Title: John Adams to Antoine Marie Cerisier, 12 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Cerisier, Antoine Marie

          Dear Sir
          Auteuil December 12. 1784

        A Gentleman in Boston, who is as much a Friend of Mankind, as he is of me, Mr James Lovell, Naval Officer has desired me to procure him the following Books
        Surdus loquens, by John Conrad Amman Physician of Amsterdam, published in Octavo in 1692. Dissertatio de Loquela &c &c published in 8vo. 1700 of which were afterwards Several Editions. The first Edition was published in English by Daniel Foot.
        If you will purchase these Books for me, and desire either of the Messieurs, Willinks, Vanstaphorsts or De la Lande and Fynj̈e, to pay you for them, and charge them to my Account and Send them to Mr Lovel in Boston, by the first opportunity, you will much oblige me.
        Your Friends the Abbys are well. Pray how do you do? I Should be very happy to hear of your Welfare. I am Settled with my Family at Auteuil, Vis a Vis le Conduite. Somewhere in the Center between the Ghosts of D’Auguesseau, Boileau, Helvetius and Moliere. My Wife, Daughter and Son are with me.


Title: John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 12 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Gerry, Elbridge

          My dear Sir.
          Auteuil near Paris December 12: 1784.

        I know not whether you intend to serve in Congress again or not: but whether at Trenton, or Boston or Marblehead it would be very bad oecomony, in me, not to write, you, because I have ever found your Letters replete with Information and the most judicious Reflections.
        Dr: Franklin is so bad with the Stone, that he has not been to Versailles nor Paris these twelve months; he has ventured to Auteuil, three or four times to dine with me, but the last Time he suffered such cruel Tortures in coming and going, that he seems determined to venture out no more unless in a Sedan. Mr: Jefferson has been a

long time ill and confined, so that I have been much employ’d as a go between Passy and Paris. The Dr: has appeared to me, a long time to wish to go to England whether to see his Friends or to consult Physicians and be cut for the Stone, I know not— Mr: Jefferson is not so fond of going, and I am much averse to the Plague and Fatigue of the Journey, if it could be avoided. But we are all willing to go if necessary, and the British Ministry insist upon it. Mr: Hayle the Secretary of the British Legation told me at Versailles frankly that his Court would never treat here, and this I believe. but whether they will invite us to London, we must wait to see. They have formally made the Proposition that Congress should send a Minister to St: James’s. This Congress will consider. Our affairs suffer for Want of somebody in England, but it will be to no Purpose, to send any one there to starve and be laugh’d at, on two Thousands a Year. Jefferson is an excellent hand. You could not have sent a better. he appears to me to be infected with no Party Passions or national prejudices, or any Partialities but for his own Country.
        I have never answered particularly, your most friendly & instructive Letters, nor those of Mr: Osgood. I really could not do it. I could not do it without entering into Discussions which related to Gentlemen with whom I have acted. I have received one way or another extracts of two or three Letters of Dr: Franklin, which relate to me—the most unprovoked, the most cruel, and the most malicious misrepresentations, which ever were put upon Paper. I scorned to put my Pen to Paper in my own Vindication— I was determined to rest my Cause upon what was known to Congress, and my own Character, let the Consequence be what it would.
        Mr: Laurens had printed Pamphlets in Europe, in which I saw myself treated in a manner I did not expect from that Quarter from the first Moment I saw Mr: Laurens in Congress, to this Moment, I have never done one Thing or uttered one Expression, to my Knowledge but what flow’d from Affection & Regard. yet I saw that somebody or other had made strange Impressions upon his Spirit for which I cannot account to this Moment. I have been determined then to be Silent, and see where it will end. Mr: Jennings against whom he took offence I knew to be an honest and excellent Character, and I was determined as he was my Friend, not to quarrel with him or give him up, merely because Mr. Laurens had conceived a Prejudice against him. No Man is obliged to renounce a Friend because another Friend however respectable or Worthy is not his

Friend. I determined not to enter into such altercations in Print or by Letter, but let all these Things take their own Course.
        Since our Meeting under our new Commissions, our Affairs have gone on with the utmost Harmony, and nothing has happened to disturb our Peace. I wish this Calm may continue, and believe it will. Every Thing has passed at this Court, agreeably enough. I have gone to Versailles every Ambassadors Day, when there has been a Court and been received as well as I expected or desired. As we are accredited to the King, I shall continue to shew this Respect to him, and his Family and Court while I am here. I presented your friends Jackson and Tracy, together with Mr: Bingham of Philadelphia, who were very graciously received by all the Royal Family.
        The Chevalier de la Luzerne, who was here yesterday on a Visit, and entered into a good deal of Conversation, declares himself much in favour of a liberal Intercourse between us and the French Islands, though the Marquis de Castries is not yet clear upon this head.
        The Emperor of Morocco sent an Ambassador to Holland last Winter, to demand furniture for a Frigate or two and obtained it. I met him at the Prince of Orange’s Court, but he did not tell me, nor any body else that his Master wanted those supplies to fit out Cruizers against our Trade. Yet this appears now to have been the Fact for one of his Frigates has taken a Virginias Vessel.
        Some Americans say, that our Mediterranean Trade is not worth the Expence of treating with the Barbary Powers. others say we had better send Frigates and fight them. I am afraid we shall make a great mistake in regard to these pyratical States. I detest these barbarians as much as any Body, and my Indignation against their Piracies is as hot as that of any Body. but how can we help ourselves. our mediterranean Trade, is valuable to every one of the States, and altogether of much greater Value than all the presents which will be demanded of Us. But all our other Trade is exposed. Their Frigates and Corsairs, are not confined within the streights but they go out and spread over the Ocean. As to fighting of them, what can we do? the Contest is unequal. We have a rich Trade, for them to prey upon. They, none at all for us to make reprisals upon. Their Governments have no feeling for their Subjects; so that if we take their Vessels & imprison or put to Death their officers and Men, their Governments care not. We have and ought to have a tender feeling for our Citizens— They make Slaves of their Prisoners, and if they

chance to take a Man of Note, they demand exorbitant Ransoms for him. In short it is impossible to take Vengeance on them, or to punish them, or to hurt them, where as it is in their Power to injure, impoverish, and distress us, very much as long as the great Powers of Europe, France, England, Holland, the Emperor &c. not only treat with them and make Presents to them, but probably Support them, as a check upon the lesser Maritime Nations, and even Spain with all her Menaces and Hostilities, wishes nothing but to make a Treaty with them, like the other great Powers, which they, that is Algiers, refuse, what can we do? Upon the whole, the more this matter is considered the more difficulties we shall find, and I am clear in it, that it is our Wisdom, to treat with them as soon as possible on the best Terms we can; But where is the Money? Ay there’s the Rub. I know of no Way to get it, but by borrowing it in Holland,—and there it can’t be had untill your foreign Debt is consolidated.
        Upon the whole, my worthy Friend, our European Concerns are a vast Field, and we are obstructed in every Thing for Want of Money— If there is not a liberal Spirit encouraged in America, to conduct our Affairs in Europe in the only way in which they can be conducted, our Trade will be cramped, our Growth retarded, and all our foreign Connections involved in the utmost Perplexity.
        We must somehow or other make ourselves respectable, and respected in Europe, or we shall be despised, and derided; and Holland is a striking Example among a thousand others in History, of the Calamities brought upon a Nation by the Loss of a Consideration in the World. We are seperated from Europe, and should avoid her Wars. but we have two formidable European Powers our Neighbours on the Continent, and several others in the Islands & we must have commercial Connections with near all of them, and Commercial Connections will involve us in perpetual disputes and frequent Wars, if we do not keep up our Port. The Commissions you have sent us are very honourable, and I am earnest to do all in my Power to execute them to the Advantage and Satisfaction of the States. but we are so cramped for want of the Necessary Means, that I am sometimes afraid we shall not in any tolerable degree answer your Expectations.
        The British Ministry don’t appear to have any fix’d System towards America. and the Coldness and Distance, that there seems to be, (and no wonder) forebodes no good. I have ever thought, that after

the Peace, this Coldness and Distance should be diminished and removed as fast as possible. This can never be done but by an Exchange of Ministers. But this is attended with infinite Difficulties. A British Minister at Congress with two thousand a Year, would be a respectable Being. An American Minister at St: James’s with the same Salary would be a ridiculous one. If you consider that a Royal Governor in America, was allow’d two thousand a Year and made a great Figure, yet that Governor in England living on the same sum, was nobody, was nothing, you will see how it is. When there were thirteen Governors in America, and you have but three or four Ministers in Europe. When you consider too that each Colony maintained an Agent, at the Court of G. B. it seems to me, that placing the Ambassadors of 13 States, upon the Footing of an Agent of a Colony, or a Governor of a Province, must appear wrong. in England it must look ridiculous— Such a Minister could keep no Company, could exchange no civilities with any Body of a Rank, to do any Service. and therefore I am clear in it, you had better continue to be without a Minister in London, rather than send one to live there so poor and mean. I know that nobody in America, has any Idea, of the Expences among the great in all these Countries. None of your Ministers have ever been able to receive such Company, as they ought, even when Your Allowance was more liberal; now it is totally impossible— This was overlooked & excused in the Heat of war, and when our Existence, was a Problem, but it will be criticised every where, and by every Body, now we are at Peace and Rest.
        To talk as some have done of obliging American Ambassadors to live at Courts in Europe, in the Simplicity and Frugality of ancient Romans, in the purest Republican Times, before Luxury existed, is to rant and rave. nobody in Europe has any Idea or can form any Conception of such Manners. and if they could, they would entertain no other Sentiments of them than Contempt, Ridicule or Abhorrence— But what makes it worse, the Americans who travel, appear in great Splendor, some of them, private Gentlemen, living at an Expence, of double the Sum you allow your Ambassadors. and travellers of all Nations who return from America report the great Expence, in which many private Gentlemen live in Boston, New-York, Philadelphia &c— all conspires together to make our situation in Europe very disagreeable— I can live and be happy, on Pens Hill, on a hundred a year, but I cannot live upon two thousand a Year in any Country in Europe as a publick Minister without being

unhappy, because I can’t live in Character and because I expose myself and my Country, both to very cutting Reflections and Insinuations.
        There is at the Hague, a Mr: Magis, Envoy from the Bishop of Liege. one Day at Dinner at the Spanish Ambassador’s, he told me he had been there 30 years. It is thirty years says he, that I have been eating Ambassadors. They always invite me to their Entertainments, and I always accept. I have never had any appointment that enabled me to return their Civilities. Mais j’ai toujours mangé les Ambassadeurs. Liege may be equal to a County in America, and is defended as an Electorate of the Empire, but it will not be for the Honour or safety of the United States for their Ministers to eat Ambassadors for thirty Years. without returning the Civility. We must be eaten in our Turn.
        You will think I have been too long in Europe, and that I am infected with the Manners of this Country; if you do, call me home, and send others. I assure you I had rather be at home There I can live upon as little as any of you. here I cannot. and those you send in my Place, will find that they cannot.
        It is time to finish this tedious Letter. Adieu my Friend. Adieu.


