151C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 5 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Although I have rented rooms here, and my wife and daughter have taken steps to spend the summer in the country and the winter in Geertruidenberg, we will not be prevented from starting wholeheartedly your proposed project. We promise to execute it as agreeably and advantageously for your Excellency as if it were being done for ourselves. I will be in the clear to pay for my rooms for a year...
152To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 9 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
En réponse à l’honorée vôtre du 1 er. de ce mois, J’ai reçu & fait parvenir les Lettres que V.E. a eu la bonté d’écrire au Président, à Mr. Fagel, & à MM. Willink & Staphorst à ma priere. Je n’en ai pas de réponse encore, non plus qu’à 2 notes qui ont précédé de ma part, à Mr. Fagel, & dont voici copie. Je suppose néanmoins foiblement, que le tout a fait l’effet d’avoir été épargnés jusqu’ici,...
153C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 12 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
This is not the expected post, but rather a letter dated the 19th of last December O.S. that has arrived from the plenipotentiaries at St. Petersburg, announcing that the Empress was satisfied with the situation; that she has seen the last two British memorials presented by Sir Joseph Yorke to Their High Mightinesses and is more indignant than surprised by them; that the convention would be...
154To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 28 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
J’ai l’honorée vôtre du 25e., dont le contenu m’a fait grand plaisir, non seulement par l’approbation que vous donnez de vous adresser de temps en temps des Lettres pour le Congrès, mais aussi par l’entretien agréable que m’ont procuré les matieres interessantes dont elle est remplie. Il faudra attendre, que la prise des vaisseaux des Indes Anglois près du Cap de B. E., par l’Escadre...
155C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 22 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
From all appearances we will, with Ovid, be able to utter Dicite Io Pæan next Tuesday or Wednesday, that is to say, that our sister Holland, along with our already established sister Friesland, will soon complete the fraternity with the others. Yesterday, the matter of your confirmation was discussed with no debate. Nine cities, Dordrecht, Haarlem, Delft, Leyden, Amsterdam, Gouda, Schoonhoven,...
156To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 10 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Je suis encore inconsolable de la publication précipitée de la Résolution: car elle m’a fait manquer l’occasion d’une adresse toute belle et toute naturelle que j’aurois pu faire de votre part à certaine Cour par le moyen de son Ministre ici, et même de ménager une premiere entrevue entre vous et lui à cette occasion. L’A—— r de notre Allié pense comme moi. Il a approuvé la maniere dont j’ai...
157C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since my last letters, nothing worthy of writing about has occurred. That is not to say, however, that every day I have not had some occasion of acting for the general welfare of the cause and, therefore, of visiting the French embassy daily in order to receive intelligence and letters, or to provide extracts which sometimes are sent to the Cabinet, but more often, and even with regularity, go...
158C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 5 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer ci-joint la Traduction de deux Lettres Allemandes, que j’ai reçues Samedi passé, et ce matin, de Berlin et de Hambourg. Le gd. F——r en a fait fixer copie aussi pour l’envoyer à sa maison. J’ai reçu, d’un autre côté 3 bulletins des affaires de france, du 10, 15 et 20 Avril. J’enjoindrois volontiers copie ici, car il y a des choses curieuses, mordantes, et...
159C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 3 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to send you a copy of the letter that I wrote to Mr. van Berckel, Pensionary of Amsterdam, on the 27th of last month. Writing from his summer place not far from Amsterdam, he replied with the following: I am greatly obliged to you for your kindness in sending me the copy of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce concluded by France and the United States of America. And, since it was...
160C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 13 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Les affaires deviennent ici extrêment sérieuses. La résolution (dont ma lettre du 10 vous parle) de refuser les convois aux Matieres marines, n’est pas encore formellement prise ici. On a décidé seulement, que Mercredi prochain on prendra à cet égard une résolution à la pluralité. Mrs. d’Amsterdam ont protesté contre cette pluralité, comme contraire à la Constitution, qui, dans ce cas, demande...
161C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 2 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to confirm my last three letters, namely that of 7 to 15 May in the form of a journal, another of the 19th, and the last of 22 to 26 May. The French ambassador returned in good health. The Grand Facteur is of the opinion that I should not accept, as a reply to your letter, what the Grand Pensionary will perhaps tell me verbally when we meet. But he expects, as do I, that you,...
162C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 2 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Although you have had no news from me since my last of 13–18 September, I have nevertheless, as Sir Grand will attest, been busy in the service of the United States. Of the ten days I spent in Amsterdam, I employed one in waiting on the Grand Facteur, two with our friend, and the other seven shut up in a room writing 615 numbers, 2460 folios, 2255 times A, and 2255 times Passy 31. Aoust 1778...
163C. 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...
164C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 8 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
The calm of which I spoke in my letter of the 2d has ended much sooner than I had anticipated. There already had been uneasiness for several days about the fall in the English funds, and the letters from England have increased the qualms of our fundholders. On the other hand, the refusal to publish the great city’s protest against the resolution of 18 November has forced this city to print and...
