11To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 24 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:251–252 Replying to John Adams’ letter of 19 Feb. (calendared above), Vergennes noted that Adams’ account of his commissions agreed with that of Conrad Alexander Gérard and that the most important aspect of his mission, the negotiation of a peace treaty,...
I have received the letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 11th. instant and agreable to your desire I have not submitted its contents to the inspection of a Translator. I am no less hurt than yourself Sir at the Appeal which Mr. Silas Deane has made to the people of America. It does not belong to me to qualify this step. Your re spective sovereigns must judge of the measure...
13The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 17th of this month. I have read it with the utmost attention and in order to make my reply all the more exact, I have placed in the margin each of the points which appear to merit observations on my part. You will see there, sir, that I still think that the moment to communicate your plenipotentiary powers to Lord...
14To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 18 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois. C’est par une Suite de la confiance que je mêts dans vos lumières et dans votre Zèle pour votre Patrie, que je vous ai confié les propositions des deux Cours Impériales, et que je vous ai prié d’y faire les observations dont vous les jugeriez susceptibles. Les choses ne sont pas encore assez avancées...
15The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 29 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter which you did me the honor to write on the 27th of this month. When I took upon myself to give you a mark of my confidence by informing you of the destination of Messrs. de Ternay and Rochambeau, I did not expect the remarks that you have thought it necessary to make regarding a passage in my letter of the 25th of this month. To avoid any further discussions of...
16The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 20 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 13th of this month. I am very sensible of the confidence with which you have communicated your ideas on the present situation of the United States, and their need for the immediate assistance of some ships of the line and frigates. The Chevalier de Ternay and the Comte de Rochambeau have been sent precisely for the...
17The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 24 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to receive your two letters of the 12th and 19th of this month. I did not need your apologia defending your patriotic sentiments: you are highly aware of the interests and commitments of your country. I am sure that you will never have any other motive but to consolidate them. You may judge by this letter the confidence that we place in your principles and, therefore, of the...
18The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 10 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I must thank you, sir, for the various communications you have been kind enough to send me. If the information contained in the letter sent to you proves accurate, you will, no doubt, shortly receive further proof, and if so, we would have to examine the offers they deem appropriate to make to you. I believe you should not refuse to hear them out. RC ( Adams Papers ). Vergennes is almost...
19The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 30 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter which you did me the honour to write of the 22d of this month concerning Congress’ resolution of 18 March. I have already informed you that it was not my intention either to analyze this resolution as it respects the citizens of the United States or to examine whether circumstances authorize the arrangements or not. I had but one objective in writing to you...
20Enclosure: Draft of an Article, 30 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Le S. Adams que le Congrès des Etats Unis de l’Amérique a désigné pour assister aux conférences pour la paix lorsqu’il y aura lieu, est arrivé depuis quelque tems ici et a eû l’honneur d’être présenté au Roi et à la famille royale.