By the new Arrangement, which was brought by the Marquis de la Fayette I find myself restored to the Character of a private Citizen. The Appointment of a single Minister, at the Court of Versailles was not unexpected to me, because I had not been two Months in Europe, before I was convinced of the Policy, and indeed of the Necessity of such a Measure. But I ever entertained hopes that when the...
2From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 1 March 1779 (Adams Papers)
My last Letter to Congress, was on the Twenty seventh of last Month Since which an Account of the new Loan is received from London, and as this may perhaps afford to Congress the clearest Proof, of the Weakness of their Ennemies, it is of importance that it should be transmitted to them. Some Accounts Say the Loan is to be seven Millions, others Eight. The Conditions of the Loan are in...
3From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 4 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
At the Close of the Service, on which Congress have done me the Honour to Send me, it may not be amiss to Submit a few Reflections to their Consideration on the general State of Affairs in Europe, So far as they relate to the Interests of the united States. As the Time approaches, when our Relations, with the most considerable States in Europe, will multiply, and assume a greater Stability,...
Looking over the printed Journals of Congress of the fifteenth day of last April, I find in the Report of the Committee, appointed to take into Consideration the foreign Affairs of these united States, and also the Conduct of the late and present Commissioners of these States; the two following Articles. “1. That it appears to them that Dr. Franklin, is Plenipotentiary, for these States at the...
I had Yesterday the Honour of your Letter of the Seventh of this Month. I thank you, sir, for your obliging Congratulations on my Return to my Family and Country. The Reason why my Letters of the 27th of February and the 1st of March arrived so late, was, that they were delivered at the Time of their Date to Gentlemen, then bound to the seaport who expected to sail directly for America but...
6From John Adams to John Jay, 22 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate You, on your happy Arrival in Europe, which must be the more agreeable to You, for the terrible Voyages You have had. Every good American in Europe I believe suffered a great Anxiety, from the Length of Time that passed between the day when it was known the Confederacy sailed, and the Time when the News arrived of your being at Cadiz. I too have had my Hair...
7From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26th. of April, and am very happy, to have at least recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but somehow or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest Abilities, and the most...
8From John Adams to John Jay, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I shall not always stand upon Ceremonies, nor wait for Answers to Letters, because useful Hints may be given, which would be lost if one were to wait Returns of Posts. The British Channel Fleet is reckoned this Year at from thirty to thirty seven Ships of the Line, but it is well known that they depend upon Seamen to be pressed from their first West India Fleet, in order to make up this...
9From John Adams to John Jay, 28 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is so long since I wrote You, that I am almost ashamed to recollect. I have been in the most curious Country, among the most incomprehensible People and under the most singular Constitution of Government in the World. I have not been able to write You, what could or would be done here, because I was not able to discover, nor did I ever yet find one Man in the Country, who would pretend to...
10From John Adams to John Jay, 26 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I recieved from L’Orient a sett of fresh Instructions from Congress, dated the 16th. of August, and with the more enjoined to open a Correspondence with your Excellency, upon the subject of them. I presume You have Copy by the same Vessel; but as it is possible it may have been omitted, I shall venture to inclose a Copy, and hope it may pass unopened. I have communicated it...
11From John Adams to John Jay, 28 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour to write you, on the 26 instant by the Post, a Conveyance which I am determined to try, untill I am certainly informed of its Infidelity, in which Case, I will ask the favour of the French or Spanish Ambassador, to inclose my dispatches. I received by the last Post, a Duplicate of Dispatches from Congress the originals of which I received Sometime ago. I presume you have recd...
12From John Adams to John Jay, 28 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform You, that Friesland has taken the Provincial Resolution to acknowledge the Sovereignty of the United States of America, and to admit their Minister to an Audience, and have instructed their Deputies in the Assembly of their high Mightinesses at the Hague to make the Motion in eight days from this. The States of Holland have also taken my last Requisition and...
13From John Adams to John Jay, 8 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Duke de la Vauguion has this Moment, kindly given me Notice, that he is to Send off a Courier this Evening at Eleven, and that the Dutch Fleet has Sailed from the Texel this Morning. I shall take Advantage of the Courier Simply to congratulate you, on your Arrival at Paris, and to wish you and Mrs Jay, much Pleasure, in your Residence there. Health, the Blessing which is Sought in vain,...
