21C. 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....
22C. 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...
23C. 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...
24C. 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,...
25Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, with a Contemporary Translation, 16 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recu, Messieurs, La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire au Sujet du navire francois L’isabelle—que le Corsaire americaine le General Mifflin a repris Sur un Corsaire de Guernsey. Dans La these generale, vous connoissez les dispositions de L’ordonnance de la marine de 1681 que adjudge aux Capitaines preneurs les Batimens repris lorsqu’ils ont été pendant 24 heures en la main...
26John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Referring to what I had the Honor to write you the 12th Current. Yesterday arrived from Virginia the Cutter Tartar Capt. Southcomb. He left York River the 29th July. Private Letters by him are dated the 21st of same contain no accounts other than them at hand. He reports a report of Comte d’Estaing having taken five English Frigates, that New York was closely blockt up and no doubt of the...
27John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 1 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to pay my most respectful Compliments of Season wishing prosperity to all your undertakings. We are without any Arrivals since I had the Honor to write you the 5th Ultimo. By Letters from Nantes I am inform’d the Chasseur is Loaded and all is ready for the other Ship which contrary winds have detaind near two Months at Isl of Rhé not more than 24 hours sail from Nantes. I...
28C. 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...
29C. 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...
30Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 14 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai mis Sous les yeux de Roy, Messieurs, les Raisons qui pouvoient determiner Sa Majesté à accorder la Liberté au Sujets des Etats Unis prissoniers en France; mais elle à pensé Sagement que cette Faveur ne devoit être acordée qu’à ceux qui ont été pris Sur des Batimens americains et forcés de servir contre leur patrie. En Consequence, Messieurs il Seroit nécéssaire que vous prissiez la Peine,...
31James Smith to the Commissioners, 15 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you the Testimony of Mr. Anthy. Payn concerning the detention of my Goods at Calis with the names of the Officer by whom they were taken and the Servant of Mr. Payn who was also eye witness to the transaction and lives at the Hotel Lyon d’Argent at Calais. It may be also proper to inform you that a Gentleman who I have been given to understand by Mr. Williams is...
32C. 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...
In the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 28th. of last month, You recall the promise which the King has made in the 8th Article of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce signed the 6th. February last, to employ his good offices with the Regencies of Barbary, to procure for the subjects of the United States, every security in the Meditteranean for their Commerce and...
34C. 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...
We have received the letter that you did us the honor to send the 31st of last month, but which did not arrive until the 15th. In our letter of the 7th, we acknowledged the receipt, from Mr. Whitall, of the book containing 205 promissory notes of the United States of America, each for 1,000 florins current payable on 1 January 1788 and accompanied by 10 of 50 florins for the interest of 5...
36John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 2 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Captain Jason Laurence belonging to the Schooner General Arnold Arrived here Yesterday by a dutch Ship being put on board by a Jersey Privateer that took the Schooner the 1 Decr. fifteen Leagues from Belle Isle. He informs me the Vessel belonged to Genl. Arnold that she was the first that had been Launcht at Phila. since the recovery. He left that City the 4 Novr. had on board Packets from...
37John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 3 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
We are yet without any Arrivals from any part of America, from Carolina as an embargo is in force for the exporting of Rice, it is not extraordinary, but from all the other Provinces some Vessels may be expected as there are many french Vessels in Virginia Maryland and No. Carolina, should vessels belonging to the States be wanting, which I apprehend is rather the Case, some of the other ought...
38Jonathan Loring Austin to the Commissioners, 19 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
On Tuesday Morning, as I have already had the Honor of informing Your Excellencies, I shall set out for Holland, and from thence embrace the first Opportunity of returning to America, after an Absence of Twelve Months. Permit me to request a Letter of Recommendation to Congress: also to the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, from whom I was more immediately dispatch’d with the...
39John Lloyd and Others to the Commissioners, 7 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
Having been induced to believe, and to expect, in consequence of The Treaty of Alliance, Friendship, and Commerce, entered into, by, and between, His most Christian Majesty, and, The Honorable Congress, of The United States of America; That every possible encouragement, and protection would be readily granted, to our Commercial intercourse, with this Kingdom. We presumed, under that confidence...
