1The Commissioners to Sartine, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We embrace this first opportunity to answer the Letter, which your Excellency did Us the Honour to address to Us, the Sixteenth of this Month. We have examined, with Some Attention the Alterations which your Excellency has made in the second and fourteenth Articles of the projected Regulations and are of opinion, that they will remove the Difficulties We apprehendd from the first Draught. We...
2II. The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 9 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Some late Proceedings of the Enemy, have induced us, to submit a few Observations to your Excellency’s superior Lights and Judgement. His Britannic Majesty’s Commissioners, in their Manifesto of the 3d of October, have denounced “a Change in the whole Nature and future Conduct of the War,” they have declared “that the Policy as well as Benevolence of Great Britain, have thus far checked the...
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...
4The Commissioners to Caron de Beaumarchais, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
In a Letter We have received from the Committee of Commerce of the 16 May We are informed that they had “ ordered Several Vessells lately to South Carolina for Rice, and directed the Continental Agents in that state to consign them to y our Address. ” In the Letter from Mr. Livingston to Us dated Charlestown So. Carolina 10. June 1778 he has Subjected the Cargo of the Theresa Thérèse to our...
5The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 25 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 25 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:116 . Replying to Bondfield’s letters of 12 (above) and 17 May (not found), the Commissioners’ letter, drafted by Adams, commended Bondfield for his efforts to keep them informed and asked him to send an account of his disbursements and...
6The Commissioners to the Commerce Committee, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Letter of 28 May by Captain Reed. We are rejoiced at the Arrival, even of 49 Hogsheads of Tobacco, and cannot but wish for more. As the Commissioners here, have made a Contract, with the Farmers General, to furnish them with 5000 Hdds, which they have not been able to fulfill, altho they have received a Million Livres upon that Contract, We have ventured to order...
7The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 26 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had last Evening the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the twenty fourth of this Month, in Answer to ours of the twenty Eighth ultimo relative to the Liberty for Americains to pass through this Kingdom with their Effects, in their Way home, Duty free, inclosing Copy of a Letter from Mr. Necker to your Excellency, upon the same subject. We shall take the Liberty to pursue the Rules...
8The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 10 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:134–135 . The Commissioners, responding to Schweighauser’s letter of 4 June (not found), commended him for refusing to pay 1,200 livres to William Morris, possibly an escaped prisoner ( Deane Papers Papers of Silas Deane, 1774–1790, in...
9The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 5 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the 5th. of this Month, but as the Memoire, of the French surgion, which your Excellency proposed to transmit to Us, was, by some Accident omitted to be inclosed in your Letter, We are ignorant of his Case, and consequently unable to inform your Excellency whether it is in our Power to afford him any Relief. If your Excellency, will have the...
10The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 22 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter from Brest of August the 15th is before us, and We are very sorry to hear that Reports so groundless are circulated to your Disadvantage. However We trust they will do you no lasting Injury, as Insinuations so grossly false seldom hurt any but the Maker and Propagator. We write this Letter that you may have it in your Powers to assure any Body you think proper, that, so far from...
11The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
By some of the last Ships from America, we received from Congress certain Powers and Instructions, which we think it necessary to lay before your Excellency, and which we have the Honor to do in this Letter. We have the Honor to enclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Contract made between the Committee and Mr. Francy, a Copy of Mr. Francy’s Powers, and a Copy of the list of Articles to be...
12The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 29 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have been favoured with a Letter signed by many Gentlemen of Nantes and dated the fifteenth of this Month, informing us that most of their Vessels were ready to sail to America, and that others were expected to be ready immediately, so that the Convoy need not wait at all, but might be ordered as soon as Convenience will permit. These Gentlemen are very desirous of a Convoy through the...
13The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 25 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 25 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:115 . Drafted by Adams, this letter, through enclosed extracts from letters of 25 May to John Paul Jones (calendared above) and Jonathan Williams (calendared below), informed Schweighauser that he was the authorized American agent at...
We have received your Favour of the Eighth of June, by the Hand of Captain Barns of the schooner Dispatch, together with the Packetts, forwarded by the Hon. Council of the Mass. Bay. We, have according to your desire given orders to Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes to furnish the Captain, with such supplies as may be necessary to provide for his Return, and to defrey his Expences there. We have...
15The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 27 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your Excellency did Us the Honour to write to Us on the 21 instant, relative to the Isabella, retaken from a Guernsey Privateer, by Captain McNeil in the General Mifflin. As it is extreamly probable that the Compte D’Estaing has retaken several American Vessells from the English, We shall no dout Soon have Intelligence, what has been done in those Cases. We...
16The Commissioners to the President of the Congress, 7 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to inclose a Copy of the Declaration concerning the 11 and 12 Articles of the Treaty of Commerce, which we have received from his Excellency the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, in exchange for a similar one signed by us, in Pursuance of the Instructions of Congress. We have also the Honour to inclose Copies of a Correspondence with his Excellency Mr. de Sartine, the...
