With great pleasure to ourselves we discharge our duty by inclosing to you your Commission for representing these United States at the Court of France. We are by no means willing to indulge a thought of your declining this important service, and therefore we send duplicates of the Commission and the late Resolves, in order that you may take one sett with you, and send the other, by another...
2The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 14 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Our Affairs have now a universally good appearance. Every thing at home and abroad seems verging towards a happy and permanent period. We are preparing for either War or Peace; for altho we are fully perswaded that our Enemies are wearied beaten and disappoint in despair, yet we shall not presume too much on that belief, and the rather, as it is our fixt determination to admit no terms of...
I shall endeavor to write largely to you, en Ami, but I will not risque the Sailing of the Vessel for that Purpose, at this moment. It is reported Mr. Searle is taken; our Affairs in Holland must in such Case be very bad as you will not have received any Powers for acting instead of Mr. Laurens who is too probably taken and carried to England from New foundland. And I also know of other...
Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Committee on the Letter of June 26th. from the Honble. John Adams, whereupon Ordered That the said Letter be referred to the Committee of foreign Affairs; and that they be instructed to inform Mr. Adams of the Satisfaction which Congress receives from his industrious Attention to the Interest and Honor of these United States abroad especially...
I do not find by President Huntington’s Letter Book that he has forwarded the within Resolve of July 12th. respecting your Powers of Sept. 29th. 1779 therefore I take the Opportunity of two Vessels which are to sail in a few Hours, to communicate it doubly. The whole of the Proceedings here in regard to your two Commissions, are I think, Ill judged but I persuade myself no dishonour was for...
While we officially communicate to you the inclosed Resolve the Foundation of which you cannot remain a Stranger to, we must intreat you to be assiduous in sending, to those Commissioners who have left France and gone to the Courts for which they were respectively appointed, all the American Intelligence which you have greater Opportunity than they to receive from hence, particularly to Mr....
This, with my affectionate wishes for your prosperity, may serve to acquaint you that Congress has this day resolved “That William Bingham Esqr. agent of the United States of America, now resident in Martinico, be authorized to draw bills of exchange at double usance on the Commissioners of the United States at Paris for any sums not exceeding in the whole one hundred thousand livres tournois,...
In Addition to other Papers respecting your Ministration I now forward an Act of Congress of this day. You know that it has been much if not intirely the Practice of the Comtee. of foreign Affairs to let the Resolves which they transmit speak for themselves. In the present Case however there is no danger of a too warm Expression of the Satisfaction of Congress even if, in performing singly the...
9Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 21 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
The British Commissioners have arrived and transmitted their powers and propositions to Congress, which have received the answer you will see in the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 20th. instant. On the 18th. of this month Gen. Clinton with the British army (now under his command) abandoned Philadelphia, and the City is in possession of our Troops. The enemy crossed into Jersey, but whether with...
10To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter of the 9th. I mentioned the Receipt of yours to the President of June 26. I inclose a Resolve passed in Consequence of the Report of a Committee: Lovell, Houston and a judicious amiable Col. Motte of Sth. Carolina. On the morning of the date of the Resolve a Duplicate of that Letter had been received covering two Papers more than had been inclosed in the Original; one of which was...
11To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you the decent Fashion in which we it was yesterday opinioned to let the World know Mr. Lee has a Successor. Pray strive by Mr. Issac Smith’s Knowledge of the Sailing of Vessels to let Arthur get the paper before his Foes. The 3 Ministers are to have per An: £2500 sterling. Their Secretaries £1000 in full of Services and Expences. To commence at Outset and finish in 3 months after...
12To John Adams from James Lovell, 20 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
The receipt of your letters of Decr. 24th variously directed gave equal and uniform satisfaction here yesterday. There was an error in the date of the Commission but it is judged to be of no importance. I send all the dispatches to you open as before that you may be acquainted with the contents, in case you should forward them before you sail yourself. I will endeavour to send your Chest by...
13To John Adams from James Lovell, 19 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I begin to be very impatient at not hearing from you; and this not barely from the Number of days elapsed since my Information of Sepr. 28 &c. &c. but from the Opinion dropped by Mr. Lowell that we should not be able to obtain your Consent again to trust us here. It is the Desire of many that you should execute an intermediate Negociation with Holland, and you are named but others think it...
14To John Adams from James Lovell, 2 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor of Sepr. 20th. reached me at Christmas. I inclose you a Resolve but am not able to give you a Copy of what I officially wrote to cover it by Col. Palfrey and by Way of Boston. You will oblige me by returning a Copy of that Letter which ought to appear in the Books of the Committee for foreign Affairs, those Books being soon I hope to be placed in some regularly established Office....
