1To 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...
2To John Adams from Francis Dana, 9 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
I reached Leide in the Scout at 6. o Clock, and finding it impossible from thence to get to Roterdam that night in a Scout, I took a Carriage, and rode on to that place, where I arrived between 10 and 11 Clock at night. There I luckily found a French Gentleman who was bound for Antwerp; with him I took another Carriage at Rotterdam, and tho’ the road was exceedingly bad, we got on within one...
3To 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...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Francis Dana, 25 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 10th instant, last Sunday evening, at Cambridge, by the hand of Colonel Henley, enclosing a copy of your letter of the 6th, to Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks, and his answer to the same. I should have earlier acknowledged the receipt of them, but I thought proper to accompany such acknowledgement with such evidence as I could collect from one of the company present...
5To John Adams from Francis Dana, 16 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment arrived in Town, much fatigued, and as it is so late, you will excuse my not waiting on you this evening. You must not be surprised to find me here. I am not the messenger of any bad news from our Country. I have some dispatches from Congress, brot to Paris by Mr. Searle, one of its Members. These occasioned my coming here. They are not of consequence to be communicated...
6To 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...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Francis Dana, 25 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 10th inst: enclosing one from Colo: Brooks, of the 4th, was put into my hands the day before yesterday by Colo: Henley at Boston. I shall notice such parts only of Colo: Brooks’s as immediately respect you. I have a full recollection of expressing myself in part of you, but little variant in terms, tho’ essentially so in substance, from what Colo: Brooks has mentioned in his...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To John Adams from Francis Dana, 9 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Just as I had finished the above yours of the 2d. came to hand. The packet mentioned by Mr. Bradford from Dr. Cooper to you, was a single letter, and has been receiv’d long since; it contains nothing of real consequence. I did not therefore forward it. I had your express directions to open all letters to you, even Mrs. Adams’s; her’s however I shall not open, but deliver them to Mr. Thaxter....
14To 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...
15To George Washington from Francis Dana, 11 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor last evening, of your favor of the 9th inst: requesting me to repair to camp to assist in the business of arranging the army, as soon as possible Although I am impressed with the necessity of that business being finished without delay, yet I cannot in duty to the State I represent quit Congress till the Confederation is ratified, which I hope will be done in a few days —In the...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To John Adams from Francis Dana, 13 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
As Mr. Brush on his way to Amsterdam has just come into this Inn, I shall attempt to give you a short account of the course of my travels hitherto, not of any matters and things which have occurred in it. I left you at Amsterdam at about two o Clock of the first of this month, and reached Harlem after dark. I set off from thence on the third at 1/2 past 12°. and got into Leyden about 4°. On...
20To 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...
21To 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....
22To 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...
23To John Adams from Francis Dana, 28 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 12th. ultimo on the 1st. instant. It reminded me of my duty, or rather the omission of it. Indeed I know not what appology to make you for not having wrote you before it came to hand. The favor I esteem the greater on that account. Business I feel almost ashamed to offer in excuse, when I consider how constantly you are engaged in matters of...
24To 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...
25To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Appleton sets off to morrow for Holland, and I shall deliver this enclosing a copy of a letter to you, from the Comte De Vergennes of the 29th. instant, to his care. It was received yesterday. I thought it most adviseable to keep the original. I wrote to Mr. Genet acquainting him of the receipt of the letter, of your departure for Holland, and that I shou’d forward that, or any others...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To 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...