40Peter Collas to the Commissioners, 8 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
The 6 of August last I weant from hence to Nants Intended for Boston and on the 29th sailed from Nants for Boston On board of the Dispatch, Coben Barns master and On the ferst of September was Captured by the Ennemies and Carred in to Guernsey, from there I gott to England and made the best of my way for France. At my Arivall a Calais where According to custom my Trunk was Searched and in it...
41C. W. F. Dumas to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 16 January 1779 (Adams Papers)
I know that you received my letters of 2 and 8 December. Since then, I have had the honor of writing you three more, dated 18–24 December, 1–3 January, and 12–15 January. Yesterday, the 15th, in the evening, just as I was sending off my last, the French Ambassador sought me out in order to have me meet with our friend to confirm, on the Ambassador’s behalf, that this morning he will present a...
42Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 12 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Defleury, Messieurs, m’a réprésenté que son fils unique, s’embarqua en 1776 pour se rendre en Amerique, ou il a servi les Etats Unis dans l’Armée du General Washington, avec assez de distinction pour mériter le grade de lieutenant Colonel, mais qu’ayant ête fait prisonnier et conduit au fort St. Augustin il n’a pas encore pû obtenir son Echange, et il se trouve dans l’Etat le plus...
43Benjamin Gunnison to the Commissioners, 14 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have just arrived and tak the Liberty To Right to your Honour to in form you of The Condision of the Brig morris. After a Passig of forty two Days I have arrived in Roscoff In the Province of Britancy and shall weight your in structions. I did intend for Nants or Bourdaux but from violant gaills of wind I had on this Coast have been obliged to make this port as my Riggin and sails are much...
44C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
En me referant à mes deux dernieres du 4 et 9 de ce mois, je continue aujourdhui, que j’ai appris de notre ami, que demain, dans l’Assemblée d’Hollande, on s’occupera d’une matiere très importante, savoir des déprédations commises par les Anglois tout récemment sur nombre de vaisseaux hollandois; que tous les négociants d’Amsterdam en Corps vont incessamment faire présenter une adresse à LL....
45John Julius Pringle to the Commissioners, 9 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
Having heard that it is your intention to dispatch some person to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners, I presume to offer you my services on that occasion. Having ever professed the purest attachment to the Cause and Interests of my Country, and ready to embrace every opportunity within my power of demonstrating it, the present will be extremely agreeable to me. If therefore no...
46John Ross to the Commissioners, 8 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
By the tuisdays post, I had the honor of your favour 30th. Ultimo now before me. And I find thereby, a want of Authority, deprivs me of either instructions or Advice from you in the concerns of the Public, farther thin what respects the large Sume of money put into my hands by the Honorable the Commissioners. It has been all along my own Opinion, that am only responsible to the Honorable...
I have received, gentlemen, the undated letter that you did me the honor to write. Rest assured that we will, as much as circumstances will permit, take its contents into consideration. You may rely on the sincere interest that the King takes in the prosperity of the United States. I have the honor to be very perfectly, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servant LbC ( Adams Papers...
48The Comte de Vergennes to the Commissioners, 6 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
J’ai communiqué à M. de Sartine, Messieurs, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 24. du mois dernier. Ce Ministre vient de me répondre, qu’il n’est point possible de vous promettre qu’il Sera donné des escortes particuliéres aux batiments destinés pour les Etats-unis jusques aux ports de l’amérique Septentrionale ni même jusques audelà du méridien des Açores; mais que vos...
49John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 21 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
I attended yesterday to the Vissit made by the Inspector of the Artillery of the Cannon laying at this Port belonging to Monsr. Le Bertin. The report is as favorable as can be given as to their appearance which is all that can be said of them until Proved. The following is the list given me in by the person who has them under his care. 77 Cannon du Calibre de 36£ du poids de 75 quintx la piece...
50Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 22 December 1778 (Adams Papers)
Vous etes sans Doute informés, Messieurs, qu’il arrive souvent dans Les Ports de france des sujets des Etats-Unis qui s’échappent des Prisons d’Angleterre, et comme La plupart de ces Marins se trouvent depourvus des Choses les plus necessaires, plusieurs Commissaires des Ports ou vous n’avez pas d’Agent et qui ont deja fait quelques Avances a des sujets des Etats-Unis echappés des Prisons...