3421From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 12 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write me on the 10th. of this month. Altho’ the writer of the letter, an extract of which I had the honor to enclose to you, may be right in his conjecture that the British Administration wish to know more than they do at present of my sentiments upon the great subject of a pacification, yet I have had too long experience of their...
3422From John Adams to Thomas Digges, 13 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge, one of 14 Ap. and one 2d. May. The Parcells, have not yet seen nor heard of. You may Stop the London Evg. and the London Packet for the future, but send on the courant if you please. Have not yet received, the debate upon C onway s motion. I have seen the paper and read the debate. It is the scene of the Goddess in the Dunciad reading Blackmore to her Children. The...
3423From John Adams to John Jay, 13 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26th. of April, and am very happy, to have at least recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but somehow or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest Abilities, and the most...
3424From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 66, 13 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 13 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 47–49). LbC in John Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ); notation by Thaxter: “NB. May 16th 1780. This day delivered to the Chevr. la Colombe Nos. 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, & 66—also three packets of News papers.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States ,...
3425To John Jay from John Adams, 13 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I had two days ago the pleasure of yours of the 26 th . of April, and am very happy, to have at last recieved from your Hand an Account of your safe Arrival in that Capital. The C. de F. Blanca, is agreed to be a Man of Abilities, but some how or other, there is something in the European Understanding different from those We have been more used to. Men of the greatest abilities, and the most...
3426From John Adams to John Bondfield, 14 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 6 May, from Bourdeaux, I have received. The Negotiations on foot among the maritime neutral powers, are very favourable to America and her Allies, and they ought to convince England, a Posteriori, of which a very simple Proscess of Reasoning a Priori, might have made clear to them, many years ago, on it, that it is the Interest of all the Maritime Powers, to Secure the Independance of...
3427From John Adams to Jonathan Williams, 14 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 9th. I received a Letter signed Jna Williams, as I thought, but it seems it was Jno. Williams. I did not discover my Error, untill after my Answer was gone, when inquiring of Dr. Franklin, I found I must have been mistaken. I have lost, I know not how much, but believe a great deal, in several large Packetts, one from Congress another from the Council of Mass. Bay,...
3428John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I inclose for your Amusement, a Publication, made here within a few days. Somebody has inserted in the Amsterdam Gazette, that this Gentleman lodges with me. This is done with a political design, but whether it was intended to do honour to me, or him or both, I dont know.—It is not true.—However there is a good Understanding between him and me, and therefore I did not trouble myself to enquire...
3429From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have engaged a Person in London to s end me all the political Pamphlets, as they come out and some necessary Books as I shall order them. He has sent me already one Box and one Packet, at least to a Mr. Francis Bowens Merchant in Ostend. I should be once more obliged to You, if You could inform me, in what Way I can soonest get them from thence, and whether there are any Regulations which...
3430From John Adams to John Jay, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I shall not always stand upon Ceremonies, nor wait for Answers to Letters, because useful Hints may be given, which would be lost if one were to wait Returns of Posts. The British Channel Fleet is reckoned this Year at from thirty to thirty seven Ships of the Line, but it is well known that they depend upon Seamen to be pressed from their first West India Fleet, in order to make up this...
3431From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 15 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am ashamed to acknowledge that yours of 2 and 7th. are yet unanswered. I never read Linguet, till yours of 2d. I went and subscribed. He is ingenious, but a sort of Nat. Lee, I think. The English have trumpeted their omnipotence, till they have put his Imagination in a Turmoil, as well as many others. The English Powers, really consist more in the fears of their Ennemies than any thing else....
3432To John Jay from John Adams, 15 May 1780 (Jay Papers)
I shall not always stand upon Ceremonies, nor wait for Answers to Letters, because useful Hints may be given, which would be lost if one were to wait Returns of Posts. The British Channel Fleet is reckoned this year at from thirty to thirty seven Ships of the Line, but it is well known that they depend upon Seamen to be pressed from their first West India Fleet, in order to make up this...
3433John Adams to Pechigny, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your two favors of the 9th. and 10th. of this Month with the Accounts of my Sons and Mr. Cooper i.e. Samuel Cooper Johonnot for the first Quarter. They did, I must confess, appear to me very high—and I have shewn the Account of Mr. Cooper, to some Gentlemen, who know the prices of things here, and they are of Opinion with me, that they are very high. They pointed out to me the...
3434John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favor of 26th. Feby. was sent me by Mr. John Hodshon of Amsterdam, whom I shall request to convey You this. You can’t imagine how much pleasure this Letter gave me. I should be obliged to You to write me and desire Mrs. Adams, and my friends to write by every Vessel to Amsterdam and Spain. The Newspaper inclosed was very agreeable. I have procured the Account of Captain Water’s...