15To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
By a Letter from one of the most lovely of Women in your Quarter of the Continent, I find you are engaged about a governmental Constitution for Massachusetts Bay. And by another Letter from a Friend of a different Sex I find that, after a free and full Discussion of Principles you have determined to constitute a free Republick. From the unanimous Result of your past Deliberations I am led to...
16To John Adams from James Lovell : Confidential, 27 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Not knowing, my dear Sir, how certain Things now in agitation may this day be terminated here, I chuse to state, at this time, some Proceedings two days old, that I may not be thought to give them a Gloss in the Stile of an After-Prophet turned Historian or Painter. For a Ground Work I refer you to the Report of the Committee of 13 with its consequent Yeas and Nays, which is certainly now in...
17Enclosure: James Lovell to John Adams, 13 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
I shall not look through my Almanac to see whether I have written to you 22 or 24 Letters, I shall go upon the easier task of acknowledging all I have had from you—Decr. 6 1778 received Feb. 16 1779 answered 17th. and Sepr. 26. 1778 received Mar 4 1779 answered Apr. 28th. 3 months ago Mr. Gerard communicated to us in a private audience that Spain was mediating and that we ought to take speedy...
18To John Adams from James Lovell, 6 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I hope the Papers which you will receive by this opportunity will give you personal Satisfaction as well as facilitate the Purposes of your Commissions. I have already sent several Copies of the Diary of Congress of Decr. 12th. 1780 as follows. “Congress took into Consideration the Report of the Committee to whom was referred the Letter of June 26 from the honorable John Adams, whereupon...
19To John Adams from James Lovell, 7 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your many Letters to Congress up to June 2d. have been read with Pleasure and I have received two from you—March 16. 29 received July 20th. Mr. Lee is not yet in Philada. perhaps he may have another for me. You will not learn any agreable Things respecting your native Country. However, the defeat of Genl. Gates on the 16. of Augst. was not so bad as we at first had reason to think. Perhaps...
20To John Adams from James Lovell, 28 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Jay having resigned the Chair on account of other public Engagements, the Honble. Mr. Huntingdon was Elected President of Congress. Tomorrow, will be chosen Secretaries for France Spain and the Negociator {nominated Peter Scull { Mr. Carmichael { Jno. Trumbull by by by Mr. Atlee Mr. Hewes Mr. Laurens Col. John Lawrence Mr. Searle Jona. Trumbull by
21To John Adams from James Lovell, 8 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Herewith goes a Letter which I this day received from Mrs. Adams with a Request that I would superscribe it and deliver it to the Care of Colonel Palfrey, or of some other, he being gone. The Discontent in the Pensylvania Line of the Army can give the Enemy no solid Satisfaction; for, an evident Proof that it does not rise from Disaffection to our Cause has been given by a Discovery and...
22To John Adams from James Lovell, 20 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favors of Decr. 19, Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 the 1st. on the 16th, the two latter yesterday by Mr. Partridge. I ought also to profess myself obliged by your long Letter this day read in Congress dated at Braintree. I am quite pleased with finding I had formed a just Opinion of the several Character mentioned in these your Letters to me; And should have...
23To John Adams from James Lovell, May 1778 (Adams Papers)
In aid to your scrutiny after the real robber of the Commissioners Dispatches, I send what I think a good Confirmation of Folgiers honesty. By comparing the Governor’s letter with Folgier’s Examination you will find the Governor led into a mistake about the number of Seals broken, by Folgiers forgetting that the outside Cover of the whole had anything more than “Dispatches” wrote on it. He...
24To John Adams from James Lovell, 31 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received yours of May 14 from L’Orient and Aug. 13th. from Braintree with several valuable Papers. I hope to be able to write shortly to you on those Topics which are the Subject of your Correspondence with de Vergennes. At present, as I have been for several days past, I am engaged in a severe wrestling Match with a Chap who has laid many on their Backs here lately. He is known in...
25To John Adams from James Lovell, 24 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I was not a little surprized Yesterday at seing a Letter from you to Mr. S. Adams by Mr. Archer, in which you make no sort of Acknowledgement of any of my numerous Scrawls; 14 or 15 have at least gone on the Way to you. I have felt myself lately under the Necessity of letting you go by guess as to what we are doing here. Congress have the Papers of the Committee for foreign Affairs on their...
