51James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 20 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am too ill to write much. Your Ease of Mind is what I wish to promote by confirming what I have before said vizt. That Mr. A dams was greatly esteemed here tho’ we have an odd way of discovering it sometimes. He is sole Minister Plenipo to form a triple Alliance between Holland, France and these United States with Discretion to make it Quadruple by joining Spain—for the Purpose of our...
52To John Adams from James Lovell, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
The week after Mr. C—— was appointed secretary, I saw the P.S. of a letter to Mr. S.A. in which he is said to be a very unworthy person, but he has so good a Character in the estimation of Congress and from Maryland Gentlemen, that I did not think proper to move for a power of Suspension to be given to the Commissioners, as I find it is the opinion of some here that the secretary should be...
53James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
My Almanac says that I wrote to you on the 9th. of October, but your Favour of Sepr. 26. received the 8th. of Octr. is not endorsed answered. Is this the Reason of your Silence? Or, Heaven forbid it! are you sick? At best, I fear you are in Distress.—Mr. Adams was well late in Augst., but I cannot conceal my anxieties about your second Son, who was to take Passage with Gillon. That Frigate...
54James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I will not omit to acknowledge by this Post the Receipt of your Letter of the 24th. Ulto. because I can in some measure afford you Satisfaction in Regard to what Mr. A dams mentioned to both of us. On the 31st. of May Doctr. F ranklin was directed to pay the Draughts of Mr. A and Mr. D ana to the Amount of their respective Salaries. I will on Friday send you an authentic Resolve which you can...
55James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 1 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
In my last I told you that the Case which was brought to my Lodgings for your Benefit did not appear full according to the common Mode of Packing for a Voyage. I ought to have endeavored to give you a Kind of Invoice of its Contents. I had not Time. It will now perhaps enable you to decide whether there have been Filchings if I give you only the following Sketch. 18 Ells of Diaper at 10 some...
56To John Adams from James Lovell, 24 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am much chagrined at not having a Line about you by last Post. I did not expect one from you. You are so sick of Party abroad that you would not venture to have any thing to do with Individualities, here. Every Line that I read from France, like as yours have done, confirms me in an Approbation of the part I have taken all along through the contests of many months back relative to our...
57To John Adams from James Lovell, 17 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Decr. 2d. Resolved that a Commission be made out for Mr. J. Adams similar to that heretofore granted to the Commissioners at the Court of France. The date of the Commissions upon the 27th. was an error of the Secretary. But He as well as the president and others think it of no consequence. In Congress Decr. 17th. 1777 Resolved that Genl. Washington be directed to inform Genl. Burgoyne the...
58Abigail Adams to James Lovell?, 10 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since your arrival in Philadelphia, but I have had the satisfaction of hearing from abroad and finding that the situation of my Friend was not so dissagreable as I feard. You have had publick dispatches and probable private Letters. Have you not some intelligence which you may communicate? There is not a prospect of peace I think. Thus my Friend...
59Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 17 September 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your very polite favour was handed me this Evening. I esteem myself much obliged for the enclosed plan, but I cannot describe to you the distress and agitation which the reception of your Letter threw me into. It was some time before I could get resolution to open it, and when I had opend it I dared not read it. Ten thousand horrid Ideas rushd upon my Soul. I thought it would announce to me...
60From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 2 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I duly received your several Favours of Augt 15 & Sept. 7. with the Resolves of Congress for drawing on me Bills extraordinary to the Amount of near 300 thousand Dollars. To keep up the Credit of Congress, I had already engag’d for those drawn on Mr Lawrens. You cannot conceive how much these...
61From George Washington to James Lovell, 6 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 30th May inclosing [a] List of the French Officers who came over in the Amphitrite, with the Ranks which they are to bear. I have stated to Congress some difficulties that will arise upon granting them Rank from the Dates of their french Commissions. They will by these means supersede all our own Officers of equal Rank whose Commissions, upon the new establishmt of the...
62James Lovell to the American Commissioners, 12 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress Congress having foreign Affairs now under Consideration, I shall not write to you on that Subject, more especially as it is quite uncertain how the present Papers will be conveyed to you. Nor shall I pretend to unravel to you the Designs of the Enemy. They are very inscrutable: The Printers know...
