Adams Papers

Henry Laurens to the American Peace Commissioners, 20 June 1783

Henry Laurens to the American Peace Commissioners

London 20 June 1783.

Gentlemen,

Permit me to refer to what I had the honor of writing to you the 17th. You will recollect my Suggestions, as soon as we perceived the falling off, from those warm Assurances which had been pressed in March and April, they were not ill founded; I dalayed a Week in hopes of Intelligence & left you with Reluctance; the temper of the times forbids even an essay. What a happy Country is this, where every thing pertaining to the Public, is rendred to them in public Newspapers; see the inclosed, containing nearly as accurate an Account of certain recent Occurrences, as if it had been penned by one of the Parties.1 It might indeed have been made a little stronger. Modest Men are sometimes restrained from attempting a public good, from a dread of the Effects of Envy, of being held up in an invidious Light. It would be cruel to disturb them. I have learned nothing from America, save what you may have read in the Prints. Tomorrow I shall proceed to Bath and be waiting for Intelligence as well from Your selves as from Congress. Some Consolation arises from reflecting that while I am endeavouring to mend my Health, you suffer no Inconvenience from my absence. With sincere Regard & respect, I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, / Your obedient & most / humble Servant

(signed) Henry Laurens—

LbC-Tr in Jean L’Air de Lamotte’s hand (Adams Papers); APM Reel 103.

1The enclosure, presumably taken from a London newspaper, has not been found, nor has the nature of the news reports mentioned by Laurens been identified.

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