51From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 14 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Have just received yours of the 9th and I thank you. Waynes Agreement is thus explained. Gen. Arnold—Com. Jones, and many other officers of the American Army and Navy, have all along made it a maxim that the whiggish young Gentlemen ought to convert the Tory young Ladies. Accordingly the genteelest Part of the officers of Boston and Philadelphia used to keep up an Acquaintance with several...
52To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 15 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd your Excellencys Translation into plain English of the Memorial to the Sovereigns of Europe. I cannot but Admire the trouble, to which your Excellency has put yourself, in making intelligible the Obsolete and Phantastic Language of the Quondam Governor of Massachusets: but indeed the Matter of the Memorial is Excellent, and well deserves the Observations of the European World. I...
53From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received yours of 15th. Mr. Gridleys News, was I suppose only The Fruit of the Tree of Cracovie. I have seen the Observations &c. in the general Advertiser. I thank you sir, for all your Trouble. The Lord knows what Compensation you will ever have for it all. I lay burthens upon you without Number, or Mercy, I think. But I cannot and will not be idle. I think We are serving our...
54From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the Court Gazette with Clintons Proclamations. I would give any Thing I had time to write you, a whole sheet about Carolina. The Party of Horse, that galloped out—what did they meet with? By the Return of killed, and Prisoners, it must have been the most obstinate and desperate defence that ever was made, or a barbarous and diabolical Massacre—take which you will, and what...
55To 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...
56To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 27 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received by yesterdays Post your Excellencys Additions to your Answer to certain Pamphlets, All of which I will take Care to Convoy to England—but they are of such Importance, that I shall be careful to whom, they are Trusted, and therefore may perhaps wait a little while, before I find a Convenient Opportunity. I have read them with much pleasure and shall do it Again with great Attention,...
57To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have followed your Excellence to this Town in hopes of seeing you before your departure. I should follow you stil, if I could flatter myself with having the pleasure of overtaking you. However having met with a Gentleman on my route, who has promised to find you out if Possible at Rotterdam I shall return tomorrow to Brussels. The End of my Journey was to inform your Excellency, that I...
58From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 6 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter from Antwerp, of the 5th. which I received last night by Mr. Douglas, was very agreable. The News it contains is very good. But there must be Letters and Papers, with all the Particulars, by such a Number of Vessells. The arrival of all these Vessells is a great Event to the French and American Commerce, and I hope in Time will convince both Parties of the importance of it, and of...
59To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 7 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Having receivd a Letter from Nantes, datd the 29th Ultimo, I followed your Excellency to Antwerp to impart the Contents thereof, but on my Arrival there on Friday, I found you had quitted the Town early in the morning. I was much baulked that I was deprived of a few hours conversation; but shoud have followed your Excellency to Rotterdam, had I not been Apprehensive that the same dispatch with...
60To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 14 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
On my Arrival in Town from Spa and Aix La Chapelle, where I staid longer than I intended to drink the Waters, I found Mr. Austin in his Way to Holland. I now take the Opportunity He offers me to Congratulate your Excellency on the Reception, Approbation and Confirmation of that Plan of Government, which does your Excellency so much Honor in forming, and which, I trust, will perpetuate the...
61From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 23 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour, written after your Return from Spa and am very glad you had so pleasant a Tour and found So agreable a Reception. I find that my Friend in Philadelphia, reprinted the Letters on the Spirit and Resources of Great Britain: after which they were again printed in Boston, and much admired. A Gentleman from Boston, tells me, he heard there, that they were written by one...
62To 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...
63From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 7 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Bowdoin, a gentleman of Virginia, is passing through Brussells in his Way to France. He is a young American of good Character here, and I have the honour to recommend him to your Notice. Pray what think you, of the Face of affairs? According to present Appearances a year or two more, will probably deliver our country from the Ennemies within it, tho it may not bring Peace. The K. of...
64To 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,...
65From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 23 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your excellent Letter of the nineteenth I have recieved. Your feelings I find are in Unison with mine, upon the behaviour of Cornwallis, and the Treatment of Mr. Laurens. It is not however at all surprising to me. I have ever expected, whenever I have crossed the Atlantic, to be treated with the same and with greater Indignities, if I should have been so unfortunate as to fall into the hands...
66To 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...
67From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 7 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved yours of the first. Will You be so good as to explain to me, what is meant by “Instructions to endeavour to inspire American Agents at Madrid, with Distrust and Jealousy of one another, at present employed in Europe?” What the armed Neutrality will come to, I know not. I believe it would have been much easier to have negotiated all the Maritime Powers of Europe into an...
