2501John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 26 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have two favours to ask of you. 1. That you would give orders to M r: Puller, in Broad street Buildings London to Supply a certain Lady with as much Cash, as she may have occasion for on my Account upon her Receipts. This Lady is not any one, that I have seen this four or five years: but it is my Wife, of whose Arrival, in the Texel or in London, I have Reason to expect within a month or...
2502Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 26 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter which I received by the last packet from New york, and which I sincerely hope will bring you agreeable Intelligence from your family— I shall move from hence in a few days, and will be glad to know in what manner you will have your Coach disposed of, I Beg leave to Trouble you with two Inclosed letters, one for Mess: Hope & C o. the other for Mess. John De Neufville & son,...
2503Jonathan Jackson to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
To the care of Doct r Parker who I am told will be a safe conveyance, & who has promised to deliver ’em himself, I inclose you two Letters from America—one of which particularly from M r S Adams I was desired to keep ’till I could see you or trust it only in safe hands—the other is from M r Dalton— I heard upon my first arrival in Ireland which was in Feb y that you were in England, & hoped to...
2504John Jay to John Adams, 27 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Fav r. of the 20 th. Inst. arrived last Evening— It is not in pursuance of a recent or hasty Resolution, that I am preparing to return: It has been long taken & maturely considered. the public Accounts still detain me, for ’tho’ always kept by M r Carmichael, I do not chuse to leave them unsettled behind me— when that Obstacle ceases, which I expect will be very soon, I shall leave Paris....
2505Benjamin Franklin and John Jay to John Adams, 29 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
We received the Letter you did us the honour of writing to us the 10 th. Inst, with the project of a Treaty that had been transmitted to you by the Baron de Thulemeier, which we have examined, & return herewith, having made a few small Additions or Changes of Words to be proposed, such as Citoyens for Sujets and the like, and intimated some Explanations as wanted in particular Paragraphs. The...
2506John Adams to Samuel Adams, 1 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your Letter of November 4 & Dec r 4, with great Pleasure. I had heard of your Illness and was anxious to hear of your recovery. long Voyages and Journeys, great Agitation of Mind, and the Air of putrid Cities, have given me So many Severe Fits of Sickness, that I feel myself more affected At hearing of Such Misfertunes befalling my Friends. I have recovered however, a...
2507John Adams to Jonathan Jackson, 1 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
This day I receiv’d, your kind Letter of the 27 of April, with the two Letters. I left England in January, to get some money in Holland to discharge Bills to a very large Amount, drawn at a Venture the like of which will not, I hope be repeated.— I have been here Since that time and shall go probably in three or four Weeks for Paris, where it would give me great Pleasure to see you. I can give...
2508John Adams to Tristram Dalton, 2 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d , Yesterday, your obliging Letter of the fifth of December, having before received and answered as I Suppose, my Letter Book of that time being at Paris, those of July and August.— These Letters have given me great Pleasure as they let me into the Spirit of the Times and of Affairs in a Country, whose Happiness interests me very much. It would be improper for me perhaps, if I were...
2509John Adams to Samuel Adams, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your advice “to reconcile myself to the Thought that Justice may not be done me, till I am dead” is friendly. I am not however apprehensive of Injustice living or dead. I am not ambitious of a Reputation for great Talents or Splendid Actions, with the present Age or with Posterity. The great Anxiety of my Life, has been to do my Duty and avoid just Reproach. and I know very well, that my Life...
2510John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you the 23 Ult. and expect your Answer by the next Post. To Day I have yours of 26 Ult and have executed your orders, by writing to Amsterdam &c You require me to produce to you the Bills of Exchange accepted by me, and paid by Fizeau & C o But in this with humble Submission you are wrong. D r Franklin obtained Money of the Court of Versailles M r Grand of Paris, received it, and paid...
2511John Adams to Fizeaux, Grand & Co., 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received repeated Letters from Mr. Barclay, who is settling American Accounts, requiring me to produce the Bills of Exchange which were accepted by me, and paid by you in Amsterdam in behalf of Mr Grand at Paris, or of D r. Franklin If you are willing to deliver them to me, I will come to Amsterdam to receive them, and will take them with me to Paris. But I will not dissemble to you,...
2512John Adams to Baron von Thulemeier, 4 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
M r Adams presents his Compliments to the Baron De Thulemeier: He has received from Paris, the Project of a Treaty, returned with the Remarks of his Colleagues Mess rs Franklin and Jay. He desires to know the Hour tomorrow, when it will be most agreable to the Baron, that he Should wait upon him, to make the Communication. LbC ( Adams Papers ); APM Reel 107. From Benjamin Franklin and John...
