Adams Papers

From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782

To Francis Dana

Paris Decr. 22d. 1782.

Dear Sir,

Your Letter of Novr. 14/25 I recieved the night before last, & went out with it yesterday to Passy. Dr. Franklin & I agreed to desire Mr. Grand to give Orders to the Banker his Correspondent at St. Petersbourg to furnish You with the Sum of Money You may have occasion for, so that your Treaty may be made as soon as You please. I should not be surprized, if the English Minister to the Empress should negotiate for You. The four Ministers for Peace have written You their Advice, that now is the Time for You to apply.1

Penobscot and the Fisheries are very safe. But it is the most curious History in the World, that of our Preliminaries.

The King of Sweden, by his Ambassador at Versailles, has been the first Power in Europe to propose a Treaty with the United States. He has given his Ambassador here full Power to treat & Dr. Franklin has recd. from Congress full Power to treat with him. They are now in Negotiation, & the Treaty will probably be finished in a few days.2

With great Esteem, I have the honor / to be, / Sir, / your most obedient & / most humble Servant.

John Adams

RC in John Thaxter’s hand (MHi:Dana Family Papers); addressed: “Honorable / Francis Dana Esqr / at / St. Petersbourg”; internal address: “Mr. Dana.”; endorsed: “Mr: Adams’s Letter. / Dated Decr: 22d. 1782 / Recd. Jany: 15th—O.S.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108.

1.  On 12 Dec., above.

2. Benjamin Franklin’s letter to Livingston of 7 March 1783 indicates that the treaty was signed on 5 March, although the document, with its attendant separate articles, is dated 3 April (Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, ed. Francis Wharton, Washington, 1889; 6 vols. description ends , 6:276; Miller, Treaties description begins Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, ed. Hunter Miller, Washington, 1931–1948; 8 vols. description ends , 2:144, 145, 149).

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782
    Author
    Adams, John
    Recipient
    Dana, Francis
    Date
    22 December 1782

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From John Adams to Francis Dana, 22 December 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-14-02-0088. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 14, October 1782–May 1783, ed. Gregg L. Lint, C. James Taylor, Hobson Woodward, Margaret A. Hogan, Mary T. Claffey, Sara B. Sikes, and Judith S. Graham. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008, p. 143.]

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