1From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 31 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The disagreeable events which have taken place in the Pensyla and Jersey lines—the general discontent of the Army for want of pay, cloathing & Provisions—added to the usual course of business (which increases with our perplexities) will, I am perswaded, be admitted as a sufficient apology for my not acknowledging the receipt of your confidential, and obliging letter of the 8th, till now. To...
2From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 11 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Promise, which was made me by Mr. Bergsma, that I should have an Answer from the Province of Friesland in three Weeks, has been literally fulfilled. This Gentleman, who as well as his Province deserves to be remembered in America, sent me a Copy of the Resolution in Dutch as soon as it passed. It is now public in all the Gazettes, and is concieved in these Terms. “The Requisition of Mr....
3From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 23 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge, & thank you for your favor of the 16th which covered a Letter from the Marqs de la Fayette dated the 30th of Jany. That letter does not contain any News of considerable moment relative to public affairs—Altho’ the Marquis does not pretend to speak of the plan of the Campaign; his sentiments in general appear to be—That Britain will make a desperate effort to prosecute...
4From John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, 25 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
I scarcely ever address you in the familiar Stile, but I am insensibly led to reflect on what Clermont & we were fifteen or sixteen Years ago—nature seems to have given me a Propensity to Reverie, and I have long found pleasure in endulging it. past Scenes recalled to view in this Species of perspective appear much softned—the lesser asperities are lost in the Distance, and the more pleasing...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 28 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of LS and of copy: National Archives; (II) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two); press copy of copy: National Archives I received at the same time your several Letters of Oct. 20, 24 & Novr 26. which I purpose to answer fully by the return of the Alliance. Having...
6From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 6 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
The Secretary of the Minister of State sent me Yesterday Morning your Favor of the 13 th . December last marked N o . 3. accompanied by a Duplicate of your Letter of 28 th . November marked N o . 2. Copy of a Resolution of Congress of 30 th . Oct r . & 2 d . November, . . . stating Quotas of Money. . . . of 23
7From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 13 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
Maj Franks has delivered the my Dispatches to Cap t . Manly who I hope will deliver them together with this Letter to You These Dispatches were directed to Congress because at that Time I was ignorant of your Appointment. They properly belong to your Department, and I not only authorize but desire you to treat them exactly as if they had been directed to you and not to the President of...
8From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 14 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday the Duplicate of your Letter of the 23d. of October was brought to me, the Original not yet arrived. It is with great pleasure I learn that a Minister is appointed for foreign Affairs, who is so capable of introducing into that Department an Order, a Constancy and an Activity, which could never be expected from a Committee of Congress so often changing and so much engaged in other...
9From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 16 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
No Letters by the Marquis de la Fayette have as yet reached me. I had the Honor of writing to you on the 6 th . and 13 th . Instant. We were Yesterday informed, and so the Fact is, that the Castle of S t . Philip surrendered by Capitulation to the Duke De Crillon on the 4 th . Instant. There was no Breach made, nor any of the out Works taken. The Garrison are to go to England, and remain...
10From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 18 February 1782 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you a short Letter on the 16 th . Instant. I have procured a Copy of the Gazette to be published To-morrow, and I send enclosed as much of it as contains the Articles of Capitulation for Fort S t . Philip. This Event takes place very opportunely, and will have a fine Effect in England. Things begin to look more promising; But I avoid particulars for a Week or two, that I may have a...
11From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 19 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the 14th. instant I had the honor to acknowledge the Receipt of your Duplicate of the 23d. of October. To day Major Porter brought me your favor of the 20th. of November, and the original of that of the 23d. of October. I congratulate You, Sir, on the glorious News contained in these Dispatches; but I cannot be of your Opinion, that great as it is, it will defeat every Hope that Britain...
12From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 21 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
I know very well the Name of the Family where I spent the Evening with my worthy Friend Mr. — before We set off, and have made my Alphabet accordingly: but I am on this occasion as on all others hitherto utterly unable to comprehend the sense of the Passages in Cypher. The Cypher is certainly not taken regularly under the two first Letters of that Name. I have been able sometimes to decypher...
13From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 27 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Friesland has at last taken the Provincial Resolution to acknowledge the Independence, of which United America is in full Possession. It is thought that several Cities of Holland will soon follow their Example, and some say it will be followed forthwith by the whole Republick. The first Burgomaster of this City has said within a few days past, that in six Weeks at furthest, the Independence of...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Since I wrote the two short Letters of which I herewith send you Copies, I have been honoured with yours No. 5 dated the 16th Decr. Enclosed I send Copies of two Letters from M. le Comte de Vergennes, relating to certain Complaints from Ostend and Copenhagen against our Cruisers. I...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; press copy of LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I have just received the honour of yours dated Jan 7. Your Communication of the Sentiments of Congress with Regard to many Points that may come under Consideration in a Treaty of Peace, gives me great Pleasure, & the more as they agree so perfectly with my own Opinions and furnish me...
