31From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress I received a few Days since, via Eustatia & Holland the Triplicates of your several Favours of Dec 8. Jan. 29. and Feb. 8. The preceding Copies of the same Dates never came to hand. I thank you very much for the News-Papers, tho’ the Disputes...
32Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 18 – 26 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
Do you love the Natural sentiments of the Heart Take them then as they flow from the pen of Portia. Having been to take a ride this afternoon upon my return stopt at my Brother Cranchs when one of the family came to the chaise and told me a Gentleman from Boston had left a large packet for me in the House. My Heart bounded for joy—I besought him to deliver them Instantly to me. The Bulk of the...
33Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 15 July 1779 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to Mr. S A—— the same day I received your Letter, but not a syllable of information have I yet collected from him. No Alliance yet arrived—it will afford me some releif to be scribling to somebody who will hear me, who will attend to me and answer my Queries, and tho Mr. L ovel l has heretofore wrote rather problematically with regard to the situation of my absent Friend I beg of him...
34Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 28 July 1779 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of july 16 this moment received the contents of which have awakend in my Bosom the anxiety which had before almost subsided. By a Letter dated some time in june which you must before this time have received you have found that I had similar inteligance to what you have communicated. But I was strangely puzled, I knew not what to think. I had never received a hint of the kind from...
35From John Adams to James Lovell, 13 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
Since I have had Opportunity to converse, a little in this Country, and to read a few Gazettes, I find that Questions have been agitated here in the Newspapers, and in private Circles, as well as in Congress, concerning his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes and Mr. A. Lee which seem to make it necessary, that I should Send the inclosed Copies. You can judge better than I, whether it will be of...
36From John Adams to James Lovell, 10 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
By the last Post, I had the Pleasure of yours of August 20 and 24. It was not for Want of Affection, that I did not write particularly to you and to many other Gentlemen, but from Want of Time. And since my Arrival to this Time, I have been obliged to go to Boston, Cambridge &c., so often, my good old Town of Braintree having taken it into their Heads, upon my Arrival, to put me into the...
37From John Adams to James Lovell, 21 September 1779 (Adams Papers)
In one of your late Letters, you hope that a Treaty with Spain, will Soon be made. I wish I knew your Intelligence, which is undoubtedly better than mine: I have suspected, for I can call it no more than suspicion, that Spain intended to wait untill the Negotiation for Peace. In another you Say, you should be easier in your Mind, if I were in Europe, when you consider what Negotiations are...
38From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 30 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have within these few Days received a Number of Dispatches from you which have arrived by the Mercury and other Vessels. Hearing but this Instant of an Opportunity from Bordeaux, and that the Courier Sets out from Versailles at 5 this Evening, I embrace it just to let you know that I have...
39From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I have heard much of your Deliberations concerning a Peace—and you drop Hints to me, of Apprehensions of Negotiations in Europe. I hate these Innuendoes—pray Speak out, and tell me what you mean. Do you verily expect Peace? Do you seriously expect Negotiations for Peace? What is at stake for Britania? What will be the Consequence to her of American Independence? Is not the Empire of the Sea at...
40From John Adams to James Lovell, 17 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
And What, my dear sir, shall I say to your Favours of the 27. and 28 of september, which came by the last Post? The Unanimity of my Election surprises me, as much, as the Delicacy Importance, and Danger, of the Trust distresses me. The appointment of Mr. Dana to be the Secretary, pleases me more than my own to be Minister, Commissioner, Negotiator, call it what you will. I have communicated to...
41From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 17 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives (two); AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives The foregoing is a Copy of my last. I have now before me your several Favours therein mentioned, viz of June 13. July 9 & 16. and Augt. 6. I received the Journals of Congress from Jany. 1st. to June 12. which you took care to send me: But the Vols 1. & 2d which you mention...
42From John Adams to James Lovell, 25 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Joshua Johnson, is a Merchant settled with his Lady and Family at Nantes. I was honoured with many of his Civilities in that City, and with a good deal of his Conversation. He is a sensible genteel Man has a good Character, and I believe is as well qualified, for the service you mention as any Man American now in Europe: His affections sentiments and Acquaintances are, supposed to be on a...
43From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
Yours of Octr. 14, and 19, are received. The Exposé des Motifs, is indeed news to me. I dislike, the Experiment, as much as you, and am equally happy, the offer did not suc was rejected. Mr. Jay, will find no Embarrassment, I presume, for Spain has all along furnished Mr. Lee with Money, in very considerable sums, and will continue it, I doubt not to the Minister. But I shall have precarious...
44Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 18 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
In a Letter from my Dear absent Friend the day before he saild dated on Board the Frigate he informd me that the Evening before he received a Letter from his much Esteemed Friend Mr. L ovel l in which he complained that “Portia did not write to him.” Could Portia have given a greater proof of the high value she placed upon his Friendship and correspondence she would not have withheld her hand....
45Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 13 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed I return according to your direction a duplicate Number of the journals. Number 29 is missing. I do not fully understand you when you say that I must not keep any of the pages 78. Do you mean that I must return them to you or forward them to Mr. Adams. I have no journals left but part of 75 and 76. All that Mr. Adams could find or procure of a later date he took with him; I read the...
