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 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...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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....
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To 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....
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To John Adams from Francis Dana, 19 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I did not expect yesterday when Mr. Thaxter wrote you, that I shou’d have been able to have done myself that honor, by this oppor tunity, as I was much engaged in a particular business. I desired him to send you a transcript of part of a letter in the Gazette de France, said to be written by our worthy friend the late President Laurens; which he tells me he has done. I shall add, least the...
29To John Adams from Francis Dana, 12 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Just in the moment I was sitting down to write to you, I had the pleasure of your’s of the 8th. instant in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 1st. and of another without date. I am glad the packet has reached you safely. There were no letters from Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Dana, or from any of our Friends in our quarter. The vessel which brought your letters, came from Philadelphia. The...
30To John Adams from Francis Dana, 30 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of Aug: 7th. yesterday afternoon, and at the same time the packet you mention. I thank you most cordially for your sentiments upon “something of consequence”: but I am no longer at liberty to pursue a course like that you point out. My la st dispatches, which I presume you did not read, tho they came open under your Cover, are clear and decided upon that affair. I am...
31To John Adams from Francis Dana, 27 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have been made very happy by the letters you forwarded to me. I presume you must have been also, by those you wou’d receive by the same hand. Pray give my regards to Mr: Guild. You make no mention whether you have paid Messrs: de Neufville and Son the £60 sterling agreable to our proposal, nor whether there are any vessels going from Amsterdam for Massachusetts. If so I shall give further...
32To John Adams from Francis Dana, 19 December 1782 (Adams Papers)
I give you a thousand thanks for your short letter of the 8 th. of last month which I rec d. this morning. I had before received a Copy of the State Paper you mention; the consequences you draw from it relative to the Neutral Powers are clear & beyond all question. I had view’d the matter in the same light which you & M r: J. view it in, so far as can respect myself. You will see my sentiments...
33To John Adams from Francis Dana, 11 January 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. Decr: which I received the last evening has made me very happy on many accounts, but especially as it has relieved me from the anxiety I have suffered for several weeks past about the fate of my first despatches. Those by Mr: Sayer I have had no concern about: I am glad however to learn that these also have come to hand. On some parts of their contents I wish to...
34To John Adams from Francis Dana, 18 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received your Letters of the 17th. and 29th. of Septr: and after assuring you that they have given me much pleasure because they acquaint me your health and spirits are in a tolerable good state. I shall endeavour to make the best returns for them I am able to do, in my feeble state. My heart is obliged to ask leave of my head whenever it wishes to pay a proper attention to...
35To John Adams from Francis Dana, [1 June 1783] (Adams Papers)
Your letter of the 24 th. of March which was mentioned as missing in my last, has this day come to hand together with that of the 1 st. inst: Since mine of the 16 th. of March, the receipt of which you acknowledge in your last, I have written three times to you viz: on the 28 th. of April, the 1 st. and 4 th. of May. enclosing Copies of my Memorial in the two first. By the last post I sent an...
36To John Adams from Francis Dana, 17 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been long waiting with great impatience to hear directly from you, my disappointment has been owing in part without doubt, to your late illness, from which I hope you have entirely recovered. This climate agrees very ill with my health; for more than a month past, I have been almost constantly visited with a very severe headach, perhaps it is to be attributed in some measure to the...
37To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I will no longer omit to acquaint you of my safe arrival here; I shou’d have done it before, but I wished first to obtain the sight of the British Declaration against the Dutch; which I cou’d not effect, till the last evening. Will the Dutch remain firm, and in good earnest set about the equipment of their Navy? If they will, we may hope something from their exertions. Let me have your...
38To John Adams from Francis Dana, 26 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Soon after my arrival here I intimated to you that I had discovered something which I thought a clew to account for the advice given me by a certain person, and which you and I then were of opinion, was calculated to throw an obstruction in my way, and of course that I ought not to follow it. I told you I wou’d communicate it to you by the first good opportunity. None has offered till now....
39To John Adams from Francis Dana, [29 July 1783] (Adams Papers)
’Tis done. The bolt of your Vulcan has hit its aim. The idea you mentioned to me some time since, relative to the use of the Credit I had asked for, and which in reply I told you was not new to me, that the same had been repeatedly thrown out here by persons, whom to suspect of sinister or interested views wou’d be deemed by some a most damnable political heresy, has crossed the Atlantic and...
