1To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 17 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
I Hope this will find Your Excellency’s Health well established, and that your Disorder has not left the Remains usually attendant on it, but that your wonted Spirit and Fortitude are continud, for indeed, they are necessary to you at this Juncture, if I am rightly informed of a late transaction in America, which has grievd and Confounded me above Measure. The Hints given me of it are...
2To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 20 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of having recived your Excellencys Letters of the 1st and 7th Instant. My Friend B cannot tell me any thing more of the Anonymous Letter, but that He receivd it by the foreign post, and that it cost 10 d. The post mark does not appear on it. B had sent a Copy of it to Mr L. It was therefore the Subject of a Conversation between us. Wherein He declared his Disbeliff, and...
3To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 1 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 23d Ultimo, acknowledging the Receipt of mine of the 19th. I am happy to find my Sentiments of things confirmed by your Excellency. What your Excellency has said with respect to the Improbability of Peace, and Treatment of Mr. Lawrens affects me much. I have taken the liberty of writing it to England for the public Perusal and...
4To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 28 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
Altho I am fearful, that my Correspondance has lately been Troublesome to your Excellency, yet I cannot help sending the inclosed Letter from a Friend, whose Heart is sensible to every Impression of public and private Virtue. He has been a long Time acquainted with his Excellency Mr Lawrens, and therefore esteems Him. He is touched, your Excellency will see at his present Situation, I must...
5To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 8 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have done myself the Honor of sending You a Copy, of what was written into Holland and have since (the 5th Instant) taken the Liberty of giving my Idea of the Conduct of the Parties in England and Ireland, and likewise laying before you an Extrait of what I have written on the Phantastic Notion taken up of a Constitutional Impossibility of Acknowledging the Independance of America. I receivd...
6To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to congratulate your Excellency on the Commencement of the New Year and to assure your Excellency of my sincere Wishes, that it may be productive of all Happiness and the most perfect Liberty to You and Yours and our Country in General. I think your Excellencys Mind must be much occupied at present. The late desperate Step, which England has taken has I believe astonished Most....
7To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 3 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had this Day the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 31 Ultimo; which gives me the greatest Satisfaction. I think with your Excellency, that the Emperor cannot engage in this Contest without being abundantly paid by England, whose Resources will thereby be diverted from Acting directly Against Us, but it is worth her while to pay Him the Utmost in order to Embroil France. In...
8To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 23 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty to inform your Excellency that I arrivd here Safe last Friday after having had a tolerable good Journey. I have seen a Gentleman in this Town twice since my Arrival— He has said nothing in particular to me, but his Reception has been somewhat Cool.— if He Continues his Silence, I propose to go, where your Excellency recommended to me. but I do it with some Anxiety, being...
9To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 11 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
On my return to this Town I found a Letter from London informing me that the 20£ was paid according to order. The Gentleman, who executed this Commission is named Bridgen and his address is Bridgen & Waller London, putting a little, b thus under the Seal, which prevents his Partner opening the Letter. He sent me the inclosed Copies of an Ode. I find in his letter the following Paragraph: “I...
10To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 2 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this day receivd your Excellencys Letter of the 28th. Ultimo, which shall be made the proper Use of but its Silent with regard to two others, which I had the Honor of addressing to your Excellency, one about Six days Ago, and another about ten, I am under a great Uneasiness for their fate. In particular for one which inclosd a Letter from London, which had in it Something...
11To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd your Excellencys Letters of the 28th and 30th Ultimo, together with that, which I had the Honor of Communicating to your Excellency upon a very serious Affair. Whatever Explanations I may receive on that Head, I shall think it my Duty to lay them before your Excellency, whomever they may Affect. Your Mind is fortified Against Unmanly and dangerous Suspicions, and therefore no...
12To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 21 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
I beg your Excellency would Accept my Thanks for the publications, which I have lately had the Honor of receiving from you; and for your Letter to the Abbé Raynal, who receivd me in Consequence thereof with the utmost Politeness and Attention. He spoke of your Excellency with the Greatest Cordiallity and respect, and seemed concerned, that you was not quite satisfied with the facts, as laid...
