The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-07-12
ceepng autumn, when he obtained permits
osa -. -.

given on the 18th of January, 1777, an au-
thenticated printed copy of the declaration,
with the printed names of the members who
had subscribed to the same, was sent to
each of the United States" with request
that they should have the same put on
record" To each of these copies the auto
graph signature of John Hancock, as Presi-
dent OF Congress. and that of Charles Thorn
son, as secretary of that body, were attach
ed. These broadsides were printed in Bal
timore by Mary Catherine Goddard, SIS
ter of William Goddard. printer Her BROTH
er was embarrassed in his business, and she
ably conducted his affairs in her own name
for about eight years, from 1773. One of
these broadsdes is in DR.. Emmet's collection.
lota from the Cause of his Country in
First in the order we have chosen appears
the name of JOHN ADAMS.
He was an honest, impetuous, outspoken
man vain. egotistical. opinionated a close
observer of men and things, too frank for
successful partisan politician or diplomatic
and an unselfish patriot The following let
ter, never before published, written from
Passy, near Paris, on the 7th of December
1778, is so characteristic of the man, and
80 full of interesting gossip concerning his
colleagues, that give it in full. Mr.. Adams
was then fOrty-three years of age, and was
joint commissioner of the United States at
the French court with DIR. Franklin and
Arthur Lee. He had succeeded Silas Deane
in April of that year. Finding want of
harmony between Franklin and Lee, he had
advised Congress to intrust the mission to
one man, expecting, perhaps, that John
Adams would be that person. The election
of DIR. Franklin to be Minister Plenipoten-
tiary," in September, showed disposition
on the part of Congress to make the Sage
the sole commissioner, which they did.
Adams had doubtless heard of this measure,
and that intelligence evidently inspired and
gave tone to his letter. The custom then
prevailing of using capital initials for the
names of nouns, and sometimes of other
parts of speech, is we'll illustrated in this
letter. In all other letters the modern
style will be followed in the printing.
Here is the epistle:
Il wish l could unbosom myself to you
without Reserve concerning the state of af-
fairs here, but you know the danger The
two Passions of Ambition and Avarice,
which have been the Bane of Society and
the Curse of human Kind in all ages and
countries, are not without their influence
upon our Affairs here, but fancy the last
of the two has done the most mischief.
Where the Carcass is, there the crows will
assemble, and you and have too much Ex-
perience of the Greediness with which the
Loaves and Fishes were aimed at under the
old Government, and with which the Cont
mental Treasury has been sought for under
the new, to expect that the Golfers of the
American Banker here would not make some
mems Mouths water. This appetite for the
Bankers Treasure take to have been the
source of the most of the Alterations and
Disputations.
Your Old Friend meaning John Ad-
ans is a man of Honor and Integrity, al
tho, to be very frank and very impartial. he
can not easily at all Times, any more than
your humble Servant govern his Temper,
and he has some Notions of Elegance, Rank,
and Dignity that may be carried rather too
far. He his b, el of opinion that the public
Monies have been too freely issued here,
and has often opposed. The other you
know personally meaning DR.. franklin,
and though he loves his ease, hates to offend,
and seldom gives any opinion until obliged
to do it, know also. and it is necessary you
should be informed, that he is overwhelmed
with correspondence from all Quarters,
most of them upon triaing subjects, and in
a more trifing Style, with unmeanng Wis
its from Multitudes of People, chiefly from
the Vanity of having it to say that they
have seen him.
"There is another thing which am oblig-
ed to mention: there are so many private
Families, Ladies and Gentlemen. that he
visits so often, and they are so fond of him
that he can not well avoid it, and so mnch
Intercourse with Academicians, that all
these Things together keep his Mind in such
a constant state of Dissipation, that if he
is left alone here the public Business will
suffer in degree beyond Description, pro-
vided our Affairs are continued upon the
present footing. IT, indeed, you take out
of his Hands the Public Treasury, and the
Direction of the Frigates and Continental
Vessels that are sent here, and all CONNER
cial Affairs, and intrust them to Persons to
be appointed by Congress, at Nantes and
Bordeaux. should think it would be best
to have him here alone, with such Secre-
tary as you can con6de in but if he is left
here alone. even with such q Secretary, and
all Maratime and Commercial and pecuni-
airy, as well as political, affairs are left in
his Hands, am persuaded that France and
America both will have Reason to repent
it. He is not only so indolent that Bust
ness will be neglected, but you know that
altho' he has as determined soul as any
Man, yet it is his constant Policy never to
say yes or no decidedly but when he can
not avoid it; and it is certain that in order
to preserve the Friendship between the two
Countries your Minister here must upon
some occasions speak freely and without
Reserve. preserving Decency and Politeness
at the same Time.
Both he and the other Colleague were, l
AM sorry to say it, in a constant opposition
to your Old Friend, and this Misunderstood
ing was no secret at Court, in the City. or
in the Seaport Towns, either to French,
English, or Americans, and this was car
ried so far that lnsnuations, | have been
told, have been made at Court against your
Old Friend the writerl, not by either of
his Colleagues, that ever heard, but prob
ably by somebody or other emboldened by
, and taking advantage of the Misunderstood
ing among the three. that he was too friend
" with his Lordship, and was much attach
, ed to Lord Shelburne, and even that he
corresponded with his Lordship, and commu-
nicated Intelligence to him. This, whoever
suggested it, / am perfectly confident was a
cruel Calumny, and would. not have made
. an Impression if the Colleagues had contra
dicted it in the manner that you and should
have done. You and I had an opportunity
J to know his attachment to our cause long
before Hostities commenced, and | have
NOT a color of uronnd for Susnicion that