2881H. Archer to the Commissioners, 14 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I presume to trouble you with the communication of my design to enter into the army, and becoming a citizen of the united States. Though a native of England, I feel myself quite attached to America, and firmly persuaded that I shall carry thither dispositions entirely consonant to its welfare, and that my affection to her will not be the less in being only a Son by adoption. From infancy, I...
2882John Ross to the Commissioners, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honour to Address You, on the 16th and 23d. Ultimo —Not on business of my own but that which Regards the United States, and consistent with the common Rule of Regularity, claimed an Answer long since. Mr. Delavile holder of Mr. Ceronio’s bills applyed to me again by letter, on last Saturday, and the bills being drawn, on public Account, shall be glad to know what Answer am to...
Je m’empresse, Messieurs, de repondre aux observations que vous m’avez adressées par La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire le 13 de ce mois, sur Le projet d’un reglement pour les Prises et prisonniers des Etats respectifs. Je Crois en avoir rempli l’objet par une Nouvelle redaction des Articles 2 et 14 dont je joint ici un nouveau Texte, avec des Exemplaires des differentes loix...
2884Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 12 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since my Arrival at this Port, I have been much troubled with those Frenchmen I enter’d at Bourdeaux, although I Enlisted them according to your Honours Orders, which was by permission from the Admiralty; While on my short Cruze, some few words would pass as I understand between the Frenchmen and my other Sailors, but Contrary to Orders which they daily had the Perrusial off and likewise read...
2885C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 22 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Dutch States General ended their session today, and each member will be leaving for his town tomorrow. I have just come from wishing our friend a good trip. He saw the Grand Pensionary, who told him that he was torn between his desire, on the one hand, to answer your letter in a way that would demonstrate how much he appreciates your courtesy in these dealings and is flattered with the...
2886Thomas Simpson to the Commissioners, 25 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
I addressed you on the 8th. of this Instant on a very disagreeable affair, not recieving any answer, or order from your Honours, I concluded my letter had miscarried, or your attentions were required on greater objects, and therefore was determined to rest a while, until you might be at leisure, to think on the matter, I had wrote you of. But the treatment I have since recieved from Captn....
2887James Moylan to the Commissioners, 27 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have only time to inform you that I have just received an account from Brest of the arrival in that port of the prize Ship Lord Chatham of 250 Tons loaded with Beer and Gran. taken by the Ranger Frigate about five leagues from Cape Clear. I will advise you more particularly in my next regarding this matter, not having at present any other account from Brest, than the above. I am very...
2888C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed sheet was written piecemeal yesterday and while coming and going today. A copy, omitting what is in brackets, has been sent to Mr. Lee in Vienna. The treaty, which the Grand Facteur asked to copy, has not yet been returned to me. He may plan to keep it until permission to send it on to its true destination arrives. I asked him if he had had it copied; he told me not yet. I shall,...
2889C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 23 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 10th of this month reached me last Tuesday, the 21 st. I immediately forwarded it along with its enclosures to the Grand Facteur who approved everything and promised me to back the operation with powerful intervention and mediation, once I have broken the ice by presenting the letter, for until then he must not seem to be involved. I left immediately to come here, where I...
2890William Bingham to the Commissioners, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
It is a long time Since I have had the honor of receiving any of your Commands, and am the more surprized at it, as a Packet Boat has arrived with Dispatches for the General, informing him of a Treaty of Alliance and Commerce being concluded on betwixt the Court of Versailles and the United states of America. Should this Treaty cause any material Change in the political or commercial System of...
2891Francis Coffyn to the Commissioners, 18 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty to crave your referrence to the letter I had the honnur of writing to you the 8 instant to the contents of which I am Still waiting with anxiety the favour of your answer. I received last night only under a blank cover your letter dated 10th instant address’d to any Captain bound to America the contents of which shall be carefully communicated and recommended to two Captains...
2892The Commerce Committee to the Commissioners, 28 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
You will receive this by Thomas Read Esqr who was Captain of the Frigate Washington but is now Commander of the Armed Brigantine Baltimore. This Brigantine was intended for A dispatch Vessel, but now hath A Cargo on board of Forty Nine hhds. of Tobacco which was all she coud take in and accomodate her men. We have addressed her to John Danl. Schweighauser Merchant in Nantes, and have directed...
2893The Foreign Affairs Committee to the Commissioners, 14 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Our Affairs have now a universally good appearance. Every thing at home and abroad seems verging towards a happy and permanent period. We are preparing for either War or Peace; for altho we are fully perswaded that our Enemies are wearied beaten and disappoint in despair, yet we shall not presume too much on that belief, and the rather, as it is our fixt determination to admit no terms of...
2894Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am highly sensible of the Confidence you honour me with by your Approbation of my Drafts on Mr. Grand, and am ready to account for the expenditure of them up to the 30th May. The Charges since my Departure from Nantes, to go to new Account. As your Time is too constantly and too importantly employed to attend to the Details of commercial Concerns, would it not be well to appoint some...
2895Vergennes to the Commissioners, 15 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J ai lhonneur de vous renvoyér Messieurs, LEcrit Anglois et La lettre de Votre ami que vous m’avés fait Communiquér par M. de Sartine. Votre Correspondant Le qualifie exactement Lors qu’il le declare impolitique quant a la france et malignement insidieux par raport aux Etats unis de I amerique; Sous quelque Sens qu on Examine les Ecris, on decouvre par tout l’intention de vous séparér de vos...
