11From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 14 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r Storer, whom you know, will deliver you this, but whether he will find you at Brussells or else where, I knew not. I begin to grow impatient to See, the definitive Treaty Signed that I may take myself away, from this dull Place. I am just returned from Dinner, with the Sweedish Ambassador, who invited Us all, upon occasion of the Signature of the Treaty, between his Master and Congress,...
12From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 January 1783 (Adams Papers)
I am happy to find by your favor of the 23 d. that You are safely arrived after a good Journey. It is best I believe that nothing should be said between You two about the Affair in which both have been perfectly innocent. If You go I wish You a good Journey, but cannot warrant You against fresh troubles—for neither the Innocence nor Virtue of Angels would be a Security against them in a World,...
13From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
2. Samuel Chapt. 16. Verses 17. and 18. And Absalom Said to Hushai Is this thy Kindness to thy Friend? Why wentest thou not out with thy Friend? And Hushai Said unto Absolom, Nay but whom the Lord , and this People , and all the Men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide, and to him will I Say God Save the King, God Save the King. Hushai, has here asserted the first...
14From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 25: is just come to hand. The Letters inclosed shall be sent, with mine. As to publishing the Letters in a Pamphlet, I have no Objection provided no Name is mentioned. But there is one Alteration necessary which runs throughout. They are now printed as if written by and Englishman. So that, England, Englishmen Britain Britons &c ought to be substituted instead of “We,” “Us,” &c. As...
15From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 16 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honour of yours of 12. Your accounts from Paris coincide with mine, and make me happy. Vaughan has no public Character at all, and oswalds is the same with Carletons. The K. of Spain is not mentioned in Fitzherberts. The Slips are great Curiosities. They were written with the Design of being printed as written by a Briton. The Publisher has told that th ey are of an American! Which...
16From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 7 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd, your Letter with other Slips for which I thank you and another Since. I take constantly the Morning Post, Morning Chronicle London Courant and have taken the Evening Post, but Shall change it Soon for the General Advertiser. The Couriers de L’Europe and du Bas Rhin, the French Gazettes of Hague Leyden and Amsterdam and all the Dutch Gazettes. Is this to be a News Monger? I take em...
17From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 30 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Copies will shew you, the State of Matters. Besides these I have a Letter of Credence to their H. M. which has been presented accepted and recorded, long since; this Letter of Credence is as Minister Plenipotentiary. I have also recd another Commission for other Purposes not yet public. But Mr L. is named in none but that for borrowing Money, but so named in that that he can do...
18From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your Favour with the Slip from the Gen Adr I dread the Sight of the Thing it was so slovenly dressed, but I dont much care about dress you know. I have also recd your favour with the Extract from our Friend at Nantes, and I confess it puzzles me Somewhat. I really Scarcly know what to conclude from it—whether he has an Inclination to come here or not, if you candidly, between you...
19From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 12 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your two Letters containing the Anecdote and the Preliminaries have been recd., and You have seen the use of them. I have at length a friendly Letter from Mr. Jay, who tells me some good News, which I must not communicate. I have Letters too from Petersbourg with other News. Upon the whole they are consulting upon Preliminaries at Paris, and concerting Plans elsewhere for a Congress. If the...
20From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 3 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour with the Anecdote and that with the Preliminaries, I have recd. Be So good as to Send me every Thing of this Sort, which I will not fail to make a good Use of. The Imprudence of Ld shelburne in keeping open the question of American Independence, appears, every day more glaring to me and I find it is Seen in the Same light generally in Europe. The Kings Mulish Stubbornness, may cost...
21From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 20 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
The more I reflect upon the late Revolution in the British Ministry the more I am Struck, with the Conduct of Mr Fox. I am become, upon certain Conditions his Admirer, and almost wish to be his Friend! . The Conditions are two 1. That his Conduct has been the Result of Deliberation and Judgment, not of mere Jealousy Ambition, or Resentment. 2. That he has Patience and Fortitude enough to...
22From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 17 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 14. You might well Smile at the Supposition that I know nothing about the Negotiations for Peace. I have no direct Information about it, Since the 2 of June, but I presume the Reason is, there is nothing to communicate. I am indirectly informed, that Greenville, after a long time recd a Commission to treat with all the belligerent Powers. But as our Ennemy dont...
23From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 9 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
You have very much obliged me, by the Act and the Bill. It is to the last degree Astonishing to see, that perfect Ignorance, of the United States of America, which still prevails in old England. They willfully Shut their Eyes, that they may be Sure not to See. My Bowells of Compassion begin to be moved for this blind, debauched, devoted old Woman Britannia. Is there no possibility of reforming...
24From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 July 1782 (Adams Papers)
Will you be so good as to inclose the inclosed to your Friend B and tell him that your humble servant is not the ill natured Mortal that Anonimous Gentry represent him. Pray what is the News about Peace? You know I presume the whole History of it. I know nothing. Is Mr Jay arrived at Paris? Is, the U. S. of America a belligerent Power? Where is the combined Fleet? Is Gibraltar to be relieved?...
25From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 7 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of June 6. is just arrived, with its Inclosure. From the first day of my acquaintance with Mr Laurens to this moment, I know not that I ever Said a disrespectfull or unkind Word concerning him, or entertained an unkind or disrespectfull Thought. I have ever found him and ever represented him as a Man of Honour, Candour, Integrity and abilities, of great publick and private Merit. This...
