From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 July 1782
To Edmund Jenings
The Hague July 5. 1782
Dear sir
Will you be so good as to inclose the inclosed to your Friend B and tell him that your humble servant is not the ill natured Mortal that Anonimous Gentry represent him.1
Pray what is the News about Peace? You know I presume the whole History of it. I know nothing. Is Mr Jay arrived at Paris? Is, the U. S. of America a belligerent Power? Where is the combined Fleet? Is Gibraltar to be relieved? Is common sense ever to return to G. B.? Is the Pope about to abolish the Inquisition? The Celibacy of the Clergy? &c dont the Emperor make another Journey this summer?
The States of Holland are assembled and next Wednesday go upon my Treaty—and they Say We shall soon agree.2 The Dutch Fleet too they say is going out. What a Scourge to his Country is that Rodney? His Countrymen, as soon as ever they begin to come to their senses, have their Heads turned again by some of his Feats? But it cannot be always so—a few more thirty Millions, will drain the Fountain.
Pray have you any certain Intelligence that Mr A. Lee is in Congress. I see by the Papers Mr Izzard is chosen?3
Adieu
RC (Adams Papers).
1. See the anonymous letter attacking JA that Jenings received from his friend Edward Bridgen and then enclosed with his letter of 6 June to JA, above.
2. That is, on 10 July. A printed copy of the report on the treaty that the Provincial States of Holland and West Friesland adopted on 18 July is in the Adams Papers. There it is accompanied by a partial French translation in Dumas’ hand. The focus of the report was on the revision or omission of Arts. 22 and 23 of the draft treaty, for which see The Negotiation of the Dutch-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 22 Aug. – 8 Oct., below.
3. Arthur Lee had been elected to Congress in Dec. 1781 and reelected in June 1782. He served for lengthy periods in 1782, and in July he was in attendance in Philadelphia. Ralph Izard was elected to Congress in Jan. 1782 and served through much of 1782 into 1783 (, 18:xxiii, xxii; 19:xxv, xxiv).