17The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 22 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We received yours of the 18 Instant. Mr. Bersoll has already been informed that he must send his Accounts and Vouchers to us before we can order him to be paid therefore you will inform him that ’ till he has furnished us with these for our Examination he must not expect payment and we hope that for his own sake as well as for ours he will not proceed to the indecent Violence you apprehend. We...
18The Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 13 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 13 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:160 . The Commissioners advised Tucker that to improve the sailing qualities of the Boston , about which adverse reports had been received, he might, in order to replace his ballast, apply to J. D. Schweighauser for a quantity of lead...
19The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:137–138 . Jones was ordered to prepare for a voyage to America on which he would harass the British as much as possible, specific mention being made of the vulnerability of the Newfoundland fishery and the transports passing back and...
20The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 12 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Last Night, We had a Letter from Nantes a Copy of which we have the honour to inclose to your Excellency. The Subject of it appears to us, of great Importance to the United States, as well as to the Individuals, Frenchmen and Americans, who are interested in the Vessels destined to America, to a considerable Number of Gentlemen and others who are going Passengers in this Fleet, and ultimately...
21The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:164 . The Commissioners told Sartine that the congress and the authorities in Massachusetts would be notified of his request, but that the presence of British warships on the Newfoundland and Halifax stations might make assistance to...
22The Commissioners to Sartine, 14 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:99–100 . The Commissioners requested that they be given permission to confine on French soil the prisoners taken by American vessels in order to permit their exchange for American prisoners held in England, a question of particular urgency because of John...
23The Commissioners to John Ross, 30 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letter of the twenty second of September, and take this Opportunity to say, that We have no Authority, either to give you Orders or Advice, any further than respects the large Sum of Money, which the Commissioners put into your Hands sometime ago. Of the Expenditure of this Money, We have demanded an Account, which you have refused to give Us. With your private Concerns...
24The Commissioners to Abraham Whipple, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:162–163 . The Commissioners informed Whipple of Thomas Simpson’s appointment to command the Ranger as part of a force under Whipple’s overall direction. He was ordered to make every effort to take or destroy the Jersey and Guernsey...
25The Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We herewith communicate to your Excellency a Resolution of Congress relative to the Treaties, which we request may be laid before the King. Thereby his Majesty will perceive the unfeigned Sentiments of that Body, as well as those of the whole American People, whose Hearts the King has gained by his great Benevolence towards them, manifested in these Treaties, which has made so deep an...
26The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 7 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
To His Excellency Count de Vergennes, Minister & Secretary of State for foreign Affairs: At the time the American War began there was very little real Money in that Country, the same having been constantly drawn out as fast as it came in to pay for British Manufactures and Importations of foreign Goods by the British Merchants, with the Duties and other Expences occasioned by their Monopoly....
27The Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had this Morning the Honour of receiving your Excellency’s Letter of the 13. Instant relative to the Boston Frigate. We beg leave to assure your Excellency that the Frigate called the Boston, now at Bourdeaux, is a Ship of War belonging to the 13 United States of North America, built and maintained at their Expence, by the Honourable Congress. We therefore, humbly presume that his Majestys...
28The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 17 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have this Morning the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the Sixteenth, relative to the french Brigantine the Isabella retaken, by the American Privateer the General Mifflin, from a Guernsey Privateer, after having been Eighty Hours in his Hands. We have the Honour to agree perfectly, with your Excellency, in your Sentiments of the Justice and Policy of the Principle of Reciprocity...
29The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 4 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We are honoured with yours of without a date. We wrote you on the Second of this Month to which We refer. We have written to Mr. Gilbank several Times that We could furnish him with no more Money, and that We should protest his Bills. If he will not believe Us, When the Bills arrive if they ever do, which We hope they will not, our Protest Refusal and the consequent Protest Will Convince him....
30The Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 13 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We duely received your Letter, dated at Bourdeaux the 1st. Instant, and congratulate you, on your Safe Arrival, as well as on your good Fortune in taking, the Ship Martha, which We wish Safe to Port. We approve of your Zeal and Industry in taking upon you to get the Frigate, as far in Readiness as possible, for the Sea, during the Absence of Captain Palmes. As the Number of your Men, has been...
31The Commissioners to Bersolle, 3 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 1778 May 3. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:88 . Bersolle, a merchant at Brest, was informed that his bill drawn on the Commissioners’ banker had not been paid immediately because he had drawn it without permission and had failed to submit his accounts, the implication being that...
32The Commissioners to Sartine, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 3 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:125–126 . Protesting duties charged on goods purchased for the Boston at Bordeaux, listed in an accompanying account, on the grounds that as a ship of war it was not liable for them, the Commissioners desired Sartine to take corrective...
33The Commissioners to Daniel McNeill, 27 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We received yours of the 12 Instant relative to your Prisoners. Just at the same Time, was published here the Kings Reglement, on the subject of Prizes and Prisoners, of which We inclose you a Copy. We imagined, this must have arrived with you at L’Orient, so as to make any particular order from the minister unnecessary, for We Supposed from the 7th and 15 Article, that General orders had been...