63To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
That you may excuse my vile manner of doing business, know that I am freezing in my little room this morning so that I can scarcely hold my pen, but, I am, here, in quiet. The sealed packet sent before contained Triplicates of Octr. 31st Novr. 1 and 8 which last were only an Introduction of the Bearer Col: Ewen, and an Annunciation of Mr. Laurens’s Election as President so that his Draughts...
64James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 3 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have at length an Opportunity by Mr. Brown to forward Bills of Exchange; and I only add the News Paper of Yesterday. Bell so long expected from France is arrived. He sailed with the Alliance. You know much more of your Mr. Adams than we, as only a Letter of April 10th. is come to hand from him. I assure you we feel very angry with Somebody , as neither Congress or the Minister have yet...
65Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 30 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
As I have so often troubled you with my fears tis a debt I owe your patience to communicate to you my happiness. To a Heart so susceptible as the person I address I need not discribe the joy I experienced this day in receiving Letters from my dear absent Friend informing me of his Safety and Health. He arrived at Beaudeaux the begining of April and reachd Paris the 8th, but I know not what...
66From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Octr. 14, and 19, are received. The Exposé des Motifs, is indeed news to me. I dislike, the Experiment, as much as you, and am equally happy, the offer did not suc was rejected. Mr. Jay, will find no Embarrassment, I presume, for Spain has all along furnished Mr. Lee with Money, in very considerable sums, and will continue it, I doubt not to the Minister. But I shall have precarious...
67James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday’s Post brought me your Letters of the 10th and 14 with a Copy of March 17. on the Subject of which I shall be particular when I have a proper Opportunity. I have a Friend to whom I communicate most unreservedly all the Ocurrences which tend to govern my Pleasures and my Pains; your Letters will of Course be submitted in that mixt View: I have already hinted their Influence in the...
68To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives The bearer William Palfrey Esqre our late paymaster general has been appointed Consul in France, with powers adequate to a general Agency in our Commercial Concerns there. But while I take up my pen to introduce him to your patronage, I ought to use it, rather perhaps, by way of apologizing for myself in the line of Member of the Committee for Foreign...
69To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
After the Resolve for stopping Burgoyne had passed, some were of opinion that a State of Facts found by the Committee should have preceeded the reasoning. Perhaps you will judge that it is already too laboured a report. I inclose for your own use the State of Facts alluded to which did not enter into the business of Congress; but was only talked of. We have intelligence now that 2 Hoits...
70James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
By your Letter of the 3d. received this day I find that I have lost the Pleasure of having what you and Mr. Cranch wrote some Time ago respecting your little Invoices. Tho’ I make little Progress in forwarding your Property yet my past Notifications will show that I am constantly attentive to the Business. I suspect that Mr. Cranch may have mentioned some Waggons which came to this City with...
71From John Adams to James Lovell, 24 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit this opportunity of acknowledging the Receipt of your kind Favours of 27 or 28 Novr. I Say one or the other of those days, because although the Letter has no date yet it Says it was written on the Day when a certain Commission was voted me, and both the Commissions are dated the 27, altho the Copy of the Resolution of Congress by which I was appointed is dated the 28. I should...
72Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 22 April 1789 (Adams Papers)
I this evening received your letter of April 12 th. tho’ you love a labyrinth you always give a clue. M r & M rs L may be assured that an old friend so well qualified for the office he holds will not be forgotten, and that it would be of little consequence whether P: is at Braintree or N York. M r L is surely sufficiently acquainted with my friend to know that he may be sure of his interest. I...
73James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am to thank you, in my own name, and on the public account, for that exercise of laudable patriotic prudence, which you have modestly termed the “Freedom” of inclosing to me Mr. McCreary’s letter to your worthy Husband. I read it in Congress, and I think it will be useful to the commercial Committee. The same Gentleman wrote to Mr. Adams in Sepr. some interesting history, of which he gave me...
74From John Adams to James Lovell, 7 February 1809 (Adams Papers)
If our friend as you say is writhing in a Fox trap those who as you say nibbled when I sent Elsworth to France have woven the meshes with great art. They have composed the snares of the cords of a man and the bands of Love. They have exerted themselves with success equal to thier zeal and activity to get his son Theodore elected, into the senate and his son in Law Bailies into the H——of R——of...
75To George Washington from James Lovell, 30 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
As chairman of the Committee on foreign applications, I inclose herewith to your Excellency the only list which has come to hand from France, tending, in any manner, to discover the arrangement made there of the officers who lately arrived in the Amphitrite. Should it appear hereafter by any vouchers that some of them have a just claim by compact to higher commissions, Congress will attend to...