Title: John Adams to James Lovell, 12 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Lovell, James

          My dear Sir
          Auteuil near Paris Dec. 12. 1784

        I am ashamed to confess that your Letter of the 5. of July is unanswered. But my dear Sir, I have been So roughly handled by various Climates, Voyages Journeys, Scurveys and Fevers, and So tossed about from Post to Pillar, by the Business assigned me from time to time, and amidst all this, So overloaded with Business, that I have

for Sometime past, been constrained to prefer Indolence and Ease to every other Consideration. I have been in Such a State of ill health, that I had no Power to do any Thing which affected me very Sensibly with Pleasure or Pain, without being made Sick as Dr Witherspoon told me, he once was. even a chearfull Conversation cost him Days of Sickness. He found he Said, “that he had no Buzziness to be wutty.”
        I rejoice in your Appointment to the Naval Office. and in every Thing that can contribute to the Happiness of your Family, but the Lord have Mercy on all the Friends of Portias Husband, if they wait for him to have Power to do them good. Whatever Powers have been intrusted to him to Serve the Publick, he never yet had any to Serve his Friends, and most assuredly never will, any further than they merit as Friends to the Public. Even this has been withheld from him, even in his own Sphere, where he ought to have had it. There are a few Persons half a dozen or half a Score, and Mr Lovewell is one of them, who should instantly be made great and rich or at least easy, if he had the Power, who now are the reverse. But too much of this.
        Your desire to Serve the Deaf and Dumb is consistent with the inborn Humanity of your Character, And my Conscience accuses me of Misanthropy for having neglected So long to do what you request.
        There is at Paris a Singular Character, the Abby “L’Epee[”] whose Genius has created a Method of teaching the Deaf and Dumb to write and read, which he practices with astonishing Success, to a numerous Academy I hope to carry Mr Jackson and Mr Tracy to see this marvellous Accademy on tuesday next, and will Send by them all of those Books you request, which I can procure. I will also Send you the Abby L’Epees book “La veritable maniere d’instruire les Sourds et Muets confirmée par un longue Experience.” I have written to London and Amsterdam, to have those Books sent you, if to be found in either.


Title: John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 13 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Osgood, Samuel

          Dr Sir
          Auteuil near Paris Decr. 13. 1784

        We are assembled under our new Commissions, and have begun our Negotiations at least by announcing our Mission to most of the Courts through their Ministers at this. As We were not limited to any Place, it may be Supposed in America, that the first Question would have been, concerning the Feild of Battle. But, circumstanced as We were, this Could be no Question. Dr F. was So bad with the Stone that he had neither, been to Paris or Versailles for a Year, and could not ride a mile in a Carriage, without Torment. this

is increased So much that he cannot ride at all. Yet he proposes, if the British Ministry insist upon it, to go to London either by Water, descending the River Seine to Havre de Grace or in a Litter.— We Soon found that Spain and England would refuse to treat here.— Spain has appointed Mr Guardoqui as Charge des Affaires to Congress, with a Commission as Ministre to be displayed, in Case Congress appoints one to Madrid. So that probably, the Negotiation with Spain will be conducted at Philadelphia. This affair presses almost as much as that with England.— The English will never treat here. So that We must all go to London, or Congress must Send a Minister there. This last the Duke of Dorsett has formally proposed from his Court. The British Cabinet dont appear to have any fixed System, towards America. Perhaps they may be convinced of the Necessity of becoming more liberal. this however is uncertain. We shall soon reduce to a Point all the Questions between them and Us. We have offered to go to London. if they accept the offer We go. And Shall Soon decide the Question whether they will make an equitable Treaty with Us or not.— if they do not, We shall return to Paris, and inform Congress of what is passed, and Congress will take Measures to do themselves Justice, by Counter Proclamations, Navigation Acts or such other Measures as they have in their Power. if We go to London however I have good hopes We shall Succed better than many expect.
        The Affair of Masts is in Agitation here. Captain J. P. Jones has presented a Memorial to the Marquis de Castries and Mr Tracy has done the Same. both England and France either really are or affect to appear, lukewarm. it is made a Serious Question here, even at Court, whether the English ever used American Masts on board the Royal Navy.— The Marquis de Castries, told me he was informed they did not.— He Said further that the English were now endeavouring to make a Contract with Russia for Masts. I have done all I could to undeceive him But I should be obliged to you for every Information you can give me on the subject of our Pinetrees. The French Officers appear to be prejudiced, against the Pine timber, which they procured for their ships in America. They Say it is Spungy and Shrinks &c. I have explained this as well as I could, in a Letter I wrote last Week to the Marechall de Castries at his desire upon the subject.— I introduced Mr Tracy to him, who understands the Subject better than I can pretend to. But I should think it would become the Massachusetts Government, to appoint a Committee to enquire into this Affair and state the whole Facts to

Congress or their Ministers. it may be sent to any one of the Ministers merely as Information.— I should be glad to be informed where the best White Pine Trees grow. what is their Quality? of what Sizes they may be had. What Plenty of them there is, or is like to be?— What Sort of Trees were used on board the Royal Navy of England. What Number of Mast ships were employed in transporting annually. What were the Prices nearly of the Trees in Proportion to their Diameter. &c. and in short every Thing which may be usefull in my Station to know. English Officers have Spoken Slightly to French Officers and Gentlemen of our Pine Timber I Suppose with design. for these Nations have a surprizing Inclination and a more wonderfull Faculty of deceiving on another.
        My Friend Mr Oswald, upon whom I depended, for a good deal of Assistance, in reconciling the two Nations to a good Treaty of Commerce is dead, and now what may be done about the Boundary at St. Croix, I dont know, nor when they will evacuate the Posts upon the Lakes. But Surely the Ministry cannot seriously pretend to violate the Treaty, So essentially as to keep Possession of them, because this must produce War.— I dont think We need to dread a War with them. for their trade all over the World is so exposed to our Privateers and our Trade is now so little exposed to them, as it may be carried on, entirely by foreign Nations, that I really dont know whether it would not be Advantageous to Us, to have a War with them.— Sure I am it would be ruinous to them.
        They are so bent upon encouraging their own Whale Fishery, both in England and Nova Scotia, that I really dont know what they will do finally about the Duty on Oil.— Will not our People find Means of Sending their Oil to Nova Scotia, and So evading the Duty? it is a Folly to think of establishing the whale Fishery in England or Nova Scotia, in opposition to that of Massachusetts, I think, because it is impracticable, and because they had better take the Oil of Us as a Remittance if it were practicable.— But old Prejudices, hot Passions and ill Advisers delude that nation more than any other.
        I beg your Pardon Sir for not having answered your excellent Letters to me before.— You will laugh when I tell you, I have written and burnt five or Six Answers. no Letters I ever received let me so deeply into the Politicks of Congress. they opened Such sceenes to me, as I could not think or write of with Temper. I could not write a Letter upon the subject that upon a review I thought it prudent to send I was determined if the Proceedings of Congress did not

indicate a different Spirit, to cut and run home as Mr Jay did. another Time however I will at least answer you, if I cannot enter into Particulars. Your obliged Fnd & humble / Sert.

          John Adams


Title: John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 13 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Smith, Isaac, Sr.

          Sir
          Auteuil December 13th: 1784.

        I received your Favour of 18 August with its Accompaniments. We are all well and very happy.
        I should have been very glad to have received Mrs: Macaulay. if I had been in Braintree and am much surprized to learn that 60 to 25 makes a greater odds in lawful Wedlock than out of it.
        This celebrated literary Character professes political Principles so nearly like those which we profess that I really think it would have been better Policy, if she had been more generally received, since I know not that her Conduct has forfeited the Esteem of the World.
        I should be very glad to learn the State of our Fishery since the Peace, what Number of Vessells have been employ’d each year, and to what Towns they belong? What success they have had, and what has been done with the Fish? the Same of the Whale Fishery. Is there any Way to come at the Knowledge of all the Imports and Exports from the Massachusetts? What is the State of the French

Fishery? what of the English &c &c &c. how do your Distilleries go on? and how your Sugar houses? what Number of each in the Town of Boston, and the other Towns?
        My best Regards to my Aunt, your two Sons & Mr: & Mrs: Otis.
        With great Respect &c.