2513Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 6 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter relative to the House at Auteuil, since which several Messages pass’d between the Count de Rouault and Me, and all have Ended in an appointment to Meet Tomorrow on the spot, where I shall make known my demands for Repairs, and more than probably I will Inform you by next post that the House is taken for you The Furniture must absolutely be alterd,...
2514Edmund Jenings to John Adams, 7 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of having received your Excellencys Letter, wherein I find a most Obliging Introduction to M rs Adams, which I shall certainly make Use of, should I Ever have an Opportunity. I return your Excellency many Thanks for the Abbé de Mablys Book— it is put in to the Hands of a Gentleman to be translated & published, under the Stipulations, you have prescribed. Will your Excellency...
2515Joseph Reed to John Adams, 7 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I should not have put you to the Expence of a Letter by the Post. But M r. Vanbibber a Gentleman of respectable Family & Fortune going over to Holland I could not resist the Temptation of renewing our friendly Intercourse which was suspended during the Winter. M r. De Berdt was so obliging as to communicate a Paragraph of his Letter respecting the Bills drawn by M r. Morris in the Fate of...
2516Instructions to the American Commissioners, May–June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Whereas Instructions bearing date the 29 th. day of October 1783 were sent to the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles empowered to Negotiate A Peace or to any one or more of them for concerting Draughts or Propositions for Treaties of Amity and Commerce with the Commercial Powers of Europe Resolved That it will be advantageous to these United...
2517John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 8 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am to take with me to Paris, a Quantity of Bills of Exchange, formerly accepted by me, in behalf of the United States and paid by Mess rs: Fizeaux, Grand & Co. it is necessary that a List of these Bills should be made, before I sign a Receipt for them; and therefore, these are to request you, to speak to M r: Fizeau upon the subject, and assist in making the List, or at least in examining...
2518John Adams to Rolland & Co., 9 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec’d the Letter you did me the Honour to write me yesterday. I am surprised that M r: Barclay, should desire you to transmit to me, any Information respecting the Bills, as I have nothing to do with them, and I have no Curiosity about them. I am still more surprised at your saying that I stand accountable for a Bill of 824.ƒ— I presume to say, M r: Thaxter had too much Sense and...
2519John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment rec’d your Letter of the 6 th: and have now only to say, that if you have not absolutely engaged the House I desire you would not engage it at all, and if you have engaged it, to get released from that Engagement upon the easiest Terms you can— This is an Unlucky Change of Mind But I shall not change again. With great Esteem, your &c. LbC in JQA ’s hand ( Adams Papers );...
2520John Adams to John Jay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. But The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
2521Edmund Jenings to John Adams, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the Honour of writing to your Excellency by the last Post, & inclosing a Letter, which might have been productive by this Time of an Event, which I assure myself would have been painful to you. I Know not as yet, what is the result of my Ennemies Council thereon. I called three times at Vine Street Yesterday but found no Letter from either. Let them take their Time, I have done,...
2522Arthur Lee to John Adams, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let this opportunity, thõ, from M r. Jefferson’s hurry, a transitory one, pass; without writing you a line. The arrangement of our foreign affairs which makes M r Jay Secretary here, & joins M r. Jefferson with you, must I think be pleasing to you, as they both have a friendship for you & are men of ability. It was my wish that the negociations might be carried on at the Hague or in...
2523John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 12 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to have given you, So much Trouble about the House, to no purpose: But I am weary of these perpetual Incertitudes in which We are kept, and I must put an End to them as far as they regard me, by planning my Affairs for myself, or they will soon put an End to me. I conclude therefore to remain here without farther Wandering, and not to go to Paris at all, at least not untill I know...
2524Joint Commission to Negotiate a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Great Britain, 12 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
To all to whom these presents shall come or be made known—Send Greeting— Whereas an intercourse between the Subjects of His Britannic Majesty and the Citizens of the United States of America founded on the principles of equality, reciprocity and friendship may be of mutual advantage to both Nations— Now therefore Know Ye that we reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, prudence...
2525John Adams to Samuel Adams, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letters by M r Jackson and M r Appleton. The former I answered Some days ago.— My Son who is going to London in hopes of meeting his Mother and Sister will convey this from thence.— I shall probably be fixed here, out of the reach of that Envy, which you prophecy whose Power I never felt or dreaded untill I Saw Europe.— There are little Fermentations in the Courts of...
