To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 2 November 1787
From C. W. F. Dumas
La Haie 2e. Nov. 17871
Monsieur,
Malades mon Epouse & moi, je ne puis qu’en peu de Lignes accuser à V. Excellence la réception, & remercier de la Lettre dont Elle m’a honoré en date du 25 du passé, dont le contenu aussi sage qu’obligeant, avec des ordres que j’observerai, me laisse l’espoir, que ceux dont mon sort & honneur dépend, auront soin de l’un & l’autre sans se mêler d’affaires nationales qui ne les regardent pas, puis qu’innocent je suis toujours prêt à répondre à tout ce qu’on me demandera de positif. Non seulement ma foiblesse actuelle, mais la discrétion à tous égards, m’interdisent de rien ajouter, que nos voeux pour le bien-être de V.E. & de sa famille, au sincere respect avec lequel, quand il plaira à Dieu, terminera sa vie, / De Votre Excellence / Le très-humble & très-obéissant / serviteur
Cwf Dumas
TRANSLATION
The Hague, 2 November 17871
Sir
Because my wife and I are ill, I can in but a few lines confirm to your excellency that I received and thank him for the letter with which he honored me on the date of the 25th of the past month. Its contents, as wise as they are obliging, and with orders I shall see to, gives me hope that those upon whom my fate and honor depend will take care of the one and the other without getting involved in national affairs which do not concern them. For, as an innocent man, I am always prepared to respond to any meaningful question put to me. Not only my present weakness, but discretion in every regard, prevents me from adding anything further other than our wishes for the well-being of your excellency and his family, and the sincere respect that I will have for him as long as he lives, your excellency’s most humble and most obedient servant
Cwf Dumas
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “A Son Exce. Mr. Jn. Adams.”
1. In his letterbook, Dumas drafted and canceled a second letter of this date to JA that he apparently did not send. There, Dumas wrote that he enclosed the 24 Oct. Gazette de la Haye, which implied further accusations against him that had led to his family’s eviction. He sent similar letters regarding his plight to Thomas Jefferson and to John Jay on 26 Oct., with the same enclosures. Dumas wrote to Jay that the Gazette extract proved he had been “threatened openly and loudly” and taunted “as a Kees, a name signifying dog, given to the Patriots in derision, as that of Yankee was applied to the Americans” (Nationaal Archief:Dumas Papers, Microfilm, Reel 2, f. 927; , 12:289).