40To John Adams from Francis Dana, 22 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Uncertain whether you have seen the paper from which I send you enclosed an Extract I do myself the pleasure to forward that to you by the earliest opportunity. It was put into my hands by one of my friends here; who I told you in a late letter desired his complements to you, too late for the last post. The whole has not yet been communicated; as I am told, to any one here, but will be in a...
41To John Adams from Francis Dana, 1 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received four letters from Nantes, one from Mr. Johnson, two from Mr. Williams, and one from Mr. Watson. They are short, and I will give you the substance of them in a few words. Mr. de Francey (Agent for Beaumarch) arrived at Nantes on the evening of the 28th. ultimo from, one letter says, Maryland , and another, Virginia , which he left on the 14th. of June, in the Fier Roderigue...
42To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I cannot suffer this post to go off without conveying to you my most hearty congratulations for the great event, of the States General acknowledging our Independence, and upon the famous anniversary of the conception day of our Empire. Your patriotism, your zeal, and your inflexible perseverance, will now have their reward when you see the great end of your Mission so happily executed. Never...
43To John Adams from Francis Dana : (No. 5.), 8 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of your’s of the 30th. of last month, on the 4th. instant but my eyes being again in a bad state, and being otherwise unwell, I desired Mr. Thaxter to acknowledge the receipt of yours. My first misfortune I have not yet intirely recovered from nor do I expect it, till I shall be able wholly to lay aside both the book and the pen, for a considerable length of time. I had...
44To John Adams from Francis Dana, [6 June 1783] (Adams Papers)
I wrote you two letters by the last post, which I sent to Amsterdam upon the supposition that you might be at the Hague by the Time they will arrive there. They are dated the 21 st. & 23 d. inst:— I yesterday received a letter from your Son dated Hague May 12 th. containing some account of his Route from hence to Stockholme. The matter contained in my confidential letter which you will receive...
45To John Adams from Francis Dana, 6 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I desired Mr. Searle when he wrote you a few days since, to present my best regards to you, and to acquaint you that I wou’d write in a few days. I have consulted D.D. Benjamin Franklin upon the resolution of AZ Congress , agreable to your desire, and he says, he thinks, it might be adviseable to communicate it to her Minister near you—that there is none now here to whom he cou’d communicate...
46To John Adams from Francis Dana, 7 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I seize with avidity upon the opportunity of sending You the enclosed Philadelphia Paper of the 25th. of October, and, in the words of Govr. Jefferson, your much respected Friend, “of congratulating your Excellency on the small dawn of good Fortune, which at length appears in the South.” Our Countreymen seem to be in motion, and at least are bravely attempting to bring about a happy change in...
47To John Adams from Francis Dana, 8 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is not through want of attention that I have omitted to this time, to acquaint you of our arrival in this City. We reached it, after some perils, on the 27th. of Augt. N.S. sufficiently fatigued I assure you. For from Leipsic I began to travel day and night, and continued this practise all along the remaining distance. At Berlin we rested, or were rather stopped, nine days by the...
48To John Adams from Francis Dana, 31 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
After I had closed my last to you acknowledging the receipt of your’s of the 22 d. of Dec r: , my Bankers advised me of the new Credit M r: Grand had desired them to place to my account. I found it to amount to D r: Franklin’s Moiety of the sum necessary, only. From your letter I was lead to expect that M r: Grand wou’d have given me a credit here for the whole sum. I desired my Bankers to...
49To John Adams from Francis Dana, 18 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I feel myself happy that Congress have made it my duty to consult your Excellency upon the Mission with which they have charged me for the Court of Petersburgh. To this end I have already laid before you, all the papers which I have received from Congress, any way relating to it, and also my correspondence with his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes, and Dr. Franklin upon the same subject, as...
50To John Adams from Francis Dana, 16 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your letter for recalling your son was unfortunately so long on its way that the season for sending him as you proposed is passed. It is almost now an equal chance that he might remain the winter in Norway. I am discouraged about the other course to Lubec also, and am on the whole advised to send him on by Land altogether. It is possible he might have a road voyage even to Holland, but I...