301Sartine to the Commissioners, 26 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Messieurs la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 20 de ce mois. Lorsque la Sommation a été faite à Bordeaux, par les Officiers du Siège de l’Amirauté, à la Frégate des Etats-unis, Le Boston; les ordres du Roi n’etoient point encore parvenu dans ce Port, de traiter les Vaisseaux de guerre appartenant à ces Etats, comme ceux des Etats libres—alliés de la France. Ces...
302Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 19 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Messieurs, les deux Lettres que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire au Sujet de la reclamation que fait M. Izard des Effets pris Sur le batiment le Nil. Je vous ai observé par ma Lettre du 7 de ce mois, que l’Autorite devoit Seulement Suppléer aux Loix lorsqu’elles etoient insuffisantes; et qu’elle devenoit inutile et déplacée lorsque la Legislation etoit claire et précise. Vous...
303C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 27 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Enfin j’ai la satisfaction de pouvoir vous apprendre, que les choses ont tourné au gré d’Amsterdam. Hier les Etats d’Hollande prirent la Résolution d’annuller celle du 18e. Nov. passé, qui exceptoit des Convois les Bois de construction, et de protéger leur Commerce dans toute l’extension que lui assurent les Traités; suspendant, du reste, toute délibération ultérieure sur cette matiere,...
304C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 4 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere est d’hier. Je viens de chez notre Ami; et je prends le parti, quoique ma Lettre ne puisse pas partir aujourd’hui, de vous rendre notre conversation pendant qu’elle est encore fraiche dans ma Mémoire. Mrs. d’Amsterdam sont revenus avec des instructions vigoureuses de leurs commettants. Ils seront peut-être suivis d’une troisieme adresse plus sérieuse encore que les précédentes. Si...
305C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 24 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Because the Grand Facteur forgot to return my news from Germany on the 31st, I was obliged to translate in haste that which I sent that day. Here are some excerpts. The English papers and the letters from Amsterdam are filled with the allegation that the French have declared war on England. The British stocks fell about 2 percent in Amsterdam; there are no buyers even. It is reported that the...
306C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 18 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have seen our friend. There are two committees: one to work on the new British complaints; the other on the response to be given to the French Ambassador’s mémoire, of which I sent you a copy. We will not know the result until next week. The protest published by Amsterdam against the resolution of the 18th was sent to me so that I might send a copy to Congress. This important document is 20...
307Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 6 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ay recu, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 30 Aout derniere. J’ai envoyé a M. de Vergennes le Passeport necessaire au navire Angloise chargé de l’Echange des Prisonniers de l’Angleterre et des Etats-Unis, et je vais donner les ordres necessaires pour que vos Prisonniers Soient mieux Surveillés à Brest, jusqu’au Moment de l’Echange. J’ai l’honneur d’etre, avec...
308John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 8 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the honor to write you the 2d Instant there are arrived at this port two ships the One from Savanah the other from Charles Town. They give an account of many Vessels loading for Europe at Charles Town and of the Arrival of a Spaniard from the Havanah with Specie in a very large Vessel that he was loading with Rice for Cadiz. By the Sales returnd from Georgia they must be greatly...
309Vergennes to the Commissioners, 20 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recû, Messieurs, la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire hier, pour representer l’interet dont il seroit d’assurer pardes Convoys le depart de vos batimens paur L’Amerique. Cet objet regardant uniquement, M. de Sartine, je vais lui faire passér la traduction de votre Lettre, et je Serai tres empressé, a vous faire Part de Sa Reponse. J’ai l honneur d’etre avec une tres...
310Jonathan Williams to the Commissioners, 22 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
When I had the honour to lay my Accounts before you, I left the general one unfooted intending to compleat it after Examination. I now send it properly closed and settled to the 30th May 1778. You have also inclosed the account of the Magazine, Invoice of Arms repaired, and your general Account since that Period, all settled to the 10th September 1778, Balance in your Favour seven thousand...
311J. D. Schweighauser to the Commissioners, 24 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received but Yesterday the Letter with which you have honoured me the 14 Instant, covering one the 17th. for Capt. Richard together with the Bill of Loading and Invoice of 895 Barrels of Rice and thirty one of Indigo shipped by Mr. A. Livingston of Charles Town and Subject to your particular orders. I imediatly have been to Mr. Peltier du Doyer who I knew had the Care and direction of...
312Richard Price to the Commissioners, 18 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Price returns his best thanks to the Honourable Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and John Adams Esquires, for conveying to him the resolution of Congress of the 6th. of October last, by which he is invited to become a member of the united States, and to give his assistance in regulating their Finances. It is not possible for him to express the Sense he has of the honour which this resolution...
313Sartine to the Commissioners, 6 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Marly, 6 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:129–130 ( JA ’s English translation); for the French text, see JA, Works The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author , ed. Charles Francis Adams, Boston, 1850–1856; 10 vols. , 7:15–16....
314C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 17 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Although I have seen the Grand Facteur and our friend every day, since nothing extraordinary has happened, I have postponed writing to you until the States General adjourned. The major question during this assembly was the proposal to increase troops, but because it was firmly rejected by the town of Amsterdam, it will certainly not be adopted. There were great debates in the Assembly on the...
315Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 9 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform you that on the 28th of August Last I a Rived heare from London I had att that time Just obtained my Discharge, from the Belile Belle Isle man of war of Seventy four Guns. I was Impressed on board of her at Sea and without asking my Leave they made mee a mid Shipman on board. A few days after faling in with I Reland I Tok o the oportunity by a fishing boat to write to London to...
316John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 21 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yesterdays post brought us advice of the Arrival of a Vessel belonging to this City from Baltimore in 22 Days at Bilboa, a passenger from on board said to be charged with dispatches for your Honors from Congress sett off for Paris on their Arrival. Letters from Bayonne give me Account of his having past thro’ that City on his road to Paris. I dont learn any Material Inteligence it may be...
317Tristram Barnard to the Commissioners, 9 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
As thier hath ben a moust Valueable Whale fishry discoverd by the people of England Since the preasent contest with America and a thing of the utmoust Consequence to the above poeple—if it is your minds to destroy it I Should be glad to give you all the information that is in my Power to affect the Same. I have ben in the busaness my self and was very Senceable I was doing Rong, therefore...
318John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 27 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Engagement of La Belle Poule is esteem’d at this port as a prelude to the declaration. Sugar Coffee and every other forreign Produce is buying up on Speculation which Acts are the Merchants Compass governing their views by the appearances of the times. We have Letters of the 10 and 13 May from America but as they came by the Nymph Frigate can of course contain nothing more than what you...
319The Comte de Vergennes to the Commissioners, 9 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai communiqué á M. de Sartine, Messieurs, la Lettre, par la quelle vous demandez qu’il soit donné escorte aux Batimens en partance qui Sont destinés pour les Ports des Etats Unis. Ce Ministre vient de me repondré qu’il n’est point possible d’accorder cette Escorte pour toute la traversée, mais que les Batimens en question seront conduits jusqu’aux parages qui pourront les mettre a l’Abri des...
320John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 30 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
A vessel Arrived yesterday from Louisiana confirms the Accounts received from them parts of the Back Settlers from Georgia and Carolina having got possession of all the British Posts on the Banks of the Missisipi and of two valuable Vessels Loaden for London that they conducted to New Orleans and there disposed of the Cargoes. A Vessel from Carolina for this port was taken by a privateer...