13To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 25 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am greatly obliged to You for your favor of the 13 Instant. I am flattered much to find, that my Sentiments meet with your Approbation, the great Part you have taken in the American Question, and your Judgement in it, are such as give You a right to Influence and direct every One interested in the Event. Be Assured, Sir, it is my Inclination and Duty to Attend to whatever you may think...
14To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I cannot express the pleasure it gave me; when I heard of your Safe Arrival in Europe; permit me to congratulate you and myself thereon, and what is more our Country, whose true Interests I Know you have so much at heart. If I may trust the Common reports, you come in the Character of the blessed Peace Maker, who is always welcome to the Friends of Mankind; No one can wish you more success in...
15To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 6 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I recievd yesterday your Excellencys Letter of the 1st Instant. I am sorry to hear that your Excellency is sick in Body your Heart is am sure not so, I see that is sound by all your Actions. I sent your Excellency a Receipt from one of our unfortunate Countryman in prison; If I remember right Mr Sawrey wrote on it, recommending to your Charity 7 of those, who were releivd in March last: Their...
16To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving a Letter from your Excellency yesterday without a date in Answer to that, which I took the Liberty of writing of the 18 Ultimo and am Sorry to find your Excellency equally sensible with me of the Absurdity of the Idea taken up in Europe of the future formidableness of America. I was in Hopes, that my fancy on that Head was not well-founded and that the folly of...
17To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 24 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I receivd your Excellencys Letters of the 29th ultm. and 1st Instant yesterday and (not before) to my great Surprize and Yesterday was out of the Course of the Dutch post which arrivd to day. I was fearful that your Excellency had not quite recovered of your Illness in the Summer, the Nature of which is to Continue some time without great care. That your Excellency has been very busy I can...
18To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 27 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just this Moment receivd your Excellencys Letter of the 23d. Instant, it Honors and flatters me much and is a fresh Proof of your Excellencys Partiallity for me. Your Wishes that I was better known to my Countrymen proceeds from your Goodness to me—I well Know that you have taken every pains in your Power, that I should be so, but whether they are acquainted with me or not I shall serve...
19To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 10 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
I Hope this will meet you in good Health at Nantes and that you will find every thing there Agreable to your Wishes. By the Mail from England we learn Lord Norths Plan for raising the Money already voted. 1stly. a Surcharge of 5 per Cent on the Amount of all the Articles of the Duties of Excise and Customs, except, Beer, Soap, Candles and Hides *2dly. 9d. per Stage for last Horse in Post...
20To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Returning the day before yesterday from Boulogne, I had the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter by the Hands of Mr. Bowdoin, to whom I shall pay every attention due to your Excellencys Recommendation and his own Merit. Before this comes to Hand your Excellency will have heard of the Disaster in Carolina; the Consequences of which may be sensibly felt by us. However there are Matters,...
21To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 7 [August] 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am much Obliged to you for your Letter of the 26 th Ult. it was so long that I had heard from you, that I was fearful either mine or yours had Miscarried especially as I did not recive One from his Excellency until a Month after date. We Agree in the effect that the late Proclamation’s relative to the American Trade will have on the Temper of our Countrymen, who must besides at this Time be...
22To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 28 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I trouble your Excellency with This to inform your Excellency, that I receved this Day the Bill of £10. on London to be applied to the Relief of five poor American Citizens. I shall write to my Friend for that purpose by the next Post. But shall not send the Bill yet, as I see that it appears on the face of it, that the value of it was paid by your Excellency, whose Name, however honored by...
23To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 14 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I trouble your Excellency at this Time to transcribe the following Letter “sent by Person of some Distinction at Paris to a Man not less so in London” the Copy of which I have just now receivd. “Nous ne donnons pas á Monsieur Ad: une Confiance bien aveuglé; et ce n’est pas sans cause quils ont mis autour de lui des Hommes, qui l’Observent, on le croit honnête; on le scait ardent; inflex ible...
24To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 11 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have received Letters from your Excellency of the 24 th & 28 th Ult. what accompanied the last will be published with other Matters of a like Nature & altogether will make an handsome & interesting Collection. The mischiefs, that might have ensued from the intended American Trade Bill are at length guessed at by many, and the Difficulty of drawing it up, to the Content of Selfishness, (which...
25To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 14 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have been now three weeks in this City, mixing with men of various characters & Parties in order to find out their Desposition towards our Country, the result of my Observations is that the people at large tho by no means having any real Friendship for the United States, are willing to Acquiesce in the present Situation of Things, & to serve themselves of the commerce, which America holds...