Title: John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 13 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

          Madam
          Auteuil Decr. 13. 1784

        Your Favour of the 1st. of June, has not, I fear been answered. I have indeed been very happy ever Since I received it. I live here, on a kind of Pens Hill. It is a Village, remarkable for the Residence of Dauguesseau, Boileau, Molliere and Helvetius, and for nothing else. I choose it merely for my Health, as my Constitution is not able to Sustain, the nauseous Air of a great City. Amsterdam and Paris have cost me, each of them a nervous putrid Fever. two Such broad Hints, I think Should be Sufficient Warning to me, to live in a purer Air, and in a Place where I can have more Exercise. but I want my rural occupations like Mr Friend on Neponsit Hill. It is Said of a Court Life, that altho it does not render a Man happy, yet it hinders him, from being ever afterwards hapy any where else. The Same observation is made of a Paris Life. indeed I can easily conceive that the Delights of a Court, and of Paris, becoming habitual in early Life, Should be hardly dispensed with, in future.— But these delights have taken no hold on me.— and I feel myself much more disposed, to whine like Cicero or Bolinbroke over my Exile, than to regret the Loss of the Pleasures of Courts or Cities. inshort I take as little of Either as possible.
        It is ten Years and more Since I devoted myself wholly to the Publick. how I Should feel in private Life, I know not. but I believe that the Habits of public Life, have made no deeper Impression. litterary Pursuits were the Object of my youthfull Desires, but the Turn in public affairs dissappointed me, and I am now too old, and too

blind, ever to resume them with much Ardour, or any Prospect of Success.— My little Farm is now my only Resource. and Books for Amusement, without much Improvement or a Possibility of benefiting the World by my Studies.
        You have Seen Mrs Maccaulay.— I Should certainly have made a Visit to that Lady if she had been in London when I was there. Her litterary Character, and the Honour she has done to those Political Principles We profess Should Secure her a respectfull Reception in Boston which I hope she has found.— In England I think She has not been indulged with so much Candor as she ought.— If her Marriage was not discreet this is not much to the World, who pardon infinitely greater Indiscretions, in infinitely less meritorious Characters.— But whoever, in Europe is known to have adopted Republican Principles must expect to have all the Engines of every Court and Courtier in the World, displayed against him. I wish it may be long otherwise in America.
        With the Utmost Esteem, Madam, your / Friend and humble servant

          John Adams


Title: John Jay to John Adams, 13 December 1784
From: Jay, John
To: Adams, John

          Dear Sir
          Trenton 13 Decr. 1784

        One of these Days I shall devote a Leisure Hour to forming a Cypher, and will send it to You by the first good Conveyance that may afterwards offer. at present I am engaged on many Committees, so that my attendance on them and on Congress, keeps me fully employed. I observe with Pleasure that in this Congress there appears to be good Talents & good Dispositions. none of their more important measures are as yet matured, but I flatter myself they will act wisely.
        The Marqs. returns well satisfied— he has recd. many Marks of Respect, and I believe very sincere ones. I think his Representations will be fair and honest; and I wish his Court may never recieve any advices respecting us but of that Description. I find that the Chevr. de la Luzern stands well here, and is esteemed— it is to be hoped that his Successor may be a man who will think it his Interest as well as his Duty to deserve well of both Countries.
        I am happy that the interfering Claims of Massachusets and

NYork are in a way to be settled— we shall then coalesce, and be more and more assimelated— Your Delegation is a good one—
        My Compts. to your Lady & Family— Mr Laurens is gone to Carolina— present my Respects to Mr Jefferson—
        I am Dear Sir / your afft. & obt. Servt

          John Jay—


Title: John Adams to William Knox, 15 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Knox, William

          Sir
          Auteuil near Paris Decr. 15. 1784

        I have just received your kind Letter of the 7. and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. Mr Jackson and Mr Tracy will take all our Letters and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyance by Captain Young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards.
        It is hazardous prophecying in European Politicks, but it is easier to judge what is right. if the Treaty of Munster is not binding what Treaty is? How many Powers of Europe hold important Rights and Possessions under it? it is the great Charter of Europe. it is the Basis of the publick Right of Europe. France holds So much under it, and by Subsequent Treaties founded on it, that I make no Scruple to believe She will Support Holland nor have I less doubt that Prussia will join on the Same Side, if the Emperor persists. They may negotiate as long as they can, but must finally take a Part, for which Reason I hope there will be an Accommodation before next Spring.

        I See not the least Colour for the Idea you Speak of, of a possitive Combination among the great Catholic Powers to crush England, and the lesser Protestant ones. There has been plainly a Combination of absurd Englishmen Scotchmen and American Refugees to crush England Holland and America, the 3 most considerable Protestant Powers, and I wish this Stupid Combination was at an End. I can make nothing of Ireland, and as to our own dear Country, the most it wants at present is a little less Drinking and Extravagance at home and a little more Liberality abroad and to agree upon Taxes to pay the Interest of their Debts.
        Mrs Adams is with me and desires me to make you her Compts.
        You can Scarcely have heard a Character too high of my Friend and Colleague Mr Jefferson, either in Point of Talents or Virtues. My Fellow Labourer in Congress, eight or nine Years ago, upon many arduous Tryals, particularly in the Draught of our Declaration of Independence and in the formation of our Code of Articles of War, and Laws for the Army I have found him uniformly the Same wise and prudent Man and Steady Patriot. I only fear that his unquenchable Thirst of Knowledge may injure his Health.
        I envy you the Pleasure of returning to Boston from whence I have been a kind of Exile for ten Years. almost Seven have been passed in Europe, and if I had not Some cause to hope that my Country has received more benefit than I have of Pleasure I should curse the day that I ever Set my foot on board a Frygate. I am at present however very happy in all respects.


Title: The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 15 December 1784
From: American Commissioners,Adams, John,Franklin, Benjamin,Jefferson, Thomas
To: President of Congress

          Sir
          Paris Decr. 15. 1784

        In our letter of Novr 11th. we had the honour of laying before Congress a state of our proceedings till that date. As from that it would appear that the last communications had in every instance passed from us to the other parties we can now only add the answers of such of them as have yet answered, & our replies; these are the courts of Portugal, Tuscany & Great Britain. No. 1. is a copy of the communication from the Ambassador of Portugal to us; No. 2. a copy of our reply; No 3 a copy of the draught of a treaty which we enclosed to him. No. 4. is a copy of a letter to us from the chargé des Affaires of Tuscany & No. 5. our answer, which enclosed a copy of the same draught of a treaty only changing the style of the other party. We must observe that the draught of a treaty which had accompanied our letter to Baron Thulemeier, the Prussian Minister at the Hague, which letter was enclosed in our last to Congress but without the plan of the treaty, was verbatim the same with those to Portugal & Tuscany with only a like change in the style of the other party. No. 6 is a copy of a letter to us from the British Ambassador here; & No. 7. of our reply.
        We received information from the public papers that an American vessel which had just sailed from Cadiz was captured on the 11th. of Octr. by a frigate of the Emperor of Morocco being one of five which he had cruizing in the ocean, and that she was carried into Tangiers on the 16th of October. This intelligence is confirmed in a letter from Mr Carmichael, who adds that the vessel captured belonged to the State of Virginia. We think it our duty to mention this event to your Excellency as it will shew the necessity that immediate measures be taken with the piratical states for the preservation of our trade to the Mediterranean, to Spain & to Portugal, and perhaps to countries still more distant as their vessels may extend their cruizing grounds.

        With the most perfect consideration & respect we have the honour to be / Your Excellencys / Most obedient & / Most hble Servants

          John AdamsB. FranklinT. Jefferson.


Title: Giuseppe Doria Pamfili to the American Commissioners, 15 December 1784
From: Pamfili, Giuseppe Doria
To: American Commissioners

          Messieurs
          a Paris le 15. Xbre. 1784.

        J’ai rendu compte à ma Cour de l’ouverture contenue dans La Lettre que Vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 22. de Septembre dernier. Sa Sainteté faisant non moins attention à la convenance de Votre proposition, qu’ayant égard à ce que les prérogatives des Catholiques Romains habitans et Sujets des Etats Unis d’Amerique, y sont constamment conservées, m’ordonne de Vous déclarer que tous les batimens portant pavillon des Etats Unis qui aborderont dans les ports de Civitavecchia dans la méditerranée ou d’Ancone dans l’Adriatique y auront tout l’accueil qu’ils peuvent desirer; bien entendu que reciproquement les batimens et les effets des Sujets du St. Siege Seront traités de la même maniere dans les ports des Etats Unis. A cette déclaration je dois ajouter par ordre exprès de Sa Sainteté que les Sujets des Etats Unis d’Amérique trouveront dans les ports de la domination du St. Siege ci-dessus mentionnés une personne députée par Sa Sainteté pour leur donner toute l’assistence dont ils auront besoin.
        Je me félicite d’être chargé de Vous déclarer ces intentions de ma Cour qui ne peuvent qu’être agréables aux Etats Unis d’Amérique.
        J’ai l’honneur d’être avec une parfaite consideration / Messieurs / Votre très humble et très / Obéissant Serviteur

          S.J. Archeveque de Seleucia

        TRANSLATION

          Gentlemen
          Paris, 15 December 1784

        I have given an account to my court of the overture contained in the letter that you did me the honor of writing to me on 22 September last. His Holiness, no less mindful of the fitness of your proposal than concerned that the prerogatives of the Roman Catholic inhabitants and subjects of the United States of America are continually preserved, orders me to declare to you that ships under the flag of the United States that land in the ports of Civitavecchia on the Mediterranean or Ancona on the Adriatic will find there all the welcome that they might desire, with the reciprocal understanding, of course, that the ships and goods of the subjects of the Holy See will be treated in the same manner in the ports of the United States. To this declaration I must add by explicit order of His Holiness that the subjects of the United States of America will find in the ports under the dominion of the Holy See mentioned above a person designated by His Holiness to give them all the assistance that they might require.
        I am pleased to be charged with declaring to you the intentions of my court, which can only be agreeable to the United States of America.
        I have the honor of being with perfect respect, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servant

          S.J. Archeveque de Seleucia


Title: Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 20 December 1784
From: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
To: Adams, John

          Sir
          Amsterdam the 20 Decr. 1784.

