1From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
In your Excellency’s letter to me of the Twenty Fourth of February last, I was honored with your opinion in the following Words. Quant au plein pouvoir, que vous autorise à negocier un Traité de Commerce avec la Cour de Londres, Je pense qu’il sera prudent de n’en donner Communication a qui que se soit, et de prendre toutes les precautions possibles pour que le Ministere Anglois n’en ait pas...
2To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of the 12th. We have no arrivals from Ama., or any thing new but what will be mentiond below. I am anxious to know if my letter to you of the 8th or 7th of last month got to your hands. The Behaviour of the Bearer of it to Ostend, who has been some days idling about London gives me strong suspicion that He did not do with the letter what He promisd me. I am uneasy about Him...
3To John Adams from David Hartley, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed I send you a copy of a conciliatory bill which I moved in Parliament on the 27th of the last month. You will perceive by the tenor of it that it is drawn up in very general terms, containing a general power to treat, with something like a sketch of a line of negotiation. As the bill was not accepted by the Ministers in this Country, I have nothing further to say relating to it. As to...
4To John Adams from John Jay, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowledging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May—since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...
5From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received yours of 15th. Mr. Gridleys News, was I suppose only The Fruit of the Tree of Cracovie. I have seen the Observations &c. in the general Advertiser. I thank you sir, for all your Trouble. The Lord knows what Compensation you will ever have for it all. I lay burthens upon you without Number, or Mercy, I think. But I cannot and will not be idle. I think We are serving our...
6From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the Court Gazette with Clintons Proclamations. I would give any Thing I had time to write you, a whole sheet about Carolina. The Party of Horse, that galloped out—what did they meet with? By the Return of killed, and Prisoners, it must have been the most obstinate and desperate defence that ever was made, or a barbarous and diabolical Massacre—take which you will, and what...
Paris, 19 July 1780. RC in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 201–206). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:867–869. This let ter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., begins with brief reports from St. Petersburg and Copenhagen concerning preparations of the...
Paris, 19 July 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 207–209). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:869–870. In this letter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., John Adams repeated, in more detail, the reports on the Danish, Russian, and Swedish naval...
9To John Adams from James Warren, 19 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Haveing Already wrote you pretty largely by Capt. Samson, this is only to Inform you that two days ago Arrived here one Mr. Mitchel with a Load of English Goods from London. This seems to be a prevailing and Encreasing Object of Commerce. One Arrived in the Spring. Little Notice was taken of it. Four More Vessels are said to be on their way here. It is certain there is one and Mr. Duncan is in...
10From John Adams to William Lee, 20 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 8th I received in due Course of Post. The Letter from Clinton, arrived first at L’orient, in a Phyladelphia Newspaper, which had been sent to Mr. Jay. Mr. Wharton I think copied it and sent it to Dr. Franklin, who communicated it. Soon after it appeared in Boston and other Newspapers without a hint of its Want of Authenticity. Within a few days past, I have seen a Gentleman from...
11To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 20 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 13. de ce mois. Je suis très sensible à la confiance avec laquelle vous m’avez communiqué vos idées sur la position actüelle des Etats-unis, et sur le besoin qu’ils ont de l’assistance immédiate de quelques Vaisseaux de ligne et frégates. M. le chev. de Ternay et M. le Cte. de Rochambau ont été expédiés précisément...
12The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 20 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 13th of this month. I am very sensible of the confidence with which you have communicated your ideas on the present situation of the United States, and their need for the immediate assistance of some ships of the line and frigates. The Chevalier de Ternay and the Comte de Rochambeau have been sent precisely for the...
13From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 21 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have receiv’d the letter you did me the honor to write me yesterday; and am extreamly sensible of your Excellency’s Confidence in communicating to me, the destination of the Armament under M. Le Chevr. de Ternay and M. Le Comte de Rochambau, and the probability that the Ships will winter in North America. I assure your Excellency, that scarcely any News I ever heard, gave me more...
14To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 21 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 14th Instant: in Answer to which, I can only return your Excellency my most humble Thanks and assure you that the Confidence, with which I am honored, shall not be Abusd by me, and Care shall be taken, that it shall not be so by any One Else. I will Keep together what I receive from Your Excellency, to be returnd to You or your...
15From John Adams to the President of Congress, No. 98, 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Paris, 22 July 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand ( PCC , No. 84, II, f. 211–218). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , Washington, 1889; 6 vols. , 3:873–875. This letter, read in Congress on 26 Dec., contains a series of newspaper reports, the first of which concerned George III’s speech of 8...
16To John Adams from William Gordon, 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
The beginning of March I forwarded to You and friend Dana a joint letter, which I hope if received will be answered by one or other of you. The people, you will have heard before this can get to hand, have agreed upon a form of government, not so good as the Report of the Committee, but better than I expected. We begin to think of the ensuing elections. It is thought that Mr. Bowdoin or Mr....