68To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 20 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter of the 7th Instant came duly to Hand. The Queries, sent to England, came to me from Madrid; that which regards Instructions to inspire the American Agents with distrust of one Another, has not been explained to me, and therefore I know not what Suggestions have been, and were to be used for that purpose, perhaps none were, but only directions given for it, as is Usual...
69To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the Honor of writing to your Excellency the 20th of this Month and inclosing some Papers from Mr. Amory of Boston. I now take the Liberty of sending you a Letter, receivd this Day from Mr. L. for your Excellency’s Perusal—give me leave to beg that your Excellency would return it and the former one from the same Gentleman, if your Excellency has no further Occasion for them. There...
70From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 1 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I thank You for your favour of the 20th. of November. I am really weary of reading such Follies as Motions to address the King for Peace. They are only delusions to the People of England, the People of America, and all the other Nations of the Earth. The Case of Mr. Laurens, and those of Mr. Trumbull and Tyler, among Millions of other Incidents shew, with whom We have to do. The States General...
71From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for yours of 30 Nov. I return the two Letters from Mr. L. I had the Honour of one, from him, by each of those opportunities, nearly to the Same Purpose. Your kind concern for our Health is very obliging. I shall cover me with Flannels and Furs, like a Dutchman. A Mans Feelings, Soon remove all the Ridicule of it. The “Pensees” will Serve to excite a Curiosity after the Memorial....
72From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 11. The Inclosures I have packed with my Dispatches, and the Duplicate of Mr. Amorys, to go by the first opportunity. Sir Joseph will kick, and cuff and pinch this People untill he forces into them a little Spunk. They cry shame upon his last Memorial more than the former. However I believe he knows enough of the nature of them, to answer his End, which I...
73To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 28 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I Had written to your Excellency a long Letter on the State of Affairs, which the Attention, I had the pleasure of paying to Mr. Dana, who staid here four or five days, prevented me Sending, and which is now Swallowed up by what has I am told, passed between the Courts of London and the Hague. Never surely did a Nation seek for the Enmity of Mankind with more eagerness, than the English do at...
74From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 31 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of the 28. We have no Letters or Papers from London later than the 19 or 20, which leaves Us in the dark. There has been a Fermentation, here, which indicates War, the Apprehension of which is born by the Dutch at this time with more Firmness than I expected. The Motive of England, is to pick a quarrell upon a Pretext of an offence different from the armed...
75To 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....
76From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 3 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 1st. of this Year, and thank you for your kind Congratulations, which I return with equal Sincerity. My Mind is, as you conjecture much engaged at present, and altho I am not able to do much towards midwifing the great Events, with which the Times are pregnant, yet I dont think the less, nor the less anxiously about them for that. Englands temporary Security,...
77To 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...
78To 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...
79From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 20 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your Favour of the 18th., and thank you for the good News. I dont believe any Thing of the story of the French Fleet and Army, at Carolina, but the Tide is turned and the Torrent will soon flow in the south. The Actions of Trenton, Bennington and Kings Mountain are enough to shew, the total Impractibility of subduing America or any Part of it. In times of the greatest...
80To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 24 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 20th. Instant, I receivd it with the greatest pleasure for I think it marks, that your Excellency is in Spirits, may You ever continue so, it will be a good Sign to me, that our Country is well. I this day receivd a Letter from Madrid dated the 8th. There are complaints in it of not hearing from Holland or France; the Abbé...
81From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 31 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 24 is received. I wish that Madrid would put an End to Husseys and Cumberlands Masquerades. They do no good, if they do no harm. I think it is pretty certain that the English Ministry, are Seeking a Connection with the Emperor, but as there is nothing to be gotten by a Connection with them but broken Bones if he has as much Sense as he is reputed to have, he will rather choose...
82To 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...
83From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 31. Jan. is arrived. A Courier is arrived from Petersburg, who carried the Notice of Sir Yorkes leaving the Hague. All’s well in the north. The Courtiers in England, who indeed compose the nation, flatter themselves they shall raise the Devil in Holland. They may raise a Spirit but it will be a good one. The Symptems are very Strong. If popular Rage gets loose it will not dewitt, John...
84To 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...