        In answer to your most esteem’d Favor of the 11th. Instt. we have the honour to advise, that you’ll find us at every Time disposed to give your Excellency every information concerning the State of Business of the United States, which you may require from us, and much more so when your Excellency informs us, that the public Service requires we should do so.
        There is indeed at present a large Capital in our hands, to the disposition of Congress, the Amount of which, after deducting the dispositions of Mr. Morris which are known to us, and the Intrest

due next february, will nearly be a million of Florins. We think this will give much pleasure to your Excellency, as from this you may conclude that the two Loans are very nearly compleated and furnished.
        We have private Letters from Philadelphia as late as the 31 October, and also from Mr. Morris of the beginning of that Month, with the long wished Answer to our Several Letters to that Gentleman, but no ratification on the last Loan of two Millions. We hope however to receive it soon, as it is necessary for the Security of the Moneylenders to deposit the Act with the other original Papers, attending this Business, at the Notary. In case your Excellency should have received any Information concerning the Ratification you’ll oblige us in giving us the Comunication there of.
        We remain most respectfully / Sir / Your Most humble & obedt. Servts.

          Wilhem & Jan WillinkNics. & Jacob van Staphorst.de la Lande & fynje

          The second Loan has been Compleated in October, and that money payed out, the money now in Cash proceeds from the fourth & fifth Million of the first Loan.


Title: Tristram Dalton to John Adams, 21 December 1784
From: Dalton, Tristram
To: Adams, John

          Dear Sir
          Boston Decemr 21st. 1784

        I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favors of the 4th Septemr. and partake in the happiness of your being “at length settled in a regular Train, both of public & private Life”—
        While the Nation, of which I am a Citizen, will receive the greatest benefit from your labors in the former line—permit me to hope

that the remembrance of an old friend may, now & then, afford a little pleasure—in the only happy, the domesticated hours—. Your mentioning those times which we spent together at Harvard causes in my mind most agreeable reflections: the continuance of an undisguised Friendship I esteem one of the greatest blessings of my life.
        The two difficulties which you say will cause a languidness in your Negotiations I fear will not be removed for some time— the want of good will in those you have to do with is very apparent— Success may perhaps have blunted the feelings of the Citizens of the U States, in respect to the Injuries done, or intended, by G Britain—while that Nation has her revenge sharpned by disappointment and real loss—certain it is that in private concerns we experience the most illiberal treatment from their Subjects, residing in the Island of G B—not to mention, what might be expected, the greatest inveteracy of the Refugees in Nova Scotia &c—
        The General Court of this Government would have adopted Measures to prevent the exportation of Timber and bulky articles in British Ships &c but for the expectation of some regulations, in consequence of powers requested by Congress—and granted by most of the States—and of a commercial Treaty’s being compleated. Nothing has yet been done on this Side of the Atlantic. Some question the propriety of individual States interposing—and there is a doubt whither all the States in the Union will grant said Powers to Congress, tho’ limited to 15 Years—without which being done, the Court of G Britain may look on the Confederation as a rope of Sand, and trifle on untill they have compleated their Settlements in N Scotia so far as to supply their Islands with fish and lumber—and themselves with Oil— I wish to God that an effectual Stop might be put to the importation of Gew Gaws & Luxuries from England for payment of which our Cash is nearly all sent away—
        The other difficulty you mention as attending your Negotiations, vizt. the want of Money, I see no prospect of being speedily removed— The federal Chest can have no supplies— The United States have not collectively—nor individually—adopted any regular System whereby the interest of their debts may be paid—or the Civil List supported— Most of them seem totally inattentive to this important Object— The last plan proposed by Congress, including an impost, has been agreed to by few States—partially by others—and by some not in any part—
        It has been and still is, in the power of each State to furnish their

proportion of the Monies necessary to be raised— They neglect it— They in general appear to take no thought about it—and I fear They will not see the things belonging to their peace, untill Necessity drives them to consent to such Measures as will, in the End, deface the Altar of Liberty, so happily erected in this Hemisphere—
        I have heretofore ventured to give you my opinion of the continental impost—the consequences of acceding to which still appear to me will be bad— Notwithstanding, I wish this may not be, as the result of our conduct, the least Evil—an Evil now in our Power to avoid—
        The Marquis de la Fayette, in free conversation with me on Matters of Commerce, said that the Court of France designed to countenance and give Credit to, or rather to remove a degree of disgrace hitherto attendant on, persons concerned in that line—that Gentlemen of property were determined to extend Credit to the Americans equal to what the British Merchants do—which is one grand inducement to our connections with them— He mentioned that he had it in contemplation to endeavor to introduce the Use of our fish Oil in France, as a counterbalance to the high duty laid on that Article by G B— That He would set the example and use it on his own Estate— He was asked what would become of the vegetable Oil now used in, and the produce of France—answering that he thought the lands, on which the Materials grew from whence the Oil was extracted, might be put to more beneficial Use and that the Oil from America could be afforded 50 p Ct cheaper than that now used—
        On this plan I can form no Judgement— But I can frame a most sanguine wish—
        Such a Step must affect G Britain in a tender point—the supplying themselves having a double Motive—that of ruining a capital Branch of Business in the Massachusetts—as well as encouraging their own Colonies— Excuse my mentioning this matter—as no doubt every thing that can be of Service to the U States has occurred to you—
        The G Court of this Commonwealth will meet on the 19th of next Month—when if any thing worthy communicating turns up, I shall do myself the honor of transmitting it to you—
        Miss D. asks the Liberty of enclosing a letter for your good Daughter. Mrs D uniting in offering best Regards to yourself & Family. I am with the greatest Sincerity—Dr Sir your affectionate Friend & most humble Servant

          Tristram Dalton


Title: John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 22 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Dumas, C. W. F.

          Sir
          Auteuil near Paris Dec. 22. 1784

        The Capture of one or two of our Vessells by the Barbary Rovers, obliges Us to think Seriously of treating with the Port, Morocco, Algiers Tunis Tripoli, and the rest. But We wish to be informed as nearly as We can, how much the Expences of every Kind will amount to. let me beg the Favour of you then, to apply to Mr Bisdom and Mr Vanderhope and inquire of those Gentlemen, what Presents they gave last Winter to the Ambassador from Morocco, and what they have commonly given, And what Sums the Republic gives annually to Algiers, Morocco Tunis, Tripoli, or any other, and what is the manner of treating with them.
        Mr Brantzen told me Yesterday, that Mr Bisdom and Mr Vander hope, were perfectly acquainted with the Subject, and would readily inform me. I would write to them, if I did not think it more probable they would give you the Information in Person, and if I did not think it less troublesome to them.
        With great Regard your most / humble servt.

          John Adams


Title: John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 22 December 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje

          Gentlemen
          Auteuil near Paris December 22. 1784

        On the Eleventh of this Month, I wrote you a Letter, in which I requested you to inform me, whether you had any Money of the

United States in your Hands and to what Amount. To that Letter I have not yet received any Answer.
        I now take the Liberty to repeat the Request contained in it, and to add another viz that you would inform me, what Number of Obligations you have remaining unsold both of my first and last Loan, how many of these obligations are in the Possession of each one of the three Houses.
        I pray you also Gentlemen to inform me, what Expence would Attend putting all the Money you have on Hand, into the Bank of Amsterdam, there to remain untill disposed of by Congress or their Order, and whether any Commission would accrue to you, according to the Custom of Merchants and the Usages of your City, upon putting it in or drawing it out. in Short every possible Expence attending the Operations of putting it in and drawing it out. and whether the Agio would Occasion a Loss or Profit or neither to the United States.
        I hope Gentlemen for an Answer to all these Enquiries as prompt as possible, and remain / with much Esteem &c


Title: Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 25 December 1784
From: Barclay, Thomas
To: Adams, John

          Dear Sir
          Rochfort 25 Decr. 1784—

        As I passed through Nantes in my way to Bordeaux I received a letter from Mrs. Barclay wherin she mentions your Intention of going to England Next Month, and that you wish’d to see me before you set out. I have three public accounts of Consequence to settle at Bordeaux, and shall the Moment they are finish’d proceed home. you will oblige me by letting me Know by a line, addressed to the Care of Mess: French & Nephew of that place, when you propose leaving France, and Evry exertion on My part shall be used to see you, if I find it practicable— I understand that Docr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson are likewise going to England, be so kind to say if it is so— My Best wishes attend Mrs. Adams and your family, and I remain Dear Sir / Your affectionate / and Obed servant,

          Thos Barclay

          I think we Cou’d do all our Business together in two days—


Title: C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams, 28 December 1784
From: Dumas, C. W. F.
To: Adams, John

          Sir,
          at the Hague Dec. 28th. 1784

        Permit me to answer briefly in poor English, your favour of the 11th. inst.
        An Ideot, no.—à Lunatick, may be for what I know.— With me, and other plain people, the character is that of a bad man, near to become a Madman by disappointment.
        I am not misinformed, concerning the pretended principle and motive of a certain metaphysical Distinction. The nonsense I told you has been really alledged in private conferences previous to certain ministerial ones.
        I am glad to hear of your proposals accepted. But the agreement of what may be looked on as convenient for the present, does not exclude mental reservations.
        I am deeply initiated since some weeks in the secret of this and several other States, and would tell you at your fire-side, a number of important things, which are not to be trusted to the paper.
        Our respects and good wishes to your Excellency and to your dear Ladies and Son. / y. E. / very humble & very / obedient servant

          D—


Title: Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 6 January 1785
From: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
To: Adams, John

          Sir
          Amsterdam 6 Jan: 1785

        In conformity to our Promise of last Thursday, we have now the Honour to advise your Excellency, that the Ballance of the Account of the United States now in our Hands amounts to. . ƒ 1301760. 4 –

            from this must be deducted the following

            Sums for Payments, which are at hand

            Intrest of the last Loan due 1th feb̃:
            ƒ  65986. 4 —

            Premiums of the Same . . . . . . . . . . . . .
            ″  50000   —

            Accepted drafts of Mr. Morris . . . . . . . .
            ″ 200000   —

            not appeared drafts of do . . . . . . . . . . .
            ″  12150   —

            ″  328136. 4 —

            Remains . . .
            ƒ  973624   —

        So it appears from this that there is still to the disposition of Congres a Capital of nine hundred Seventy three thousand Florins Current Money.
        The Sums that at present are in the Hands of each House or their Bankers amount to, viz.