16From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
By the Address of the House of Commons to the King, his Majesty’s Answer, and the Resolution of the House in Consequence of it, “that he would be highly criminal and an Enemy to his Country who should attempt to carry on an offensive War in America against the Sense of the House”: by the surrender of Minorca and the disastrous face of British Affairs in Ireland, as well as in the East and West...
17From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 14 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
Count Montfort will be the Bearer of this Letter— He was formerly Maj r . of Count Pulaski’s Legion, & on leaving America, resigned that Commission. He has the passed many months here, and is now setting out for Cadiz with Design to sail in the first Vessel from thence to Philadelphia— He expresses a strong Desire to be employed in our Country, and to which from the Consistency of his...
18From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 19 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 19 March 1782. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, IV, f. 25–60). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 5:246–265. LbC in both JA ’s and John Thaxter’s hands ( Adams Papers ). The Letterbook text is divided between two Letterbooks, Lb/JA/16 and Lb/JA/18...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 30 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , copy, and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress In mine of the 9th Inst. I acknowledg’d the receipt of yours of Jany. 7. & I have not since received any of later Date. The Newspapers which I send you by this Conveyance will acquaint you with what has since my last passed in Parliament. You will there see a Copy of the Bill brought in by the Attorney Genl: for impowering...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston: Two Letters, 8 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; (II) LS : New-York Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Since my last an extraordinary Revolution has taken place in the Court of England. All the old Ministers are out and the Chiefs of the Opposition are in their Places. The News Papers that I send will give you the Names as correctly as we yet...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 12 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress Being at Court on Tuesday, I learnt from the Dutch Minister, that the new English Ministry have offer’d thro’ the Ministers of Russia, a Cessation of Arms to Holland, and a renewal of the Treaty of 1674. M. de Berkenrood seem’d to be of Opinion, that the Offer was intended to gain Time, to obstruct the Concert of...
22From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 19 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit, the following Resolutions of the respective Provinces, relative to my Admission in Quality of Minister Plenipotentiary, together with two Resolutions of their High Mightinesses upon the Same Subject, all in the order in which they were taken. Extract from the Register Book of the Lords the States of Friesland. “The Requisition of Mr Adams, for presenting his...
23From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 22 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the twenty second day of April I was introduced by the Chamberlain to his most Serene Highness the Prince of Orange. Knowing that his Highness spoke English, I asked his Permission to speak to him in that Language, to which he answered smiling, “if You please Sir.” Altho’ French is the Language of the Court, he seemed to be pleased and to recieve as a Compliment my Request to speak to him...
24From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 24 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the 24th. day of April I had the Honor to be introduced to the Princess, from whom I met a very gracious Reception. As it is necessary to say something upon these Occasions, I could think of nothing better than what follows: Je suis ravi d’avoir l’honneur de presenter une Republique Vierge, un Monde Enfant à la Bienveillance et à la Protection de votre Altesse Royale; d’une Princesse aussi...
25From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 28 April 1782 (Jay Papers)
My Letter to his Excellency the President of Congress of 3 d . of October last, of which a Copy has ^ also ^ been since sent, contained a full and accurate account of their Affairs here. Many minute, and not very interesting details of little difficulties were omitted, and among others those which arose from my having no funds for the Bills payable in October and November &c. &c. The...
26From John Jay to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Robert R. Livingston), 14 May 1782 (Jay Papers)
A Letter from Doct r . Franklin calls me to Paris— I set off in about five Days—he has doubtless written to You on this Subject. Maj r . Franks is on the way to You with Dispatches from me— be pleased to direct ^ send ^ your future Letters for me, under Cover to Doct r Franklin— No Inconveniences will at present be caused by my absence. The Instructions intended for M r Del Campo are to be...
27From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 16 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the twelfth of this month, I removed into the Hôtel des Etats Unies de l’Amerique, situated upon the Canal called the Fleweele Burgwal at the Hague, where I hope the Air will relieve my Health in some degree from that weak state to which the tainted atmosphere of Amsterdam has reduced it. The American Cause has gained a signal Triumph in this Country. It has not persuaded an ancient Rival...
28From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 22 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
While the Qr Master is endeavouring to furnish the bearer (who is said to be charged with important dispatches for Congress from France) with a fresh Horse, I set down to acknowledge, in haste, the Receipt of your favor of the 30th Ulto, & to thank you for the information which it contains. We wanted no fresh opiate to encrease that Stupor into which we had fallen; but I much fear that the...
29From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 22 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Favor of the 13th communicating to me the formal Annunciation to Congress, by the Minister of France, of the Birth of a Dauphine. Measures are ordered to convey to the Army the News of this happy Event; which will be celebrated with such Demonstrations of Joy as the Occasion requires and our Circumstances will admit. This Information will be transmitted to Genl...
30From George Washington to Robert R. Livingston, 5 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was honored with your favor of the 27th Ulto by the last Post. The extract from the Marqs La Fayette’s Letter--which you were so obliging to send me--is, in substance, the same as the one he has written to me himself.—On some points he is more particular in his letter to you—on others, mine is more full; A copy of which, if I had a Cypher established with you, I would have sent; but am...