85To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 7 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this day the Honor of receiving your Excellency Letter of the 5th. Instant: It mentions no particulars, but says in general all things are well in the North, and shews that your Excellency is well-satisfied, I am rejoiced at it. I inclose to your Excellency a Copy of the Translation &c. I Hope the Print thereof will meet with your Excellencys Approbation. I have three more of them,...
86From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 9 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have this day the Honour of yours of 5. It would be unwise in Congress, to neglect any Effort to induce other Powers of Europe to acknowledge our Independancy, and therefore I am fully of opinion that at least one Minister Should be sent to treat with the Maritime Powers, or rather the neutral Union. For these Powers will all acknowlege our Independance at once, and none of them will do it...
87From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 11 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the Translation, which came to hand yesterday. I do myself the Honour to inclose you, a Pamphlet, translated from the third Edition of the Dutch. It was written by Mr. Calkoen they pronounce it Kalkoon, a Lawyer of the first Character here, with whom I am very well acquainted. The Pamphlet is a consummate Justification of Van Berkel, Tamminck and all the Rest. It is amazing...
88To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 18 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I sit down to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellencys two Letters; one by the Post this day and the other by the preceding Mail. The New periodical Work, which I received this day is exceedingly well written and will I doubt not by your Excellencys Assistance and direction be soon turned to the Essential Service of our Country. L’Avocat Calkoens Defence of the Magistrates of Amsterdam is...
89From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
On my Return from a little Excursion, I received yours of 18. I dont know whether Calkoens, Pamphlet is unanswerable or not. There are two very sharp Pamphlets written against it, as they say. These People dont understand their own Constitution alike. There is a Part of the Pamphlet, which disgusted me, as well as you. It is a Dutch affectation of Shrewdness. Nothing can be a greater Folly....
90To 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...
91From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 12 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of 5. You will honour and oblige me much sir, by your Thoughts upon the Subject of European Jealousy and Caprice, hinted at. You will see that the Empress has undertaken to mediate between E. and Holland, but she will not join the Emperors Mediation but on two Conditions Sine quibus non. These are 1. an Acknowledgment by England of American Independance. 2. An...
92To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 19 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recived your Excellencys Letter of the 12th. Instant. It afforded me much Consolation being much depressed at the possible ill turn affairs might have taken if the Empress had in the least Started aside from Her noble System. But I find, she is Steady, and by consequence our Malicious Enemy may be brought to Submit to what is reasonable and Just. I Hope however, that Holland will not be...
93To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 21 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Capture of St. Eustache, which was to be expected, and the immense Acquisition of Property in the Ships taken will surely rouse the antient Spirit of the Dutch, which was always greatest in Times of the greatest Calamity. Or will this Misfortune be wickedly turned against the Friends of the Independance of the States? I am anxious to hear how this News will be recievd in Holland. Your...
94From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 22 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
With great pleasure have I recieved yours of the 19th, with its Inclosures. I wish I could answer more at large, but in addition to a thousand other Objects crowding upon me at present, I have had to write my obscure Name nine and twenty thousand times to Obligations and Coupons, which I expect will give me before it is ended a great Name at least, if not a great deal of Money. I am...
95To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 4 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
By a London Newspaper receivd this Day by the way of Margate (for the two last posts are not Arrivd) I find that Tarlton has been defeated by Genl. Morgan near 96. The Congress has published an Account of it, which I suppose the English Ministry will secrete, but it appears by private Letters, that a number of men have been Killed or taken Prisoners. That Tarletons own regiment is almost...
96To 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...
97From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 22. Will you be so kind as to give me the Address of your Nephew, that I may be able to convey to him, Letters for America, as I may have opportunity before he Sails. At present I know not what to write from this Country. We are now to wait untill the 20th. of June and then see great Things. The Packets you mention reached me, the Sixth of this Month, after many...
98Enclosure: Draft of an Article, 23 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is often Said in this Country, “We have nothing to gain by this War.” But who is to gain? If Holland has nothing to gain, it has much to loose, and the Question now is not what is to be gained, but was it to be Saved and defended. This Republick, may loose all her Possessions in the East and West Indies: she may loose her Navigation and Commerce: she may loose her Baltick Trade: her...
99From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr. Winslow Warren, is the Son of my Friend Major General Warren of the Massachusetts. He is, on all Sides of Families the most ancient and honourable and meritorious of that Part of America. And the Young Gentn. himself is amiable and has Merit. I should be vastly obliged to you, if you would shew him Brussels. Pray shall We have the Pleasure to see you here in a few days?...
100To 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...