76To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 16 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library On the 30th. of Augst. I received yr. favr. of June 2d. with the ministerial Paper containing Mauduit’s Speculations and, since that, several Pamplets wch. came under the care of Chevalr. de la Luzerne and, I think, under a Superscription in yr. Grandson’s handwriting, have reached me. I am sure Hartley is stumbling only over a Mistake about the...
77To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copies: National Archives, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; transcript: National Archives It does not appear that the Resolutions of June 26. affecting yourself & Colleagues as well as Mr. Dana have been transmitted. Mr. Presidt. McKean will take other Opportunities of Writing. I think it essential however in the mean time to forward duplicates...
78James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 23 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
Not receiving any Line from you by this day’s post, I recur to your favor of April 3d. already answered in part. I wrote to Col. Hughes to endeavor to forward the two Packages left by Doctor Winship, if he could find where they were deposited. I hope he will have found them and had them cased in Boards. Capt. J. P. Jones is without Letter or Invoice and supposes they must have been sent by the...
79James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 15 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Under a Date of Aug. 24 I did myself the Pleasure to endeavour to convey to you later Information respecting your dear Connection in Holland than you had before received, but my Letter was with others carried to New York. Mr. Adams and Family were well May 28th; and he had a few Days before taken upon himself much more of public Character than at any prior Time. Instead of Lodgings he took an...
80To John Adams from James Lovell, 22 January 1791 (Adams Papers)
From the Borders of the Grave, revived, and even established in Health, I once more present my Respects with my accustomed Fervency to You and Yours. But, with my Respects I must also send my Complaints and Supplications. In a Transaction where you was only, according to your own chosen Expression, Teste di Legno, I was fretted disgraced & beslaved; and have taken some Measures for...
81From John Adams to James Lovell, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 9 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:148–149 . Adams announced the arrival of dispatches from the congress, including the ratified Franco-American treaties and letters from Lovell. He commented on the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and France and the relative...
82From John Adams to James Lovell, 20 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 10 July is before me. Mr. Searle and every other Gentleman that you recommend to me, shall be treated with all the respect possible. I hope to see him but fear it will not be soon. I hope you will send Mr. Laurens here Minister Plenipotentiary. We have not shewn so much Attention and Respect to this Republick as it deserves, or as their Interest and ours requires. A Minister here,...
83To Alexander Hamilton from James Lovell, October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreably to the directions of your circular letter of August 31st. covering an order of the Senate passed on the 7th. of may last, I now transmit the demanded account. I cannot, however, refrain from expressing an Hope that my statements may not prove injurious to such Officers as have had usual & necessary Assistance of Clerks, without being driven to devote their own Nights as well as days...
84To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 17 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (two): American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives Doctor Putnam whose Letter is inclosed, by the Uniformity of his Attachment to our public Cause, merits your Patronage; and I inclose also for your Information some former Proceedings of Congress in which this same Gentleman is interested; requesting Sir that you would obtain a Knowledge of the...
85To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 31 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives I send you a few News papers and the last monthly Journals which have come from the Press. The Enemy will tell their own Story of the naval Engagement on the 16th. They have ventured nearer to Truth in Rivingtons royal Gazette than almost at any one time before, since the very Commencement of Hostilities. Our Allies...
86James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
I send you a Continuance of the Journals. The Printer having lately made a Mistake in the Course of sending me the Sheets of 1778, I was led to think he had done so before, as to that which I have written to you about already, called by him H; I therefore now put up one, as well as M.N. which I am certain were not before inclosed to you. I would have you send all forward to our Friend, unless...
87To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you a Peice of Intelligence perhaps altogether new. The uti possidetis offered by Spain will appear alarming perhaps to some but we are told She acted upon full Knowledge that King George the 3d of England had sworn in his Cabinet that he would not acknowledge our Independence. Spain at least knew that we would never enter into any commercial Treaty without a total relinquishment...
88To John Adams from James Lovell, 30 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Geary otherways engaged has given me the pleasure of forwarding this Intelligence from your friend Jefferson respecting the ready concurrence of the Dominion with the Articles sent lately to the States in a hope of cementing them together in a firm League. I am particularly rejoyced at this dispatch at this critical time when things appear almost desperate in this neighbourhood. As a...