14From John Adams to John Jay, 10 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
It was with very great pleasure that I recd. this morning your kind favor of the 2d. inst. I am surprized to learn that your and Mrs: Jay’s health have been disordered in France where the air is so fine. That your anxieties have been very great I doubt not—that most of them were such as you ought not to have met with, I can easily conceive. I can sincerely say, that all mine, but my Fever,...
15From John Adams to John Jay, 13 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The public Papers announce Fitzherbert’s Comission to be, to treat “With the four Powers at War with Great-Britain” But whether they mean Hyder Aly, or the Marattas, is uncertain. I have obtained Intelligence of a Paper addressed lately from the Court of St. James’s to the Courts of Vienna and Petersbourg, as well as that of Paris, in which are the following words, vizt. Sa Majesté Britannique...
16From John Adams to John Jay, 17 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The States General have chosen Mr Brantzen Minister to negotiate for Peace. Yesterday he did me the honour to dine with me. He is represented to me to be a good Man and well fixed in the true System. I have very authentic Information that his Instructions will be such as France and America as well as his own Country ought to wish them. I have Letters from Boston 17 June —grand Rejoicings on...
17From John Adams to John Jay, 2 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you on the 10th. 13th. and 17th. of August, but have no Answer as yet to either Letter. All is well here, and will not only remain so but grow better and better. Since it is from Bows and Smiles and Invitations to Dinner and Such kind of Indications that We are to collect the deep Politicks of Courts, I Suppose I may augur well for your Negotiations with Spain, because I have lately...
18From John Adams to John Jay, 1 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour inclosing a certain Copy, I have recd, and in exchange Send you, two others, Fitzherberts Commission and the Dutch Instructions. The first you may have Seen or may not. The other may have been communicated to you in Part. I need not Say to you that it ought not to be known, from whence, either of them comes to you, or to me. RC (private owner, 1978). See John Jay’s letter of 1...
19From John Adams to John Jay, 7 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of 28 Ult. was brought me last night. On Fryday last I was notified, by the Messenger of their H.M. that the Treaties would be ready for Signature on Monday (this day). I am accordingly at Noon, to go to the Assembly and finish the Business. But when this is done, Sometime will be indispensable, to prepare my Dispatches for Congress and look out for the most favourable Conveyances,...
20From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 27 August 1783 (Adams Papers)
As I am informed that next Wednesday is appointed for the Signature of the definitive Treaties of Peace, I Suppose it will be thought proper to think of Some Conveyance of the Ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and of the Original of our definitive Treaty as Soon as it Shall be Signed To Congress. By what Vessell it will be proper to Send it, deserves to be considered as soon as possible,...
21From John Adams to John Jay, 7 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
The night before last, Commodore Jones arrived, with Dispatches from Congress. Two Packets were directed to the “Ministers,” and one larger one to D r Franklin. The two first I opened. one of them contained nothing but News Papers,. The other contained, a private Letter from the President and a Sett of Instructions to the Ministers for Peace. These I copied, and Sent on the originals to Passy,...
22John Adams to John Jay, 13 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have rec d a Letter from M r Gerry, at Phil a. 23 Nov. Thaxter arrived there the night before. I presume he has written by M r Reed, and that his Letter is gone to You, as he probably addressed his Letter to Us all. M r Morris has drawn afresh by this Vessell. Let me beg of you and the D r , to advise him to Stop his Hand. If I can possibly, save those already drawn, which however I still...
23John Adams to John Jay, 14 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening, after mine to you of Yesterdays date, was gone to the Post office, yours of the Sixth, was sent me from thence. If I were to pray to Neptune, for Liberty of passing thro his Realm, again I should be tempted to Use the Form of a new converted American Indian, at Cape Cod, who went off in a fishing Vessell further to sea than he had ever been before, & was over taken by a storm. He...
24John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 February 1784 (Adams Papers)
The Day before Yesterday the Baron de Thuilemeyer the Envoy to their High Mightinesses, from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as I had Company, he stayed but a short time. As I accompanied him to the Door, he whis told me, that he had Something to Say to me from the King, and desird me to name an Hour, when he might call upon me again. I told him his Hour should be mine,...
25John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I duely received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the Subject of a Treaty with Prussia and have communicated it to the Baron de Thuelemeier. The King agrees to take the Treaty with Sweeden for a Model and if your Excellencies have any Alterations to propose I should be obliged to you for the Communication of them. The Baron waits the further Instructions of the King, before he...
26John Adams to John Jay, 2 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I blush to acknowledge, that I received your favour of the 6. Feb. in its Season and in good Condition, and that I have not answered it. By leading a quiet Life, and by great Care and regular Exercise I have happily recovered a little Health and if you think it necessary I might now venture on a Journey to Paris. But I should be glad to wait here Six Weeks longer, that I may increase my stock...
