11761To John Adams from the Duc de La Vauguyon, 4 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
J’ay recu Monsieur La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire d’amsterdame Le 1er. de ce mois. Je ne suis pas en mesure d’avoir celui d’y repondre comme ministre Du Roy, n’etant muni d’aucune instruction ulterieure sur L’obet qui y est developé; mais puisque vous voulez bien me demander Mon sentiment personel je vous L’exposerai avec La plus entiere sincerité. Après avoir tres...
11762The Duc de La Vauguyon to John Adams: A Translation, 4 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write from Amsterdam on the 1st of this month. I am unable to answer it in the capacity of a minister of the King, not having any further instructions on the subject to which it relates, but as you have the goodness to request my private opinion, I will give it to you with the greatest sincerity. After having very seriously...
11763From John Adams to Mr. Bergsma, 5 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have Received from the Hand of Mr Menkema, the Resolution of the States of Friesland of the 26. of February. I beg you would accept of my best Thanks for the Honour you have done me, in communicating to me, So early this important Measure—a Resolution which does Honour to that Spirit of Liberty, which distinguishes your Province; and is so apparently equitable, that the Example cannot fail...
11764To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 5 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Quoique j’aie loué des Chambres ici pour moi, et que mon Epouse et ma fille ayent pris des mesures pour passer l’Eté à la Campagne et l’hiver à Gertrudemberg, cela ne nous empêchera point d’entrer de tout notre coeur dans le projet que vous proposez; et nous nous promettons d’en rendre l’exécution aussi agréable et avantageuse pour V. Exc quelle le sera pour nous. J’en serai quitte pour payer...
11765C. 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...
11766To John Adams from Robert R. Livingston, 5 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have now before me your letters of the 15th, 17th and 18th of October last. I am sorry to find that your Health has suffered by the climate, but hope that the setting in of the winter has e’er this reestablished it—I am not directed to return any answer to your request to come home, should I obtain the sense of Congress upon it before this is closed, it will be transmitted by this...
11767To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 6 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
On vient de m’apporter l’incluse pour vous, venue de quelque part en france. A ma derniere, que vous aurez reçue ce matin, je dois ajouter, de la part de mon Epouse, qu’entre autres raisons qui demandent qu’elle ait l’honneur de vous entretenir, est celle de savoir si vous gardez les servantes que vous avez actuellement, et si elles viendront ici au mois de May prochain, ou si elle doit en...
11768C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 6 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed from France was just brought in to me for you. In my last letter, which you will have received this morning, I should have added on behalf of my wife, that among many other reasons to have the honor of meeting you, she would like to know if you are keeping your current servants, and if they are coming here next May or should she hire others for you here. In this last case, it will...
11769To John Adams from Edmund Jenings , 7 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Congratulate your Excellency on the Confusion that the English ministry is in; besides That, I see but very little that our Country has reason to rejoice in from the late Triumph of the minority, which appears to me to have as perverse a disposition as its Enemies, the former majority. I doubt not that your Excellency has seen the Speech which the attorney General made the day preceding his...
11770To John Adams from Leendert de Neufville, 8 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Being called upon this morning for the payment of an interest coupon of your Excellencys loan which was accordingly discharged—it made me remember whether we ought not to make an advertisement about it in the newspapers. As the last time it was often repeated I wants propose making it at present very plain which if any might have perhaps as much or new influence with the public. The Chief...
11771From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Should the British Forces now in New York and Charlestown evacuate those Places and go to the West India Islands, they might give a good deal of Trouble to the French and Spanish Possessions there. It would cost those Powers many Men and Ships and a great deal of Money and Time perhaps to manage them: whereas a Fleet and a Sum of Money now well directed would infallibly make Prisoners of the...
11772From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Proceedings, of late in the British Parliament, I think abundantly prove, that the British Troops will evacuate N. York and Charlestown, and go to Quebeck Hallifax and the West India Islands provided they can escape in the Course of the ensuing Summer. It cannot be a Question, with any Sensible Man, whether it will cost most Time, Blood and Treasure to France and Spain to take them all...
11773From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
By the Address of the House of Commons to the King, his Majesty’s Answer, and the Resolution of the House in Consequence of it, “that he would be highly criminal and an Enemy to his Country who should attempt to carry on an offensive War in America against the Sense of the House”: by the surrender of Minorca and the disastrous face of British Affairs in Ireland, as well as in the East and West...
11774To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Après que vous futes parti, je reçus un billet de notre ami, pour me prier de lui envoyer au plus vite une copie du projet de réponse que vous avez vu et désapprouvé, en m’assurant qu’il en feroit un bon usage. Je le lui envoyai avec ce correctif au bas. “Je crois necessaire d’ajouter, que Mr. A— ne se contenteroit pas de cette réponse, et ne la recevroit pas, parce qu’elle ne seroit pas...
11775C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
After you left, I received a note from our friend asking that I send him a copy of your criticism of the proposal as quickly as possible. He assured me that he would make good use of it. I sent it to him with the following statement. “I believe that it is necessary to add that Mr. Adams would not be satisfied with this response and would not have accepted it because it is not the categorical...
11776From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 11 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Promise, which was made me by Mr. Bergsma, that I should have an Answer from the Province of Friesland in three Weeks, has been literally fulfilled. This Gentleman, who as well as his Province deserves to be remembered in America, sent me a Copy of the Resolution in Dutch as soon as it passed. It is now public in all the Gazettes, and is concieved in these Terms. “The Requisition of Mr....
