121C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 16 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I know that you received my letters of 2 and 8 December. Since then, I have had the honor of writing you three more, dated 18–24 December, 1–3 January, and 12–15 January. Yesterday, the 15th, in the evening, just as I was sending off my last, the French Ambassador sought me out in order to have me meet with our friend to confirm, on the Ambassador’s behalf, that this morning he will present a...
122Richard Price to the Commissioners, 18 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Price returns his best thanks to the Honourable Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and John Adams Esquires, for conveying to him the resolution of Congress of the 6th. of October last, by which he is invited to become a member of the united States, and to give his assistance in regulating their Finances. It is not possible for him to express the Sense he has of the honour which this resolution...
123C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 19 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere étoit du 16–18 de ce mois. Aujourd’hui, contre toute attente, et à notre grande surprise, il ne s’est rien passé du tout à l’Assemblée d’Hollande, si ce n’est qu’on y a lu le dernier Mémoire de Mr. l’Ambassadeur, mais on n’a rien mis en délibération. J’ai été aujourdhui 5 fois chez Mr. l’Ambassadeur, autant de fois chez notre ami (une fois au bout de la ville, où il dînoit). J’ai...
124C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 19 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
My last was of the 16–18 of this month. Contrary to our expectations and to our great surprise, nothing happened today at the Assembly of Holland. There were no deliberations, only the reading of the Ambassador’s latest memorandum. Today I have had five meetings with the Ambassador, and as many with our friend (once at the edge of town where he was dining). To the Ambassador I wrote the...
125John Gilbank to the Commissioners, 21 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Last Tuesday Week Mr. Dobrie informed me of an Additional mortification I had received by your refusing to accept my Bill, adding at same time that you informed him You had wrote to me; Since which time I have, without Effect, been waiting for your letter. It is to be lamented that such a Fatality should attend your Correspondence as to subject your Answers to miscarriage or some other Cause...
126John Lloyd and Others to the Commissioners, 21 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We had the honour to receive your letter of the 13th of this month in due course, and are thankful for Your Honours polite attention to us. We are obliged for the transmission of the Copy of the letter which Your Honours received from His Excellency The Count de Vergennes, and with pleasure observe, that in consequence an application had been made to His Excellency, to request, that the Convoy...
127Robert Niles to the Commissioners, 22 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
On my arival here Mr. Dobree told me he was informed By a line from you that I had Said that I was taken By a Privateer that belonged partly to his father —and Desired me to give him in Wrighting What the Captain Said. But as it is a matter that Concerns my Country and You being part of the legislative body of my Country To Whom I am accountable for my Conduct—I told Him I Rather Chose to...
128John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 23 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
The 9th Instant I had the honor to pay my respects to you and to request your information tutching the Convoy we Solicited for the Ships at Nantes. I meet with some difficulty in expediting of our Ships. They being American property must of course be furnishd with American Pass’s. I have to request you will favor me with your Pass’s by return of Post for the following; Vessels otherways met at...
129William Lee to the Commissioners, 23 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of directions to me from the State of Virginia, to endeavour to obtain from the French Ministry a quantity of Canon, arms and ammunition, for the use of that State, I applyed accordingly to Count de Vergennes, when his Excellency replyed, that was a business in the department of the Secretary at War, and that he tho’t it best to get you to apply to Prince Mont Barry for them:...
130Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 23 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing you December 12 1778 inclosing a Letter from Messrs. Horneca Fitzeau & Co. relative to 13 Bales cases and Barrells marked No. 1 to 13 which are the property of Mr. Simeon Dean and which were delivered to Mr. Schweighauser on a supposition that they belonged to the commissioners as mentioned in my said Letter. I have not had the honour of an answer on this Subject. I...
131The Commissioners to the Comte de Vergennes, 24 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s Letter of the 20th. enclosing M. de Sartine’s Answer, relative to the Convoy which we requested of your Excellency, for the Ships now assembled at Nantes. We are totally at a loss to understand what Mr. de Sartine writes of four Vessels mentioned by us, as ready to sail and a Convoy having sailed with two of them. We never mentioned any thing...