165C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 12 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Les Et. d’Hollande se rassemblent demain. Notre Ami arrive ce soir; et je vais lui souhaitter bon succès. L’on est de plus en plus embarrassé ici. Au lieu d’agréer la Réponse au Memoire, envoyée comme je vous l’ai marqué à Mr. De Berkenrode, Mr. l’Ambassadeur a reçu un Exprès de sa Cour, dont nous saurons bientôt le Message en même temps que le Résultat des Délibérations des Etats d’Hollande....
166C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 21 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere est du 17e. Je viens de recevoir, traduire et porter au g— F— une Lettre Allemande. En attendant qu’il me renvoie mon feuillet, après en avoir fait tirer copie, j’aurai l’honneur de vous dire, que les Etats d’hollande se sont séparés, et que le Prince part aussi pour Los en Overyssel. On n’a point donné d’Instructions nouvelles au Comte de Welderen, ie. parce qu’après avoir fait...
167C. 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,...
168C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 3 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Ce que j’eus l’honneur de vous marquer l’ordinaire dernier de l’Emprunt d’Amsterdam, etoit extrémement exagéré. Cela se réduit à un petit emprunt, que le trésorier de la Ville fait et rembourse, selon le plus ou le moins d’argent en caisse, pour être employé a des bâtimens. La personne de qui je tenois cela, avoit été mal informée. Notre ami m’a mieux instruit. Je lui communiquai hier le...
169C. 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...
170C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 10 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
My last, of the 4th, left on the 6th. Tomorrow will be an important day and, if Amsterdam softens its position, will have serious consequences. We already know what the preliminary advisory of the Admiralties will be. The committee named to confer on this matter with the gentlemen of the Admiralty has made the following report: 1. They will refuse to enter into negotiations with Sir Joseph...
171C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 30 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
On Tuesday, the 27th, I had the honor to send you a very interesting letter. Already the address, a copy of which was enclosed, has had several important results. I. The Assembly of Holland, which people here thought would be finished today, will resume its sessions next Wednesday. In the meantime, the gentlemen from Amsterdam will go home in order to return Tuesday with some new instructions....
172C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 20 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
De retour ici depuis Mercredi matin, j’appris après-dîner de notre Ami, que l’acte de despotisme, que ma derniere du 13 Nov. vous annonçoit, a été consommé dans l’Assemblée provinciale après une Séance de 3 heures, et que l’avis préalable avec sa queue, dont je vous ai rendu compte dans ma Lettre du ioe., a été résolu à la pluralité: sur quoi la Ville d’Amsterdam a fait insérer un Protest...
173C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 3 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Following the dispatch of my letter of 30 October, I went to wish our friend a good trip. He will return this evening. Mr. Baker, Secretary of the Amsterdam Admiralty, made a command appearance before the Pensionary, Mr. van Berckel, who, sensing that the Secretary wished to sound him out, took the opportunity to express himself in no uncertain terms. “Sir,” he said to him, “let the Admiralty...
174C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 4 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Our friend and I propose to undertake an initiative in regard to his town more ambitious than any yet attempted. With God’s help and that of our enemies, who further our strategy by continuing to mistreat this Republic, we hope that it will lead us into the final, great phase of establishing a perfect union between the two sisters. To achieve this we must give our friend additional material,...
175C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 19 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
My last was of the 16–18 of this month. Contrary to our expectations and to our great surprise, nothing happened today at the Assembly of Holland. There were no deliberations, only the reading of the Ambassador’s latest memorandum. Today I have had five meetings with the Ambassador, and as many with our friend (once at the edge of town where he was dining). To the Ambassador I wrote the...
176C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 27 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Last Saturday I had the honor to receive your letter of 10 October. It is exactly as it should be. The Grand Facteur is very satisfied with it. I went the same day to read it to our friend and gave him a copy, attested by my signature. He was extremely pleased and assured me, several times, that it would make a very good impression on the Burgomasters of his city, who were anxious to know your...
177C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 28 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’espere que vous avez reçu la Lettre du 23, que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire d’Amsterdam, et dans laquelle se trouvoit votre Minute de la Lettre en question. Nous sommes deux ici, et un à Amsterdam, qui comptons les momens jusqu’à ce qu’elle me revienne de votre part en forme, afin que je puisse la présenter &C. Nous sommes convenus, que j’ajouterai de bouche l’insinuation, d’avoir cru...
178C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 2 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Today I have the honor to send you the resolution of which I have already spoken. What delayed me a little was my recent trip to Amsterdam, a bothersome cold which I brought back with me, and the three copies which I had to make to send in successive letters to the congress. This piece fully deserves to be published in both French and English for the service of the United States because of the...
179C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 9 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Ma derniere étoit du 2 de ce mois. Vous verrez par les deux traductions ci-jointes à quoi en sont les affaires en Allemagne, et que l’on peut s’attendre, d’un ordinaire à l’autre, à apprendre que les hostilités ont commencé en Allemagne. Il paroît ici, depuis quelques jours, une brochure remplie de déclamations, mal cousues ensemble, contre l’Angleterre, sous le titre Le voeu de toutes les...
180C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Upon returning here, Tuesday evening, I went to see our friend. He told me that nothing had been decided yet, but that, in spite of all that might still happen tomorrow, things would end well. I knew what he meant. He also told me that Sir Joseph Yorke’s excessive influence on an important person manifested itself more and more, and that there was no doubt that the latter had made secret...