52501From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 4 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:177–178 . Replying to the president’s letter of 20 Oct. (above), John Adams acknowledged receiving his commissions and instructions and expressed his appreciation of the high honor done him. In regard to his mission, Adams declared that he was determined...
52502From John Adams to the President of Congress, 24 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 24 May 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 163–168. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:431–433. In this letter John Adams provided an English translation of Amsterdam’s address of 18 May to the States of Holland. The city’s deputies...
52503From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 33, 3 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 387–394). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:588–592. John Adams began this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, by paraphrasing the first portion of William Lee’s letter of 30 March...
52504From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 13, 4 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, March 4. 1780.. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 303–306). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:532–534; various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 17 May and the Boston Independent Chronicle of 1 June. With this letter,...
52505From John Adams to the President of Congress, 25 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 25 May 1781. RC PCC , No. 84, III, f. 169–170. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:435–436. John Adams provided an English translation of a convention signed at Versailles on 1 May by the Comte de Vergennes and the Dutch ambassador, Lestevenon van...
52506From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 14, 8 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I went to Court in Company with the American Minister Plenipotentiary, and had the Honor to be presented to the King, by the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs: after which, I had the Honor to go round with all the foreign Ambassadors, and make a Visit to the Queen, the King’s Brothers, Sister, Aunts, and Daughter, which are all the Branches of the Royal Family, and to be...
52507From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 23, 23 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose the English Papers of the eleventh thirteenth and fourteenth of March. The Courier de L’Europe and the Hague, Leiden and Amsterdam Gazettes. We are in hourly Expectation of great News from Holland, Ireland, England, Spain, and above all from America and the West Indies. I have not a Letter from America, since I left it, except one from my Family of the tenth of...
52508From John Adams to the President of Congress, 26 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Rubicon is passed. A step has been at last taken by the Regency of Amsterdam, which must decide the fate of the Republick. The City of Amsterdam, finding that their proposition of the 18th. of last month was not sufficient to change the conduct of administration, have ventured on another maneuvre. On the 8th. of this month, as soon as the States of Holland were seperated, two Burgomasters...
52509From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 16, 14 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Repeated Letters from London, confirm the Account of Mr. Laurens’s being confined to the Tower, so close a Prisoner, that neither his old Correspondents, nor even his Refugee Relations, are Suffered to Speak to him. There have been So many Precedents of Exchanges, Mr. Lovell as well as the Major Generals Sullivan, Stirling, Lee and others having been exchanged, as Prisoners of War, that it is...
52510From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 80, 5 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 5 June 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 102–105). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers notations by Thaxter: “18th June 1780. This day delivered Mr. Hall of Virginia Nos. 79 & 80 to go by the Way of Amsterdam—also two Packets of newspapers and several private Letters.”; “June 23d. 1780. This day Mr. Adams delivered to Drs. Boush and Lewis of Virginia at their Hotel the duplicates...
52511From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 6, 5 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
As Eloquence is cultivated with more Care in free Republicks, than in other Governments, it has been found by constant Experience that such Republicks have produced the greatest purity, copiousness and perfection of Language. It is not to be disputed that the Form of Government has an Influence upon Language, and Language in its Turn influences not only the Form of Government but the Temper,...
52512From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 69, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 20 May 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 57–62). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:693–696. In this letter, read in Congress on 11 Sept., John Adams reported on the speeches supporting and opposing Gen. Conway’s bill of 5 May for ending...
52513From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 44, 14 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 14 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 451–455). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:612–614. This letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, included reports from Constantinople, Copenhagen, London, and The Hague concerning the...
52514From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 29, 29 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 29 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 369–372). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “Nos. 26, 27, 28 & 29 were delivered to Mr. Izard 29th. March 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:578–580. This letter, received by...
52515From John Adams to the President of Congress, 16 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
There has been much said in the public Papers concerning Conferences for Peace, concerning the Mediation of the Emperor of Germany and the Empress of Russia &c. &c. &c. I have never troubled Congress with these Reports, because I have never recieved any official Information or Intimation of any such Negotiation, either from England or France, or any other way. If any such Negotiation has been...
52516From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 4, 24 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have only time by this Vessell to inclose the declarations of Sweeden and Denmark; but the chance of her going safe is so small that I should not send any thing very material, if I had more time. I have the Honour to be &c. LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation: “recd in congress Decr. 3.” According to the Journal of Congress, this letter was read on 4 Dec. ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others,...
52517From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 73, 27 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 27 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 78–80). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ; notation by Thaxter: “NB. Nos. 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 were delivered to Come. Gillon on the 30th. May, with several packets of Newspapers & private Letters.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States ,...
52518From John Adams to the President of Congress, 15 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 15 January 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 29–32. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:234. Read in Congress on 19 Nov., this letter consisted of a translation, probably from a French text such as that in the Gazette de Leyde of 9...