89To John Adams from James Lovell, 31 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I send you a few Prints and the last monthly Journals yet from the Press. The Enemy will give you one of the most candid accounts of the naval Engagement on the 16th. that I have at any time seen in Rivington’s royal Gazette. Our Allies have conducted most gallantly: a Fog which seperated their Ships a few days before the Engagement deprived them of the Opportunity of giving an immense Turn to...
90From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copy: Yale University Library I see in a Vote of Congress shown me by Capt. Franval, that Mr. Deane is disown’d in some of his Agreements with Officers. I, who am upon the Spot, and know the infinite Difficulty of resisting the powerful Solicitations here of Great Men, who if disobliged might have it in their Power to...
91To John Adams from James Lovell, 18 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
It appears by Returns this day received from Genl. Gates that Burgoine must have destroyed his Standards and almost every other military Trophy during the Capitulation. Not one Musket fit for use was delivered, not one Scabbard to a Bayonett or Cutlass. We are told that instead of piling the Arms the Enemy chose to ground them, that the Waggons might more certainly crush them. Gates does not...
92James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 6 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
You will see, lovely Woman, by the Papers which I have sent that we shall have more post Advantages of Communication than we have had for some time back; but I fear this Remark will tend to my Disadvantage, and if it was not for Oeconomy I would throw by the present Sheet and take up another in which I would only tell you that I regard, esteem and respect you and will certainly write to you as...
93James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 10 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
As the delivery of this Billet cannot be attended with the disagreable allarm which the amiable Mrs. Adams some time ago suffered from a well meant but indiscretely-managed little Compliment of one of her Admirers, I improve this fair opportunity to congratulate her, thus, upon the late happy events at Saratoga, greatly important to the Public and, consequently, interesting to her patriotic...
94From John Adams to James Lovell, 5 April 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am much obliged by your favor of March 20 th and very apprehensive that this is not the only letter of yours unanswered. To leave your letters unanswered is in me very bad œconomy. The General is arrived here; but has as yet said nothing to me of his business. Doctor Craigie shall have all the aid in my power to give him, in his pursuit of justice in your affair: but I do not at present see...
95Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 13 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you by the last post with a freedom which perhaps you may think I had no right to make use of. I was stimulated to it by many severe speaches that I had heard, and from not knowing myself what to say in paliation of my Friend. All former excuses were worn out by time and tho I do not believe the hard things I have heard, I think he ought to suffer any temporary inconvenience which a...
96From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 June 1789 (Adams Papers)
By the last post I was favoured with yours of the twenty first of May: M r Duncan I presume has not come on—neither by his letter or your own am I made acquainted with his Views or the Object of his Wishes— I can only say to him as to all others, that his application must be made to the President and it ought to in writing Your testimony in his fav r will have weight— I thank you Sir for your...
97To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 8 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives By Mr. Cummins, on the 29th. of last Month, I forwarded several Papers of Importance Triplicates of Which Mr. Bromfield the Bearer of this will deliver: But an Accident then took place obliging me to hold back a Letter which I had written to you. Time was wanting in which to write another, the Vessel having fallen...
98To John Adams from James Lovell, 22 November 1777 (Adams Papers)
We have this Evening a Letter from Mr. Bingham of Octr. 13th. in which he tells us that the french General had received a Packet by a Boat which left Rochelle Sepr. 4th. advising him of the destination of 5,000 Troops for Martinique the Transports being actually ready at Havre Nantes and Bourdeaux to take them on Board. An Embargo was to be immediately laid upon european bound Vessels to...
99To John Adams from James Lovell, 16 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Not a Line by yesterday’s Post from either you or Mr. Dana; nor indeed from any Person whatever in Massachusetts. The Principles of Equality in the Treaty between France and us being held up as a model for future Treaties may betray Negotiators into an Error; because tho’ the Equality in regard to France and America is conspicuous, yet Partiality to France compared with other Powers has been...
100To George Washington from James Lovell, 25 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The following is the latest Intelligence from Europe yet come to my Knowledge. I have sent some part of it to the printer; but perhaps this Copy may first reach you, and prove a little respectful Exertion for your Excellency’s Benefit made by your humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . GW replied to Lovell from headquarters at West Point: “I have been favd with yours of the 14 and 25th instants. I...