27John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 10 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is Copy of a Letter from the Baron de Thulemeier and Copy of a Project of a Treaty transmitted to me by order of the King of Prussia: I should be glad if your Excellencies would examine it, and write me your Objections, and proposals of alterations, which I shall immediately communicate to his Majesty through his Minister. I presume too that your Excellencies will transmit it to...
28John Adams to Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have just now received the Letter which D r Franklin did me the Honour to write me on the 16 th. with the Copy of the Treaty with Sweeden. I have before inclosed the King of Prussias Project of a Treaty, prepared as I am assured by his Minister with his own Hand in his private Cabinet. I believe it has been reserved to the present Age when the subtilties of Aristotle and the schools are...
29John Adams to John Jay, 20 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
I am extreamly Sorry, to read in your Letter of the 8 th. that you think of embarking for America. Let me beg of you to reconsider that Project. if you persist in it, I shall repent of having written for my Family and wish I had it in my Power to go there too. The Committee to whom, the Dispatches by Thaxter were referred have reported that a Commission be sent to the 3 named in the Resolution...
30John Adams to John Jay, 11 May 1784 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 27. April is, before me.— I wish very Sincerely that my family had made a Visit to me, or I to them on the Conclusion of the Peace. But The two Ladies will be affectionate Friends, I dare answer for it, if they should ever meet. There are Things constantly to be done here, but if there were not, it would be impossible for me, to come to Paris at present, without arranging...
31John Adams to John Jay, 15 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
I venture to address myself to you as Minister of foreign Affairs, because I Sincerely hope you have accepted that important Office. The Emperor of Morocco, Sent an Abassador last Winter to Holland to demand Materials for some Frigates, and as none of the great Maritime Powers, have the Courage or the Will to refuse Such Requisitions, obtained them. it now appeas probable, that they have been...
32John Adams to John Jay, 31 January 1785 (Adams Papers)
Last Night, I had a visit from the Marquis, whom I was glad to see, for a variety of Reasons: his Representations of the Commerce, the Union, and the other Circumstances of our Country are very flattering and as he has so lately seen so many Parts, he was able to give more Information, than the generality of other Travellers. His views are now opening, at least in confidence to me, and his...
33John Adams to John Jay, 9 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to congratulate the United States, upon the Acquisition of a Minister of foreign Affairs, whose long Services have So justly acquired their Confidence and whose Experience as well as his Talents, so fully qualify him for this important Trust. The joint Dispatches of their Ministers here will inform Congress of the Slow Progress of the Negotiations entrusted to their Care. These...
34The American Commissioners to John Jay, 18 March 1785 (Adams Papers)
We received by the last Packet the favor of your letter of Jan ry. 14. in which we have the agreeable information of your having accepted the appointment of Secretary for foreign Affairs. Besides the general interest we feel in this event as members of the Union which is to availed of your services, we are particularly happy that a channel of communication is opened for us with Congress in...
35From John Adams to John Jay, 13 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have written, by the late Packetts, for the Orders of Congress concerning near a Million of Guilders in the Hands of Mess s. Willinks & c in Amsterdam, and requesting the Ratification of my last Loan, and other Subjects. by the February Packet, hourly expected I hope to have the Honour of Letters from you, with the Pleasure of Congress relative to those Matters. Our joint Dispatches will...
36From John Adams to John Jay, 24 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Letter you did me the honour to write me on the 11 th. of February last, containing the Ratification of my last Loan, of two million Guilders, having been properly addressed to me as Minister at the Hague, by a mistake in the Post Office at Paris was Sent to Holland, from whence it returned to me last night. This Loan is long Since full, as my first Loan of Five million Guilders is nearly...
37From John Adams to John Jay, 4 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
The day before Yesterday I received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the Eighteenth of March, inclosing a Commission, Instructions and Letter of Credence to the Court of Great Britain, and a duplicate of your Letter of February 11. with the Ratification of the Loan in Holland The Appointment to the Court of Great Britain demands my most grateful Acknowledgments to Congress and...
38From John Adams to John Jay, 5 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
The Britons boast that All the Prophecies of the Loss of the American Trade, from the Independance of the United States have proved false: that the Experiment has been tryed and the Contest decided: that there was, at the Peace, a Competition of the Commercial Nations of Europe, for the Prize: that the Superiour Abilities of the British Manufacturers, and the greater Capitals of their...
