3351From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 35, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 409–410). printed : various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 12 July and the Boston Independent Chronicle of 3 Aug. 1780. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, John Adams provided the text of a resolution adopted by the City of London on 22 March concerning the maintenance of a...
3352From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 36, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 413–414). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 33, 34, 35 & 36 were delivered Capt Snelling on the 8th April 1780 at the Hotel de Valois by Mr Adams.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. ,...
3353John Adams to Abigail Adams, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a great deal of hatred against the Govt. in England as you will see by the song inclosed. They are going on, with County meetings, Petitions, Committees, Correspondences, Associations &c. in our mode. What it will come to, I dont know. They talk in London about withdrawing the Troops, &c., but I suspect, We had better take em, least they should alter their minds. At last a Vessell has...
3354From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 37, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 6 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 417–423). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided Congress with a substantial extract from Sir James Marriott’s decision in the case of La Sybellina Hillegonda , one of the Dutch vessels seized by Como. Charles Fielding from the convoy under the protection of Adm. van Bylandt. Marriott condemned the ship because...
3355From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 38, 7 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 7 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 425–431) printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:599–602. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, Adams provided accounts of the arrival of Russian couriers at The Hague on 30 March with...
3356From John Adams to William Carmichael, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment, the Honour of your Letter, from Madrid of the 29 of February as I suppose, altho the month is not mentioned. I thank you, Sir for commencing a Correspondence which I have Sometime wished to begin. I wrote to Mr Jay at Madrid the 22d of February, and wish to know if he has received the Letter. It is certainly proper, that those who are intrusted abroad, Should maintain a...
3357From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 39, 8 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 433–435). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:602. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided a list of forty-six British naval vessels lost for a variety of reasons...
3358From John Adams to Muscoe Livingston, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour of the 28 March, some days ago, and thank you for your kind Congratulations on my safe arrival. Your letter to Governor Livingston I sent along to him, with other Letters I carried to America. I had not the Pleasure of seeing him, as I had not an opportunity to travel that Way. I am glad to hear that you have recovered your Health, and if you go to America, wish you an...
3359From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 40, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Duplicate The Memoire of the Prince Gallitzin, Envoy Extraordinary of all the Russias to the States General, presented the third of this Month, is of too much Importance to the United States of America, and their Allies, to be omitted to be sent to Congress. It is of the following Tenor. High and Mighty Lords., “The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary of her Majesty the Empress of all the...
3360From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 41, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 441–442). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided the text of the British ministry’s statement to the Dutch Ambassador, Comte de Welderen, that there would be no extension of the three week time limit given the States General to answer Sir Joseph Yorke’s memorial of 21 March. RC in John...
3361From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 42, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 10 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 443–446). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:604– 606. Received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, this letter included a series of newspaper accounts of events at Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris, Malta,...
3362From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 43, 11 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 11 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 447–450). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:610– 611. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, Adams listed twenty-five English counties and nine cities and towns that had, between...
3363From John Adams to B. de Cabarrus Jeune, 13 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, which you did me, the Honour to write to me, the 8th of this month, and I thank you, sir, for So ready an Answer to my Request, and for so clear, So full and So intelligible an Account, of the Several Sorts of Wines, which go, in general under the Denomination of Bourdeaux. It is a Branch of Knowledge, which like many others, is much wanted in America, where I shall...
3364From John Adams to William Lee, 13 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday, your favour of the 9. The Vessell you inquire after, is from Baltimore. What day she Sailed I dont know, she brought, very large Bundles of Newspapers a Year and an half old, and only three modern ones. These are all Baltimore Papers, and the latest of them is 15. Feb. Not a Scratch of a Pen to Dr. Franklin or me. All the News in these Papers, is, they have had an hard...
3365From John Adams to William MacCreery, 13 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I never heard a Word of your Arrival, untill this Day. I sincerely congratulate you upon it, and hope the fine Cargo you have brought will Set you at your Ease. Pray how did you leave all Friends and all Things at Baltimore, and in the rest of America? What is become of my old Friends Johnson, Paca, Chase, and many others? Baltimore flourishes, it seems in trade, which I wish may be increased,...
3366From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 44, 14 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 14 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 451–455). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:612–614. This letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, included reports from Constantinople, Copenhagen, London, and The Hague concerning the...
