101John Adams to the president of Congress, 9 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
On the Eighteenth of February the Baron de Thulemeyer, Envoy Extraordinary to their High Mightinesses from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as he found I had Company, he soon took his Leave, and as I accompanied him to the Head of the Stairs, he told me, he had Something to propose to me from the King and desired to know, when he might call again. I offered to return his...
102John Adams to Charles Spener, 24 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Almanack you were pleased to Send me, and I beg of you to accept of my Thanks for it. I beg your Acceptance also of a Couple of Medals, which the Baron de Thulemeier has been So good as to convey for me to you. These Medals were not Struck by any publick Authority. They are the Invention and Execution of the Medalist Holtzhey of Amsterdam Solely. Another has been Struck by...
103John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 24 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 19: and congratulate you on the Success of the Loan. It gives me great Pleasure to find that American Credit is not quite exhausted, and I flatter myself that every Day will contribute something, towards removing the Prejudices, and Jealousies, and towards confuting the Calumnies, which have hitherto obstructed you and me, in our Endeavours to serve the...
104John Adams to Daniel Crommelin & Sons, 26 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have receiv’d the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me, on the twenty fourth of this month, and upon looking into the Treaty, I suspect you have not a right Copy. It is the 27 th: Article, which relates to the subject of shipping sailors, and not the 28 th as you suppose. And upon reading over attentively the 27 th: Article, I am afraid of doing mischief if I were, to intermeddle, or...
105John Adams to the president of Congress, 27 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose Copies of three Notes which I have receiv’d from the Prussian Minister, the Baron de Thulemeier, by which Congress will see, that the King has agreed to take our Treaty with Sweeden for a Model, reserving to each Party the right of suggesting such alterations as shall appear to him convenient— My Request to Congress is, that they would be pleased to send...
106John Adams to Baron von Thulemeier, 27 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me, the twenty fifth of this Month, and the Note included in it, both of which I have copied and transmitted to Congress, for their Instructions. As the Note relates to a private Affair, perhaps the Congress may refer it to the Delegates of Georgia, but I should think it most prudent for the Interested, to send a Procuration to some...
107John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 27 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have the Honour to inclose a Letter from Mr Edward Browne of Ostend and another from Mr De Berdt.— Mr Browne was introduced to me in London by Mr De Berdt, and appears to be an accomplished Person well acquainted with the Language Laws and Commerce of the Place where he is.— If your Excellencys judge proper, I should be obliged to you if you would...
108To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 27 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me the 15th with the Letters Packet and Copy inclosed. I think with you that the Delay of the Ratification cannot occasion any Difficulty, but it was very proper to Send a Copy of the Secretarys Letter to Mr Laurens, who may negotiate an Agreement to extend the Term or at least may explain the...
109John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 28 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter of the 8 th , untill the day before yesterday.— That I have not Seen with Pleasure, Approbation or Indifference, the Introduction into America, of So great an Innovation, as an order of Chivalry, or any Thing like One, or that has a Tendency to one, is very true. that I have been violent against it, is not So. I am not a violent Man. I have disapproved of this...
110John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...
111John Adams to John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I blush to acknowledge, that I received your favour of the 6. Feb. in its Season and in good Condition, and that I have not answered it. By leading a quiet Life, and by great Care and regular Exercise I have happily recovered a little Health and if you think it necessary I might now venture on a Journey to Paris. But I should be glad to wait here Six Weeks longer, that I may increase my stock...
112John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the...
113John Adams to Richard Cranch, 3 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter of 20 Jany. I received Yesterday. Mr. Tylers Letter inclosed is here answered. Your Opinion has great Weight with me. I hope to See Mrs. and Miss Adams before this reaches you. I have as yet received no Letters from them by this Vessell. They may be on the Way. By a quiet Life, riding on Horse back and constant Care I am somewhat better, but I shall never be a Strong Man. Yet...
114John Adams to Royall Tyler, 3 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I Yesterday received your Letter of the thirteenth of January. The Subject of it has for some time been to me an Occasion of Solicitude, chiefly on Account of the Uncertainty in which I have been too long left respecting every thing which concerns me and my Family. Your Connections and Education are too respectable for me to entertain any objections to them: Your Profession is that for which I...