            Wilhem & Jan Willink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
            ƒ   575000  —

            Nic. & Jacob Van Staphrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
            ″   525000  —

            De La Lande & Fynje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
            ″   200000  —

            together the abovementioned Ballance of . . . . . . .
            ƒ 1300,000   —

        The whole number of Bonds, which are at present unsold in our Hands is 252 of the 5 per Co. Loan of 5 Millions, viz

            Wilhem & Jan Willink have in their possession . . . . . . .
            110

            Nic. & Jacob Van Staphorst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
            135

            De la Lande & Fynje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              7

            in all . . .
            252 Bonds

        We hope Sir, that this very particular Account of the State of Business of the United States trusted to our Care will give you Satisfaction, and we now expect your orders, whether you desire that

we shall put the whole Ballance or part of it into the Bank of Amsterdam or not, in the meantime we have the Honour to Subscribe ourselves, with a Sincere Esteem / Sir / Your most humble & Obedient Servants

          Wilhem & Jan WillinkNics. & Jacob van Staphorst.de la Lande & Fynje

          The sum that exceeds the neat amount in our hands as last adviced proceeds from the obligs. that Since were delivered to the undertakers, whch. have entirely liquidated the engaged Sums with Messrs. Willink, also with Messrs. de La Lande & fynje but those liquidating with Messrs. van Staphorst must in the two following month yet receive of them 127 Obt. so your Excelly in disposing the Money in Cash will be pleased to give direction also abt. the sums, whch. will be received, if we had not happily Contracted With the undertakers before the differences with the Emperor, it should not succeed at present, and the remainder 125 Obt will not soon be disposed on acct. of our present political circumstances.


Title: John Adams to the president of Congress, 10 January 1785
From: Adams, John
To: President of Congress

          Sir
          Auteuil near Paris January 10. 1785.

        I have the Satisfaction, to inform Congress that by Letters from our Bankers, in Amsterdam, I am informed, they have in Hand, near a Million of Gilders, and consequently, that the two Loans I have opened, amounting in the whole to Seven Millions of Guilders are almost full. This is full proof of the amelioration of our Credit, since January 1784, when I was obliged in a very tender State of Convalescence, and an uncommonly rigorous Season, to undergo, the hardships and Dangers of a Voyage and Journey in Packet Boats, Ice boats and Boors waggons, to obtain money, to save Mr: Morris’s Bills from being protested. This is a very fortunate Circumstance for us, at this time, both as it furnishes us the means of treating with the Barbary Powers, if Congress should authorise us to make the necessary Presents, upon which Point we wait their Instructions; and as it will enable Congress to pay the Interest of their Debt to France. Four Letters upon the Subject of this Interest, have been communicated to his colleagues, by Dr: Franklin, one from the Comte de Vergennes, and three from Mr: Grand, and no doubt transmitted to Congress. Dr: Franklin has sounded me, several Times to know if I was willing to pay the Salaries of the Ministers, and Mr: Carmichaels Salary, Mr: Dumas’s Salary, and Coll: Humphreys’s. in short, there is no Money in Europe, at present, but what has been obtained in Holland by my signature, and is supposed, to be under my Inspection: I shall there fore be very soon embarass’d as there will be many Applications to me for Money, and I shall not

dare, to advance it without Orders. I therefore pray for the explicit Instructions of Congress upon this Subject. your Ministers in Europe must not starve on the one hand, and I must not on the other, presume to appropriate Money unappropriated by Congress, without necessity. it it should be the Pleasure, of Congress, that I should draw for necessary Monies, upon the Certificate of their Ministers here, or that they should draw upon my Bankers in Amsterdam this would relieve me from a great Anxiety. at all Events, it is absolutely necessary that Congress should communicate to me their Commands.
        I wish also to know, whether it is the Expectation of Congress, that I should open a new Loan, as one of the old ones is full, and the other very near it. I confess it grieves me, to put my Hand, to an Obligation, as it always brings home to my heart the Reflection, that I am burthening the Industry and labour of my fellow Citizens and Countrymen, with an heavy Load: and when Demands are laid before me, for Millions of Livres for Interest already due, I cannot help wishing that I might never have Occasion to sign another Obligation. it will nevertheless be absolutely necessary as I believe, to borrow somewhat more, but it behoves the People to consider the necessity they are under of exerting themselves in Season, to provide for the Payment of their foreign Debt, and especially to avoid as much as possible the Necessity of increasing it. They will find it very impoverishing to send annually out of their Country such large Sums for the payment of Interest. an enormous Bulk of the Produce of the Country must go to make these Sums, and we shall find the drain very exhausting to our Patience if not to our strength.
        With great Respect &c—


Title: John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 10 January 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje

          Gentlemen.
          Auteuil near Paris January 10: 1784. [1785]

        I have received, with much Pleasure, your Letters of the 20th: and 30th: of December; give me leave to congratulate you, on the flouishing State of your Treasury, which furnishes a very good proof, that the Credit of the United States has much ameliorated since January. 1784 when I was obliged to undertake and undergo all the Hardships and Inconveniences of a Winter Voyage, and Journey, in Packet Boats, Ice boats, and Boors Waggons, in extreme cold weather to prevent Mr: Morris’s Bills from being protested. It is a great Satisfaction to me to reflect, that I have been able, with your assistance to obtain in Holland a Loan of Money for my Country of near Seven Millions of Gilders, a sum very nearly equal to all that was ever lens us by France. Our debt to France, is thirty four Millions of Livres, ten Millions of which were borrowed in Holland, on the Warranty of the States General. you see therefore, that the whole national Debt of the United States in Europe is less than two Millions Sterling. if a Capitalist in Holland compares this with the national Debt of England, or France, or any other Power, and at the same time considers the number of Inhabitants, the Extent, and fertility of Territory, the Advantages for Trade, and above all the rapid Increase of Population, Industry, Agriculture, Commerce, and fisheries, he will soon think his Money safer in the Hands of the United States and American stock, superior to any other.
        For my own Part, I confess, I wish that Congress would borrow Money in Holland to pay off their Debt to France, that they might not owe a shilling any where, but in Holland. This however I say without Authority and it is certain, that Congress will not borrow

Money upon higher Terms, than they pay at present in France, to pay off the French Debt.
        I wait to know how many obligations you have on hand. I have no orders from Congress to open a new Loan, and I fancy I shall never have any to open another upon any other, at least higher Terms, than the first five Millions. But I should be glad to know your Sentiments, whether there is a good Prospect of Success.
        There is one subject, which concerns myself personally, which I beg leave to propose to your Consideration. My Salary at present is so low that it is with the utmost difficulty, that I can live upon it in any kind of Proportion to the public Character I sustain, and therefore I cannot afford to pay a Commission of one per Cent, of Mr: Van den Yver in Paris and Mr: Puller in London, as those Bankers have heretofore charged, and Congress perhaps may be displeased to be charged with such a Commission merely for my Convenience of receiving my Money in London or Paris. You know, Gentlemen that of all the Immense sums that I have borrowed upon my signature for the United States, not one farthing of Benefit accrues to me, and you know how parsimonious I have been of Orders for Money even for necessary public services. So that I should be obliged to you for your advice, whether there is not any Method, by which I may receive my salary and disbursements in Paris or London, as may be most convenient to my Affairs, or whether it will not be better for me to draw Bills upon you, in favour of Bankers or Merchants in London or Paris.
        I accept with a Sensible Pleasure, Gentlemen your kind Compliments of the Season, and in Return, my family joins with me in wishing you and your families all Health, Wealth, and Honour, not only for the year ensuing but for a long course of years after it.
        I remain with sincere sentiments, &c—


Title: John Jay to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1785
From: Jay, John
To: American Commissioners

          Office for Foreign AffairsNew York 14th: January 1785
          Gentlemen,

        On the 21st: Ultimo I accepted the Place of Secretary for foreign Affairs. All the foreign letters which had been received during the

recess of Congress were then and are still in the hands of a Committee to whom they had been referred—none have since arrived.—
        The adjournment from Trenton to this Place necessarily occasioned delay in business— Congress yesterday made a House, and I expect that some of these more important measures will soon be matured. By the next opportunity I flatter myself with having the pleasure of writing to you more particularly. Judges are nominated and will doubtless be appointed to decide the interfering claims of Massachusetts and New York. Advices just received give reason to apprehend an attack of the Cheroquees on Kentucky, a settlement which encreases with a degree of rapidity scarcely credible. It is rumored but not ascertained that the Spaniards encourage them.—
        I have the honor to be / Gentlemen / Your most Obt. & hum̃: servt:

          John Jay—


Title: James Erwin to John Adams, 17 January 1785
From: Erwin, James
To: Adams, John

          Sr:
          Mogadr: South Barbary the 17 Jany. 1785

        Tis with the utmost grief. I Acqt. you: the Accident which as befallen me. at my departure from Cadix. to Tereniffe. were I was bound to. but unfortunately taken by one of the Emperor of Moroccos Cruzers. and Carried into Tangier. were my Vessel lays. afterwards myself & people. with many fatigues obliged to proceed to Morocco. to the Emperor. with whom I spoke to. & notwithstanding Replied He was in peace with our Nation. still ordered us to this place. Suspended till an Embassador of the united States of America. appears. not doubting but Congress. will take the case in Concideration to prevent further misfortunes. being assured. will not end with me. if an American Embassador. does not come to Reconcile matters hopeing will be soon. in order to Release us from this place. Craveing most Earnestly. that you’ll interfere. thereon as I am

an American Subject. & fought for my Country & Liberty. and above all. to Caution. my brother Seamen that they may not become the same prey. & afterwards will be with much more difficulty to come to a Reconciliation. if I can be so happy as to merit yr. Answer on the Subject. will ever make me duty bound to you. and giveing me Leave to tender my Sincere Respects to you. I Remain with all Regard / Your Excelencies / Mt. Obt. Hble. Servt.

          James Erwin


Title: The American Commissioners to the Baron von Thulemeier, 21 January 1785
From: American Commissioners,Adams, John,Franklin, Benjamin,Jefferson, Thomas
To: Thulemeier, Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron von

          Sir
          Passy Janry. 21st. 1785

        We have received the letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10th day of December last.
        We supposed that the principles contained in the project of a Treaty, which we had the honour to transmit you, were a virtual answer to the requisition in the last lines of your letter of the eighteenth of October. By the second & third Articles, the citizens & subjects of each power may frequent all the coasts & countries of the other and reside & trade there in all sorts of produce, manufactures or merchandises paying no greater duties than the most favoured nation. By the fourth Article each party shall have a right to carry their own produce, manufactures & merchandise in their own vessels to any parts of the dominions of the other where it shall be lawful for all the subjects or citizens of that other party to purchase them; and thence to take the produce, manufactures and merchandise of that other, which all the said citizens or subjects shall in like

manner be free to sell them, paying in both cases such duties, charges & fees only as are or shall be paid by the most favoured nation.
        But if by a city for the commerce of exchange between the merchants of the two nations, be meant a port more free than any intended in the said second third or fourth Articles, that is to say a port absolutely free from all duties and charges, or a port, where merchandize may be landed & stored and afterwards reembarked & exported without paying any imposts or duties, we submit to your consideration whether it will not be for the interests of Prussia that both Emden & Stetten at least should be made such: however should it be thought otherwise and we be still desired to elect one of the two ports, we should ask for time to communicate the proposition to Congress and to receive their instructions thereon.
        We have the honour to be / With great consideration / And esteem / Your Excellencys / Most obedient and / Most humble Servants

          John AdamsB FranklinT Jefferson


Title: Luigi Pio to the American Commissioners, 22 January 1785
From: Pio, Luigi
To: American Commissioners

          Messieurs
          à Paris ce 22 janvier 1785.

        Ayant eu lhonneur de mettre sous les yeux du Roi mon maître Votre lettre du 27 7bre. 1784 et Sa Majesté ayant fait mûrement éxaminer les propositions et les offres qu’elle contient, à l effet de l’engager à conclure avec les Etats unis un traité d’amitié et de commerce, m’a chargé de Vous assurer que rien ne peut lui faire un plus grand plaisir, puisqu’elle donne tous ses soins à l’agrandissement du commerce de son Royaume, tant intérieur qu’extérieur. C’est même dans cette Vue que sa Majesté a dernièrement ouvert et établi à Messine en sicile un port franc, dont toutes les nations sont invitées à profiter, avec d’autant plus d’assurance qu’elles y seront reçues et accueillies très favorablement, et certaines d’y jouir de toute sorte de priviléges et immûnités, comme l’édit à joint Vous le prouvera. Je Vous prie, Messieurs, De Vouloir bien ésaminer les avantages qui peuvent résulter pour Vos compatriotes en fréquentant ce nouveau port.
        Je suis en outre chargé, Messieurs, de Vous faire au nom de sa Majesté, une déclaration formelle que tous les bâtimens marchands, avec pavillon des états unis, seront reçus à Messine avec les marques de la plus sincère amitié, et qu’ils y éprouveront les effets de la plus grande hospitalité; Que pareillement dans tous les autres

ports de sa domination, ils seront traités avec tous les égards possibles; qu’on Viendra toujours à leur secours, en leur fournissant tout ce dont ils auront besoin, et qu’ils auront la liberté d’y Commercer, tant sur les productions de leur pays que sur les marchandises provenantes de leurs manufactures et de celles des autres nations.
        Le Tabac étant la partie la plus essentielle du commerce de l’Amérique, comme Vous m’avés fait l’honneur de me l’observer dans un de nos entretiens particuliers; je dois Vous prévenir, Messieurs, que cette plante est devenue maintenant dans les états du Roi mon maître un genre de commerce libre, par l’abolition de tous les droits auxquels elle était ci devant sujette. à l’égard des autres productions, Vous Aurés non seulement toute la liberté de les introduire dans ses états, et en aussi grande quantité que le porteront les demandes des Napolitains, mais encore celle d’y faire Venir pour le reste de l’Italie, du Levant et de toute autre contrée, la quantité de marchandises que selon Vos spéculations Vous jugerés nécessaire; que Vous jouirés des mêmes libertés et facilités pour exporter du Royaume de Sicile de l’huile, du Vin, des Soieries et toute autre production que les Siciles pourront vous fournir et qui seront pour Vous des objets d’utilité et d’agrément.
        Le Roi mon maître n’a pas Voulu différer davantage à Vous donner, Messieurs, les marques les plus convaincantes du desir qu’il a d’avoir des liaisons avec les Etats unis, et à leur prouver sa bonne volonté a entrer le plutôt possible en relation de commerce avantageux pour les deux nations; se réservant sa Majesté de prendre telles delibérations et résolutions qu’il conviendra pour conclure dans toutes les formes un traité de commerce, Selon que Vous avez paru le desirer par Votre lettre.
        En attendant que ma cour puisse éxaminer et peser mûrement tous les objets qui sont à régler dans un traité de cette nature, je crois, Messieurs, qu’il serait très avantageux aux Américains de commencer dès à présent à fréquenter les ports des Siciles, et particulièrement celui de Messine, Pour y établir toujours des relations de commerce, sur lesquelles on pourra ensuite stipuler plus précisément dans le traité à faire.
        Permettez, Messieurs, que je Vous observe encore que pour établir et exercer un commerce de telle etendue qu’il soit, et dans tel pays que ce puisse être il n’est pas nécessaire d’être primitivement autorisé par un traité: il suffit que les étrangers y soient accueillis avec amitié et protégés par les loix et par le gouvernement. La preuve en est que toutes les nations qui font maintenant le

commerce le plus étendu dans les Siciles, tels que les Anglais, les Francais, les Génois, les Vénitiens, les Ragusiens, les hambourgeois, n’ont avec ma cour aucun traité de commerce; et quoiqu’il n’y ait entr’elle et la France qu’un commencement de traité, les Français n’en attendent point la conclusion, pour y faire un commerce des plus étendus et des plus avantageux.
        J’ai l’honneur d’être avec la considération la plus / distinguée, / Messieurs, / Votre très humble / et très obeissant Serviteur

          de Pio, chargé des Affairesdu Roy de Naples

        TRANSLATION

          Gentlemen
          Paris, 22 January 1785

        I had the honor of putting before my lord the king your letter of 27 September 1784 inviting him to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce with the United States. His Majesty, having maturely examined the proposals and offers that it contains, has authorized me to assure you that nothing would please him more, as he gives all his attention to increasing the trade of his kingdom, internal as well as external. It is with this same view that his majesty recently opened and established a free port at Messina in Sicily by which all nations are invited to profit, the more so with assurance that they will be received and welcomed there very favorably and will be certain to enjoy all sorts of privileges and immunities, as the enclosed edict will demonstrate to you. I ask you, gentlemen, please to examine the advantages that can result for your countrymen from frequenting this new port.
        I am further charged, gentlemen, with making to you a formal declaration, in the name of His Majesty, that all merchant vessels under the flag of the United States will be received at Messina with marks of the most sincere friendship and impressions of the greatest hospitality, that they will be treated similarly in all the other ports under his dominion with all possible regard, that we will always come to their aid and furnish them with all that they might need, and that they will have liberty to trade produce of their own country as well as goods of their own manufacture and those of other nations.
        Tobacco being the most essential part of American trade, as you did me the honor of observing during one of our private interviews, I must inform you, gentlemen, that this plant has now become in the dominions of my lord the king an item of free trade by the abolition of all duties to which it had previously been subject. With regard to other items of produce, you will have complete liberty not only to bring them into his dominions, and to do so in quantities as great as demand among Neapolitans will bear, but also to take merchandise from there to the rest of Italy, the Levant, and all other countries, in quantities that you, according to your own estimation,

judge necessary. You will enjoy the same liberties and ease in exporting from the kingdom of Sicily oil, wine, silks, and all other produce that the Sicilians can furnish to you and that you might find of use or appeal.
        My lord the king did not want to delay any longer giving to you, gentlemen, the most convincing indications of his desire to have close connections with the United States and to prove to them his goodwill in entering as soon as possible into commercial relations advantageous to both nations, His Majesty reserving the right to take such decisions and resolutions as he sees fit in order to conclude with all due ceremony a treaty of commerce, as you seem to desire from your letter.
        While waiting for my court to examine and weigh maturely all the objects to be settled in a treaty of this nature, I believe, gentlemen, that it would be very advantageous for Americans to begin from this moment to frequent the ports of Sicily, particularly that of Messina, in order to establish forever commercial relations, which we can afterwards stipulate more precisely in the treaty to be concluded.
        Permit me, gentlemen, to observe to you as well that to establish and carry on commerce of whatever extent it may be and in whatever country it may be, it is not necessary for it to be authorized beforehand by a treaty; it is sufficient for foreigners to be greeted with friendship and protected by law and by government. The proof is that all the nations that now conduct the most extensive trade in the Sicilies, such as the English, the French, the Genoans, the Venetians, the Ragusans, the Hamburgers, have no treaty of commerce with my court. Between it and France there are only the beginnings of a treaty, but the French are not at all waiting for it to be concluded in order to conduct a most extensive and profitable trade there.
        I have the honor of being with the greatest respect, gentlemen, your very humble and very obedient servant

          de Pio, chargé d’affairesof the king of Naples


Title: James Warren to John Adams, 28 January 1785
From: Warren, James
To: Adams, John