2526John Adams to the president of Congress, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Since my last Arrival in Holland, I have not transmitted to Congress, the Details of the Politicks of this Court and Nation, nor of those neighbouring Courts which are exciting disputes with it. M r Dumas has been in the Habit and Train of that History and I have not thought fit to interrupt him: But if I Should reside here regularly, the whole Business of the Mission will of Course go through...
2527John Adams to the president of Congress, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Measures taken by the Neighbouring Powers are likely to produce an intimate Friendship and Connection between this Republick and France. England, has mistaken her Policy So much as to delay the Signature of the definitive Treaty, and to keep up a Coldness and Distance, which instead of exciting the Populace, in favour of England as She expected has only accellerated the Union with France,...
2528John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter with the Copy inclosed, which has affected me too tenderly, to write any other Answer at present than this, that I have ever vindicated your Character as far as lay in my Power, from the Suspicion of having written that anonimous Libel the only case that I have ever heard of, in which it was endangered: and that I Shall ever continue to vindicate it, because I...
2529Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 13 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am favor’d, with your letter of the 4 th. and thank you for the Trouble you took with the letters for Amsterdam— I am about half Converted to your opinion on the subject of the Vouchers, and will try to get them by other means than your Interposition— I have made a Memorandum of the Repairs which will be Necessary at Auteuil, and will finish the affair Tomorrow. I left it unclosed untill I...
2530John Adams to the president of Congress, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
As I had the Honour to observe in a former Letter there is a Fermentation in the Courts of the two Empires and those of Bourbon, which appears in Several Particulars which may be explained hereafter. A Question of Etiquette, which amounts to no more, than which of two Persons Shall enter or leave a Room the first may Set all Europe in a Flame. The Prince de Gallitzin, the Russian Ambassador,...
2531John Adams to Richard Cranch, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here in anxious Expectation of the Arrival of my Family, which I hope are coming in Calahan. When I Shall have the Happiness to see you I know not, but I think it probable I Shall remain here untill I return to America, as We learn nothing of any determinations of Congress. M rs & Miss Adams will not be Sorry to have made a Trip to the Hague provided they are not obliged to Stay long, and...
2532Mason Locke Weems to John Adams, 14 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency’s very Friendly Letter of the 22 April is safely come to hand, for which be pleased to accept my warmest thanks. a poor Acknowledgement truly for so Signal a favour. The Honour ble M r Laurens advises me to proceed immediately to Copenhagen But his Lordship the Bishop of St Asaph, thinks I might as well Stay a few Weeks longer, and see whether or no Parliament will pass an Act...
2533John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 16 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last Night I received your letters of the 10 th. and 11 th. Inst: and am sorry you had the Trouble of writing to me about the Bills, which was owing to a Misstake made by the Gentlemen at Amsterdam— In place of sending My letter to your Care, they address’d you directly on the subject— Immediately on receipt of your resolution respecting the House at Auteuil, I gave Notice to the owner that I...
2534Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 20 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I Shall go to Amsterdam next Week, receive all the Bills of Mess rs Fizeaux & C o and Send them to you by Express, by whom I pray you to send me my Trunk and all my Effects. The Express will not Sett off, under ten days. You need not mention at present that I have Sent for my Effects. The Coach you may keep a little longer, if it is not inconvenient to you. if it is, as it is the Property of...
2535The President of Congress to the American Commissioners, 20 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit to you the following Acts of Congress relating to the formation of commercial Treaties &c viz— N1. Letter to the Ministers plenipotentiary at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid dated 17 th of October 1780— N2. Instructions to the Ministers of the United States for making Peace with Great Britain dated May 30 th 1783 N3. Instructions to the Ministers...
2536Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 22 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am favor’d with your letter Covering one from Mess: Hope & C o. relative to the Draughts on M r. Jay which were twice paid. and I am much obliged to you for the Trouble you have had— The Trunk which you Mention was left by M r. Ridley, but No Key that I Can hear of, there is another Trunk of yours here, Exclusive of a very small one, and a quantity of Cloaths— I Do not beleive I Can Engage a...
2537John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 24 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am here to collect together the Bills and Send them to you by Express. When this Express returns, I pray you to Send by him, my Trunk and all my Cloaths. The Books you will deliver also to him or his order to be Sent to me. Will you be so good as to pack the Trunk yourself, and see that the Books, Papers, and Plate are well placed and fixed So that they may not shake too much. You will Send...
2538John Bondfield to John Adams, 25 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
You will have receiv’d advice before this of the departure of M r Jay for London. I was at Passi on friday the Docter askd me if I had seen you and if you intended to come up. I told him that from some words you made use of I judged that you had had intention to come to paris but that some difficulties at present were obstacles to your design. M r Laurence has also been at paris but only past...