52519From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 89, 6 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 6 July 1780. Dupl , both text and signature in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 165–171). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:833– 837. This letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781 ( JCC Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the...
52520From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 21, 19 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 19 March, 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 333–335). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:560–561. In this letter, read in Congress on 22 July, John Adams repeated, almost verbatim, the newspaper accounts of British naval movements and the...
52521From John Adams to the President of Congress, 26 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
The Emperor appears to be more intent at present upon taking a fair Advantage of the present Circumstances, to introduce a flourishing Commerce into the Austrian Flanders, than upon making Treaties with England or waging War in its favour. His Imperial, Royal, and Apostolical Majesty, has condescended to take off and break the Shackles which restrained the Commerce and the Communication of the...
52522From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 5, 17 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
It is necessary that I should inform Congress, in what manner I have been able to procure Money to defray my Expenses, in my long Journey through the greatest Parts of Spain and France, to this City. On my Arrival at Ferrol, I was offered the Loan of Money by the French Consul Mr. De Tournelle, but at the same Time told me there was a Gentleman at Corunna Mr. Michael Lagoanere, who had...
52523From John Adams to the President of Congress, 6 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
This Day the Skipper of a Trech Schuit, brought me, your Excellencys important Dispatches by Coll. Laurens. The Coll. delivered them to Mr. Dana at Paris, with perfect Propriety. Mr. Dana with equal Propriety delivered them to a Gentleman of Character, who undertook to deliver them at Amsterdam, but unfortunately forgot them at Valenciennes. From Valenciennes they travelled partly by Post,...
52524From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing Congress on the 20th the following movements have taken place on the part of the Enemy and on our part. The conduct of the Enemy and our intelligence giving us reason to suspect a design against West Point, on the 21st—the army, except two Brigades & the Horse (left under the command of General Greene to cover the Country and our stores) was put in motion to...
52525From John Adams to Samuel Huntington, 20 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellencys Letter of 12 July, I have received and thank you, sir, for recommending this Gentleman to me. And shall on all future occasions be obliged to you for recommending to me such Persons as you shall think proper coming to Europe. The Current of popular Hopes and Fears in Europe has been lately much turned by the favourable News from America. But the public opinion is of no...
52526From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 99, 23 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have been amused sometime with dark and unintelligible hints in Letters from London of some Messenger sent from Lord North to Madrid. Three weeks ago, I waited on the Comte de Vergennes at Versailles to acquaint him that I had an intention of making a Journey to Amsterdam for a few weeks, as I flattered myself I might form some Acquaintances or Correspondences there and collect some...
52527From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 27 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I last night received a letter, of which the inclosed is a Copy, from General Wayne, informing me that the second division of the Fleet put to sea yesterday. It is generally imagined that the first division, which sailed the 23d consisted of returning Transports and private Vessels bound to Europe. I have reason to expect, in the course of a few days, from a confidential correspondent in New...
52528From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 40, 10 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Duplicate The Memoire of the Prince Gallitzin, Envoy Extraordinary of all the Russias to the States General, presented the third of this Month, is of too much Importance to the United States of America, and their Allies, to be omitted to be sent to Congress. It is of the following Tenor. High and Mighty Lords., “The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary of her Majesty the Empress of all the...
52529From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 15, 8 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 March 1780.. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 311). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation in Thaxter’s hand: “March 10th. Delivered the above to Mr Brown of Charlestown S. Carolina.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:539. In this letter, read by...
52530From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 77, 2 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 1 June 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 90–95). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:752–758. This letter, read in Congress on 5 Sept., contains John Adams’ analysis of Lord George Germain’s speech of 5 May opposing Gen. Conway’s bill to end the American war,...
52531From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 23, 25 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Prince was ill advised, when he undertook, what he was not obliged to do, in producing Mr. Laurens’s Papers, which he did too in a manner justly offensive to the United States. It was the part of Sir Joseph Yorke, to have produced them, not to the Prince, but to their High Mightinesses. His Serene Highness, therefore, in this Work of Supererogation, gave himself the Air of an Instrument of...
52532From John Adams to the President of Congress, 18 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Leyden, 18 March 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 78–93. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:306–313. This letter was read in Congress on 19 Nov. and consisted of English translations of the States General’s countermanifesto of 12 March and...
52533From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 60, 8 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 8 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 27–30). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:660–663; extracts in various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 27 Dec. 1780 and the Boston Gazette
52534From John Adams to the President of Congress, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 7 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 264–265. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:549. John Thaxter wrote this letter during John Adams’ absence at Paris. It contains an English translation of a resolution that the...
52535From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 93, 15 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris,15 July 1780. Dupl , both text and signature in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 185–188) printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:859–860. In this letter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., John Adams provided an account from St. Petersburg, probably from a...
