From John Jay to John Adams, 1 September 1782
To John Adams
Paris 1 Septr 1782
Dr Sir
I am this Moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter,1 and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it.
My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing.2 We have told Mr Oswald so, & he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet recd. an answer—herewith enclosed is a Copy of his Commission— Mr Vaughan has no public Character. Mr Fitzherbert is employed to talk about Preliminaries with this Court.3 Nothing I think will be done until the Return of Mr Oswalds Express—we shall then be enabled to form some Judgment of the british Ministry’s real Intentions Adieu— I have only Time to add that I am with great Esteem Sir your most obt. Servt
John Jay
His Exy John Adams Esqr
ALS, MHi: Adams (EJ: 6406). Dft, NNC (EJ: 7446). Enclosure: Richard Oswald’s commission dated 25 July 1782, C, MHi: Adams; , 5: 613–14.
1. The present letter replies to JA’s letter of 13 Aug. 1782, above.
2. In a letter to JJ of 2 Sept. that he decided not to send, JA had written: “You know very well the Terms upon which you and I have ever been. We have often differed in opinion upon Politicks and Supported our opinions with Ardour: but notwithstanding this I have ever had a full Confidence in your Honour and firm Attachment to the Cause of our Country. And there has never to my Knowledge been any Misunderstanding between us. I Sincerely hope there never will, and on my Part there will never be given any occasion for it. We may differ in opinion again, without diminishing Esteem or Affection. But there are Persons in the World who will use all the Arts of the Devil to breed Misunderstandings between us. Let Us agree to be upon our Guard against them.” See , 13: 414.
3. For a comparison of the commissions issued to Alleyne Fitzherbert and Richard Oswald, see , 13: 412–13.