10411From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 24 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter, that you did me the Honour to write me the 20th. of this Month. I was cautious of troubling the Minister, with an Application directly to him upon a Subject like that of my Letter to you: but I thank you, for the Trouble you have taken in laying it, before him. The kind Expressions of his Excellencies Confidence, and his Readiness to receive any Applications...
10412To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 24 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:251–252 Replying to John Adams’ letter of 19 Feb. (calendared above), Vergennes noted that Adams’ account of his commissions agreed with that of Conrad Alexander Gérard and that the most important aspect of his mission, the negotiation of a peace treaty,...
10413From John Adams to Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have not had opportunity, Since my Arrival at Paris, to pay my Respects to you, and to inform you, that We all happily arrived, on the 9th. of this Month. We have now a little Leisure to look back upon the Scenes we have passed thro Since our Arrival in Europe, and I assure you, that I reflect upon none with more Pleasure than those at Bilbao. I find that Vessels arrive oftener, there and at...
10414From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment your Letter from Brussells of the 19th of this Month, and I thank You for your kind Congratulations on my safe Arrival. Whether I come in the amiable and blessed Character, as You say You have heard, with the Olive Branch in my Hand, and surrounded with Doves, Lambs and Angels or not, You will learn, in due Time. At present, the common Enemy shews a Picture, of a very...
10415From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 9, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter of the twentieth, I have recieved another Letter from his Excellency the Comte de Vergennes dated the 24th. of February, to which I answered this Day; Copies of both Letters are inclosed. I have also the Honour to inclose a Gazette, and an Application from M. Comyn of Marseilles to be a Consul for the Ports of Provence and Languedoc. I know nothing of this Gentleman, but what...
10416From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:253–254 . Replying to Vergennes’ letter of the 24th (calendared above), John Adams expressed his appreciation for his upcoming presentation at the French court. He also agreed to avoid publicizing his peace commission before its announcement in the...
10417To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Je ne manquerai point de rendre compte a monseigneur le Comte de Vergennes de la lettre dont vous venés de m’honorer. Je vais écrire aussi à Ostende pour qu’on vous fasse venir Sous mon couvert deux gazettes les plus renommées dans chaque parti. Suivant moi c’est dans celui de l’Opposition le General advertiser imprimé par W. Parker—et dans celui du Ministere le Morning post. Ce sont les deux...
10418Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 25 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I will not fail to inform the Count Vergennes of the letter with which you have honored me. I will also write to Ostend to ask them to send, under my name, two gazettes, the most influential in each party. To my mind they are, for the Opposition, the General Advertiser , published by W. Parker—and for the Ministry, the Morning Post. These are the two that I will request and forward to you...
10419From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 26 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just now recieved the Letter, which You did me the Honor to write me yesterday , and I thank You, Sir, for the Loan of the English Paper s, which I shall carefully return, and beg the Loan of the oth ers, as y ou can spare them, until those shall arrive, which you have ordered for me: for the Trouble you have taken in ordering those Papers; for your kind Enquiries after my Son, who has...
10420From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 27 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received to day, yours of the 22d. That by Mr. Brush I answered as soon as received. You cannot oblige me more sir, than by communicating Intelligence from E. I have been a Witness, these 6 Years, of the annual Reports Spread by England to make it believed in America that the Russians were to interpose, and I have heard a vast deal of it, since my Arrival in Paris, in so much that I have set...
10421From 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...
10422From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss, who loves Us, will deliver You this. He will tell You every thing. Arbuthnot, Rodney and Walsingham are to be pitted against de la Motte Piquet, Guichen and Ternay in the West Indies. So that I hope, You will be pretty quiet. Prepare however to co-operate and rout them out of the Continent if possible. Above all let me beg of You to encourage Privateering. The French will be...
10423From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
This will be delived you by the Marquis your Friend. Your Grandson is well and very contented. He has seen the World, to be sure,—such a Part of it, that none of the rest can ever be superlatively disagreable to him hereafter. Spain is a fine Country—or as my Parson Bryant said of Hezekias, he would be the best Man in the World if he had no Religion, so I can say that Spain would be one of the...
10424From John Adams to Henry Knox, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend the Marquis, with whom I have sometimes had the Honour to drink your Health after that of General Washington, will deliver you this. His Love of Glory is not diminished, nor his affection for America, as you see by his Return. He has been indefatigable in endeavours to promote the Welfare and Comfort of our Army, as well as to support their Honour and Character, and has had success...
10425From John Adams to James Warren, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have written so fully to Congress and to particular Friends before, and have so little Time now, that I have little more to do than make up a Letter, for the Bearer to deliver You. The Marquiss de la Fayette is going to Boston in a Frigate, and surely he wants no Recommendation of mine—his own Merit and his Fame are enough. He has been the same Friend to Us here that he was in America. He...
10426To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai écrit à Ostende pour les deux gazettes en question. En attendant je continuerai à vous en prêter des miennes, toujours le plutôt qu’il Sera possible. Je Suis charmé de Savoir que mr. votre fils est de retour en bonne Santé à Passy. Quelque jour de ce printems il faut que vous me l’envoyés avec Mr Cooper’s grand child , et mr. votre autre fils. Je leur ferai voir Versailles, et je ferai en...