26To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 16 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I take the Liberty of writing to your Excellency this Letter, expresly to recommend my Friend Mr Ridley to your Excellencys Notice. I Knew Him long in England and Ever found Him warm, Active and Affectionate to the Cause of America, we left the Ennemys Country together. He has since been in America where He signalized Himself, in being very instrumental in providing Vessels for transporting...
27To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 31 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Four mails arrived yesterday, by them we find that Eleven East Indiamen are arrived at Brookhaven in Ireland. A Ship is arrived from N York, but no news transpires. The English Minister seems to be ready to pardon the Dutch on condition they submit. He treats them as He did the Americans, and will I Hope receive the same Treatment as from our Countrymen. One of the Court news papers says there...
28To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 1 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Supposing your Excellency ignorant of what is true, I take the Liberty of sending you what may be false, but it comes from England, that Land of Insidiousness. Preliminaries of a Peace, said to be formed by the Rockingham Party, but if formed by any one I think Ld Shelburne is the Man. 1st That the british Troops shall be withdrawn from the 13 Provinces of N America and a Truce made between G...
29To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 21 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 14th Instant: in Answer to which, I can only return your Excellency my most humble Thanks and assure you that the Confidence, with which I am honored, shall not be Abusd by me, and Care shall be taken, that it shall not be so by any One Else. I will Keep together what I receive from Your Excellency, to be returnd to You or your...
30To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 18 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I Have the Honor of having receivd your Favor of the 12th Instant, which flatters me much in informing me of your Approbation of my Letters of the first the fifth and the Eigth. I beg the Continuance of your Partiallity, and that You woud Command me in all things. I now set down to Answer your Enquiry into the “Sums paid Annually, as Subsidies by France or England to the House of Austria or...
31To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 27 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have enclosed by a former Post an Extraordinary Letter received from London. Your Excellency will perhaps understand it better than I do. I have written for an Explanation of it and the grounds and proofs, if possible to be had of the Suggestions therein. I have an opinion of my Correspondent, or should not have troubled your Excellency with his Letter. I cannot think that Austria is inclind...
32To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 22 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is so very long since I had the Honor of hearing from your Excellency, that I am fearful your Excellency is out of order. I take the Liberty of informing your Excellency, that I shall leave this place the Tenth of next Month, in order to Conduct my Nephew to Nantes, where He will embark about the first of June for America. Should your Excellency have any Commands I can Answer for Him, He...
33To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 1 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not heard from Mr Lawrens since He sent me the Letter of a part of which I have sent your Excellency a Copy but Mr Lee tells me that He has written to London demanding a Passport to go from thence to America as He finds a difficulty in getting a safe Passage there from France. My Friend in London writes me that the Passport is granted at the request of Lord Cornwallis. I Know not...
34To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 24 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Assure myself, that your Excellency will permit me to offer my Congratulations to you on your Excellencys being publickly Acknowledged Minister of the United States. I am rejoiced at this Event for your Excellencys Honor, as well as for the Interest of our Country—you will believe me, I am Confident, when I say I feel for both, and both are in good Hands. Go on in your Noble Career; I Know...
35To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 25 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive any Slips by the two last Posts. I am particularly obliged to your Excellency for your Favor of the 16th. Instant. The Dutchman Compliment was really polite the Sentiments of certain public Characters relative to the American Independance lead to something Substantial. I find it is the wish of some to see the letters now publishing in the news papers collected in a Pamphlet....
36To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 22 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 27 th of June; it surely ought to have arrived before.— I did myself the pleasure of sending to your Excellency about a fortnight ago several Peices cut out of News Papers. and in my Letter sent therewith informed you that the Treaty with Holland was printed with other Treaties at the End of a new Edition of the...
37To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 6 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
You have done me a great deal of Honour, in communicating to me the Object of your Commission which is certainly of the most honorable and important Nature in itself, and has been confered on you in a manner the most flattering. I sincerely Congratulate you thereon, and most earnestly Wish, that the Envy of the Times may not Thwart your Intentions for the publick Good, but that you may be Able...