46From John Adams to James Lovell, 16 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
Providence has favoured me, with a very unexpected Visit to Spain. It is somewhat of a Contretems, to be sure, that the Minister for Spain should be at this Time in France, where I hope he is, altho’ We have no Account of his Arrival: and the Minister of Peace, who ought to be in Paris, in the remotest part of Spain. But so it is—The Captain of the Sensible, finding the Leak in the Ship...
47Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 13 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
With fingers so soar that I can scarcly guide a pen tho it cost me ever so much pain I must I will call you—wicked Man. I told you that I had discoverd in your character, a similitude to that of Sterns and Yorick, but I never was before tempted to add that of Shandy. From your own Authority I quote him as a wicked creature—What demon prompted you to carry the character through. I have read...
48From John Adams to James Lovell, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
You have been so good, in sending me the Journals and above all in sending me very particular Intelligence of what has passed upon several occasions that I depend much upon the Continuance of your Favours. An early receipt of the Journals will be a great Advantage to me, and I shall not fail to make a good Use of them. Since I have been here, I have seen Mr. I. and mentioned to him, his famous...
49From John Adams to James Lovell, 29 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let the Marquis go off, without a Line to you. He took leave of the King a few days ago, in the Uniform of an American Major General, and attracted the Eyes of the whole Court more than ever. He had on no doubt his American Sword which is indeed a Beauty, and which he shews with great Pleasure, upon proper Occasions. The workmanship is exquisite, and there are Emblems on it,...
50From John Adams to James Lovell, 4 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
This will be deliverd you by Mr. Izard, who I Suppose, will lay open to you many Things relative to the State of our Affairs here. I Suppose, by what he has said, in plain English, that he will make a direct Complaint against Dr. F. I dont know this, but only by the Inferences that I draw. I Suppose Dr. F. and all his Friends here will expect this, from what has passed between them. My...
51From George Washington to James Lovell, 4 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 23d of last month, and feel myself much indebted to you for the information it contains. Be assured Sir I am fully persuaded that no intelligence on your part will be withheld, that may be considered as essential or assisting in the discharge of the duties of my station. I am happy to learn, that the supplies for the army from France are to be relied...
52From John Adams to James Lovell, 16 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, Since my Arrival here, your Favour of the Sixteenth of November 1779. I shall take proper Notice of your Remarks upon the 19 and 13 Articles of the Treaty. They are, both of Importance and as to the last I wish for an Instruction upon it, because there is no doubt to be made, that whenever a Serious Negotiation shall be commenced, great Pains will be taken for the banished,...
53From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 16 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress The Marquis de la Fayette, our firm & constant Friend, returning to America, I have written a long Letter by him to the President, of which a Copy goes by this Ship.— M. Gerard is since arrived, and I have received the Dispatches you mentioned to me but no Letter in answer to mine, a very long one, by the Chevr de...
54From John Adams to James Lovell, 29 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
The States of the Province of Friesland, have come to a Resolution, that it was certain that Byland was not the Aggressor, but that Fielding, had not hesitated, to make Use of Force to visit the dutch Ships under Convoy, to stop those that were found loaded with Hemp, and to insult the Flagg of the Republic. That this Proceeding shows, that the Complaisance hitherto employed towards England,...
55Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 24 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of May the Second came last Evening to Hand, and is the only line received from you since the 21 of March. Former puntiality lead s me to fear the miscarriage of my Letters, but a multiplicity of publick avocations may easily account for omissions where nothing very important calld for a reply. In Letters from Paris received by the Marquis, Mr. A dam s requests me to write you upon...
56Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 11 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your repeated favours of May 14, May 19 and 30 together with one bearing no date merrit my acknowledgement that amidst so great a Number of correspondents you should so often think of Portia. At the same time a sigh mingels with my gratitude that a Heart so benevolently disposed towards others whose life and Labours are so intirely devoted to the publick Service should have occasion for an...
57From John Adams to James Lovell, 24 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 4 May is received—it is the first from Philadelphia. Mr. Mease and your Friend shall have all the attention and assistance I can give them. I thank you for sending the Journals by the Way of Braintree: but hope you will continue to send them from Phila. also. Your Plan of a Cypher I cannot comprehend—nor can Dr. F. his. You have made me very happy, by acquainting me with Proceedings...
58From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 10 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received on the 12th of June 1780 Copies of your several Favours of April 29. 1779. June 13. 1779. July 9th. & 16th. Augt 6. & Sept. 16th. 1779.— You will see by this what Delays our Correspondence sometimes meets with. I have lately receiv’d two of fresher Date, viz. Feb. 24. & May 4. I thank you much for the...
59Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 3 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Where is my Friend Mr. L ovel l? Can he be an inhabitant of this world and inattentive to a Lady? Can he suffer Letters repeatedly to reach him and not deign a line in reply? Can he be so apsorbed in the Region of politicks as to have forgotten Social engagements? Snatch him some friendly Genius from the Region of torpitude, bear him hence Benevolence, he is your intimate acquaintance....
60Abigail Adams to James Lovell, 17 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified at again receiving a few lines from you, tho very Laconick. I wrote you about ten days since by a Mr. Brown, who came in the Alliance and brought Letters from my Friend to congress and to some of his Friends which he put into the post office, but they must be of an old date, as he was waiting near four months for the Sailing of the Alliance. Such conduct with regard to one...