10427Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have written to Ostend for the two gazettes in question. In the meantime, I will continue, always as soon as possible, to lend you mine. I am very happy to hear that your son has returned in good health to Passy. Some day this spring you should send me him, together with Mr. Cooper’s grand child and your other son. I will show them Versailles and ensure they return satisfied. My son will be...
10428To John Adams from James Moylan, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received your much esteem’d letter of the 22d. with the memorandums it inclosed of the articles you wish to send to Boston by the Alliance. Captain Jones, on my application to him to permit those goods to be loaded on his vessel, immediately consented and told me he wou’d write you by this post, in consequence of which I shall prepair them and distinguish the property as you direct. In Mrs....
10429From John Adams to Edmé Jacques Genet, 29 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this Moment your s of the 28. I thank You, Sir, for your kind Invitation to my three Sons, to come some time in the Spring, and spend a day at Ver sailles, which will be very agreeable to them, and to me. I am happy to find that the Report of the Committee has your Approbation; and shall be very g lad to see it translated and printed as it is. Every Attempt of this kind may be worth...
10430From John Adams to James Lovell, 29 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I cannot let the Marquis go off, without a Line to you. He took leave of the King a few days ago, in the Uniform of an American Major General, and attracted the Eyes of the whole Court more than ever. He had on no doubt his American Sword which is indeed a Beauty, and which he shews with great Pleasure, upon proper Occasions. The workmanship is exquisite, and there are Emblems on it,...
10431From John Adams to the President of the Congress, No. 11, 29 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
RC in John Thaxter’s hand PCC , No. 84, I, f. 295; docketed: “No. 11 J. Adams Esqr Feby. 29th. 1780 the Gazette mentioned, not inclosd. Read May 15th. requests the Constitutions of each State particularly Georgia & North Carolina.” LbC Adams Papers ; notations: “Recd in congress Oct. 15. Triplicate.”; by Thaxter: “No. 11.” Responding to a request from Edmé Jacques Genet, John Adams asked for...
10432From John Adams to Joseph Gardoqui & Sons, 1 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have but this Moment received, yours of 19 of Feb. and am very glad to learn that you have shipped the few Things I desired, and for the Invoice. I wrote you on the 25 Feb. requesting you to send Duplicates and Triplicates of the same Things by other good opportunity, which Request I now repeat, with this Addition that you charge your Commissions in future because there is no Reason that I...
10433From John Adams to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, 1 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have not had opportunity, Since I left Braintree, to pay my Respects to you. The good old Sensible had like to have laid her Bones in the Atlantic, as there is great Reason to believe our Sprightly Companion the Courier de L’Europe did. She parted from Us in a violent Gale of Wind And has not Since been heard of. The Misfortune of a Leak in the Sensible, gave me, an Opportunity of Seeing...
10434From John Adams to François Barbé-Marbois, 1 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
You advised me to take my Son with me, to Europe, and I followed your Advice, and went further and brought his Brother to bear him Company, and went further still and brought a Grandson of our Friend Dr. Cooper. I thought the more of our Youth I brought here for an Education, the more the Acquaintance between the Countries would be extended, and the Connections strengthened. They are all...
10435From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 2 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Adams’s respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, informs him that Monsieur the Comte De Vergennes has appointed him next Tuesday to be at Versailles in order to be presented to the King and Royal Family. Mr. Adams will have the Honour to breakfast at Passy with Dr. Franklin, at an hour early enough to go to Versailles, which he supposes will be 8 oClock. RC ( PPAmP : Franklin Papers;)...
10436To John Adams from Bidé de Chavagnes, 2 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Jay receu la lettre que vous m’avez fait lhonneur de mecrire a l’honneteté que je vous connois jen ay deviné une partie, un americain de boston qui est icy dont je cultive la societé m’a expliqué le reste. Jay eté infiniment sensible ainsi que madame de chavagnes a votre souvenir, et aux nouvelles preuves de votre amitié que je cheris beaucoup. Je ne lay pas eté moins D’apprendre par vous,...
10437Bidé de Chavagnes to John Adams: A Translation, 2 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter that you did me the honor to write. Knowing your honesty, I was able to understand a portion and an American from Boston, whom I have befriended here, explained the rest. Madame de Chavagnes and I have been very touched by your remembrance and by the new proofs of your friendship, which I greatly cherish. I was equally pleased to learn from you that after suffering...
10438From John Adams to the President and Corporation of Harvard College, 3 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 March 1780. LbC ( Adams Papers ). This was a cover letter for that of 2 March from Antoine Court de Gébelin to the President and Corporation presenting the first six volumes of Gébelin’s nine volume Monde primitif to the college. John Adams’ letter, except for the formal opening and closing, and excerpts from Court de Gébelin’s letter, are printed in note 2 to a letter of 13 Oct. 1780...
10439From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 12, 3 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 3 March 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, I, f. 299–300). LbC ( Adams Papers ); notation: “Delivered Mr Wharton 4th March 1780.” printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:528–529. In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams...
10440To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 3 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
In a letter from Mr. L of the 16th Feby. I find He was good enough to mention me to You and that you gave direction for any letters I might have occasion to write to be forwarded a Mons. Mons. Fernando Raymond San, Nogiciant chez Mons. Hocherau Libraire Pont neuf Paris. I shall be very happy in giving you any information of movements here that may come to my knowlege because in doing so I am...