121. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 21st. Are there no Malcontents in America? against the Government, who are otherwise much inclined for the american Cause, who may force the Nation, or Congress, against their Resolutions and Interests to conclude a Peace? There is no Party formed in any of the thirteen States against the new Constitution, nor any opposition against the Government, that I have ever heard of, excepting...
222. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Questions 22. and 23. General Monk repaired the Kings Government in England. Might not one American General or another, be able, by discontent or Corruption, to do the Same? Would the Army follow his orders on Such an Occasion? Could one or more Politicians, thro Intrigues undertake the Same, with any hopes of Success, Should even the Army assist him in Such a Case? I have before observed that...
323. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 25. Do they who have lost their Possessions and Fortunes by the War, endure it patiently as Compatriots, So that nothing can be feared from them? Loosing Fortunes in America, has not such dreadful Consequences to Individuals or Families, as it has in Europe. The Reason is obvious because the means of Subsistance are easier to be obtained, So that nobody suffer for Want. As far as I am...
424. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 27. How was the Situation of Manufactures, manual Art and Trade in general, at the Beginning of this War? What Change have they Suffered? Manufactures in general, never flourished in America. They were never attended only by Women and Children who could not work in the Field, and by Men at certain Seasons of the Year, and at certain Intervals of Time when they could not be employed in...
525. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Question 28. Has America gained or lost, by the mutual Capture of ships? How much is the Benefit or Prejudice of it by Calculation? America has gained. She took early, from the English ordonnance and Ammunition ships, and supplied herself in that Way, with those Articles when she had them not, and could not otherwise obtain them. She has taken in this Way a great Number of British and German...
626. To Hendrik Calkoen, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I believe you will be pleased when I tell you that We are now come to the 29th. and last Question, which is What are the real Damages Sustained, or still to be suffered by the Loss of Charlestown? and what Influence it has had upon the Minds of the People? An Interruption of the Commerce of Indigo and Rice. The Loss of many Negroes which the English will steal from the Plantations, and send to...
713. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your thirteenth Letter Inquiry is, “Of what Resources might America hereafter Still make Use of?” There are many Resources, yet untried, which would certainly be explored, if America Should be driven to the Necessity of them. 1. Luxury prevails in that young Country, not withstanding all the confident assertions of the English concerning their Distress, to a degree, that retrenching this alone...
814. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The fourteenth Question is “What is the Quantity of Paper Money in Circulation? What Credit, the Inhabitants have for it, in their daily Business? What designs the Inhabitants have by maintaining its Credit? What by preventing its Increase? and in what manner do they realize it?” The Quantity of Paper Bills, in Circulation on the 18 of March last, was Two hundred millions of Paper Dollars. The...
915. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your fifteenth Quaere is “Does not the English Army, lay out its Pay, in America? at how much can the Yearly benefit be calculated? Are not the Prisoners, provided for in America? Who has the Care of their Maintenance? How was Burgoines Army supplied?” When the English Army, was in Boston, they bought all that they could, and left considerable Sums there in silver and Gold. So they did at...
1016. To Hendrik Calkoen, 26 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Sixteenth, Inquiry is, “Who looses most by desertion? Do the English and German Deserters, Serve voluntarily and well in the American Army? How, can those who do not enter into the Army subsist?” These Questions, I answer with great Pleasure. There has been, from the Beginning of the War to this day, Scarcely an Example of a native Americans deserting from the Army to the English. There...