin Franklin and, according to Adams, “the only public Letter I believe which he wrote while I was with him, in that Commission,” it began by informing Dumas of Adams’ arrival and reporting on his voyage. The...
2The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We received yours in which you hint that it is wished by some of our Friends that the Commissioners would propose a Treaty to your Government. It would really be a great Pleasure to them to be instrumental in cementing a Union between the two Republics of Holland and the United States, by a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, similar to that lately concluded with France, or varying where...
3The Commissioners to C. W. F. Dumas, 10 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received yours of the 2d Instant, with the Declaration sign’d by Mr. Van Berikel, and his explanatory Letter to you, which give us much Pleasure, as they show the good Disposition of that respectable Body, the Burgomasters of Amsterdam towards the United States of America, and their Willingness, as far as may depend on them, to promote, between the Republick of the United States Low...
4From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 21 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
His Excellency, Dr. Franklin, lent me the inclosed Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, upon Condition, that I would send a copy of it to you. A privateer from Boston had the good Fortune to take the Packet bound to London, and the Mail, in which among others this letter was found. It was sent from Boston to Philadelphia and there published in a Newspaper of the 8th of April....
5From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 6 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for y our Letter in an swer to mine of 21. May, and for your kind con gratulations on my arrival here. Mr. Brown, with whom you took your Walks in the Neighbourhood of Paris, has been gone from hence, Some Weeks, on his Way home. I Should have had much Pleasure, if I had been one of the Party. I have rambled, in most of the Scenes round this City, and find them very pleasant, but...
6From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment the Pleasure of yours of the 3d instant, and I thank you for your kind Congratulations on the glorious News of the Capture of the British Fleets for the East and West Indies, by the combined Fleets of France and Spain. The Value of the Property the Number of Soldiers and Seamen, and especially the Dissappointment to the English Fleets and Armies, in the East and West Indies...
7From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 4 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Favour of the 3d, and thank you for the early Information of the arrival of the Courier from the Plenipotentiaries of this Republick at Petersbourg. I hope that this Republick, will agree, without delay to the armed Neutrality: but I Should be glad to See a Copy of the dispatches if possible, or at least as exact an Account of their Substance as may be. I should be...
8From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of the 7. Inclosed are a few more Extracts, concerning the Treatment of Mr. Laurens. You will publish Such Parts as you judge proper. This Event will have more Serious and lasting Consequences than are immagined. It is therefore proper that the facts should be preserved. It may be prudent to observe a delicacy concerning White Eyes. But Europe in general is much...
9From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last night, on my arrival home, I found your Favour and Thank you for the Intelligence it contains, which I shall transmit, as you desire. The English have captured a great number of Dutch Ships: The Dutch however are still flattering themselves, with Hopes that the quarrell will be made up: that the English will all these Ships.&c. &c. &c. So little do they Know the Character of the King,...
10From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 25 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of the 15 and 24. the latter inclosing a Letter to Congress, which I will do myself the Honour to inclose with my first dispatches. This method will be very agreable to me, if you choose to continue it. There are Bruits here, of a 74 gun ship with Six homeward bound East Indiamen taken from the English by some french Men of War near the Cape of...
11From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 31 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have to thank you for your Favours of 28 and 29 which arrived untouched, by any hand too inquisitive. The extraordinary demand for Bread in England will be a great Advantage to America. It will raise the Price of it, by increasing the demand, in those Countries which trade directly or indirectly with America, and will raise the Price of it consequently there. We have always Said in America...
12From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 2 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Nulla Dies Sine Lineâ, said a great Geometician and you are so good an American, that you will agree with me, that We ought to let no day nor Hour pass in which We can do any Service to our Country, without embracing the opportunity. Such an Occasion as the present when the popular Affections and even the sentiments of Men in Power, Seem to be turning towards America. When I landed in Spain I...
13From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 6 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favours of the 3d. and 5th. with their Inclosures all in good order. I have but one Copy of the Treaty of Alliance, otherwise I would send you one with Pleasure. I am of your opinion that no Propositions should be yet made to the States General, as a Body, but Hints and Ideas may be suggested to Individuals, in order to prepare Mens Minds by familiarizing them with Such...
14From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Thus you See that I began the Mischief, and I assure you I am ready to finish it, if properly invited, and a very little Invitation will do. I am extreamly pleased with the Modesty of the Resolutions of Congress upon the subject, and not less so with the sublime Language in which a young poetical Genius, first expressed his Feelings in his Motion. This Motion and the Resolution set off, one...
15From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 12 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 9 and 10th. of this month. The Resolution of Congress is printed and published in the publick Journal of Congress and of Course in all the American News papers, and all the other Newspapers of the World. Congress have a Secret Journal, in which, they enter every Thing that they mean to keep Secret, and a publick Journal which is printed every day. Whatever is...
16From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Letters I received at Leyden, obliged me to leave you Sooner than I intended, but I did not know , I shall soon See you again, at the Hague. I have received, important Dispatches from Congress, upon which I want your Advice. I hope it is no bad News. You will Say nothing, reflect well upon the Times, and be prepared to answer me, serious Questions upon public Affairs—nothing personal—nor...
17From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Send you the Letters. If any Thing is necessary to be added to the Memorial before the Signature, you will be So good as to add it. I should be obliged to you for a Line by the Bearer, in Return, and the News, if any. My first Demarch you See, is on the Princes Birth day, which is no doubt a good omen both to his Highness and your servant. You will please to put a Wafer under the Seals. LbC...