          My dear Sir.
          Milton Jany: 28th: 1785—

        I Received your favour of the 27th. August. sometime ago. & Intended before this to have wrote to you. but want of direct Conveyance. & some Other Circumstances have prevented.
        I am very Glad to find my Friends so agreably situated at Auteuil. at the same time the preference given to the Hills of Penn. &

Neponsit give me An Additional pleasure. by Affording a prospect of once more seeing them in their Neighbourhood. I always feel your Mortification, when the reduction of your Salaries took place. the measure was unexpected. & astonishing. I had never heard of a proposal of the kind. & I Considered it. as a finess under the popular Masque of oeconomy to answer perticular purposes. which General. & good policy would not warrant. my Enquiries have Convinced me of the Justness of my own Sentiments. I suppose it originated from the then Premier. the King. or Grand Monarch of America. & was designed to get rid. of those Men who were Employed Abroad. & could not be brought into a support of foreign Measures. & those of the Aristocracy here. which were closely United. & made A Common Cause, in support of which the most refined Intrigue has been practised. & at Times. & in some Instances deceived. & duped some very good Men. I presume our Friend Gerry was in Opposition to this measure. because his Penetration. & rectitude has Always secured him against their Artifice. but this is Conjecture I have never heard the matter from him. but I hope this matter will be reconsidered. & all honest Men have Justice done them. Congress seems at present to be well disposed. they have got Clear of that sink of Corrupt Influence which so long Contaminated some of their Measures. and God be thanked. have substituted A Board of Treasury in the stead of the super Intendant of Finnance. An Office which made rapid strides to Dominion. & if the Cautious Wisdom of R. Island. by Negativeing the proposed Impost. had not prevented, would soon have found A King for us. and this Board too is Guarded by A rotation. that best if not only security (in this stage of Manners more perticularly) for public Liberty— Every thing that relates to the Movement of Congress. you will have more Compleately from the place of their residence than I can give You from here. In this place The System of Politics remains much as it has been. the same Imbecility. the same servility. & the same Inattention still prevail. & are likely to Continue. Money is the only Object Attended to. & the only Acquisition that Commands respect. Patriotism is ridiculed; Integrity & ability are of little Consequence Foreign Commerce has Extended itself beyond its Natural supports. & by its Extravagant Imports greatly Exceeding the Exports. drained off all the Money. Embarrassed itself. & every Other resource of the Country. while Luxury keeps pace with the manners of older. & more Affluent Countrys. some Check by the denial of Credit in Europe may give time to the riseing Fisheries. & other Staples of

the Country to form a Ballance to the Evils we now suffer. The Bank here has not been of any service to us. it has rather faciliated the Exportation of Money & Increased the Exorbitancy of Interest. or rather of Usury. which had before reached such a Stage of Enormity as would have disgraced the Jewish Usurers in any Country of the world. & must in a Short time. put An End both to Trade & the Cultivation of Lands. I am always happy to receive your Letters. & shall be obliged by any Informations of what is passing on the great Theatre of Europe. I shall readily Embrace any Oppertunity to Inform you of any thing you wish to know from here. & shall do it with the Fidelity of the Friendship I profess. Mrs. Warren Joins me in Compliments to you & Mrs. Adams. & in Love to Nabby. & her Brother. I am your / Friend & Humbl. Servt

          J Warren.
          29th.

          our first Magistrate has this day made a formal Resignation. where we shall get another without A New Creation I Can’t tell.


Title: Francis Dana to John Adams, 30 January 1785
From: Dana, Francis
To: Adams, John

            My dear Friend
            Cambridge Jany: 30th: 1785

          I receiv’d your favour of the 4th: of last Novr: two days ago, by the way of New-York. This is the first I have been honoured with from you since I left Russia. Of this I have no just ground to complain as I never wrote you after my return home, till the 12th: of last Month, by a ship from Boston for L’Orient— Your letter wou’d have found me at Congress agreably to your expectation, had our State, in your own words, made their Delegates more comfortable and more honourable: but the contrary having been the Case, I found myself under the necessity of resigning my seat in Congress for the currt: Year. The last year our Delegates had their expences defrayed, and

were allowed 20/ a day during the time they were actually engaged in that service. The present year their whole allowance, if I mistake not, is five & an half Dollrs: a day, a sum not more than sufficient for their expences. None therefore can attend Congress but such as have independent fortunes (and among the few we have of this sort, I know not one, all things considered, fit to be entrusted with that office) young ambitious Gentlemen who have not yet formed their political characters, or others who are free from the incumbrance, if I may be allowed the expression, of a Family. Yet such is the state of things that we can only lament the effects of this misplaced œconomy, and cannot promise ourselves that our Genl: Assembly will be brought to see the ill policy of it. It is but of a piece with the œconomy of Congress itself, in reducing the salaries of their Ministers abroad. I have spoken freely against this last measure, which must be attributed to our late Financier as the proposition came from him, because I cou’d do it from certain knowledge, and with disinterestedness. The same kind of Man as I have mentioned above, will alone be willing to sustain those important stations. I call them important meerly because we think proper to continue them: but there is nothing clearer in my opinion than that our Interests will be more injured by the residence of foreign Ministers among us, than they can be promoted by our Ministers abroad. The best way to get rid of the former, is not to send out the latter. And therefore let those already appointed die off, or resign as fast as they may, I never wish to hear of another being sent to any Country or Court in Europe, after we shall have settled our commercial Treaties with them. Consuls will then answer our purposes, that of protecting our Citizens in the full enjoyment of their Rights under such Treaties. Speaking of Consuls brings to my mind our Convention with France respecting them, which I cannot but reprobate. We have not only granted that Sovereign a right of appointing Consuls & Vice Consuls without limitation, but have agreed that these shall be dignified by enjoying the peculiar immunities of Ambassadors, such as the absolute freedom of person, House, and even of domestics. This extraordinary convention, which I am sensible was transmitted by Congress to their Minister who concluded it, was attended with some curious circumstances in its progress thrô that body, has not yet been ratified by it: And I hope it never will be. It is a question in my mind whether they had a right to enter into stipulations which exempt those characters from all jurisdiction both criminal & civil, of the particular State in which they shall reside, and set them above all

Law. Whether it should be ratified or not, I hope our present Ministers abroad, for negotiating Commercial Treaties, will be cautious how they grant similar privileges to the Consuls &c, of any other Nation, either by express stipulations, or under the common clause of their enjoying all the benefits of the most favoured Nation. To do this, wou’d be to plant petty Ministers, or in other words, Spies and Instruments of Corruption all over our Country; who will not fail to create parties, & to blow up Factions, destructive of it’s peace, and growing Greatness. I wish to say much more to you upon this subject, but your penetration probably anticipates every thing I can wish to say upon it. In one word, May we be constantly upon our guard against foreign Influence, from whatever quarter, in our publick Councils &c &c. We have a World to ourselves; and if we do not know how at present, we shall learn to govern it as well at least as any part of the Globe is governed, and sooner and better without foreign interference than with it.
          You will find before this reaches you, that the anxiety expressed in my last about the return of Congress into the City of Philadelphia, and the failure of the New Arrangements of the Treasury putting it into Commission, must be removed, by their seatg: themselves down in New-York untill their Fœderal Town shall be ready to receive them. This Station, I flatter myself, will put an end to the influence of our political Monster. His Retreat, as you stile it, deserves another Name, and I beleive it will not long retard our fiscal arrangments. The Impost has not yet been acceeded to universally; and it is pretty certain that if other objections had been removed, it never wou’d have been, under his Administration of our Finances. Congress you are sensible have no right in virtue of the Articles of Confederation, to require such an assessment. At the time it was in agitation in Congress, it was objected to by the most commercial States as an inequal Tax upon them, the proceeds thereof not being to be carried to the credit of the State in which they shou’d be collected. To make that palatable to these, a Supplementary Revenue was agreed upon in aid of that, apportioned upon the States, to be raised in their own way, and to be carried to the credit of the State paying the same. Now altho’ almost all the States in the Union (Georgia & Rhode Island only excepted) have acceeded to the Impost, yet several of these have never granted the Supplementary Revenue. This is the most plausible ground, in my opinion, upon which Rhode Island have rejected the Impost. And I am strongly inclined to believe that if all the other States shall agree to the