26From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
Just a Line, by our venerable Friend, President Laurens, with whom your Communions will be sweet. Pray let me know if Mr Jay is coming to Paris, or come. The last Victory of Rodney, to whom Heaven grants them to shew that it dispizes them, has restored the national Delirium, in all its Effervescence. We shall have no Peace I suppose, in Consequence. War then! War? Yet I sigh for Peace as much,...
27From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 1 June 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have taken my Pen, Simply, to thank you for Several excellent Letters, for the Pamphlets by Mr Myers and the Memoires by Mr Ridley, and to tell you that I am Sick. I Sometimes think I shall die a Martyr to the Dutch alliance, and I declare to you, if it had been the only action of my Life, I should have thought it a Life well Spent, Such are my Ideas of its Importance to the Cause of our...
28From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 28 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24, is just come to Hand. Your Congratulations on the publick acknowledgment of the United States do me great Honour. I received in its Time, your favour of 18. The Compliments you make me upon this occasion, are greater than I deserve, though they are not greater than were made me last Week, by one of the most respectable foreign Ministers at the Hague. “Vous avez, frappé,...
29From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 3 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Last night I recd yours of March 31. inclosing a Receipt from some American Prisoners for Money advanced them. Let me beg of you sir to Point out, in what Way, I may remit this Money. I am ready to pay a Bill upon Sight, or to purchase a Bill here and transmit it, whichever is most agreable. The new British Ministry will only, plunge their Country into deeper Misfortunes if they Spend time to...
30From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 21 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
The next morning after the Rect of your Letter, I went to Mr De Neufville and paid him the Eight Ducats as you desired, for which I inclose his Receipt. I want to know whether Mr Laurens is exchanged for General Burgoine whether he knows that he is in the Commission—of the Peace, or not, whether and when he intends to come over to the Continent. Pray invite him for me, I dare not do it myself...
31From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 26 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of the 24 was brought to me last night. It is true that I am not quite recovered of my Illness, I have Weaknesses and a Lameness that is new to me. Ill Health is no Novelty to me, but Disobedience in my Legs and Feet, was unknown to me, untill I had the late Fever. I walk, however every day and find that I grow better, though but slowly. Laurens has most certainly an honest soul. I...
32From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 1 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
Last night I received your favour of 28 Novr.—and shall take the proper Care of the Papers enclosed. I must beg your Pardon for not having regularly answered your Correspondence, lately as I ought, but I have had too little Health, and too many other affaires, to be punctual to pay my debts to my friends. I thank you, Sir, for your Humanity, Patriotism and Friendship in advancing 100£ for the...
33From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favours of the 14 and of the 26. I thank you for the Extract, and hope you will discover by whom and to whom it was written. That they do not give to me, a very blind Confidence is true. That they have given orders to some Persons to Spy me, may be true. That they know me to be an honest Man, and inflexible in the cause, and perhaps some times too ardent, I am certain. That I...
34From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favours of 14 and 26. I thank you for the Extract, and hope you will discover by whom and to whom it was written. I dont See the Virtue nor the Wisdom, nor the Honour of writing Such Things to the English. It would be Sufficient, one should think to write them to America. However, just as they please. As long as they pursue with tryumphant success, the System, which was urged...
35From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 24 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have never answered your favor of August 22d. As to the Letters inclosed, I can say nothing. I cannot advise your Friend to take much Trouble about the Affair, because I think Congress will not be able to attend much to such things until the War is over. It is wholly out of my department, and I can do nothing in it, unless it be to inclose these or any other proposals to my Constituents. I...
36From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 9 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I was favoured, in due time with yours of 17. Septr, but have not been able to acknowledge it, till now. The late Transaction you allude to is this, a new Commission for Peace. J. Adams, B. Franklin, H. Laurens, J. Jay, and T. Jefferson are the Ministers. I dont See that this is any Tryal at all of Spirit and Fortitude,—it is more honourable than before and, much more easy. I assure you it has...
37From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of 11. will take measures to repay the 20£. The ode is very fine. I shall be happy if the News is confirmed, that your Nephew has Succeeded. But have no News from America. The Pou, I read, nine months ago with Contempt and Disgust. I would not have gone through it, if it had not been merely to know that I had read it, as I think it a Duty to read every Thing which...
38From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 29 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr. Winslow Warren, is the Son of my Friend Major General Warren of the Massachusetts. He is, on all Sides of Families the most ancient and honourable and meritorious of that Part of America. And the Young Gentn. himself is amiable and has Merit. I should be vastly obliged to you, if you would shew him Brussels. Pray shall We have the Pleasure to see you here in a few days?...
39From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 22. Will you be so kind as to give me the Address of your Nephew, that I may be able to convey to him, Letters for America, as I may have opportunity before he Sails. At present I know not what to write from this Country. We are now to wait untill the 20th. of June and then see great Things. The Packets you mention reached me, the Sixth of this Month, after many...
40Enclosure: Draft of an Article, 23 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
It is often Said in this Country, “We have nothing to gain by this War.” But who is to gain? If Holland has nothing to gain, it has much to loose, and the Question now is not what is to be gained, but was it to be Saved and defended. This Republick, may loose all her Possessions in the East and West Indies: she may loose her Navigation and Commerce: she may loose her Baltick Trade: her...