6571To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I duly received your Excellency’s Favour of the 1st. and 6th Instant. I wrote to you by Mr Barclay, who went from hence some Days since, and I hope is with you by this time, and that he will with your Assistance be able to settle every thing relating to the Goods. I have receiv’d a long Letter from Messrs. Neufville, the Purport of which is, that they are willing for their Parts to deliver the...
6572From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 14 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I duly received your Excellency’s favour of the 1st. and 6th Instant. I wrote to you by Mr Barclay, who went from hence some Days since, & I hope is with you by this time, and that he will with your Assistance be able to settle every thing relating to the Goods. I have receiv’d a long Letter from Messrs Neufville, the Purport of which is, “that they...
6573John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
This day Mr. Sayre arrived, with your Letter of the 12/23 of October. Yours of August I answered, Yesterday. You have not informed me whether the Houses are built of Brick, Stone or Wood. Whether they are seven stories high or only one. How they are glazed, whether they have chimneys as in Spain. What publick Buildings, what Maison de Ville or state house. What Churches? What Palaces? What...
6574To John Adams from Joshua Brackett, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
A Nephew of mine, a lad of fifteen years Old, by Name Benjamin Brackett, went out a Cruize in the Ship of War of 20 Guns, Call’d the Scourge, from Salem, Commanded by Timothy Parker, was returning in a Prize to said Ship, fell in with the British Frigate Call’d the Chatham in this Bay, at the time she took the Megetion, took him and Carried him to Hallifax put him on Board the Prison ship, not...
6575To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Comme l’Assemblée d’Hollde. se séparera aujourd’hui en huit, je prends mes précautions domestiques, pour pouvoir aller passer le reste du mois, et une partie du suivant, à Amsterdam avec vous Monsieur, Si je ne vous incommode pas; et pour partir d’ici, pour cet effet, Samedi ou Dimanche 22 ou 23 du Courant. En attendant, je crois qu’il ne seroit pas mauvais Monsieur, que vous vinssiez pas ser...
6576C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since the assembly of Holland will adjourn in a week, I am taking my domestic precautions in order to spend the rest of this month, and part of the next, with you in Amsterdam. If it is agreeable to you, perhaps we could leave from here on Saturday the 22nd or Sunday the 23rd. Meantime, I believe that it would be good for you, sir, to spend next week here. In addition to it being a chance to...
6577To John Adams from John Jay, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
The two last posts brought me your Favors of the 26 and 28th. Ult. It really gives me great Satisfaction at Length to see a prospect of a regular Correspondence between us. The Failure of my former attempts had almost discouraged me, tho’ from the frequent miscarriage of Letters to and from me, I had Reason to impute your Silence more to that than to any other Cause. I have not recd. a...
6578From John Jay to John Adams, 15 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
The two last posts brought me your Favors of the 26 & 28 th . Ult. It really gives me great Satisfaction at Length to see a prospect of a regular Correspondence between us. The failure of my former attempts had almost discouraged me, tho’ from the frequent miscarriages of Letters to and from me, I had Reason to impute your Silence more to that than to any other Cause. I have not rec d . a...
6579From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 16 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have at last recieved Letters from Mr. Dana. Mr. Sayer arrived in town yesterday with Letters to me, and dispatches for Congress, which I shall transmit by the best opportunity. Three days before I had recieved a Letter which came by Sea, but had been almost four Months upon the passage. Mr. Dana appears to be in good Spirits. He has communicated himself to the Marquis de Verac, and has been...
6580To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 16 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I have at last recieved Letters from Mr. Dana. Mr. Sayer arrived in town yesterday with Letters to me, and dispatches for Congress, which I shall transmit by the best opportunity. Three days before I had recieved a Letter which came by Sea, but had been almost four Months upon the passage. Mr. Dana appears to be...
6581To John Adams from Francis Dana, 17 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been long waiting with great impatience to hear directly from you, my disappointment has been owing in part without doubt, to your late illness, from which I hope you have entirely recovered. This climate agrees very ill with my health; for more than a month past, I have been almost constantly visited with a very severe headach, perhaps it is to be attributed in some measure to the...
6582To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 17 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Packet, containing the Correspondence relating to the Goods. I suppose that Mr Barclay is there before this time, and the Affair in a way of Accomodation. Young Mr Neufville is here, but I have thought it best not to give him as yet any Hopes of my Paying the Bills unless the Goods are delivered. I shall write fully by next Post. This serves chiefly to acquaint you that I...
6583From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 17 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have received the Packet, containing the Correspondence relating to the Goods. I suppose that Mr Barclay is there before this time, and the Affair in a way of Accommodation. Young Mr Neufville is here; but I have thought it best not to give him as yet any Hopes of my Paying the Bills unless the Goods are delivered. I shall...
6584John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have Letters from Mr. Dana and his young Attendant, at St. Petersbourg. Both well and in good Spirits. Letters to Mrs. D. and to you go by Captn. Troubridge and by Dr. Dexter. I have no certain News, as yet of Charles’s Sailing from Bilbao, but I presume he is sailed. You will have suffered great Anxiety on his Account, but I pray he may arrive safe. I acted for the best when I consented he...
