Passy, 22 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:110 . Citing the usual practice under the law of nations of allowing six months after the commencement of hostilities for subjects of both sides to remove their property, Adams and Franklin requested that, if possible, the General Court...
12Elijah Hall to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I request your Honours Favour in behalf of the Officers and Men, that you would point out some Method to bring the Prizes to sail, which we took on the late Cruize, as we are much in want of Cloathing and other Necessaries which we cannot do without. Many of Us have Wives and Children now suffering in America, the Time for which most of the People engag’d being now almost expired, and no...
13Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to Ferdinand Grand, 10 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We agree that the Bills drawn on you, by Mr. Williams, and paid by you according to the list herewith transmitted shall be charged to the Public Account of the United States; Mr. Williams to be accountable for the expenditure of all the sayd Sums to Congress or to any Person, or Persons appointed by Congress for that purpose, and to the Commissioners of the United States at the Court of France...
14The Commissioners to Vergennes, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We herewith communicate to your Excellency a Resolution of Congress relative to the Treaties, which we request may be laid before the King. Thereby his Majesty will perceive the unfeigned Sentiments of that Body, as well as those of the whole American People, whose Hearts the King has gained by his great Benevolence towards them, manifested in these Treaties, which has made so deep an...
15The Commissioners to Jonathan Trumbull, 22 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We received your Excellencys Letter of May 29, by Captain Niles, with the Dispatches from Congress, which you had intrusted him, with, in good order. He had a short Passage of 22 days and brought Us the agreable News of the Ratification of the Treaties, and of their being universally pleasing to our Country. We shall order some Lead to be shipped on Board his Vessell, and have furnished him...
16The Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 22 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received your Letters relative to the Disputes between two of your Officers and some of your Men belonging to this Nation, and we are of Opinion that if the Men are inlisted upon the Ships Books, to go to Boston, they ought to return to the Ship, and be received by you, and are entitled to their Wages and prize Money. But if they are not inlisted in writing to go to Boston, but only...
We have just received a Message from Monsr. Le Comte De Vergennes, by his Secretary, acquainting Us; that Information is received from England of the Intention of the Cabinet there, to offer (by additional Instructions to their Commissioners) Independence to the United States, on Condition of their making a Separate Peace, relying on their Majority in both Houses, for Approbation of the...
18Pezerat to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Sans Etre Connu de vous Je prens La liberté de Vous Ecrire, Parce que Je Pense que les Réprésentans d’une nation, qui doit son Existence à ses Vertus, sont assés amis des hommes, pour Vouloir Bien, Eclaircir un de leurs Semblables Sur les moyens qu’Il Se Propose de Parvenir au Bonheur. Les Travaux d’une Vie active, honorables puis qu’Ils Sont Utiles, dérogent En france, par L’Effet d’un...
Although a stranger to you, I take the liberty of writing because I think that, as the representatives of a nation owing its existence to its virtues, you are sufficiently the friends of mankind to care to clarify for one of your fellow men the means by which he proposes to achieve happiness. In France, by the effect of a national prejudice, the labors of an active life, honorable as they are...
20Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We do not think ourselves authorized to give any Orders concerning the Deductions to be made from the Seamen’s Price money or Wages, of what was advanced to them. The Resolutions of Congress must be complied with as to your Stores and Furniture, we suppose there can be no Difficulty, but that M. Simpson will as he ought to deliver you your private Property upon Request. We are not informed...