34The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 15 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had this Moment the Pleasure of your Letter of the 10. Instant. You will please to furnish Captain Tucker, all such necessary Provisions for his future Voyage, as he shall require, recommending to him at the same Time, as much Frugality as may consist with the public service. We approve of your Proposal of exchanging the Ballast of Pigg Iron for Anchors as these are much wanted in America....
35The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 9 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
It is now near six Months that Capt. McNeil, of the Mifflin Privateer from America, has been embarras’d with a Process on Account of a French Ship, which he retook from the English after she had been three Days in their Possession. The Laws of France are clear with regard to the Validity of this Prize, and our Captains have Orders, contained in their Commissions, to submit their Prizes to the...
36The Commissioners to John Ross, 3 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 3 May 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:89–90 . Composed in two drafts, one dated 22, the other perhaps as early as 23 April ( DLC : Franklin Papers), with no indication of why the letter was apparently not sent until 3 May, the date that appears on the Letterbook copy (...
37The Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 22 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letters relative to the Disputes between two of your Officers and some of your Men belonging to this Nation, and we are of Opinion that if the Men are inlisted upon the Ships Books, to go to Boston, they ought to return to the Ship, and be received by you, and are entitled to their Wages and prize Money. But if they are not inlisted in writing to go to Boston, but only...
38The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 7 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour to inclose to your Excellency two Memorials concerning a French Vessell retaken from an English Privateer by An American Privateer the Hampden commanded by Captain Pickering. As there is nothing in either of the Treaties between his Majesty and the united States, respecting such Rescues and Recaptures the Laws of each State must govern the Cases of the Vessells carried into...
39The Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Co., 31 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Nous avons profité de l’Occasion de Mr. Whitall pour vous faire parvenir un Livre relie en Burane Basane con tenant deux cent cinq promesses de mille Florins chaque ce qui forme, un Capital de deux cent cinq mille Florins Argent Courant d’Hollande payable le premier Janvier mil sept cent quatre vingt huit a votre Domicile, garnies de dix Coupons de cinquante Florins d’Interet pour Année le...
40The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 4 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 4 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:127 . Replying to letters (not found) from Bondfield of 26 and 30 May, the first enclosing accounts for the purchase of supplies for the Boston , and the second reporting on the conspiracy against the Boston and enclosing an affidavit...
41The Commissioners to E. F. van Berckel, 29 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Upon maturely considering the Letter and declaration which we have had the honor of receiving from you, we are of opinion that there are some propositions relative to that proposed treaty business which can only be properly discuss’d in a personal interview. We therefore wish that you, or a person authorizd by you, woud meet one of us at Aix la Chapelle, or any other place which you may judge...
42The Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letters of July the 15th, and 18th. James Niggins and John Selby are wholly unknown to Us, but as their Account of themselves to your Excellency is probable enough; and if nothing appears to invalidate their Relation, We should be obliged to your Excellency if you will grant their Request. We are very Sorry for the Dispute between two Officers of the...
43The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 6 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 6 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:129 . The Commissioners, in reply to Schweighauser’s letter of 1 June (not found), directed him to provide, frugally, whatever repairs and supplies were needed by the Providence , newly arrived at Paimboeuf near Nantes, and promised to...
44The Commissioners to John [William?] Hodge, 19 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We find by our Bankers Account that you have received upwards of one hundred Thousand Livres of the public Money, for which there is no account from you among the Papers left by Mr Deane. Captain Cunningham of the Revenge writes Us, that you have claimed that Vessell as the Property of Mr Ross and you, and under your Direction. It appears too, as well by a Letter from the Merchant at Corogne...
45The Commissioners to Domenico Caracciolo, 9 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We are this Moment honoured with your Excellencys Letter of the Eighth of this Month, and We thank your Excellency for the Information, that his Majesty the King of the two Sicilies, hath ordered the Ports of his Dominions to be open to the Flagg of the United States of America. We should be glad to have a Copy of his Majesty’s Edict for that purpose, in order to communicate it to the...
46The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 25 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your Letter of the seventeenth Instant, We desire you would ship to America, all the Goods belonging to the United States, of every sort. And consequently to write for no more Workmen, but dismiss, immediately, all that remain if any. We can give you no Directions about the Articles “entreposed” for the Coast of Guinea: because We understand nothing about the Matter. We neither...
47The 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...
48The Commissioners to William Lee, 22 – 26 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have considered, with some Attention the Papers which you have laid before Us, containing a Project of a Treaty to be made between the Republic of the United Provinces, and that of the United States of America. As Congress have entrusted to Us the Authority of treating with all the States of Europe, excepting Such as have particular Commissioners designated by Congress to treat with them,...
49The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 4 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have at length obtained a sight of Mr. Bersoles Accounts, and take this opportunity to communicate to you, our Observations upon them. As by the Resolutions of Congress, the whole of all Vessells of War, taken by our Frigates belong to the officers and Men: nay farther as they have even an Additional Encouragement of a Bounty upon every Man and every Gun, that is on board such Prizes: it...
50The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 10 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:135 . The Commissioners requested a list of Jones’ prisoners for a possible exchange and noted the arrival of Jones’ account of his differences with the Ranger’s crew, about which he would soon receive their opinion. The request for a...