1To John Adams from Francis Dana, [29 July 1783] (Adams Papers)
’Tis done. The bolt of your Vulcan has hit its aim. The idea you mentioned to me some time since, relative to the use of the Credit I had asked for, and which in reply I told you was not new to me, that the same had been repeatedly thrown out here by persons, whom to suspect of sinister or interested views wou’d be deemed by some a most damnable political heresy, has crossed the Atlantic and...
2To John Adams from Francis Dana, [6 June 1783] (Adams Papers)
I wrote you two letters by the last post, which I sent to Amsterdam upon the supposition that you might be at the Hague by the Time they will arrive there. They are dated the 21 st. & 23 d. inst:— I yesterday received a letter from your Son dated Hague May 12 th. containing some account of his Route from hence to Stockholme. The matter contained in my confidential letter which you will receive...
3To John Adams from Francis Dana, [3 June 1783] (Adams Papers)
No answer as yet. There is another point touching the Treaty mentioned in my last, of much importance. That is to secure the same advantages for our proper productions when imported into the British Dominions in Europe, as is given upon the importation there of similar articles from their own Colonies on the Continent. At least secure the same advantages upon our proper productions, when...
4To John Adams from Francis Dana, [1 June 1783] (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 24 th. of March which was mentioned as missing in my last, has this day come to hand together with that of the 1 st. inst: Since mine of the 16 th. of March, the receipt of which you acknowledge in your last, I have written three times to you viz: on the 28 th. of April, the 1 st. and 4 th. of May. enclosing Copies of my Memorial in the two first. By the last post I sent an...
5To John Adams from Francis Dana, 15 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 18 th. of April has this day come to hand, but that mentioned in it by which you had authorised me to draw upon your Bankers as I had proposed to you, has never reached me. This is the only letter of your’s which I know has ever failed coming safe to hand. I had wondered you had delayed so long to return me an answer to a matter which you had very strong reasons to suppose...
6To John Adams from Francis Dana, 12 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
I sent to your Care by the last Post thrô this same Channel a Copy of the Memorial which I presented on the 27 th. ult: to the Vice Chancellor, and of my Letter to him accompanying it. I now send you fair and complete Copies of them. If you shou’d not have forwarded the first Copy of the Memorial when this second comes to your hands, you will be pleased not to send it on at all, not only...
7To John Adams from Francis Dana, 9 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
The post of the 21 st. inst: brôt M r: Thaxter’s Letters of the 31 st. of March, and 3 d. of April; by which I find you had received mine of the 24 th. of Feb y: informing you that I had that day communicated my Mission to the Vice Chanc r: and the reason why I did it. The Contents of this packet will therefore much surprise you. You will be ready to ask what has since taken place. I only...
8To John Adams from Francis Dana, 27 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 22 d. of Feb y: has come to hand this moment, and has given me much satisfaction. I always admired the noble and independant spirit of my friend; but I now see cause to admire it still more. You have confered additional obligations upon, or to express myself otherwise, you have rendered additional services to your Country, by breaking to peices chains forged to hold it in a state...
9To John Adams from Francis Dana, 23 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
In the Gazette of Amsterdam of the 4 th: of March which has this day come to hand, we read, On débite que les Etats-Unis de l’Amerique nommeront un nouveau Ministre auprès de cette République, à la place de M r: Jean Adams, qui se trouve actuellement à Paris, et qui aussitot après avoir reçu la ratification du Congrès, reviendra ici pour prendre congé, et partira ensuite avec M r: Van Berkel à...
10To John Adams from Francis Dana, 7 March 1783 (Adams Papers)
The post of yesterday brôt me your obliging favour of the 5 th. of this month N.S. in which you say nothing of the Treaty with Sweden which the Leyden Gazette tells us was signed that day. I do not doubt the fact, from the intelligence you gave me some time past of the prepared state of it. My former letter will have advised you of the deficiency of M r: Grand’s Credit and of my proposal to...
11To John Adams from Francis Dana, 25 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last post Copies of several Resolutions of Congress, from M r: Thaxter. None of them seem to be of any present importance since the peace, except that of the 14 th: of Sept r. last, relative to our Loans in Europe. This must not occasion any change in the Credit you & the D r: have engaged to me. I shall still rely upon it. There can be no doubt but that Congress will approve...
12To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
After I had closed my last to you acknowledging the receipt of your’s of the 22 d. of Dec r: , my Bankers advised me of the new Credit M r: Grand had desired them to place to my account. I found it to amount to D r: Franklin’s Moiety of the sum necessary, only. From your letter I was lead to expect that M r: Grand wou’d have given me a credit here for the whole sum. I desired my Bankers to...
