Adams Papers
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To John Adams from the President of Congress, 20 June 1781

From the President of Congress

Philadelphia June 20th: 1781

Sir

You will receive herewith enclosed a letter addressed to his most Christian Majesty; with a Copy of the Same for your information.1

Also a Commission constituting the four gentlemen therein named in addition to yourself our Ministers for negotiating peace. Also another commission and duplicate Authorizing them to accept the Mediation of the Emperor of Germany and Empress of Russia, in one of which you will observe the Emperor is first named, and in the other the Empress. These are to be made use of as circumstances shall render expedient.

I have also enclosed Instructions (in cypher) for your government in addition to those formerly given for negociating peace with Great-Brittain.2

No additional Instructions to your former are yet given relative to a treaty of Commerce with Great-Brittain.3

You will immediately communicate the receipt of these dispatches to Docr. Franklin and Mr. Jay to whom duplicates are also forwarded with Similar directions.

I have the honour to be with perfect Respect your humble servant

Saml. Huntington Presid.

P.S. Since writing the foregoing, for want of another conveyance, I have determind to Send this by the Same Conveyance that carries the Duplicates to Docr. Franklin, have therefore taken out, the letter to the King of France, and Copy mentioned in the foregoing.

S. H.

RC and enclosures (Adams Papers); addressed: “Honble J. Adams Esq”; endorsed: “Prest. Huntington June 20. 1781.”

1. Congress’ letter of 13 June to Louis XVI thanked him for the renewed military and financial support he promised the U.S. (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774– 1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 20:638–639). See also Huntington’s postscript.

2. For the enclosures, see Commissions and Instructions for Mediation and Peace, 15 June, above.

3. For Congress’ 12 July revocation of JA’s commission and instructions to negotiate an Anglo-American commercial treaty, dated 29 Sept. and 16 Oct. 1779 respectively, see the letter of 21 July from the Committee for Foreign Affairs, below.

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from the President of Congress, 20 June 1781
    Authors
    President of Congress
    Huntington, Samuel
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    20 June 1781

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from the President of Congress, 20 June 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-11-02-0280. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 11, January–September 1781, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Richard Alan Ryerson, Anne Decker Cecere, Celeste Walker, Jennifer Shea, and C. James Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003, pp. 379–380.]