Adams Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-12-02-0056

To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 26 November 1781

From Edmund Jenings

Brussels. Novr. 26th. 1781

Sir

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.1 The English Minister here sent a Messenger immediately on the receipt thereof to his Master the Consequence of which may be the delaying of the delivery of the Letters by the post until after next Wednesday. However some care has been taken to Convey the News by the way of Margate that it may come a propos on the first day of the meeting of Parliament for the amusement of the Ministers, among whom, it is said, there is a great Division and Distraction. It is said, that the Bedford Party will move for the making of Peace. There is a strong party raised against Lord G Germaine.

I take the Liberty of sending to your Excellency the Receipt of the five poor fellows in Mill prison and likewise one which Mr Sawrey omitted to send to my Correspondent before.2

I am glad to find by the American Papers that Mr. Brush is arrived at Boston.3

I Hope your Excellencys Health is perfectly reestablished.

I am with the greatest Respect Sir Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant

Edm: Jenings

RC (Adams Papers).

1For the British ministry’s reaction to the news of Yorktown, see Mackesy, War for America description begins Piers Mackesy, The War for America, 1775–1783, Cambridge, 1965. description ends , p. 434–435.

2The receipt has not been found, but see Jenings’ letter of 28 Oct., above. Miles Saurey, a linen draper in Plymouth, England, had provided assistance to American prisoners since early 1778 (Laurens, Papers description begins The Papers of Henry Laurens, ed. Philip M. Hamer, George C. Rogers Jr., and David R. Chesnutt (from vol. 5), David R. Chesnutt and C. James Taylor (from vol. 11), and others, Columbia, S.C., 1968–2003; 16 vols. description ends , 15:469).

3Eliphalet Brush arrived at Newburyport on 27 Sept. (Boston Independent Chronicle, 27 Sept.). Brush, a New York merchant, carried JA’s dispatches for Congress and informed AA that CA had sailed for America on board the South Carolina (Adams Family Correspondence description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 4:217–219).

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