51To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai trouvé si important pour le bien commun des deux nations le Sentiment où vous vous êtes montré devant moi chez M. Izard, tou chant le Secours qu’il conviendroit d’envoyer actuellement à M. le Cte. d’Estaing que j’ai cru ne pouvoir me dispenser d’en hazarder l’insinuation à nos Ministres. Pour ne point vous compromettre a cause de votre caractere de Député du Congrez, et n’en ayant point...
52From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 8 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had last Night, very late your Card, respecting Mathews. I cannot recollect that any Thing was ever done in Congress, respecting him or his Conspiracy. I remember too have heard of the Transaction at the Time, but it was not an affair of sufficient Moment to excite any extensive Allarm, or make any extensive Impression; and I believe it was thought so little of, as never to have been sent to...
53From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 31 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Letter of the 29 is now before me. It would ill become me born and educated in the Wilderness , ignorant of the Commerce, Finances, Views and in one Word the Policy of France, to presume to advise, the Direction of her Armies. The accidental Conversation you mention was among Friends and with that Frankness which is tolerated in all Men in such kind of Companies. One Question you...
54From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have engaged a Person in London to s end me all the political Pamphlets, as they come out and some necessary Books as I shall order them. He has sent me already one Box and one Packet, at least to a Mr. Francis Bowens Merchant in Ostend. I should be once more obliged to You, if You could inform me, in what Way I can soonest get them from thence, and whether there are any Regulations which...
55From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 18 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Whether it is that the Art of political Lying is better understood in England than in any other Country, or whether it is more practised there than elsewhere, or whether it is accidental that they have more Success in making their Fictions gain Credit in the World, I know not. But it is certain that every Winter, since the Commencement of the present War with America, and indeed for some Years...
56From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 12 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
There are Reasons to believe, that the Story of Commissioners appointed by Congress to meet the British Commissioners, is a Forgery. 1. Thomas Phillip Ludwell Lee, is mentioned as one of them, whereas there never was a Person of that Name in the Congress. There was once a Person of that Name it is true, in Virginia, a Brother of Richard Henry Lee and of Francis Light- foot Lee, two Members of...
57From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
In your forty Eighth Number of Affairs de L’Angleterre et de L’Amerique I find, in Page sixth, marked number I. Resolutions des sauvages contre l’armee Angloise, and in Page 7 marked No. III. Adresse des Principaux Habitans de cette Ville a Robert Rogers, Major General (nomme par le Congres) et Commandant en chef des savages. Both these Papers, you may rely upon it, are Forgeries, and that no...
58From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 24 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Last night I was favoured with yours of the 24 th , and nothing wou ld give me greater Pleasure, than to be able to furnish you with any Observations or Intelligence, which might be to your Purpose. With Regard to the Cartouch Boxes and other Arms of G. Burgoines Army, I can add nothing to what the Congress have said in their Resolutions upon the Report of their Committee on the 8 of Jany....
59Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 29 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
The opinion you expressed to me at Mr. Izard’s, concerning the assistance that could conveniently be sent to Count d’Estaing at present, seemed to me so important for the common good of our two nations that I took it upon myself to place it before our Ministers. In order not to compromise you, because of your position as a commissioner from the congress, and since I did not have your...
60From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 28 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
When a great Minister, of an ancient and powerful nation, which has been renowned for its Wisdom and Virtue, as well as Power, arises, in a popu lar assembly, which is the most conspicuous Theater in the World, and declares, a s it were in the face of the Universe, and with an Air of Reflection, of delibera tion, and of so lemnity, that, Such and Such, are his own opinions of the Trut h of...