3435From John Adams to Bidé de Chavagnes, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have two agreable friendly Letters from you, unanswered. The last is dated the 4th. I am much obliged, by your kind Remembrance of me. I hope to have the Pleasure to see you Some day or other at Paris, and to introduce you, to the Gentleman you mention. As to making Peace, the Time is not yet come. We must wait, untill you have well beaten the English, and it would not be well to deprive you...
3436From John Adams to Arnold Henri Dohrman, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the Letter which You did me the Honor of writing to me, the 11th. of April, in which You inform me, that more than six hundred of my unfortunate Countrymen have recieved Succours from You, without which they must have been reduced to Despair, or forced to engage on Board the Vessels of their Enemies. In this, Sir, you have distinguished yourself by Efforts of Humanity, which do...
3437From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 67, 16 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 16 May 1780. RC ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 51–52). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:680. This brief dispatch, read in Congress on 11 Sept., served as a covering letter for a number of letters and three packets of newspapers entrusted to the Chevalier de La...
3438John Adams to Abigail Adams, 17 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
This day I received yours of the first of March from Bilbao, with the Journals &c.—the Postage of this Packet, is prodigious. I would not Advise to send many Journals, or Newspapers, this Way, or by Holland, but cut out pieces of Newspapers, and give me an Account of any Thing particularly interesting in the Journals, in your Letters, by such Conveyances, and send large Packetts of Journals...
3439From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 17 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Genl. Con way in his Speech in the House of Commons, on the 6th. of May, affirms that the Alliance between France and the United States is not natural. Whether it is or not, is no doubt a great question. In order to determine, whether it is or no, one should consider, what is meant by a natural Alliance. And I know of no better general Rule than this, when two Nations, have the same Interests...
3440From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 68, 19 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 19 May 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 53– 56). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:688–690. In this letter, read in Congress on 11 Sept., John Adams provided the substance of Spain’s response to the Russian declaration of an armed...
3441From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 19 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a few Newspapers, recieved the last Post, from Boston by the Way of Bilbao. There is very little News. I have Letters as late as the twenty seventh of March. The remarkable thing in the Pensylvania Gazette is, that the Great Seal of the Province of Pensylvania, was brought into the House of Assembly, of that State, and by order of the House defaced and cut to Pieces...
3442From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Tha nks for this Paper. Ld George Gordon I think will be the Oliver Cromwell, after all. He seems the only Man of Common sense, and he begins with Religion. Burke, Barry, Fox, Conway, &c and all the rest appear but small Boys to Lord George. RC (Private owner, 1972). Fire damage has resulted in the loss of the first word and possibly the greeting, although the absence of a closing and...
3443From 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...
3444From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 70, 20 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 20 May 1780. RC partly in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 63– 69). LbC partly in Thaxter’s hand ( Adams Papers ). In the recipient’s copy the account of Conway’s speech is in John Adams’ hand, while the criticism of the speech is in Thaxter’s. In the Letterbook the portions by Thaxter and Adams are reversed. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed.,...
3445From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 21 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
His Excellency, Dr. Franklin, lent me the inclosed Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, upon Condition, that I would send a copy of it to you. A privateer from Boston had the good Fortune to take the Packet bound to London, and the Mail, in which among others this letter was found. It was sent from Boston to Philadelphia and there published in a Newspaper of the 8th of April....
3446From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 23 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Baron de Arundl, desires a Letter of Introduction to some Gentleman in Congress from me, and I dont know to whom to write upon this occasion better than to you. I inclose you some of our Constitutions. A vessell has arrived at L’orient, with a Paper of 8 April, and there are Letters to the Comtess de la Lucerne, and others perhaps as late as the 15th. but not a Line from Congress to any...
3447From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 71, 23 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 23 May 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand with postscript by JA ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 71–73). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:698–699. In this letter, read in Congress on 21 Aug., John Adams sent extracts from newspaper accounts originating in Stockholm,...
3448From John Adams to John Bondfield, 24 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
This day I had the Pleasure of yours of the 20th. By the arrival of so many Vessells, at Bilbao, Bourdeaux Nantes, L’orient, and Amsterdam, I think We may fairly conclude that the British Vessells of War have other occupations than cruising, and that the Commerce of our Country is opening and extending in an agreable manner. But as these Vessells bring so few Letters to the Politicians I begin...
3449From John Adams to John Bondfield, 25 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you once before this day —but it is necessary I should write again. After sending my french servant, a monstrous number of Times, all over the City after my Wine I can learn nothing of it. Upon looking over the Invoice and your Letters, and showing them to the Abbé’s my friends, they say that my Wine, was sent by a private Waggon, and that that Waggon belongs to a private Person in the...
3450From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 25 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of April 12th. is yet unanswered. With nothing at all to do, I am as busy as ever I was in my Life. Whether any good will result from it time must discover. I have undertaken to inform Congress, a little more particularly than they are want to be informed, of Some Things that have passed in Europe, which will ultimately affect them: but I find it is in vain to put my Eyes out...