John Jay Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Adams, John" AND Period="Revolutionary War" AND Correspondent="Adams, John"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0020

To John Jay from John Adams, 10 August 1782

From John Adams

Hague. Augst. 10th. 1782.

Sir.

It was with very great pleasure that I recd. this morning your kind favor of the 2d. inst.1 I am surprised to learn that your & Mrs: Jay’s health have been disordered in France where the air is so fine—

That your anxieties have been very great I doubt not—that most of them were such as you ought not to have met with, I can easily conceive— I can sincerely say, that all mine, but my Fever, were such as I ought not to have had. Thank God, they are past, & never shall return, for nothing that can happen shall ever make me so anxious again. I have assumed the felicis animi immota tranquillitas—2

Nothing would give me more satisfaction than a free conversation between you & me, upon the subjects you mention, and all others, directly or indirectly connected with it—or with any [illegible] of our affairs, but I don’t see a possibility of taking such a journey. The march of this People is so slow, that it will be sometime before the Treaty of Commerce can be finished and after that I have other orders to execute, and must be here in person to attend every step—3 But besides this, I think I ought not to go to Paris while there is any messenger there from England, unless he has full powers to treat with the Ministers of the United States of America— If the three American Ministers should appear at Paris, at the same time with a real or pretended Minister from London, all the world would instantly conclude a Peace certain, and would fill at once another years Loan for the English— In Lord Shelburne’s sincerity I have not the least confidence and I think that we ought to take up Fox’s idea, and insist upon full powers to treat with us in character—before we have a word more to say upon the subject— They are only amusing us— I would rather invite you to come here. This Country is worth seeing and you would lay me under great obligations by taking your residence during your stay in the Hotell des Etats Unis4 Many People would be glad to see you—

I should be very glad however to be informed, from step to step, how things proceed, which may be done with safety by Expresses to me; or by those from the Court of Versailles to the Duke de la Vauguion, in whom I have great confidence, or it may be done even by Post, under cover to Messrs. Wilhem & Jean Willink, at Amsterdam;5 or Mr. Dumas, at the Hague;6 ^or^ to Mr. Charles Storer, chez Madame la Veuve Loder at the Hague.—7

As you justly observe further accessions ^of power^ to the House of Bourbon may excite jealousies in some Powers of Europe—but who is to blame but themselves? Why are they so short sighted, or so indolent as to neglect to acknowledge the United States & make Treaties with them! Why do they leave the House of Bourbon to contend so long and spend so much? Why do they leave America & Holland under so many obligations— France has & deserves & ought to have a great weight with America & Holland—but other powers might have proportionable weight, if they would have proportional merit—

If the Power of the Neutral Maritime Confederation would admit the United States to acceed to that Treaty, and declare America Independent, they would contribute to prevent America at least, from being too much under the direction of France. But if any Power should take the part of England, they will compel America & Holland too, to unite themselves ten times more firmly than ever to the House of Bourbon.—

I don’t know, however, that America, & Holland are too much under the direction of France, & I don’t believe they will be—but they must be dead to every generous feeling as Men, and to every wise view as Statesmen, if they were not much attached to France in the circumstances of the Times—

I have received two letters from you in the Spring—one I answered—but have not the dates at present— The other kindly informed me of the arrival of my Son in America, for which I thank you—8 With great regard and esteem, I am, dear Sir, Your Most obedt. humle: Servt.

John Adams

RC, in Charles Storer’s hand, NNC (EJ: 5416). Addressed: “His Excellency / John Jay Esqr. / Paris.” Endorsed. LbkC, in JA’s hand, MHi: Adams.

1See JJ to JA, 2 Aug., above.

2“The unbroken calm of the happy soul.” Seneca, On Anger 2.12.6.

3JA signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United Provinces on 8 Oct. PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 4: 264.

4In February 1782 JA arranged for the purchase of a house at The Hague for his official residence, the first that the United States acquired as a foreign legation. PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 3: 4–5.

5One of the firms with which JA contracted for a loan for the United States on 11 June. See JA to JJ, 8 July 1782.

6Charles William Frederic Dumas (1721–96), JA’s counselor, translator, secretary, and intermediary with Dutch officials and journalists. German-born of French parents, Dumas settled at The Hague in 1756. A longtime admirer of America, he had served Congress and its commissioners in various capacities in the United Provinces since the start of the war. PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 3: 9–10n.

7Charles Storer, a relative of Abigail Adams, had recently joined JA’s household at The Hague, serving without pay as JA’s private secretary. Ibid., 13n.

8See JJ to JA, 18 Mar. 1782, JJSP, 2 description begins Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay, Volume 2, 1780–82 (Charlottesville, Va., 2012) description ends : 705–6; and 15 Apr. 1782, Dft, NNC (EJ: 7444); PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 12: 334–35, 410.

Index Entries