115John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 14. Jan. was brought me Yesterday. I have been obliged to come here, in order to raise Money, for the Payment of Bills to a large amount, which M r Morris drew, at a venture, and have at length Succeeded, but it is So lately, that I have not yet joined my Colleagues in Paris, and I am undetermined, whether I Shall go there before the Commission you mention arrives, to treat with...
116John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
On the 5 th. I rec d , your Favour, which came by Coll Herman, and another long Letter with it. You have obliged me very much. in the Six years that I have passed in Europe, I never received So much Information, concerning the Spirit of the times. The Confederation appears to me, to be of great Importance, and that it ought to be Strengthened. This however cannot be done, but by preserving...
117John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
on the 5 th , I received your Favour which came by Coll Herman, and another long Letter with it.— You have obliged me very much. in the Six Years that I have passed in Europe, I never received So much Information, concerning the Spirit of the Times in Congress. I very early Saw the Necessity of forming Connections with European Powers, and the Facility of doing it, but I saw equally early the...
118I. Draft Proposed Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, with a Contemporary Translation, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
[ 9 April 1784 ] [ 9 April 1784 ] Traité D’Amitie et de Commerce, conclu entre Sa Majeste le Roi de Prusse et les Etats Unis de L’Amerique Septentrionale. Treaty of Amity & commerce concluded between His Majesty the King of Prussia & the U d States of North America. Le Roi de Prusse et les treize Etats Unis de L’Amerique Septentrionale, desirant d’etablir d’une maniere Stable et permanente les...
119John Adams to the president of Congress, 10 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to inclose to Congress a Copy of a Letter from the Baron De Thulemeier, and a Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me, by the order of the King of Prussia. I Should hope it might be examined in Congress or by a Committee and that Instructions may be sent, concerning any Changes to be made in the Articles, together with a Commission to treat and conclude to Such...
120John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 10 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is Copy of a Letter from the Baron de Thulemeier and Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me by order of the King of Prussia: I should be glad if your Excellencies would examine it, and write me your Objections, and proposals of alterations, which I shall immediately communicate to his Majesty through his Minister. I presume too that your Excellencies will transmit it to...
121John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 10 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society Inclosed is Copy of a Letter from the Baron de Thulemeier and Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me by order of the King of Prussia: I should be glad if your Excellencies would examine it, and write me your objections, and proposals of alterations, which I shall immediately communicate to his Majesty through his Minister. I presume too...
122John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received the Letter which D r Franklin did me the Honour to write me on the 16 th. with the Copy of the Treaty with Sweeden. I have before inclosed the King of Prussias Project of a Treaty, prepared as I am assured by his Minister with his own Hand in his private Cabinet. I believe it has been reserved to the present Age when the subtilties of Aristotle and the schools are...
123John Adams to John Hurd, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me, the Honour to write me, the 20. Nov. last, and immediately wrote to my Colleagues upon the Subject and inclosed to them the Copy of the Petition. There is not room for a question, and the Decrees at New York, are against common Sense, and must undoubtedly be reversed upon Appeal. There is not even the Colour of an Ambiguity, in the Armistice, that I can...
124John Adams to John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am extreamly Sorry, to read in your Letter of the 8 th. that you think of embarking for America. Let me beg of you to reconsider that Project. if you persist in it, I shall repent of having written for my Family and wish I had it in my Power to go there too. The Committee to whom, the Dispatches by Thaxter were referred have reported that a Commission be sent to the 3 named in the Resolution...
125John Adams to James Sullivan, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged by your Favour of the 21. of December. it is a great Pleasure to learn that the Treaty of Peace gives Satisfaction. The Preservation of the Fishery, is the more prescious, as it appeared for Several Years together to be in great danger. In danger I mean of being given up, by the United States themselves, for the Sake of Peace.— it is not in our Power to do any Thing...
126John Adams to Franklin and John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have just now received the Letter which Dr Franklin did me the Honour to write me on the 16th. with the Copy of the Treaty with Sweeden. I have before inclosed the King of Prusisas Project of a Treaty, prepared as I am assured by his Minister with his own Hand in his private Cabinet. I believe it has been reserved to...