13To John Adams from Francis Dana, 26 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
The post of this day has brôt me your favour of the 22 d. ult o: in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 14/25 of Nov r: . I have since written to you upon the 8 th & 30 th. of Dec r: & 2/13 inst: as also to the Commissioners upon the third in answer to their joint letter— In the first place let me thank the D r. & you for the ready manner in which you have consented to my...
14Francis Dana to the American Peace Commissioners, 14 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I was honoured with your favour of the 12 th. of Dec r: by the last post, enclosing a Copy of the preliminary Treaty of Peace between his Britannic Majesty and the United States. I most heartily congratulate with you upon this great event, in which you have had the honour of so distinguished a part. I think that we ought to be, and shall be satisfied with the terms of peace. But we are here...
15To John Adams from Francis Dana, 13 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I have read your preliminary treaty with some attention and much satisfaction. You will suffer me however to suggest whether it might not be expedient in the definitive Treaty, to ascertain more particularly the property of all the Islands in the Lakes, but especially those situated in, or near the entrance of, their several water communications; as also the right of navigating on either side...
16To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with your’s of the 6 th. inst: from Paris, which has been 34 days on its rout here. Ten of them might have been saved if you had thought of delivering it to M r: G——d to be forwarded under cover to his friend in this City. From the time we had the first intelligence of the preliminaries being signed, viz. the 15th. of this Month O.S. I have been most impatiently...
17To John Adams from Francis Dana, 19 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I give you a thousand thanks for your short letter of the 8 th. of last month which I rec d. this morning. I had before received a Copy of the State Paper you mention; the consequences you draw from it relative to the Neutral Powers are clear & beyond all question. I had view’d the matter in the same light which you & M r: J. view it in, so far as can respect myself. You will see my sentiments...
18To John Adams from Francis Dana, 25 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
By the time this comes to your hands I hope you will have received a letter from your Son from Stockholm, as I charged him to write you without fail from thence. I had one from him dated Helsingfors Nov r: 8 th. N. Stile advising me of his arrival there the day before, and that he shou’d set off on the 9 th. for Abo the Town in Finland from whence they embark to cross the Haf for Stockholm. I...
19To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 October – 1 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you yesterday by a different course: You will receive that letter a few days after this comes to your hands. You will be pleased to see that immediate attention is paid to a particular part of it, as requested. I then advised you that your Son wou’d set off the same day (which he did about noon) for Stockholm, where he proposed to remain 8. or 10. days, and then to pursue his journey...
20To John Adams from Francis Dana, 26 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Soon after my arrival here I intimated to you that I had discovered something which I thought a clew to account for the advice given me by a certain person, and which you and I then were of opinion, was calculated to throw an obstruction in my way, and of course that I ought not to follow it. I told you I wou’d communicate it to you by the first good opportunity. None has offered till now....
21To John Adams from Francis Dana, 18 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letters of the 17th. and 29th. of Septr: and after assuring you that they have given me much pleasure because they acquaint me your health and spirits are in a tolerable good state. I shall endeavour to make the best returns for them I am able to do, in my feeble state. My heart is obliged to ask leave of my head whenever it wishes to pay a proper attention to...
22To John Adams from Francis Dana, 4 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Please to forward the enclosed letters three in number, by the earliest different opportunities. Do not send either in the same enclosures with any others you have already received from me or shall receive hereafter. If you have the same Cypher sent to you, and you have patience to do it, decypher one of them. They contain a matter I have hinted to you long since as presenting a clue to a...
23To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have no time to write you by this post. Your Son is in good health, but I fear he will not find an opportunity to leave this terrestial paradise before the first snows. Mr: Thaxter’s letter of the 21.7 and 31st. of Augt: has come to hand, but no tidings yet of the picture. Pray by whom did you send it? Nothing of importance stirring here. How goes on your negotiation for Peace? Do our...
24To John Adams from Francis Dana, 16 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter for recalling your son was unfortunately so long on its way that the season for sending him as you proposed is passed. It is almost now an equal chance that he might remain the winter in Norway. I am discouraged about the other course to Lubec also, and am on the whole advised to send him on by Land altogether. It is possible he might have a road voyage even to Holland, but I...
25To John Adams from Francis Dana, 6 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I do not ask you to consider this as a letter to you. I have writen so much for several days that I am absolutely beat out; and my health besides begins to fail me. A most constant head ach hangs upon me, and almost stupifies me: Consider this therefore only as a cover of the enclosed letters. I shall probably trouble you more frequently in this way than I have ever done; but it must be upon...
