Adams Papers

To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 28 July 1783

From Matthew Ridley

Paris July the 28h: 1783.

Sir

I have the Honor to inclose you a Letter received by yesterday’s Post from England—1

M Jay has already advised you of the arrival of M Laurens here. He returns tomorrow by the way of Havre— I do learn that anything is new is stirring— He thinks there will be a change in Ministry— If there is I imagine it will only be a change to strengthen the King’s Party.— They say little or nothing about the Treaty the Commerce or definitive treaty.— M L. has some thoughts of his Sons going with Barney; but I do not believe he will He, himself talks of embarking from England in October.—

M Barclay & M Hunt go for Havre to Morrow.— I imagine Barney will sail immediately after they get there.2 I am informed he carries the Treaty with Denmark & another with Portugal. I have the Honor to be / Your Excellencys / Most Obed. & mt hbl sert

Matt: Ridley

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency / J. Adams”; endorsed: “Mr Ridley 28. July 1783.”

1. This letter cannot be positively identified, but it may be that of 26 May from the Second Congregational Church of Newport, R.I. (vol. 14:498–501). See JA’s 12 Nov. reply to that letter, which may have been drafted in August, below.

2. Thomas Barclay, Henry Laurens, Henry Laurens Jr., John Thaxter, and others left Capt. Joshua Barney’s vessel, the General Washington, off Poole, England, and traveled to London. John Hunt continued on to America (Morris, Papers description begins The Papers of Robert Morris, 1781–1784, ed. E. James Ferguson, John Catanzariti, Elizabeth M. Nuxoll, Mary A. Gallagher, and others, Pittsburgh, 1973–1999; 9 vols. description ends , 8:508). For the progress of the travelers and their arrival in England, see John Thaxter’s letters to JA of 31 July and 4 Aug., and Henry Laurens’ 9 Aug. letter to the commissioners, all below; for Barney’s voyage to Philadelphia, where he arrived on 9 Sept., see Laurens, Papers description begins The Papers of Henry Laurens, ed. Philip M. Hamer, George C. Rogers Jr., David R. Chesnutt, C. James Taylor, and others, Columbia, S.C., 1968–2003; 16 vols. description ends , 16:248.

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    Source Project
    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 28 July 1783
    Author
    Ridley, Matthew
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    28 July 1783

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 28 July 1783,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-15-02-0078. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 15, June 1783–January 1784, ed. Gregg L. Lint, C. James Taylor, Robert F. Karachuk, Hobson Woodward, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara B. Sikes, Mary T. Claffey, and Karen N. Barzilay. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010, pp. 178–179.]

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