1To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 17 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was an ardent partisan of the noble cause of America, only on account of my great love for liberty. But, since I have the honour of Knowing you, I have another motive of loving America, seeing that it produces so worthy and so brave Gentlemen. When occasion has occurred, I have never been backward in serving it with my pen, the feeble but the only help which I could bring. And when this...
2From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 23 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter which you did me the Honour to write me on the 17th. and I thank you for the favour as well as for your Care in procuring me, the Books. This Kind of Speculations is very entertaining to me, and I wish to have every Thing new, of the Kind that comes out. I shall keep all these Books and pay Mr. Wild for them when he comes to Amsterdam. Cornwallis’s Victory, which We...
3To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 15 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Comme vous connaissiez l’ardeur et la Sincérité de mes sentimens pour la cause de la liberté, jugez avec quelle reconnaissance j’ai reçu l’honneur de votre confiance par Votre lettre du 23 octobre. Je regrette Seulement de ne pouvoir consacrer toutes mes forces et tous mes talens à la défense de cette noble cause. Les occupations dont je suis a présent accablé, me laissent à peine un instant...
Since you know the ardor and sincerity of my feelings for the cause of liberty, you can understand my gratitude at receiving the honor of your trust in the letter of 23 October. I regret only that I cannot devote all my powers and abilities to the defense of this noble cause. The duties with which I am burdened at present leave me scarcely a free moment. This did not prevent me, however, from...
5From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 18 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the letter which You were so good as to write me on the 15th. of this Month. The Translation of the Narrative of Genl. Howe cannot fail to have a good Effect at this critical Moment. The final Independence of America is as certain, as a decree of the Destinies. The only Question is, how much Blood shall be shed and how long Mankind shall be unnecessarily embroiled in the...
6To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 15 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Nous recumes, il y a quelques jours, les Gazettes Anglaises que j’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer. Comme elles ne peuvent être pour notre comptoir, j’ai présumé que c’était une partie de celles que nous avons demandés pour vous. Je vous supplie de ne pas trouver mauvais, si j’ai tardé si longtems de vous les envoyer; nous avons attendu que quelquun vînt les reclamer, et pensé que vous viendriez...
Several days ago we received the English gazettes which I have the honor to send to you. Since they could not be for our agency, I presumed that they were part of those that we ordered for you. Please forgive me for the delay in sending them to you. We waited for someone to claim them and thought that perhaps you would come to our city soon. I would be flattered to know what you think of the...
8To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous savez à quel point les interêts de l’Amerique me sont chers. Un enthousiasme fanatique ne m’a pas guidé; j’ai regardé sa cause comme celle de l’humanité; et j’y suis d’autant plus attaché que j’ai cru suivre les vrais principes. Ainsi vous ne serez pas étonné Si je n’ai pas été indifférent sur ce qui pouvait affecter son crédit. Vous sentez déjà que je veux parler du mauvais succés du...
9Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams: A Translation, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
You know how important American interests are to me. Fanatical enthusiasm has not guided me. I regard America’s cause as a cause for all humanity. And I am all the more attached since I am faithful to the true principles. So, you will not be surprised if I was not indifferent about that which would effect its credit. You already know that I want to talk about the failure of Mr. Hodshon’s loan...
10To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 27 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Peut-être aurai-je l’honneur de répondre demain à l’invitation que vous m’avez faite avec tant d’affabilité, d’aller vous vois à la Haye. Je Sens que j’ai besoin d’aller puiser dans votre conversation; c’est dans cette source féconde que j’irai chercher à réparer la sécheresse de mes faibles lumieres. Si je n’arrivai pas demain a la Haye, ce serait certainement samedi de la semaine prochaine....
11Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams: A Translation, 27 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
May I please have the honor of responding tomorrow to your affable invitation to visit you at The Hague? I sense that I need to converse with you; it is from this deep well that I will seek to refresh my parched ideas. If I do not arrive at The Hague tomorrow, it certainly will be Saturday of next week. Since no one knows me at this residence, I would be delighted to hear their conversations,...
12To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 18 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
J’ai vu ici Mr le Comte de Sharsfield qui m’a fait l’honneur de me rendre visite; il m’a parlé du manuscrit qu’il vous avait communiqué et m’a paru même desirer que j’en eusse aussi communication; il m’a renvoyé au tens où il aurait terminé son voyage qu’il ne fait disait-il, que pour mettre la derniére main à cet ouvrage; je ne doute cependant que, s’il était à la Haye, il fit la moindre...
13Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams: A Translation, 18 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor of a visit from Mr. Sarsfield here. He spoke to me about a manuscript that he sent to you, and he seemed to want me to see a copy of it also. He deferred giving me a copy until after his trip, which, he said, he was only making to put final touches on this work. I doubt that he had the least bit of difficulty in getting it for me for a few days while he was at The Hague. There...
14From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 19 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I dare not venture to send the Comte’s Manuscript. If You will come here, You shall have the use of it as long as You please, and all the Accomodations You can desire. Pray quote the Reflections You mention from the Courier de Bas Rhin. I shall be glad to see yours in addition—there is ample Room for many. The Treaty of Commerce is not yet arranged. I have recd. a Card from the G. Pensionary,...
15To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 1 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Il y a longtems que j’aurai entamé le sujet important de l’admission des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique dans la Neutralité; mais je ne Sentais pas avoir des argumens assez forts pour traiter cette matiere; et vous savez que dans ces sortes de cas il vaut mieux ne rien dire que de ne pas dire assez. Je Suis effectivement embarassé pour montrer comment cette démarche ne Serait pas une dérogation aux...
16Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams: A Translation, 1 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
It has been a long time since I broached the important subject of the admission of the United States of America to the neutrality, but I feel that I do not have arguments strong enough to discuss this issue. And as you know, it is better to say nothing at all in such cases than not to say enough. Indeed, I am perplexed as to how to demonstrate that this démarche would not derogate from the...
17II. To Antoine Marie Cerisier, 14 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of the 9 th , I rec d , this day, and will give you, the best answer, which indifferent health and, various Avocations will admit of. I am pleased with your Resolution, to write the History of the whole American War, because I know you will produce Something both entertaining and instructive, whatever Subject you undertake to write upon. But I hope you will not think me guilty...
18From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 15 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
The Morceau inclosed, is translated from a Pamphlet lately published in London, in which this Piece is inserted. It is curious in itself, but considering the time and Place when and where it was first published, it is a document of History, for it was a political Machine, which had great Effects. As Such I should be obliged to you, if you would insert it at length in the Politique Hollandais,...
19To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 26 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Toutes les pieces que vous m’avez fait l’amitié de m’envoyer ont paru Successivement dans le politique-Hollandais , ainsi que vous l’aurez vu Si vous perdez quelque moment à la lecture de cette feuille, à paris. J’étais trop charmé de vous montrer combien j’étais Sensible au Souvenir & à la confiance que vous daignez me continuer, pour négliger l’usage de pieces aussi intéressantes. Il m’a été...
20From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 10 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
Pray be so good as to insert an exact Translation of the inclosed Letter in the Politique Hollandais, without my Name or that of the Abby. or if you chose it you may add it to the Essay &c It is high Time for Writers to reflect a little upon the Subject before they pretend to write an History of Such an Affair. This will put them on thinking. Mr Marmontel as Historiographer du Roi is to write...
21From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 13 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had not Seen for many Months, any one Number of the Politique hollandois, until Yesterday, when a Friend Sent me Several Numbers of them up to the 22 of April.— Will you be So good as to desire M r Crayenschot to Send them to me Weekly, and address them by the Post to Monsieur Mathew Ridley, Rue de Claire N o. 60.— Let him Send them every Monday as soon as they come out. I always read them...
22To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 2 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
Vos desirs serons toujours des ordres pour moi. Vous verrez que je m’y suis conformé dans le N o. que j’e vous fais passer. J’espere pouvoir faire insérer le reste dans les deux suivans: vous m’obligeriez de me communiques ce que vous pensez de la traduction, si elle est exacte & fidele, vous ne verrez pas non plus sans interêt les détails & anecdotes que j’ai ôsé publier sur notre...
23From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 9 June 1783 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 2 d. ins t: The translation of my letters in the Pol: Hol: of the 2 d. June: 82, fm. Parker’s Gen l: Adver r: is very just as I believe. I have not the English to compare, but in memory. I am the more anxious ab t: those letters as I committed a great indiscretion in sending them in the year 1780 fm. Paris without keeping a Copy of a single line of them— I am...
24To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 3 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
Je crois vous avoir fait connaitre que toute mon ambition se bornait à obtenir quelque place en France dans un Bureau. Une nouvelle attaque que je viens d’éprouver dans ma Santé me fait penser plus sérieusement que jamais au projet de revenir me fixer en France. Dans cette idée j’ai pris la liberté d’écrire directement à Mr le Comte de Vergennes; & j’ai ôsé lui marquer qu’il trouverait auprès...
25From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 11 September 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am extremely sorry to find by your last Letter, that your Health has been attacked again, but I hope it will not have any serious Consequences. I wish all the Success you can desire to your Application to Versailles, and if I should be called upon by the Minister, or have any other Opportunity to support it, consistent with Prudence, it will give me great pleasure to do it, because I think...
26From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 16 October 1783 (Adams Papers)
Monsieur the Abby de Mably has prepared for the Press, some Observations upon our American Constitutions, which he has done me the Honour of addressing to me: so that I am zealous to have the Work appear to Advantage in the Impression, both as it is like to be to me, in Particular a distinguished Mark of Respect with Posterity; and what is of much more Importance, it is, probably full of...
27From John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 20 November 1783 (Adams Papers)
Before I left Paris I wrote you, at the Desire of the Abby De Mably, on the Subject of his Letters to me, concerning our American Constitutions,. I have heard nothing more about them. Pray be So good as to let me know what Progress you make in printing them. address your Letters to me, under Cover to M r Joshua Johnson, on great Tower Hill, or to M r John Stockdale, opposite Burlington House...
28Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams, 21 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
J’espere que dans peu vous aurez la satisfaction de voir paraître l’ouvrage de Mr de Mably, ouvrage qui honore également l’Ecrivain & le héros. Un Régent de cette République a bien voulu se charger de le traduire; il est déjà connu par une traduction de l’Esprit des loix très estimée. Cette production est trop intéressante pour tarder à fixer l’attention des Anglais & des Allemands. J’aurais...
29John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 22 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Favour, of the 21 st: and for the Communication of the Letter from my Friend the Abby de Mably. I am very Sensible of his Partiality for a Man, who he thinks has contributed, from virtuous Principles, to a great Event. his Approbation is the more precious, to me as I know his Principles to be pure, and his Spirit independent. You may be Sure my Advice to you will be, to...
30Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams, 3 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
Vous apprendrez de Mr Rosart imprimeur des Remarques de Mr de Mably à quel point cet ouvrage est avancé. Il desirerait ardemment de faire entrer son Edition en France. Mr de Mably qui s’est reservé plusieurs exemplaires a trouvé moyen de se les procurer par le canal de Mr Grand à l’addresse de Mr Franklin. Le libraire ne voudrait pas que ces exemplaires arrivassent à Paris avant son edition....