17Committee of the Massachusetts General Court to John Adams and Francis Dana, 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
This Government the last Winter appointed Jonathan Loring Austin Esq. their Agent to repair to Europe and procure the Loan of One hundred and fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling, part of which he was impowered and directed to invest in Goods for the use of the Officers and Soldiers belonging to the Army, as the Papers herewith inclosed will more fully inform you. Mr. Austin sailed the 22d day of...
18To John Adams from William Vernon Sr., 22 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the pleasure of receiveing yours of the 16th. March last forwarded from Rhd. Isd. by the Counte de Noailles, who arrived there fourteen days past, in the Squadron, under the command, of the Chevalier de Ternay; every ship of that divison are in Port, and the Troops in tolerable health. Hope they will soon join and co-operate with Genl. Washington, in reduceing, our common Enemy...
19From 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...
20To John Adams from Mercy Otis Warren, 24 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
You Will doubtless hear from several quarters of the arrival of admiral Greavess squadron who anchored of point Judith 4 days since. You have heard from better hands of the present situation of this Country, the Military Manuvers, the political opperations, the Disinterestedness of the Inhabitants and the purity of the Manners. You have been told that the New Constitution has been accepted,...
21To John Adams from Samuel Cooper, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have but a Moment to write by the Mars, a Vessel belonging to this State, the Voyage having been kept secret upon political Accounts. I congratulate you on the Arrival of the Fleet from Brest at Newport, commanded by the Chevalier de Ternay, after a Passage of about 10 Weeks: not a single Vessel of the whole Fleet missing. You will hear before this reaches you of the Loss of Charlestown, in...
22To John Adams from the Comte de Vergennes, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 17 de ce mois. Je l’ai luë avec la plus sérieuse attention, et pour rendre ma réponse d’autant plus éxacte, je l’ai placée en marge de chacun des articles qui m’a parû mériter des observations de ma part. Vous y verrez, Monsieur, que je persiste à penser que le moment de communiquer au Lord Germaine vos pleinpouvoirs,...
23Enclosure: The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Lettre écrite à M. le Cte. de Vergennes par M. Adams, le 17 Juillet 1780 Observations sur la dernière Lettre de M. Adams du 17 Juillet 1780. 1º. I should have been very happy . . . to communicate them. Iº. Les motifs qui ont déterminé le Cte. de Vergennes à donner ce Conseil à M. Adams, sont aussi simples qu’ils paroissent péremptoires: 1º. S’occuper d’un Traité de Commerce avant d’avoir fait...
24The Comte de Vergennes to John Adams: A Translation, 25 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received, sir, the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 17th of this month. I have read it with the utmost attention and in order to make my reply all the more exact, I have placed in the margin each of the points which appear to merit observations on my part. You will see there, sir, that I still think that the moment to communicate your plenipotentiary powers to Lord...
Letter written to the Comte de Vergennes by Mr. Adams, 17 July 1780 Observations on Mr. Adams’ letter of 17 July 1780 1. I should have been very happy . . . to communicate them. I. The reasons which have determined the Comte de Vergennes to give this advice to Mr. Adams are so simple as to appear preemptory: 1. To be concerned with a treaty of commerce before having made peace is to be...
26From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 26 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the letter which your Excellency did me the honor to write me the twenty fifth of this month. The sincere respect I entertain for your Excellency’s Sentiments would have determined me, upon the least intimation, to have communicated my letter and your Excellency’s answer to Congress, and to suspend, until I should recieve orders on their part, all measures towards the British...
27From John Adams to the Comte de Vergennes, 27 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my Letter of the Twenty first; and upon reading over again your Excellency’s Letter to me of the Twentieth, I observed one Expression which I think it my Duty to consider more particularly. The Expression I have in view is this, That the King, without being sollicited by the Congress, had taken measures the most efficacious to sustain the American Cause. Upon this part of your Letter, I...
28To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 27 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received by yesterdays Post your Excellencys Additions to your Answer to certain Pamphlets, All of which I will take Care to Convoy to England—but they are of such Importance, that I shall be careful to whom, they are Trusted, and therefore may perhaps wait a little while, before I find a Convenient Opportunity. I have read them with much pleasure and shall do it Again with great Attention,...
29To John Adams from Bidé de Chavagnes, 28 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Occupé de vous, de mrs. Dena, taxter, de vos chers enfants et de tout cequi vous interesse par continuation, je suis bien aise D’avoir lhonneur de vous demander des nouvelles de vos santés qui m’interessent bien fort, et de vous donner des miennes auxquelles vous avez la bonté de vous interesser. Je me suis toujours assez bien porté depuis notre depart de brest du 13 de ce mois. Après une...
30Bidé de Chavagnes to John Adams: A Translation, 28 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
My concern for you, Messrs. Dana and Thaxter, and your dear children leads me to have the pleasure and honor of inquiring after your health, which much concerns me, and to give you news of my own, since you were kind enough to ask. I have been feeling quite well since our departure from Brest on the 13th of this month. After eight days of smooth sailing we arrived by some miracle at Ferrol,...