2539C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams, 25 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
En vous acheminant les Lettres, &c. ci-jointes, j’ai le plaisir de pouvoir vous dire, qu’il s’agit en ce moment très-sérieusement à l’Assemblée d’Holl de. des mesures pour arriver à la conclusion d’un Traité avec la F ce. . Le Traité définitif de la pax, avec l’Angl e. a été signé à Paris le 20. Je suis avec les respects de ma famille joints au mien, De Votre Excellence / le très-humble &...
2540John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 28 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment your Favour of 22. last night I returned from Amsterdam, where I have collected the Bills and left them with M r Willink to be Sent to you, by an Express, who will sett off, next Wednesday, and bring you a Letter containing all Particulars. By him, you will please to Send all my Things, except the Filtrating Machine, which is at your Service.— As soon as my Express returns I...
2541John Thaxter to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The time of M rs— A s. departure draws so near, & the Conveyance is so unexceptionable, that I can hardly be excused from forwarding a few Lines.— I wish it was in my power to write you a particular state of our public Affairs; but my life for six months past has been so recluse, and I have seen so few Persons from whom certain Information could be obtained, that you must not expect any very...
2542Mercy Otis Warren to John Adams, 1 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
This will be handed you by a person who will insure the welcome did it come from one who has much less Claim to your Friendship than the writer. at the same time her communications will render any other needless from your American Friends. this therfore is only a line in Testemony of my Respect & Regard. Though if I was to indulge my pen it would be very Expresive of my Wishes for your Early...
2543Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 2 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I Have not Been Honoured with an Answer to My last letter, I will not lose time in Acquainting You that My departure from l’orient is fixed on the 22 d in sant — Any letter from You that Reaches Paris Before the 17 th will Be Carefully forwarded By me, and in Case You Had Any to send Clear of post offices, their Being put into My Hands will insure their Being Safely delivered to the...
2544John Adams to the president of Congress, 7 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Some Weeks ago the Baron de Thulemeier called upon me and delivered me the Paper, copy of which is inclosed marked 1. It is a Letter written by the Envoy to the King. Last Evening the Baron called upon me again and delivered me the Answer of the King contained in the Paper Copy of which is inclosed, marked 2 I have heretofore transmitted to Congress, by different opportunities, Copies of the...
2545Jonathan Jackson to John Adams, 7 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of three Letters from you & to ask pardon for the appearance of Neglect in not doing it before—the several Vessels bound to America have taken up my time in writing, together with the business consequent upon Letters received by several Arrivals from thence— I have your’s of the 1 st May in answer to one by M r Parker—of the 4 th inclosing Col o Pickering’s...
2546Jan Willink to John Adams, 10 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The express set of thursday morning the 3 d of June, with the bills of exchange, your letter to M r. J: Barclay Esq r. & a letter from us to Mess: Van den Yver Freres & Comp̃: at Paris to furnish him with the necessary money, the reason, why I did not advice the same was occasioned by a Severe Sickness of mine eldest Son, who retained me at my seat, & who is thank the Almightÿ on the way of...
2547John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
My Express who sett off, on the third from Amsterdam is with you before now, and I hope you have found the Bills of Exchange to your Satisfaction. I am anxious for his Return, that I may have once collected together, under my own Eye, all that belongs to me in Europe, and be able to finish my Accounts. I should be much obliged to you, if you would examine my Accounts and Vouchers and give me...
2548John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received in Season, the Letter mentioned in yours of the Second of this Month, but as there was nothing in it which required an immediate Answer, I have not acknowledged the Recipt of it, untill now. If an Express should be upon his Passage with any Arrangement of Congress, respecting their foreign Affairs I presume the Departure of M r Jay and M r Laurens for America, will disarrange it: So...
2549John Adams to Jonathan Jackson, 15 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday, M r Bingham arrived and delivered me the Extracts, for which I am obliged to you, they coincide with many other Letters and much other Evidence. There is no Commission or Instruction, in Europe, to negotiate any Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain. There is only a general Instruction to “meet the Advances and encourage the Disposition of the Commercial Powers of...
2550Tristram Dalton to John Adams, 16 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit paying my most sincere Respects by your good M rs Adams—on whom and your amiable Daughter attend my best prayers— it would have given me great Satisfaction to have offered them my Compliments, personally , before their sailing for Europe, Which I am deprived of by leaving Town this Evening— May the Winds be propitious and every blessing be theirs— I have had the pleasure of...