26To John Adams from James Lovell, 8 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Janry. 9th is before me. Deane had inclosed to Congress a long minute corresponding history of what you sent me. He doubted whether Mr. R M had communicated to us what had been sent of the kind formerly therefore he wrote to him lately with flying seals under cover to the President. Mr. R M had been indiscreet in remarking to T.M. upon the Conduct of the Commissioners as not acting...
27To John Adams from James Lovell, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
The week after Mr. C—— was appointed secretary, I saw the P.S. of a letter to Mr. S.A. in which he is said to be a very unworthy person, but he has so good a Character in the estimation of Congress and from Maryland Gentlemen, that I did not think proper to move for a power of Suspension to be given to the Commissioners, as I find it is the opinion of some here that the secretary should be...
28To John Adams from James Lovell, 24 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am much chagrined at not having a Line about you by last Post. I did not expect one from you. You are so sick of Party abroad that you would not venture to have any thing to do with Individualities, here. Every Line that I read from France, like as yours have done, confirms me in an Approbation of the part I have taken all along through the contests of many months back relative to our...
29To John Adams from James Lovell, 17 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Decr. 2d. Resolved that a Commission be made out for Mr. J. Adams similar to that heretofore granted to the Commissioners at the Court of France. The date of the Commissions upon the 27th. was an error of the Secretary. But He as well as the president and others think it of no consequence. In Congress Decr. 17th. 1777 Resolved that Genl. Washington be directed to inform Genl. Burgoyne the...
30To John Adams from James Lovell, 1 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor of Octr. 17th. came this day to hand by the Post and contains such flattering Sentiments in regard to my subserving your Mission as almost to intoxicate me into a Wish that I had not spurned much personal Honor and family Emolument in pursuing a comparitively evident public Interest. But, nearly drunken as you have made me, depend upon it I am sober enough to distinguish between the...
31James Lovell to the American Commissioners, 12 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress Congress having foreign Affairs now under Consideration, I shall not write to you on that Subject, more especially as it is quite uncertain how the present Papers will be conveyed to you. Nor shall I pretend to unravel to you the Designs of the Enemy. They are very inscrutable: The Printers know...
32To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
That you may excuse my vile manner of doing business, know that I am freezing in my little room this morning so that I can scarcely hold my pen, but, I am, here, in quiet. The sealed packet sent before contained Triplicates of Octr. 31st Novr. 1 and 8 which last were only an Introduction of the Bearer Col: Ewen, and an Annunciation of Mr. Laurens’s Election as President so that his Draughts...
33To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
After the Resolve for stopping Burgoyne had passed, some were of opinion that a State of Facts found by the Committee should have preceeded the reasoning. Perhaps you will judge that it is already too laboured a report. I inclose for your own use the State of Facts alluded to which did not enter into the business of Congress; but was only talked of. We have intelligence now that 2 Hoits...
34To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a Peice of Intelligence perhaps altogether new. The uti possidetis offered by Spain will appear alarming perhaps to some but we are told She acted upon full Knowledge that King George the 3d of England had sworn in his Cabinet that he would not acknowledge our Independence. Spain at least knew that we would never enter into any commercial Treaty without a total relinquishment...
35To John Adams from James Lovell, 30 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Geary otherways engaged has given me the pleasure of forwarding this Intelligence from your friend Jefferson respecting the ready concurrence of the Dominion with the Articles sent lately to the States in a hope of cementing them together in a firm League. I am particularly rejoyced at this dispatch at this critical time when things appear almost desperate in this neighbourhood. As a...
36To John Adams from James Lovell, 31 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I send you a few Prints and the last monthly Journals yet from the Press. The Enemy will give you one of the most candid accounts of the naval Engagement on the 16th. that I have at any time seen in Rivington’s royal Gazette. Our Allies have conducted most gallantly: a Fog which seperated their Ships a few days before the Engagement deprived them of the Opportunity of giving an immense Turn to...
37To John Adams from James Lovell, 18 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
It appears by Returns this day received from Genl. Gates that Burgoine must have destroyed his Standards and almost every other military Trophy during the Capitulation. Not one Musket fit for use was delivered, not one Scabbard to a Bayonett or Cutlass. We are told that instead of piling the Arms the Enemy chose to ground them, that the Waggons might more certainly crush them. Gates does not...
38To John Adams from James Lovell, 4 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Mease is Brother to the late Cloathier General and is intimately connected with an Irish Gentleman here for whom I have great Regard as a zealous Republican and Friend to America. It is more on Account of that Connection with my Friend than of any personal Acquaintance that I have been led to introduce Mr. Mease to your Civilities. His Care of sundry Pacquets for you would...