127To John Jay from John Adams, 20 April 1784 (Jay Papers)
I am extreamly Sorry, to read in your Letter of the 8 th . that you think of embarking for America. Let me beg of you to reconsider that Project, if you persist in it, I shall repent of having written for my Family and wish I had it in my Power to go there too. The Committee to whom, the Dispatches by Thaxter were referred have reported that a Commission be sent to the 3 named in the...
128John Adams to William Carmichael, 22 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letters you did me the Honour to write me from Madrid the 15. Jan. and the Feb.— I am very glad that M r Barry and M r Fitch are pleased with your Civilities to them: But I never knew any Thing of M r Fitch’s Note, nor of the Watch, nor did I ever introduce either of them to you, with a Thought of their making you presents. and I agree with you that presents upon Such...
129John Adams to the president of Congress, 22 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received Sometime Since a Letter from an American Gentleman now in London, a Candidate for Orders, desiring to know, if American Candidates might have Orders from Prostestant Bishops on the Continent, and complaining that he had been refused by the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canturbury, unless he would take the Oaths of Allegiance &c. Meeting Soon afterwards, the Danish Minister...
130John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 23 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment the Pleasure of your Letter of the 18. The Bills you mention, which were only accepted by me, and were paid by Fizeau & Co in Behalf of D r Franklin, or M r Ferdinand Grand, are the proper Vouchers of those Gentlemen, and will Speak for themselves. They are the Vouchers which M r Grand must produce to you, in Support of his Account. I have no right to demand them, and...
131John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 26 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have two favours to ask of you. 1. That you would give orders to M r: Puller, in Broad street Buildings London to Supply a certain Lady with as much Cash, as she may have occasion for on my Account upon her Receipts. This Lady is not any one, that I have seen this four or five years: but it is my Wife, of whose Arrival, in the Texel or in London, I have Reason to expect within a month or...
132John Adams to Samuel Adams, 1 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your Letter of November 4 & Dec r 4, with great Pleasure. I had heard of your Illness and was anxious to hear of your recovery. long Voyages and Journeys, great Agitation of Mind, and the Air of putrid Cities, have given me So many Severe Fits of Sickness, that I feel myself more affected At hearing of Such Misfertunes befalling my Friends. I have recovered however, a...
133John Adams to Jonathan Jackson, 1 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
This day I receiv’d, your kind Letter of the 27 of April, with the two Letters. I left England in January, to get some money in Holland to discharge Bills to a very large Amount, drawn at a Venture the like of which will not, I hope be repeated.— I have been here Since that time and shall go probably in three or four Weeks for Paris, where it would give me great Pleasure to see you. I can give...
134John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 2 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d , Yesterday, your obliging Letter of the fifth of December, having before received and answered as I Suppose, my Letter Book of that time being at Paris, those of July and August.— These Letters have given me great Pleasure as they let me into the Spirit of the Times and of Affairs in a Country, whose Happiness interests me very much. It would be improper for me perhaps, if I were...
135John Adams to Samuel Adams, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your advice “to reconcile myself to the Thought that Justice may not be done me, till I am dead” is friendly. I am not however apprehensive of Injustice living or dead. I am not ambitious of a Reputation for great Talents or Splendid Actions, with the present Age or with Posterity. The great Anxiety of my Life, has been to do my Duty and avoid just Reproach. and I know very well, that my Life...
136John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you the 23 Ult. and expect your Answer by the next Post. To Day I have yours of 26 Ult and have executed your orders, by writing to Amsterdam &c You require me to produce to you the Bills of Exchange accepted by me, and paid by Fizeau & C o But in this with humble Submission you are wrong. D r Franklin obtained Money of the Court of Versailles M r Grand of Paris, received it, and paid...
137John Adams to Fizeaux, Grand & Co., 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received repeated Letters from Mr. Barclay, who is settling American Accounts, requiring me to produce the Bills of Exchange which were accepted by me, and paid by you in Amsterdam in behalf of Mr Grand at Paris, or of D r. Franklin If you are willing to deliver them to me, I will come to Amsterdam to receive them, and will take them with me to Paris. But I will not dissemble to you,...