26To John Adams from Francis Dana, 30 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of Aug: 7th. yesterday afternoon, and at the same time the packet you mention. I thank you most cordially for your sentiments upon “something of consequence”: but I am no longer at liberty to pursue a course like that you point out. My la st dispatches, which I presume you did not read, tho they came open under your Cover, are clear and decided upon that affair. I am...
27To John Adams from Francis Dana, 22 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Uncertain whether you have seen the paper from which I send you enclosed an Extract I do myself the pleasure to forward that to you by the earliest opportunity. It was put into my hands by one of my friends here; who I told you in a late letter desired his complements to you, too late for the last post. The whole has not yet been communicated; as I am told, to any one here, but will be in a...
28To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
My last to you was of the 12/23 of May. I have not received any from you since yours of the 28th. of April. Enclosed you will receive the latter part of my letter to Mr: Livingston, which I pray you to forward with a proper direction. I send them open to you for your private Information. The matter these mentioned is what is alluded to in my last. Since the new British Ministry have consented...
29To John Adams from Francis Dana, 23 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of yours of the 28th. of April yesterday, in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 28th. of March, as well as of the paper I had enclosed you in blank, and of my three letters to Mr: Livingston. I hope you will be kind enõ to transmit copies of those papers to Congress, as I do not think it prudent to hazard duplicates of them. I desired the three to Mr:...
30To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I cannot suffer this post to go off without conveying to you my most hearty congratulations for the great event, of the States General acknowledging our Independence, and upon the famous anniversary of the conception day of our Empire. Your patriotism, your zeal, and your inflexible perseverance, will now have their reward when you see the great end of your Mission so happily executed. Never...
31To John Adams from Francis Dana, 23 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I see with infinite satisfaction the progress our affairs have made in Holland within a short time, and that you will soon be able to pu t the finishing hand to your business. No one can more sincerely rejoice in t he honour you will merit and acquire by it, than I shall. That Nation, after much internal struggling, seems at last to have adopted an almost universal sentiment upon the...
32To John Adams from Francis Dana, 8 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of your favour of the 15th March this morning, in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of Feby 10/21 and of the paper enclosed; but you say nothing of another paper which I sent you by the same post, enclosed in blank, relative to the same subject: I hope it has safely reached you notwithstanding. I have wrote to you since, on Feby. 21. O.S. And to Mr: T. on the 5/16...
33To John Adams from Francis Dana, 4 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of your favour of the 5th. inst: that is to say of Feby, on the 17/28th of the same month. You have, in my opinion, pointed out the only certain way to solid glory; but some folks look for it to the direct opposite point of the Compass, by which means they will miss of it, and the promotion of their best Interests, till they face to the right about. When our inclinations...
34To John Adams from Francis Dana, 21 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Although I have been much disappointed in not receiving your promised letter in answer to mine by Mr: Sayer, yet I have not on that account omitted to write you ever since my last (by the post) viz of Jany: 14/25th. I have lately been wholly confined to my rooms by a cold and a fever which though not dangerous has been very troublesome and unfitted me for any sort of business. In short I have...
35To John Adams from Francis Dana, 25 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
I answered your letter of the 14th. of Decr: on the 2/13th. inst: by post. I have also wrote to Mr: T. through the same channel, and enclosed the paper from France which you desired I wou’d send you. I have no copy of Spain ’s. I have seen Russia and Austria to France but ’tis not probable I cou’d obtain a copy of that if I asked for it; I am loth to make a request there, which may not be...
36To John Adams from Francis Dana, 11 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. Decr: which I received the last evening has made me very happy on many accounts, but especially as it has relieved me from the anxiety I have suffered for several weeks past about the fate of my first despatches. Those by Mr: Sayer I have had no concern about: I am glad however to learn that these also have come to hand. On some parts of their contents I wish to...
37To John Adams from Francis Dana, 17 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been long waiting with great impatience to hear directly from you, my disappointment has been owing in part without doubt, to your late illness, from which I hope you have entirely recovered. This climate agrees very ill with my health; for more than a month past, I have been almost constantly visited with a very severe headach, perhaps it is to be attributed in some measure to the...
38To John Adams from Francis Dana, 22 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
This letter together with a packet for Congress, will be delivered to you by Mr: Stephen Sayer who sets off from hence tomorrow for Amsterdam. He knows nothing from me about my business or affairs. Indeed I have had but little acquaintance with him, less than I shou’d have had, had he not been unfortunately confined by sickness almost the whole time I have been here. The account he will be...