18From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 17 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I received this Morning, your Favour of the 16. inclosing a polite Letter from the Duke de la Vauguyon. I hope to receive another from you this Evening, and that it will contain an Account of the Fate of my Memorial. Has it been laid before their high mightinesses or not? And what was done with it? Pray, has the president, by the Constitution of this Country, a right to pocket, Suppress, or...
19From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Extracts, are of So much Importance, that I send them to you, for your opinion whether it is prudent to communicate them to the Russian Minister, or not. The Intelligence is such that I can make no official Communication. If you think it will do any good, and no harm or at least more good than harm, you may communicate it in Confidence to Friends. Mr. Dana’s Commission, which...
20From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 27 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the Honour to communicate to you my Commission to their High mightiness, by which the general Affairs of America, in this Republick come under my direction, you may possibly be at some Uncertainty about your own Situation and the Continuance of that Small annual Sum which you have heretofore received from the Commissioners and the Minister at the Court of Versailles. In order to...
21From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I returned last night to Leyden, and would Set off this morning for the Hague, if particular Reasons did not oppose. Having Something, a little interesting to communicate to you, I should be very much obliged to you, if you could come here to morrow morning. I should be glad of your answer this Evening, because if any thing makes it inconvenient to you to come here, I will go to the Hague, and...
22From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 7 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received yours of 6th. I have no Objection against your Plan. I informed the Grand Pensionary and the President that I should think it my duty to publish my Memorial. I persist in the Same opinion. The manner is indifferent to me. I shall avow the Publication. Your omission of the Commission will be agreable to me. I communicated to the last Person I saw at the Hague all...
23From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 19 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received two Letters from you, one covering a Letter from Leghorn. In the English Copy of the Memorial, there are several Errors of the Press, and one which is very material. The Word Treaties with France and Spain, instead of the Word Relations. Please give my Compliments to Mr. Manson the Redacteur of the Courier du Bas Rhin, for the Honour he has done to this Memorial in giving an...
24From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 26 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 23d., and percieve by it that the Error I mentioned was not of the Press but of the Copy. I am very much obliged to Mr. Vr. for the proposition, which I have since read with vast pleasure in the French Translation. It breathes the true Batavian Spirit and must have great effects. I think it was right not to mention America, whatever the venerable Magistrates...
25From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I had the Pleasure of writing to you. I have been, to the very gate of the other Mansion. My Feet had well nigh Stumbled on the dark mountains: but by the Skill of Dr Osterdike and the Barks wondrous Virtue, I am returned here to take two or three more Lessons of Politicks. If your affairs will admit of your Spending Some time at Amsterdam, I should be obliged to you,...
26From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 6 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I recd. your kind Congratulations from Leyden on the glorious Captivity of Cornwallis, and have since recd. your favor of the third, inclosing two packets from America. You ask what News? I answer none. They were the Originals of Dispatches from General Washington, and General Knox, containing the Capitulation and other Papers which are public. A large Reinforcement is gone to my friend Green...
27From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 24 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 23, is just come to hand, and I thank you for your Care and skill in the Purchase of the house, and will do honour to your Bills, whenever they appear, by paying the Cash. Madam La Comtesse de Wickrad, according to your Relation, made me and our states, a most elegant Compliment, for which you will be so good if you please to make my acknowledgments. Cant it be made...
28From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 2 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd yours of 25 Ult and that of 26, and this moment that of 1. March. Suppose you dismiss your Chambers and invite Madame and Mademoiselle Dumas to remove with you, into my House. In the first Place, is there Room enough in the House for your Family and mine? 2dly how many servants must there be, in order to keep house together, in such a manner? If Madame Dumas would be so good as to...
29From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 13 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your two Letters both without Date and one without a Name. My Respects and Thanks to Mr Carmichael &c. I have Some of the Resolutions of Congress touching that department but cannot Say whether I have all. I have had last Evening an agreable Interview with the two worthy Gentlemen you mention. They are both of opinion, that it is better to wait and See what will be proposed by the...
30From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice with you, in the Testimony of approbation given to a very meritorious Character. If they burn in one City to acknowledge American Independence, it is to be hoped, that the virtuous flame will Soon extend itself to all others. I am vastly obliged to the Duke de la Vauguion for the Service he did our Cause and for the many noble Compliments which, I learn from Sure Sources, he was...
31From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 30th., I had the honor to recieve yesterday, with Mr. Nolet’s Letter and your Answer. What shall I say to this affectionate as well as polite Invitation to dine at Schiedam? I am now and shall be a long time exceedingly engaged fatigued with the Affair of a Loan, which takes up my Attention and Time, in the greater part. The Treaty of Commerce is also You know under...
32From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
your Letter of the 13 of March was brought in to me but this moment— I am not able to give you any information you desire— a Gen t. by the Name you mention & with the title of Colonel has been introduced to me & has dined with me at this House & I saw him in Holland— His Behaviour is Genteel and his Character is in all respects unexceptionable, as far as I know, having Never heard any...
33From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 5 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am very much concerned that an absence in the Country should have So long delayed My Answer to your Letter of the tenth of July. There is no Act of Congress which authorizes me expressly, to order the Payment of your Salary,: But the Representation in your Letter Supported by the Extract from that of M r Jefferson to you of the 14. of June last, Show Such an Absolute necessity of it that I...
34From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 1 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Col. Forrest, informed me last Night that he delivered you the Letter I wrote by him. in which were orders upon the Bankers of Amsterdam to pay you your Salery, till then I was anxous about it, as you make no mention of it in yours of the 25 th of Sep r I am extreamly Sorry to hear of your unfortunate Situation, at the date of that Letter. but hope before this time there is some change for the...