138John Adams to Baron von Thulemeier, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
M r Adams presents his Compliments to the Baron De Thulemeier: He has received from Paris, the Project of a Treaty, returned with the Remarks of his Colleagues Mess rs Franklin and Jay. He desires to know the Hour tomorrow, when it will be most agreable to the Baron, that he Should wait upon him, to make the Communication. LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 107. From Benjamin Franklin and John...
139John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 8 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am to take with me to Paris, a Quantity of Bills of Exchange, formerly accepted by me, in behalf of the United States and paid by Mess rs: Fizeaux, Grand & Co. it is necessary that a List of these Bills should be made, before I sign a Receipt for them; and therefore, these are to request you, to speak to M r: Fizeau upon the subject, and assist in making the List, or at least in examining...
140John Adams to Rolland & Co., 9 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d the Letter you did me the Honour to write me yesterday. I am surprised that M r: Barclay, should desire you to transmit to me, any Information respecting the Bills, as I have nothing to do with them, and I have no Curiosity about them. I am still more surprised at your saying that I stand accountable for a Bill of 824.ƒ— I presume to say, M r: Thaxter had too much Sense and...
141John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment rec’d your Letter of the 6 th: and have now only to say, that if you have not absolutely engaged the House I desire you would not engage it at all, and if you have engaged it, to get released from that Engagement upon the easiest Terms you can— This is an Unlucky Change of Mind But I shall not change again. With great Esteem, your &c. LbC in JQA ’s hand ( Adams Papers );...
142John Adams to John Jay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. But The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
143To John Jay from John Adams, 11 May 1784 (Jay Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
144John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 12 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to have given you, So much Trouble about the House, to no purpose: But I am weary of these perpetual Incertitudes in which We are kept, and I must put an End to them as far as they regard me, by planning my Affairs for myself, or they will soon put an End to me. I conclude therefore to remain here without farther Wandering, and not to go to Paris at all, at least not untill I know...
145John Adams to Samuel Adams, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters by M r Jackson and M r Appleton. The former I answered Some days ago.— My Son who is going to London in hopes of meeting his Mother and Sister will convey this from thence.— I shall probably be fixed here, out of the reach of that Envy, which you prophecy whose Power I never felt or dreaded untill I Saw Europe.— There are little Fermentations in the Courts of...
146John Adams to the president of Congress, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since my last Arrival in Holland, I have not transmitted to Congress, the Details of the Politicks of this Court and Nation, nor of those neighbouring Courts which are exciting disputes with it. M r Dumas has been in the Habit and Train of that History and I have not thought fit to interrupt him: But if I Should reside here regularly, the whole Business of the Mission will of Course go through...
147John Adams to the president of Congress, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Measures taken by the Neighbouring Powers are likely to produce an intimate Friendship and Connection between this Republick and France. England, has mistaken her Policy So much as to delay the Signature of the definitive Treaty, and to keep up a Coldness and Distance, which instead of exciting the Populace, in favour of England as She expected has only accellerated the Union with France,...
148John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter with the Copy inclosed, which has affected me too tenderly, to write any other Answer at present than this, that I have ever vindicated your Character as far as lay in my Power, from the Suspicion of having written that anonimous Libel the only case that I have ever heard of, in which it was endangered: and that I Shall ever continue to vindicate it, because I...
149John Adams to the president of Congress, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
As I had the Honour to observe in a former Letter there is a Fermentation in the Courts of the two Empires and those of Bourbon, which appears in Several Particulars which may be explained hereafter. A Question of Etiquette, which amounts to no more, than which of two Persons Shall enter or leave a Room the first may Set all Europe in a Flame. The Prince de Gallitzin, the Russian Ambassador,...
150John Adams to Richard Cranch, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here in anxious Expectation of the Arrival of my Family, which I hope are coming in Calahan. When I Shall have the Happiness to see you I know not, but I think it probable I Shall remain here untill I return to America, as We learn nothing of any determinations of Congress. M rs & Miss Adams will not be Sorry to have made a Trip to the Hague provided they are not obliged to Stay long, and...