52536From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 2, 22 August 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 22 Aug. 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 241–244). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:36–38. This letter, read by Congress on 20 Nov., began with France’s reply of 4 Aug. to the Swedish declaration of 30 July acceding to the armed neutrality, the text of...
52537From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 21, 17 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
From the Time, of the Arrival of my Commission, I have been constantly employed in forming Acquaintances, making Inquiries and asking Advice; but am Sorry to be obliged to Say that I hitherto See no certain Prospect of borrowing any Money, at all. For Some Years past, all the Information I could obtain from this Country led me to think, that America had many Friends in this Republick, and that...
52538From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 13, 5 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 Oct. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 281–282). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:82. In this letter, received by Congress on 29 Jan. 1781, John Adams indicated that he had no news regarding his commission to negotiate a Dutch...
52539From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 35, 4 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 4 April 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 409–410). printed : various American newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette of 12 July and the Boston Independent Chronicle of 3 Aug. 1780. In this letter, which was read in Congress on 10 July, John Adams provided the text of a resolution adopted by the City of London on 22 March concerning the maintenance of a...
52540From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 87, 26 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Resolutions of Congress of the 18th. of March respecting the paper bills, appeared first in Europe as recited in the Act of the Assembly of Pennsylvania. They were next published in the English News-Papers as taken from a Boston Paper published by the Council; at last the Resolutions appear’d in the Journals of Congress. A great clamour was raised and spread, that the United States had...
52541From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 10, 27 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
No. 10. There are so many Gentleman of Rank going out to America, that there can be no doubt Congress will be fully informed of the State of public Affairs. Mr. Lee, Mr. Izard, the Marquiss de la Fayette, Mr. Wharton, and many others, are going by different Vessels. Besides these Monsieur de L’Etombe, who is appointed Consul General of France for the Northern District of America, as Mr. Holker...
52542From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 85, 17 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Refugees in England are so great an obstacle to Peace, that it seems not improper for me to take Notice of them to Congress. Governor Hutchinson is dead. Whether the late popular Insurrections, or whether the Resolutions of Congress of the eighteenth of March respecting their Finances, by suddenly extinguishing the last Rays of his hopes, put a sudden End to his life, or whether it was...
52543From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 1, 11 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
El Ferrol, Spain, 11 December 1779. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, 1, f. 227; docketed: “No. 1 J Adams Esqr original by Capt. Trask from Corunna to Newbury Port, Mass. Bay. Duplicate of Decemb 11th 1779 Original receivd. Recd. May 15. 1780 orig read March 27.” The “original” has not been found. LbC Adams Papers . LbC in JA ’s and in Thaxter’s hand Adams Papers ; notations: “Recd in...
52544From John Adams to the President of Congress, 1 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam 1 January 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC, Misc. Papers , Reel No. 1, f. 204–211. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:219–222. Read in Congress on 19 Nov., this letter contained the texts of Britain’s manifesto of 20 Dec. 1780, which constituted a...
52545From John Adams to the President of Congress, 29 June 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 29 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 246–251. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:525–527. This letter consists of an English translation of the letter presented to the States General on 21 June by Louis Ernst, Duke of...
52546From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 6, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are Copies of former Letters to Congress, and I shall continue to transmit Copies until I learn that some have arrived; for which Reason I must request the Favour that his Excellency the President, or some Committee, may be desired to acknowledge the Receipt of Letters, so that I may know as soon as may be what Letters have arrived and which have been less fortunate. The Art of making...
52547From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 84, 16 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have lately obtained a Sight of a Number of Pamphlets, published in London, which are given out as written by Mr. Galloway, but there are many Circumstances in them which convince me that they were written in Concert by the Refugees. I see many Traces, which appear unequivocal, of the hand of Governor Hutchinson in some of them. I have read them with pleasure and surprize, because it seems...
52548To John Adams from the President of Congress, 30 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since your Arrival in Europe I have been favoured with your several Despatches of the 11. and 16. of December last, the 16. of January, the 15. 17. 19. 20. 25. 27. and 29. of February, the 8. 18. 19. and 23. of March. It is probable the Committee of foreign Affairs may have acknowledged the Receipt of these Despatches, and several Duplicates which have been also received. I presume they have...
52549From John Adams to the President of Congress, 19 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your Excellency’s Letter of the first of January, with the Commission and Instructions inclosed. I am very sensible of this fresh Instance of the Confidence of Congress, and shall do every thing in my Power to discharge the Duties of this new Trust; but I am obliged to say, that no Commission that ever was given required more Patience, Fortitude and Circumspection than this:...
52550From John Adams to the President of Congress, 5 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Amsterdam, 5 July 1781. RC and signature in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, III, f. 254–261. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 4:540–543. This is the first of a series of letters to Congress that John Thaxter composed in John Adams’ name during Adams’ absence at...