3367From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 15 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of April 6. I have this day received. That of 28 Ultimo received. That of 20th not. Let me beg of you to send me duplicates, of Pamphlets, as they come out, when you send Letters to another Gentleman. Any Banker in London who will draw upon, Me or Mr. Grand the Banker for the Expence of them, shall be punctually paid, or I will get Mr. Grand to desire some Banker of his Correspondence to...
3368From 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...
3369From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 45, 15 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 15 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 455–461). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:615–618. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included newspaper accounts from Hamburg, Leghorn, Madrid, Paris, and London...
3370From John Adams to Gabriel de Sartine, 16 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the two Letters which your Excellency did me the Honour to write me, on the fifth and on the twelfth of this Month. I do not mean to give your Excellency the Trouble of answering, these Letters of mine, which contain Extracts of Letters from abroad, or simple News. This would be giving your Excellency too much trouble and taking up too much Time. Indeed, I think it will very...
3371From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 46, 17 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Late Letters from Dantzick, imply that Commerce was become very languishing there, for Some time, excepting for Ships timber, which bore a very good Price there, on Account of the English, which they carried away, as well in their own Vessells as those of Dantzick. The new face, which the Affairs of Europe, are about to take, from the Alliance formed between the Powers of the North, for the...
3372From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 47, 18 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 18 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 467–469). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:620–624. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided newspaper accounts regarding a petition by Swedish merchants...
3373From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 48, 18 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
It is my Duty to transmit to Congress, as soon as Prudence will admit, every Thing which deserves Consideration, as having either a direct or an indirect tendency to Peace, or even to Negotiation for that important Object. The inclosed Letter has been transmitted to Paris in such a Channel, that I have Reasons to believe it was particularly intended for my Inspection. It is from a Gentleman,...
3374From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 19 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have been informed, that the State of Maryland, have named Mr. Charmichael, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Williams, Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Jennings, as proper Persons, out of whom they have desired, your Excellency to choose one, in order to draw out of the English Funds a Sum of Money, they have there, for which the Agent is to have two and an half per Cent. Mr. Charmichael, is otherwise employed, Mr....
3375From 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 ,...
3376Enclosure: 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....
3377I. To the President of Congress, No. 49, 19 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
A Pamphlet has been published, in England, under the Title of “a memorial to the Sovereigns of Europe, on the present State of Affairs, between the old and new World.” It is Said to have been written by Governor Pownal, and, after an Acquaintance with his style, for more than twenty Years, I find So many quaint Words, and unintelligible Expressions, intermixed with so much Knowledge of...
3378To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 19 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have been informed, that the State of Maryland, have named Mr Charmichael, Mr Johnson, Mr Williams, Mr Lloyd, and Mr Jennings, as proper Persons, out of whom they have desired, your Excellency to choose one, in order to draw out of the English Funds a Sum of Money, they have there, for which the Agent is to have two...
3379From 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,...
3380From 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...
3381From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 50, 23 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 23 April 1780. LbC ( Adams Papers ). Although a note to the Letterbook copy of Adams’letter of 3 May to the president of Congress (No. 58, calendared, below) indicates that this letter was sent and the Journal of Congress shows it to have been received on 19 Feb. 1781 ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , Washington, 1904–1937; 34...
3382From John Adams to the Comte de Sarsfield, 24 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have both heard and read So exalted a character of the Eloquence and Integrity of Monsieur Malesherbes, that I have a Strong Curiosity to become acquainted, with his Writings. I am told there are Some of his Speeches and remonstrances when he was first president of the court of Aids, in print, and a discourse, pronounced at his Admission to the french Academy. I should esteem it a favour, if...
3383From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 51, 24 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 24 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 495–498). printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:626–628. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams sent intelligence derived from newspaper reports originating at Stockholm,...
3384From John Adams to John Bondfield, 25 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged by your kind Attention, in your Letter of 22d. April. Clinton has then arrived at Georgia, where he is destined to be as well watched and guarded and finally as compleatly ruined as Burgoyne was at Saratoga or Preston at Rhode Island, and that favorite Child of Fortune Gates is to have the Glory of it all. I am quite easy since I know, he commands. There is an Affection...