38To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 31 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate your Excellency on the Confusion in England. A Letter from thence received this day says, that the King sent on Saturday night (ie, Saturday sennight), for the Chanceller conversed with Him, and deffered—so parted, and about 4 o Clock on Sunday Morning sent again for Him to come immediately; the Chancellor sent him Word, that He was too ill, but would come as soon as He arose,...
39To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
I think your Excellency will not be Surprized to find that I am stil at Amsterdam. Mr. Dana is so well Accompanied on his Route, that it was quite Unnecessary any one Else should attend him; and the Difficulties daily arising in the Dispatch of the South Carolina take from me any certainty of leaving this Place yet awhile. Tis true we are told that she will go on such a day and such a day. But...
40To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the Honor of answering, by a preceding Post, that part of your obliging Favor of the 12th. Instant, which enquird into the Subsidiary Treaties, which have been enterd into between the Powers of Europe; and now set down to give you my Thoughts on that part of your Letter, wherein you Ask, how the Dutch, debased as their natural Courage, is supposed to be, and weak as they are at...
41To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd Your Excellencys Letter of the 30th Ult., together with three Papers inclosed therewith. The last shall be sent as directed, and I trust they will give full Satisfaction. I informed your Excellency in my last, that Mr L. Proposed to return to America by the way of England, having Sollicitd a Passport for that purpose, which has been granted at the request of Lord Cornwallis. I...
42To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 15 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I think your Excellency must have been greatly surprized at the Vote, which the House of Commons came to on General Conways Motion agst the Advisers for subduing America by Force; but how much soever One may be surprized to see such a measure taken at this Time, it is perhaps more Amazing that it was not taken before; it ought to have been the Declaration of Parliament at the beginning of the...
43To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of receiving this Day your Excellencys Letter of the 31st. Ultimo. The deferring the Acknowledgment of our Independancy to the Turns which a Negociation for a general Peace may take is in my opinion a very weak and perhaps Unfriendly Plan. I am confident this Measure would tend most to bring England to a general Accomodation, for it would take from Her every resource and every...
44To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to Congratulate your Excellency on the late Glorious News received from Virginia and Carolina. It seems to be of the last Importance. The English here are Confounded by it, and I should think the Court of London will not be less so, when it receives it, altho it has had for some Time reason to expect it. The English Minister here sent a Messenger immediately on the receipt...
45To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 29 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency will permit me to Congratulate you on you having before This embraced the noble Sufferer Mr Lawrens. I wish I had been a witness of the mutual pleasure you had in meeting one Another in a free Republick. I doubt not that your Excellency has recievd the Pamphlets, which I sent by Mr Myers, and Mr Hollis Memoirs, conveyed to you by my Friend Mr Ridley. The Copy which Mr B Hollis...
46To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 30 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had yesterday the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 27th. Instant, which afforded me the greatest pleasure, as it assured me of your Excellencys Health, which I was fearful was affected, and shewed at the same time that you were in Spirits. The natural and political Climate of the Country, where your Excellency now is, being foggy a Man must have a stout Heart and strong Body...
47To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 18 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 3d. Instant, it was full, Satisfactory and very Comfortable. I have had since the pleasure of seeing Colonel Searle, who I find is inspired with the same Sense of things, and has the same feelings for the Happiness of our Country, as your Excellency. He was therefore most Acceptable to me, and by Consequence I shewed Him every...
48To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 9 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving yesterday Your Excellency Letters of the 4th and 5th of this Month, and to day Another of the 6th. I think myself particularly honored, that your Excellency shoud Advert to me at the close of the Day of the great Anniversary of public Liberty—I shoud have been happy at being present at the Commemoration of that Important Event, however I must content myself with...
49To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 18 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 3d Instant at Paris, where I had gone in Company with Mr De Neufville. I paid my respects to his Excellency at Passy, and was invited to dine with Him on Sunday last, after He Was informed that I proposed quitting Paris on that Day. I have long paid a particular Attention to your Excellencys Movements in Holland, and it is with the...
50To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 14 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured by the Receipt of your Excellencys Letters of the 5th and 9th Instant. The Letter to Mr Boylston is sent. Your Excellencys Enquiry of me of the news about Peace, under a Presumption, that I Know the whole History and that you Know nothing of it, makes me smile, and at the same Time gives me Concerns; Surely you ought to be acquainted with every thing, and I cannot have any...