39From John Adams to John Jay, 7 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
In a former Letter I expressed a Doubt whether I Should go directly to London, or first to the Hague in order to take Leave: but upon further Reflexion, as I have not received a regular Letter of Recall, and another Minister to their High Mightinesses is not yet arrived, it Seems best to avoid Occasion of too much Speculation among our Creditors in that Country for the present. The Minister...
40From John Adams to John Jay, 8 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
In executing the Instructions of Congress, of the Seventh of March last, as well as all former Orders, which concern the Court of Great Britain, the Ministry will no doubt find my Commission and Letter of Credence Sufficient Authority. But you will See by a Letter from the Duke of Dorsett, which your Ministers here Sometime Since transmitted, that the British Cabinet have conceived doubts,...
41From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
We meet as you know very well, so often with foreign Ministers, at Court and at other Places and have So many transient Conversations upon Subjects in which America is more or less concerned, that I Scarcely know when it is worth while to transmit them to you and when it is not. there is danger on one hand of degenerating into minuteness, and on the other of omitting Something which may be of...
42From John Adams to John Jay, 29 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I was obliged to a Letter from the Duke of Dorsett, to the Custom House at Dover, as I Suppose for the respect with which my Baggage was allowed to pass without a Visit, and arrived in Westminster on the 25, at Evening. I wrote, late at night to the Marquis of Carmarthen, that I was arrived and desired to be informed at what hour I should call upon his Lordship. the next Morning I had an...
43From John Adams to John Jay, 30 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have redeemed a Moment, from a Multitude of Avocations, at this critical Time, to acknowledge the Receipt by Coll Smith of your Letters of 31 of March, with the Resolution of Congress inclosed of the 21. of March. As M r De St. Saphorin is many Months ago, recalled from the Hague I Shall make Enquiry after him, and if I cannot find where he is, I Shall communicate a Copy of the Resolution,...
44From John Adams to John Jay, 1 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
In my Letter of the 29 th. Ult o. I inclosed Copies of the Letters which had passed between the secretary of State and myself—wherin this Day was fixed upon for my introduction to His Majesty—agreable to that arrangement the Master of Ceremonies waited on me at one and accompanied me to the secretary’s Office, from whence Lord Carmarthen accompanied me to the Palace— I was in a very short time...
45From John Adams to John Jay, 2 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
During my Interview with the Marquis of Carmarthen he told me, that it was customary, for every foreign Minister, at his first Presentation to the King, to make his Majesty Some Compliments conformable to the Spirit of his Credentials: and when Sir Clement Cottrell Dormer, the Master of the Ceremonies, came to inform me, that he Should accompany me to the Secretary of State and to Court, he...
46From John Adams to John Jay, 6 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
Colonel Smith, on the third of this Month informed me, that Col Forrest, had been with him, in behalf of two Gentlemen of Glascow, M r Calquhoun Provost of that City and M r Alexander Brown, who were deputed by the Merchants of that Place who had Debts in America to confer with the Creditors in London concerning an Application to Ministry and Parliament to obtain their Interposition for the...
47From John Adams to John Jay, 10 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday the ninth of the Month, I was presented to the Queen by my Lord Aylesbury, her Lord Chamberlain, having been attended to his Lordship and introduced to him by the Master of the Ceremonies. The Queen was attended by her Ladies, and I made my Compliment to her Majesty in the following Words. Madam Among the many Circumstances which have rendered my Mission to his Majesty, desireable to...
48From John Adams to John Jay, 17 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
At three O Clock according to Appointment, I went to the Secretary of States Office, in Cleavland Row St. James’s, and was immediately received by the Marquis of Carmarthen. His Lordship began the Conversation, by Saying that he could answer for himself and he believed for the rest of the Kings Servants, that they were Sincerely desirous of cultivating the most cordial Friendship with America,...
49From John Adams to John Jay, 26 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
By the Ninth Article of the Confederation, the United States in Congress assembled have the sole and exclusive right and Power of entering into Treaties and Alliances, Provided, that no Treaty of Commerce Shall be made, whereby the Legislative Power of the respective States Shall be restrained from imposing such Imposts and Duties on Foreigners, as their own People are Subjected to or from...
50From John Adams to John Jay, 19 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to propose for your consideration, and to request you to submit to the decision of Congress whether it would not be proper that some measures should be taken to furnish your Ministers abroad with the Laws of the several States, and more especially with such Laws as may have a relation to External Commerce, or any other foreign Affair— Information of this kind will be wanted at...