132Alexander Gillon to the Commissioners, 25 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to embrace this earliest opportunity of acquainting you of my arrival here this day from Our Continent, Via Havana, were I embark’d in A Spanish Vessel for Spain the 17 Novr. last, and on the 19th. Instant fell in with A Small Fleet from here under the Command of Count de Grace, (Cape Finisterre bearing E S E about 50 Leagues) who immediately with his Usual Politeness, offer’d me...
133C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 27 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Enfin j’ai la satisfaction de pouvoir vous apprendre, que les choses ont tourné au gré d’Amsterdam. Hier les Etats d’Hollande prirent la Résolution d’annuller celle du 18e. Nov. passé, qui exceptoit des Convois les Bois de construction, et de protéger leur Commerce dans toute l’extension que lui assurent les Traités; suspendant, du reste, toute délibération ultérieure sur cette matiere,...
134C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 27 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Finally I have the pleasure to inform you that things have turned out to Amsterdam’s liking. Yesterday the States of Holland resolved to annul the resolution of 18 November, which excepted ships timbers from the convoys, to protect their commerce to the fullest extent guaranteed by the treaties, and, moreover, to suspend any further deliberation on this matter until the Admiralties of all the...
135John Lloyd and Others to the Commissioners, 28 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Memorial of several of the American Gentlemen, Merchants, and Commanders of Vessels at Nantes, whose names are underwritten— Sheweth— That, the Merchants of America, during the War, are at an inconceivable expence in fitting out their Vessels—in navigating, and insuring them—and often the prospect of repayment, and adequate profit, is destroyed by detention, through accident, or misconduct:...
136The Commissioners to John Lloyd and Others, 1 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
We have this Moment the Honour of your Letter of the Twenty Eighth of last Month, and shall give the earliest Attention to its im portant Contents, but We are unhappy to think that it is not in our Power to give effectual Relief. By the Treaty Consuls &c. are to be appointed, in the respective Ports, But the Power of appointing, Such important officers is wholly with the Congress—they have...
137John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 2 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Captain Jason Laurence belonging to the Schooner General Arnold Arrived here Yesterday by a dutch Ship being put on board by a Jersey Privateer that took the Schooner the 1 Decr. fifteen Leagues from Belle Isle. He informs me the Vessel belonged to Genl. Arnold that she was the first that had been Launcht at Phila. since the recovery. He left that City the 4 Novr. had on board Packets from...
138John Lloyd to the Commissioners, 4 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Letter which Your Honors have been pleased under date of the 26th of last month, to address to several American Gentlemen, came duly to hand. Although I am not authorized to reply to it, nevertheless I should think, there would be a failure in the points of respect, and politeness, if the receipt of it, was not acknowledged. The reason why it is not done jointly, I believe proceeds from...
139The Comte de Vergennes to the Commissioners, 6 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai communiqué à M. de Sartine, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 24. du mois dernier. Ce Ministre vient de me répondre, qu’il n’est point possible de vous promettre qu’il Sera donné des escortes particuliéres aux batiments destinés pour les Etats-unis jusques aux ports de l’amérique Septentrionale ni même jusques audelà du méridien des Açores; mais que vos...
I have communicated to M. Sartine, gentlemen, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 24th of last month. This minister has replied that it is not now possible to promise you that he will provide special escorts for the vessels bound for the United States all the way to the North American ports, nor even beyond the meridian of the Azores, but that your vessels will be escorted,...
141John Julius Pringle to the Commissioners, 9 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Having heard that it is your intention to dispatch some person to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, I presume to offer you my services on that occasion. Having ever professed the purest attachment to the Cause and Interests of my Country, and ready to embrace every opportunity within my power of demonstrating it, the present will be extremely agreeable to me. If therefore no...