11777To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Une petite absence de chez moi durant la plus grande partie de la journée d’hier, a retardé les incluses; J’espere que leur retard est sans conséquence. Elles sont arrivées toutes deux d’Amsterdam, et notamment le cachet de l’une dans l’état ou vous le verrez. J’ai une Lettre de Mr. Carmichael, qui me dit entre autres —“I wish Mr. Adams all the success he can desire. You will please to inform...
11778C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
A short absence for most of the day yesterday has delayed the enclosed letters. I hope this poses no difficulties. They both arrived from Amsterdam and the seal on one of them arrived in its current condition. I have a letter from Mr. Carmichael that says among other things —“I wish Mr. Adams all the success he can desire. You will please to inform him, that I have received Letters from our...
11779To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous aurez reçu ce soir une Lettre que j’ai fait enrégistrer No 4 par le Chariot de Poste, parti d’ici à Une heure après midi. Je dois ajouter, de la part de notre ami ici, qu’il est nécessaire que vous vous abouchiez au plutôt avec Mr. Van Berkel le Pensionnaire, et Mr. Bikker le fils, et que tous trois vous ayiez une conférence sérieuse et décisive, dès demain, s’il est possible, chez Mr....
11780C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
This evening you will have received a letter marked no. 4 that was sent with the 1 o’clock post. I must add, on behalf of our friend here, that it is necessary for you to meet for a serious and decisive talk with the pensionary Mr. van Berckel and with Mr. Bicker, the son, as soon as tomorrow, if possible, regarding what was proposed in the aforesaid letter. Our friend is writing to Mr. Bicker...
11781To John Adams from Henry Grand, 11 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I do presume from my repeated Aplications to Dr. franklin, and your Silence, that your former misunderstanding concerning the sum you requested me to pay to Mr. Dana is cleared up, by an equal Allowance made you in reimbursmt thereof. The Doctor having requested me to inform messrs. fizeaux Grand &c. that you would draw on him for your Appointments, I accordingly returned them your last...
11782To John Adams from David Hartley, 11 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Having been long informed of your benevolent Sentiments towards peace I writt a letter to you on the 19th of last month thro the hands of Mr Laurens junr to renew that subject with you because I was aware at that time from conferences and correspondencies to wch I had been a party that the topic of peace wd soon become general. I understand that Mr Jay Dr Franklin Mr Laurens and yourself are...
11783To John Adams from Samuel Andrews, 12 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Exellency will permitt me to Lay my presant Situation before you being perswaded you will render me all the assistance in your Power. After haveing been most Cruelly detained in this City Sixteen months my affairs have at last pastd: the Council of apprizals. This Council have judged with rigour in respect to me, Which is this, that I am evidently Neutre and in good faith But say I have...
11784To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 12 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
En vous confirmant mes deux Lettres d’hier, celle-ci est pour vous faire part, d’une Résolution que la Ville de Dort vient de prendre, par laquelle elle donne à Mr. De Gyzelaer, son digne Pensionaire, une marque touchante et honorable de son estime et de son approbation, et d’ailleurs non équivoque de sa disposition par rapport aux affaires publiques: par cette résolution elle s’attend qu’il...
11785C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 12 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
In addition to confirming my two letters of yesterday, this one is to inform you that the city of Dordrecht just passed a resolution by which it honors its worthy pensionary Mr. De Gyselaar, with a moving and honorable proof of its esteem and approbation and, moreover, unequivocally to his disposition with regard to public affairs. With this resolution, it is expected that he will not take on...
11786From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 13 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your two Letters both without Date and one without a Name. My Respects and Thanks to Mr Carmichael &c. I have Some of the Resolutions of Congress touching that department but cannot Say whether I have all. I have had last Evening an agreable Interview with the two worthy Gentlemen you mention. They are both of opinion, that it is better to wait and See what will be proposed by the...
11787From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 14 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice with you, in the Testimony of approbation given to a very meritorious Character. If they burn in one City to acknowledge American Independence, it is to be hoped, that the virtuous flame will Soon extend itself to all others. I am vastly obliged to the Duke de la Vauguion for the Service he did our Cause and for the many noble Compliments which, I learn from Sure Sources, he was...
11788From John Adams to Francis Dana, 15 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favour of Feb 10/21. arrived last night, and I thank you for the Copy inclosed. I think that if the Ct. of St. James’s is capable of taking a hint, she may see herself advised to acknowledge the Sovereignty of the U.S. and admit their Ministers to the Congress. There Seems to be a Change of System in England, but the Change is too late: the Kingdom is undone past Redemption. Minorca, St...
11789To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 15 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I think your Excellency must have been greatly surprized at the Vote, which the House of Commons came to on General Conways Motion agst the Advisers for subduing America by Force; but how much soever One may be surprized to see such a measure taken at this Time, it is perhaps more Amazing that it was not taken before; it ought to have been the Declaration of Parliament at the beginning of the...
11790From John Adams to Henry Grand, 16 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of March 11th, which I recieved last night, is totally incomprehensible to me. My Account was to be made up for two Years Salary ending the 13th. day of last November, amounting to five thousand pounds sterling. Every farthing of Money I have recieved, including my last Receipt for 400 £ amounts to but about that Sum. I transmitted You the account between Us stated with all...