6585John Adams to Richard Cranch, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I send you a Volume of Politics. A Second Volume will be ready in 6 or 7 Weeks.—You will hear more about this Paper, in time. I have received several kind Letters from you. Pray continue to write me, altho you should be disappointed of my Answers. I have noted your Desire, in one of them and have taken such measures as I could, but fear you have received nothing as yet, although some have been...
6586From John Adams to the President of Congress, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Having recieved an Invitation to the Hague, in order to have some Conversation with some Gentlemen in the Government concerning the further Steps proper for me to take in the present Conjuncture, I had determined to have undertaken the Journey to day: but the Arrival in Town of the Duke de la Vauguyon, determined me to postpone it until tomorrow. At noon to day, his Excellency did me the honor...
6587To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Marquis de la Fayette is so obliging as to take the Care of this Letter, which, for the Sake of him, the Count de Noailles and others our french Friends, who take Passage with him in the Alliance, I hope will arrive safely. In the same Conveyance, there is a Packett intended for you from Congress, by which you will doubtless be informd of what has been doing there. It is six Months since I...
6588To John Adams from Samuel Adams, 18 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have already written to you this Day by the Marquis de Lafayatte. This passes thro the Hands of Count de Noailles whom you did me the Honor to introduce to me. I duly acknowledgd the Receipt of your Favor which he brought me; but the Loss of my Letter was attended with an infinitely greater, that of Collo Palfrey. I wrote to you largely by him. The Son in Law of one of our good Friends has...
6589From John Adams to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 20 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
It has been insinuated to me, that the Spanish Ambassador, here, has Instructions from his Court, to enter into Negotiation with their high mightinesses, concerning an alliance between Spain and the Republick. If this fact has come to your Excellencies Knowledge, and there is no Inconvenience nor Impropriety in communicating it to me, I Should be very much obliged to you, for the Information,...
6590To John Adams from Thomas Vinton, 20 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to Acquant you that I am Now Confined in this Prison I was taken the 10th of June Last by the Queen Charlotte Priveteer Belonging to London and was Striped of all my Cloaths And Left Nothing only what I had on. Excuse my Freedom in Writeing to you for alitle Cash to Supply my Pesent Wants as I Reayly Stand in Great Need for it and if it should be my Lot to Come to france I make no...
6591Abigail Adams to John Adams, 23 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I knew not untill half an hour ago that Mr. Guile intended for Europe, he did not know it himself, it was a suden movement. He has not been able to come up as the vessel is expected to sail tomorrow, the Marquis and Count are already gone on Board. I have written by them, but should have been more full and particuliar by Mr. Guile if I had sooner known of his intention. He can give you a full...
6592From John Adams to Jean de Neufville & Fils, 24 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favours of the 21. and 23d, and have now to inform you that Mr Barclay Consul General of the United States is arrived in Town, and his commercial Knowledge as well as the nature of his office, make it proper, that I should relinquish to him, as I do, all the Care, that I might before have had of the continental Goods, as Dr Franklin has done. He will endeavour to finish...
6593To 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...
6594From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 25 December 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, III, f. 438–441). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:70–71). In this letter, which Congress received on 18 Sept. 1782, JA provided the text of Lord Stormont’s announcement of 8 Sept. to the...
6595From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 25 December 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, III, f. 442–444). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:71–72. This letter consists of an English translation of Prussia’s declaration of 8 Dec., intended to remove any questions about the identity...
6596From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24 was brought to me last night. It is true that I am not quite recovered of my Illness, I have Weaknesses and a Lameness that is new to me. Ill Health is no Novelty to me, but Disobedience in my Legs and Feet, was unknown to me, untill I had the late Fever. I walk, however every day and find that I grow better, though but slowly. Laurens has most certainly an honest soul. I...
6597From John Adams to Jean de Neufville & Fils, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I recieved the Letter with which You honored me yesterday. Mr. Barclay’s Office gives him full Authority in the Affair of the Goods, and his Abilities and Experience enable him to do every thing that can be done: so that I shall with great pleasure leave the whole affair to him, ready however at all times to render him any service in my power. It gives me great pleasure to learn that the...
6598From John Adams to James Searle, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your two favours of Decr 3 and that of December 14, are before me. Mr Barclay is arrived, to my great Relief: His office and Character as well as your Recommendations entitle him to every Respect and Civility from me. You favour from L’orient I answered, and transmitted under Cover to Mr Cummings, Some Dispatches from Gover Read. I condole with you, under the Loss of Mrs Searle: But Such is...
6599To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is very long since we have had the pleasure of hearing from you. Before this you will probably have received two Letters of mine and a duplicate of the last goes with this. Nothing material has happened since the date of that, except the Evacuation of Wilmington, which was, as you know, a very important port, as it checked the trade of North Carolina, and kept up a dangerous connection with...
6600To John Adams from James Lovell, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet been made certain, that you comprehend that Cypher which I used in my Letters to you, and which will yet awhile be used. You are to form Alphabets equal in number and of the same commencement and Range, as the Letters of the first sixth part of the family Name where you and I supped last with Mrs. Adams, and you are to look alternately into those constructed Alphabets opposite...