39To John Adams from James Lovell, 15 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a few days ago the Impromptú . I send much the same Papers now as then. Beg if the others have not arrived before this reaches you, that you will order Copies of the Resolves to be taken for your own and Mr. Danas Information. For really, Sir I cannot attend in Congress and on Committees, and have my Chamber continually full of Petitioners or Idlers, and yet without even a...
40To John Adams from James Lovell, 1 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
The year is rendered quite pleasing to me, in its beginning, by the arrival of your favour of the 6th of december, which assures me you were then in health with your lovely family. May part of that happiness long continue! I say part, for I wish you may e’er long be in France, or, at York Town. Your aid has been greatly wanted upon a most important transaction. We have had a call for your...
41To John Adams from James Lovell, 13 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
First and foremost, become a reconciling advocate for me with your dear lovely Portia, who, from the most rational tender attachment to you, is as angry with me as her judiciously patriotic Spirit will allow, upon a foundation which I hope you have been acquainted with, long e’er this day. This hint must pass for an acknowledgement of the receipt of her letter of Decr. 19th. and for all the...
42To John Adams from James Lovell, 22 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have this Evening a Letter from Mr. Bingham of Octr. 13th. in which he tells us that the french General had received a Packet by a Boat which left Rochelle Sepr. 4th. advising him of the destination of 5,000 Troops for Martinique the Transports being actually ready at Havre Nantes and Bourdeaux to take them on Board. An Embargo was to be immediately laid upon european bound Vessels to...
43To John Adams from James Lovell, 16 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Not a Line by yesterday’s Post from either you or Mr. Dana; nor indeed from any Person whatever in Massachusetts. The Principles of Equality in the Treaty between France and us being held up as a model for future Treaties may betray Negotiators into an Error; because tho’ the Equality in regard to France and America is conspicuous, yet Partiality to France compared with other Powers has been...
44To John Adams from James Lovell, 28 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
I shall not in my great hurry repeat to you any of the matters which I have written to Mr. S. Adams as you can have them, on sight of him. I expected Brother Geary would have written to you but he has just requested me to inclose two Letters which he opened in consequence of your orders; and to give his Compliments to you begging your excuse of his further silence as he is preparing to go on a...
45To John Adams from James Lovell, 30 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not to this day Information that you comprehend the Cypher w ch. I have very often used in my Letters. You certainly can recollect the Name of that Family where you and I spent our last Evening with your Lady before we sat out on our Journey hither. Make regular Alphabets in Number equal to the first Sixth part of that Family Name, beginning and regularlarly placing your Alphabets...
46To John Adams from James Lovell, 1 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
As I was at the Secretaries yesterday I took off a few Resolutions from the Journals for your view, supposing as to the above, that you might have forgotten them, and as to the following, wishing to have your Sentiments. I doubt not you will think it may or may not be proper to take from the minds of foreign Courts the Idea that we are absolutely determind about our conduct towards Great...
47To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 4 came yesterday to hand with the Pamphlets. If the Chevalier does not take his Bias at Bethlehem or Easton where he is to be documented 2 or 3 days, I shall continue in the hopes which your good Judgement has inspired. We have indeed had a stormy Time; and some Villains, I guess wanted to get hold of the Helm and the main Stays at a critical Moment. We are going to tell S...
48To John Adams from James Lovell, 8 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Since my signing a letter to you with Colo. Lee an excellent opportunity of sending to France presented; and the Colonel in his way home has carried a Packet to Baltimore, which will go to the Commissioners in a swift sailing armed Vessel. No: 1 contained Triplicates of Letters dated Octr. 31st. Novr. 1st. and Novr 8th No. 2 A Letter of Decr. 1st. and Resolves respecting Frenchmen Sept. 8. 13....
49To John Adams from James Lovell: Confidential, 28 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday in Whispers the proposal was made to send JA to Spain, the Baloting for that business being first called for. But Conecttt. and Pensylvania discovered a total abhorrence of the Consequences in the second Balot; therefore the Plan was dropped; and the Balots were N Hamp A Lee, R Is. Pensyl Sth. Car. no Vote. For the 2 other Commissions J A the only Nomination. All the States but one...
50To John Adams from James Lovell, 29 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I promise myself much from the eight or nine scrawls which I have sent to you since your departure from America, in the spirit, I own to you, with which Indians make their presents of feathers or bark. I must depend upon your imagination to comprehend what I will not undertake to describe—our chagrin and perplexity at our total ignorance of the situation and transactions of the Commissioners...