39To John Adams from Francis Dana, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is not through want of attention that I have omitted to this time, to acquaint you of our arrival in this City. We reached it, after some perils, on the 27th. of Augt. N.S. sufficiently fatigued I assure you. For from Leipsic I began to travel day and night, and continued this practise all along the remaining distance. At Berlin we rested, or were rather stopped, nine days by the...
40Enclosure: Key for a Code System, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
No. 1. The Empress. or Russian. 2. The Emperor—Austrian 3. The King. 4. The Minister—Ministry. 5. Prussia—Prussian. 6. Sweden—Swedish. 7. Denmark—Danish 8. Holland—Dutch. 9. France—French. 10. Spain—Spanish. 11. Britain—British. 12. Congress—America 13. United States—American. 14. Prince de Potemkin. 15. Comte de Panin. 16. Comte D’Ostermann. 17. Dr. Franklin. 18. Mr. Adams. 19.
41To John Adams from Francis Dana, 18 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I feel myself happy that Congress have made it my duty to consult your Excellency upon the Mission with which they have charged me for the Court of Petersburgh. To this end I have already laid before you, all the papers which I have received from Congress, any way relating to it, and also my correspondence with his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes, and Dr. Franklin upon the same subject, as...
42To John Adams from Francis Dana, 16 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The dispatches you will receive with this, were sent to me by Colo. Lawrens, last evening, some of them he brought from America, the others came in the Duke of Leinster directly from Philadelphia. If I have not a good oportunity before, I will send them on, next week, by Mr. Searle, who will then certainly set off for Amsterdam, unless he shou’d be too sick to travel. His indisposition has...
43To John Adams from Francis Dana, 14 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
This is just to acquaint you that Colo. Lawrens arrived at L’Orient on the 8th. instant in our Frigate the Alliance from Boston, and was to set off on the 10th. for this City; so that he may be hourly expected. If he has any Letters or Dispatches for us, he will doubtless bring them himself. No News of Colo. Palfrey. We fear the Shelalah is lost at Sea. I enclose a Philadelphia Newspaper of...
44To John Adams from Francis Dana, 6 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I desired Mr. Searle when he wrote you a few days since, to present my best regards to you, and to acquaint you that I wou’d write in a few days. I have consulted D.D. Benjamin Franklin upon the resolution of AZ Congress , agreable to your desire, and he says, he thinks, it might be adviseable to communicate it to her Minister near you—that there is none now here to whom he cou’d communicate...
45To John Adams from Francis Dana, 25 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter came to hand the last Evening; I was about breaking it open, agreable to your directions, but observing it marked Cadiz, and supposing it to be a mear private Letter, I desisted. If it shou’d contain any news from our Country, I doubt not you will advise me of it by the first opportunity. Mr. Bondfield, who has lately been at Paris, writes me from Bordeaux on the 20th....
46To John Adams from Francis Dana, 12 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Just in the moment I was sitting down to write to you, I had the pleasure of your’s of the 8th. instant in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 1st. and of another without date. I am glad the packet has reached you safely. There were no letters from Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Dana, or from any of our Friends in our quarter. The vessel which brought your letters, came from Philadelphia. The...
47To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letters of our Friend, of the 12th. and 14th. of last Month, the Resolution of Congress of the 12th. together with the journals of Congress for Septr. and Octr. and a number of News papers down to the 19th. Decr. came to hand yesterday eveng. These, all together, wou’d make a large budget to no good purpose, I have cut out of the papers, every peice of intelligence of which, I...
48To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I write you at present principally to communicate the following intellegence from Martinique. It is just given to me by our good Friends the two Abbés, who tell me it may be depended on, as they had it from Mr. Neckar’s Office. La derniere Convoi parti du Ferrol, est arrivé ici le 14. Xbre. il manque peu de batiments—Le 4 Vaisseaux venue de St. Doming. sous les ordres de Monsr. Le Chevr....
49To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Paris 10 January 1781. RC Adams Papers ; filmed at 12 July 1780, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 352. Designated “No. 9,” this letter is written on the lower half and reverse of the triplicate of the Committee for Foreign Affairs’ letter of 12 July 1780. It was a covering letter for several documents brought to France by Thomas Bell of the Chevalier de La Luzerne and James Josiah of the...
50To John Adams from Francis Dana, 7 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I seize with avidity upon the opportunity of sending You the enclosed Philadelphia Paper of the 25th. of October, and, in the words of Govr. Jefferson, your much respected Friend, “of congratulating your Excellency on the small dawn of good Fortune, which at length appears in the South.” Our Countreymen seem to be in motion, and at least are bravely attempting to bring about a happy change in...