3385From John Adams to Joshua Johnson, 25 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment, your Favour of 22. of April, inclosing, five American Newspapers. I cannot express in two Strong terms, my Thanks for this instance of your Attention and Kindness, and if upon future Occasions, you will shew me, the same Goodness, you will very much oblige me. You have, many Vessells arrive consigned to you, and your Correspondences in America, are with Persons of such...
3386From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 52, 25 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 25 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 500–503). In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included long newspaper accounts from Dublin of events in Ireland, particularly the progress of the volunteer movement, and from London of the efforts of the British ministry to bring about a resolution of the Irish problem. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 500–503.)
3387From 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...
3388From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 53, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
At last, even the Morning Post, of the eighteenth of April, confesses, that the Memorial from the Empress of Russia to the States General, has dissipated all their golden dreams of an Alliance, with the Czarina. It was announced to us last Week, that a Russian Squadron had left Cronstad, with an Intention to sail to our Assistance, nay some of the public Papers went so far as to announce their...
3389From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 28 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my Arrival in Europe I have had Reason to be very well Satisfied with my Reception, hitherto, in Spain, in France, and especially among the Americans in Europe. I have received Letters, from various Quarters of warm Congratulations and full of Professions, of Respect and offers of service. Such Letters I have had from Mr. Bondfield at Bordeaux, Mr. Williams and Mr. Johnson, and Mr....
3390From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 54, 28 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 28 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 508–510). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:635–639. In Wharton’s printing, the dates for the paragraphs beginning “Hague 23. April” and “Hague 22 April” should be reversed. This long letter, which Congress received...
3391From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Do you think it worth while to work into your next Article, from London, the following Observation of Lord Bolinbroke? “The precise Point, at which the Scales of power turn, like that of the Solstice, in either Tropic, is imperceptible to common Observation; and, in one case, as in the other, Some progress must be made, in the new direction, before the change is perceived. They who are in the...
3392From 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...
3393From John Adams to William Lee, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of the 25th. and am in equal pain with you for Charlestown, especially Since the Arrival of A Vessell at Nantes from Baltimore, which brings a certain Account of Clintons Arrival the latter End of February, at the southward, with forty five Ships, escaped from the Wreck of the Tempest. There is no certain Account of his Landing nor of the precise Place where he...
3394From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 55, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 April 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 3–5). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); marked: “55.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:640–642. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams provided information that had appeared in...
3395From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 56, 29 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 1–2). LbC ( Adams Papers ); marked: “56.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:640. Congress received this letter on 16 October. Relying on newspaper accounts, John Adams reported on the number and...
3396From John Adams to Elkanah Watson Jr., 30 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 10th. of March, I recieved but Yesterday. I recollect that General Warren mentioned to me, his having given You Letters to me, but I cant recollect seeing those Letters. I am obliged to You for writing to me, and if it should be in my power to be of any Service to You, it will give me pleasure to do it, altho’ I have not the Satisfaction to know You personally. I have been...
3397From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 30 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have, this day recieved your favour of the 25th., which gave me the first Intimation I had of your Intentions for Home. I am glad to learn that Captain Snelling delivered the Letters to you. I will endeavour to Send Some more, by Captain Jones or Some other Safe hand: but are you not Suspicious of your Passage? Be Sure to keep with your Convoy: for my own part I hardly see a Possibility of...
3398From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 57, 2 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, In this letter, which Congress received on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included an English translation of a memorial presented by the French ambassador to the States General on 26 April (given as 10 April in Wharton) that announced the repeal of the fifteen percent tariff levied by France on most Dutch goods by various decrees in 1778 and 1779, together with the return of all duties...
3399John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Having just heard of a Small Brig bound directly from Nantes to Boston, I write you, one Line. The day before Yesterday, I had a letter from your Uncle S mith by Way of Amsterdam, 26 February. I should advise you to embrace these Opportunities by Way of Spain and Holland, otherwise I shall very seldom hear from you. There are a full Bushell of Letters from me, and your share is among them, on...
3400From John Adams to Jeremiah Allen, 3 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received yours of 28. Ultimo. Thank you for the Information of the Brig bound to Boston, beg you would send the inclosed by her. Had yesterday a Letter from Mr. Smith by Way of Holland 26 Feb. mentions Trash’s Arrival and Letters from you. Incloses a Boston Gazette of 21. Feb. containing an Account of Captn. Waters in the Thorn, taking three Privateers, after obstinate...