1John Adams to Abigail Adams, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Proposal of coming to Europe, has long and tenderly affected me. The Dangers and Inconveniences are such and an European Life would be so disagreable to you that I have suffered a great deal of Anxiety in reflecting upon it. And upon the whole, I think it will be most for the Happiness of my Family, and most for the Honour of our Country that I should come home . I have therefore this Day...
2John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Solicitude for your Papa is charming: But he is afraid to trust you to the uncertain Elements, and what is infinitely more mischievous, the follies and depravities of the old world, which is quite as bad as that before the Flood. He has therefore determined to come to you, in America, next Summer, if not next Spring. Duty and Affections where due. RC or Dupl , in Charles Storer’s hand (...
3To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
We duely receiv’d the Letter with which your Excellency pleased to favour us the 19 th. of Novemb r. past, by which we observe Mess s. Le Couteulx and M r. Grand Call’d upon Yoúr Excellency, to Conferr, about the Subject on Which we beg’d yoúr approbation. The Opinion of Yoúr Excellency, tho given as a private Citisen is of more Consideration to ús, then that we Should go forward by...
4From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 4 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the recet of your Excellencys favor of the 27th Novembr and to thank you for the very polite manner in which you are pleased to express yourself, with respect to the correspondence between us, be assured, Sir, that nothing will give me more pleasure than to commmunicate to you any thing that may occur worthy your Notice. The apprehending of the persons mentiond in the...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress To My Very Great Concern, I Have not Yet Received Your Answer to My letter, Nor the Account of What Has officially Past in Monney Matters— But Your Opinion Has Been I should Go, and I Am Pursuing an object that May I Hope prove Useful to America— Upon Your Opinion therefore, I Determine My Going— We are Under sails With 9 ships of the line, And about 6000 Men Recruits...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Percival, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messrs. James and Charles Hill, are the Sons of Mr. John Hill, late a very considerable Tradesman in Manchester, and have left their Native Country in consequence of the Bankruptcy of their Father.— This testament to the identity of James and Charles Hill—brothers who were in France awaiting passage to America—was procured so that BF might write them a...
7From George Washington to Moses Hazen, 4 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 29 t h ulto. It will be some time before Major Barber, the only Assistant Inspector at present with the Army, can attend upon you—perhaps not till toward the latter end of the Month. By a letter from Colo. Stewart, he may be expected the beginning of this, and will, I dare say, call upon you agreeable to his promise. If his health should not permit him to come...
8From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favors of the 22d and 27 t h ulto—I cannot see upon what principles Colo. Swift should be promoted and not Colo. Dayton—There being already a Brigadier to the Connecticut Line and none to the Jersey—Colo. Shephard has resigned under the Resolve of the 19t of November. There is, I believe, no occasion of publishing your report respecting the reform of the Invalid...
9From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
It is with much pleasure that I transmit to you the Preliminary Treaty, between the King of Great-Britain and the United-States of America. The Mississippi, the Western Lands, Sagadahoc, & the Fisheries are secured, as well as we could, and I hope what is done for the Refugees will be pardoned— As the Objects, for which I ever abandoned my family & Country, are thus far accomplished. I now beg...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives We detain the Washington a little longer expecting an English Passport for her in a few Days; and as possibly some Vessel bound for North America may sail before her, I write this Line to inform you that the French Preliminaries with England are not yet signed, tho’ we hope they may be very soon. Of ours, I enclose a Copy. The Dutch &...