2896John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 7 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday arrived from Edenton the Sloop Sally Cap Norton which place he left the 6th June. He has brought few Letters, he mentions the entire Capture of the fourth regiment who upon the expedition of Col. Maitland pushing into the Country their retreat was cut off and obliged to lay down their Arms officers and Soldiers not one escaping. He gives also accounts of the Arrival of several...
2897C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 19 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Nulla dies sine linea. I had the honor to send you, by the last regular mail, the insidious article inserted in the Gazette de la Haie by Sir Joseph Yorke and the dispatch from Count de Degenfeld. On the 16th I sent the material that you found enclosed to Leyden. On the 17th the local gazeteer, by order of Baron de Reischach, envoy of the Court of Vienna, with bad grace, sang the following...
2898Peter Frederick Dobrée to the Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honble. Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained in the anonimous Letter, but beg you...
2899John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 23 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
We are without any object Interesting other than the Eclat with which Le Marquis D’Almadova is receiv’d by the Governor Intendant and other Cheif officers of this City. He appears much a Man of the World. He will leave this to Morrow for Paris where he proposes to stay Six Days. His Retinue which is Numerous creates delay by what I learn of them who have had opportunity to introduce themselves...
2900Vergennes to the Commissioners, 4 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 4 May 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 2:308 (French); 4:90 ( JA ’s translation). Vergennes announced that JA would be presented to Louis XVI on 8 May and invited the Commissioners to dine with him on that day. For JA ’s account of his presentation, see Diary and...
2901C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 19 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
My last, in the form of a diary, began with the 7th and ended on the 15th of this month. You will there have seen my progress, step by step, toward the proper conclusion; that is, to make known here, in a gen uine and unequivocal way, the friendly disposition of the United States toward this Republic and thus prepare the way for a successful rapprochement without placing the British...
2902Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 18 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
My last informed your Excellencies of my Arrival at this place from Morlaix and my Motives in coming hither. Capt. Jones has received a Letter from Mr. Schweighauser who in consequence of one from William Lee Esqr. claims the Disposal of the Prizes sent into this port by the Ranger, informs Capt. Jones that he has the Management of the public Business, and that I pretend to what he alone has...
2903Nathaniel Dowse to the Commissioners, 5 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
On the 14th April 1777 I sailed from Virginia Commander of the Ship Mercer belonging to Messrs. Mercer and Schenck of Boston, with a Cargo of 450 Hogsheads Tobacco for Account of the Honorable Continental Congress, to the Address of Messrs. S. and J. H. Delap of Bordeaux. On the fourth of May following I had the Misfortune of being risen upon by my Crew and carried with my Vessel into...
2904C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Quoique je sois tous les jours avec le G—— F—— et avec notre Ami, cependant, comme il ne se passe rien d’extraordinaire, j’ai cru pouvoir différer de vous écrire, jusqu’à-ce que les Etats de la Province se séparassent. Ce qu’il y a eu d’essentiel pendant cette Assemblée, a été la proposition d’augmenter les troupes, laquelle ayant été absolument rejetée par la ville d’Amsterdam, n’aura...
2905William Lee to the Commissioners, 8 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Frankfort on the Main, 8 May 1778. printed: William Lee, Letters The Letters of Richard Henry Lee , ed. James C. Ballagh, New York, 1911–1914; 2 vols. , 2:429–430. Lee reported that, because of Frederick’s refusal to recognize American independence and conclude a commercial treaty, he was about to depart for Vienna, where prospects seemed better, particularly if France exerted pressure on...
2906Sartine to the Commissioners: A Translation, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I received the letter that you did me the honor to write the 16th of last month, asking that one of His Majesty’s frigates be given to Basmarin, Raimbeaux & Cie. to protect their commerce with America and also for use in retaliatory action for the losses the British have caused them of late. I wish that it was possible for me to be agreeable to your request, but His Majesty wishes, for the...
2907John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 25 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Mainmast of the Boston was yesterday Surveyd and Condemnd unfit for Service. That no accident happend to the Ship from the defect on the Passage is very fortunate in One part it was it had not three Inches hold and in two others the Splitt went half throw. We have met with a Mast that will replace it and will be got ready with all posible dispatch. Some other alterations the Captain thinks...
2908John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 12 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday came into this Port the Brig Peggy Captain Kelly from No. Carolina. She has on board One hundred and forty eight hhd Tobacco for account of Messrs. Willing and Morris addrest to Mr. Delap. I apply’d for the publick Letters. I apprehend there are none as Mr. Delap has not sent any. The vessel saild 4th. April. I have Letters from Mess Hewes Smith and Allen of the 30 March. They write...
2909Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 14 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I received a Letter from Mr. Livingston of the 8th. Instant wherein he informs me that their is a possibility of an Exchange of Prisoners, a list of what I have on board I send your Honours inclosed with a List of the Men, I suppose must have been Recaptured in one of my Prizes, the other two arrived Eight or ten days past. I am only wating on your Honours how to proceed, in hopes to joyn...
2910Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 15 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Had the honour of Recieving your Letter per Capt. Jones, beg leave to mention there are no Orders relative to my Prisoners, which should be glad to Recieve. Am Repairing my Masts and will make the Old Ones serve, New Ones being very expensive. Shall be as frugal as possible. Capt. Jones acquaints me you have some Cloathing and Arms for the United States it is in my Power to Carry considerable,...