Impost & the Supplementary Revenue, that Rhode Island will do the like. This I mention as some sort of an apology for the conduct of that State in withholding her consent to the Impost, thô personally I disapprove & lament it. Yet let us not execrate them too bitterly, or hasten to place the sword in the hands of Congress, in order to compel them to a compliance with their Recommendation of the Impost. Some among us, and with a view to this very matter, are constantly crying out that it is necessary to enlarge the powers of Congress. They have indeed a similar sentiment from the Abby de Mably, & that good man Dr: Price. I have read the Observations of both these eminent Writers, but I cannot adopt their opinions in this respect. For suppose Congress to be vested with the power of coercing by Force of Arms a Minor and, if you please, the weakest part of the States, to a compliance with their Requisitions of a Revenue for example, and to be mad enô to attempt the execution of such a power; and that in consequence of this, the Minor part come to an open resistance. Will the Issue, think you, depend upon the relative strength of the contending States alone? Besides that we are told that the battle is not always to the Strong &c, are there no Powers in the world who foresee, & begin to be apprehensive of our certain and rapid progress, while we are at peace among ourselves, to a state of National Force and Grandeur not inferior to the most powerful of them all? Wou’d not some of these, especially those of them who have Colonies in our vicinity, rejoice at an occasion afforded to rend this Empire in twain? Wou’d they not to this end, support the weakest, and continue the contest untill it shou’d be effected? Is it not infinitely better to leave it to time, & reflection, to open the way for an universal compliance with the recommendations or requisitions of Congress, which will not fail to take place, if they are founded in clear justice & equity and sound Policy? Thô we feel ourselves vexed at the present opposition of Rhode-Island to the Impost, yet God forbid we shou’d wish to have recourse to the ultima ratio for their conviction. Let it be remembered it was to her single opposition, we owe the defeating of a scheme to obtain a perpetual Revenue at the unrestrained disposition of Congress, and under a mode of collection derogatory to the dignity and Sovereignty of the particular States.
          Mr: Jay’s conduct since his return, has charmed the Men after your own heart. He is indeed said to enter fully into our views and system. He speaks in the highest terms of you, & I believe is your sincere Friend & Advocate &c We flatter ourselves New-York will

follow his example, as soon as our respective claims of Territory shall be settled: which are now in a proper train for the purpose.
          A short time before the receipt of your letter I had sent you an Account of the Cash advanced to your Son, & told you I shou’d not draw upon you for it without your direction. In that, you desire me to draw upon you for it, unless I can persuade Congress to allow it to me. Having already settled my Accounts at the Treasury for my Salary, I have not any sanguine hopes of obtaining an allowance for that purpose. Yet, as I shall soon transmit an Account for some extra expences I will subjoin an article of such charge, & try what may be done. Mr: Osgood will shortly go from hence for Congress, he being lately chosen one of their Commissioners of the Treasury. I will put my account into his hands, & give him every necessary information respecting the point in question: besides this, I will write to our common friend Mr: Geary, & enclose him the proper extracts from your letter.
          I thank John for the regard he has expressed for me to you. I have much for him, & if it is in my power, shall endeavour to convince him of it. He is capable of any thing; and cannot fail to cultivate his good natural abilities under so able an Instructor.
          Mrs: Dana joins me in presenting the warmest regards to Mrs: Adams, yourself, your Son & Daughter—
          In full hopes that you will from time to time give me some account of the progress of your new War, I shall close this with assurances of the sincerity with which I continue to be / Your Friend / & obedient humble Servant

            FRA DANA

            P.S. I shall not draw upon you till I shall receive your answer to this letter.

            Feby: 19th: 1785

          Govr: Hancock resigned the chair on the 17th: inst: A few days before, he appointed me to a seat in our Supreme Judicial Court. A measure perhaps not purely his own. I am undetermined whether to accept it.— There are many Candidates for the Chair: so that it seems probable there will not be an election at large, but by the Assembly in failure thereof
          Yours as above


Title: John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 31 January 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Gerry, Elbridge

          Dear Sir
          Auteuil near Paris Jan. 31. 1785

        I learn with much Pleasure, that you are again in Congress, at the head of a respectable Delegation, and that the States in general are

So well represented. Experience will Show the Necessity of having that Assembly composed of the best Men, by whom I mean Men of the most Experience, the best Talents and greatest Virtues. it is by these alone that fœderal Principles and Feelings, can be made general and popular at the Expence of partial Views and contracted Prejudices. I See the People have not lost Sight of their old Friends. They have not cut away the Scaffolds on which they erected the Building; but the Same Pill[ar]s which upheld it in the storm, Support, it, in more beauty and Majesty in fair Weather. I really feel an earnest desire to be one of you. But when will that be possible?— it is more agreable, to be at home among ones equals, and to enjoy some degree of Respect and Esteem among those We feel a regard for, than to be admired by Strangers. But to be in a foreign Country, among Strange Faces, manners, Languages, and looked at with Terror rarely finding a Person who dares to Speak to one as has been my Case Mr Danas Mr Jays and others, for Years together is horrible. Oh! tis horrible! it is better now, but Still We are among Strangers, and We cannot live in Character, nor see that Company which Strangers in our Stations ought to see.
        Will you let me know what We are to do in the Article of Money. My Colleagues Dr Franklin, & Mr Jefferson and our Secretary Coll Humphreys, as well as Mr Charmichal and Mr Dumas will be dependent upon me, or at least upon my Bank, for their daily bread. This is an humiliating Idea that I beg may not lie upon their Minds one Moment. in order to prevent it, I hope Congress or their Financiers will give instant Orders to me or to their Bankers in Amsterdam, to furnish the Money upon demand. it will be best perhaps that the Money should be furnished to Mr Grand, as usual, to be drawn out of his Hands, by Dr Franklin & Mr Jefferson as usual.—
        Spain and England will certainly not treat with Us here. England Seems, Sure of our Trade, without a Treaty, and therefore chuses to be unbound, and her Ministers choose to avoid the Clamour that would arise against any Treaty. What Shall be done? there are but two Things, either to Send a Minister to London according to the Kings polite Invitation, and try what can be done there, or commence immediately the Sour Work of Retaliation.— Will the States agree to exclude British ships from their Ports, and British Manufactures or any of them? and can Such Prohibitions be executed or high Duties be levied.— Suppose E.G. you lay a heavy Duty upon every British Vessell, or upon British Manufactures to retaliate for the duty on Oil, &c can you go through with it.— We have no

Answers to any of the many Things We have proposed to the British Ministry through the Duke of Dorset, and I really think nothing will ever be done, but by an Exchange of Ministers.
        Dr F. shew me Yesterday a Letter from Mr Jay, in which he says, “that the Dr Letter requesting Leave to return to America was committed, and not reported on.” You can judge best, from his Letters whether he is Sincere in his Request. if he is, you will make a new Arrangement. he may be, Sincere, for a Voyage Seems to be the only chance he has for his Life.— He can now neither walk nor ride, unless in a Litter, but he is Strong and eats freely, So that he will soon have other Complaints besides the Stone, if he continues to live as entirely without Exercise as he does at present. whether it is his increasing Pain and Infirmity, or whether it is his disappointment in his vain Imaginations for himself and his son, that has Softened him I know not, but he Seems much less insolent than he has been, and I have too much Compassion for his Melancholly Situation to think of reminding him of his past faults to me, So that We go on very smoothly.
        Mr Mo[rr]is has been So entirely trusted with Money Matters that I know not whether he has ever informed Congress of the immense Sums of Money that I have paid, upon his Bills of Exchange, but I think it is time the People knew that they have a gross Interest to pay for near Seven hundred Thousand Pounds sterling that I have borrowed for them and they have received, in Dollars or in Cash for Bills sold by Mr Morris at advantageous Rates.
        your Friend

          John Adams.

          Mr Morris has been enabled to do his great Things chiefly by the Money I have sent him. You know best Whether he has done me Justice or not in America.—


Title: John Adams to John Jay, 31 January 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Jay, John

          Private.
          Dear Sir.
          Auteuil January 31. 1785.

        Last Night, I had a visit from the Marquis, whom I was glad to see, for a variety of Reasons: his Representations of the Commerce, the Union, and the other Circumstances of our Country are very flattering and as he has so lately seen so many Parts, he was able to give more Information, than the generality of other Travellers. His views are now opening, at least in confidence to me, and his aspiring Soul, aims at Objects in Europe, as grand and glorious as those he has obtained in America. You may be surprized, that he should make me his first Confident, as he declares to me he has; because that I, any more than you, never flattered him so much as some others. But if I had your Cypher, which I pray you, to remember, I would explain to you enough, to convince you, that what he declares is not surprizing, because it would appear to you, that I am the only Man in France, to whom he ought naturally to open himself the first. from these Hints you may guess the whole matter. His Plan, I must say, is as laudable, as it is sublime; but I doubt the possibility of his Success.— I thank you for your Letter of the 13. Decr: which was brought by him.— surrounded as you are, by so many experienced Men, your friends, you are much to be envied. I find myself sometimes disposed to write Elegies and Jeremiads upon my Exile in imitation of Ovid and Cicero, but to avoid such thoughts as much as possible, I make a little America of my own Family.
        You make me happy in the hope, that all Claims are soon to be settled, between Mass: & N: York. Let brotherly Love continue, and all Jealousies be done away. from the general Air of Things, I expect to hear that Congress, are fixed in some part of New York.
        What are we to do? you know it to be impossible to live upon what is now allowed us, without disgracing our Country, and obstructing its’ service, and Interests. what am I to do, too, in another affair. I alone of all your Servants, in Europe, have any Money. Franklin you know, has had none, these two Years, almost, but what he was obliged to my bank for, and out of this he has paid Carmichael and Dumas. But now Mr: Morris’s orders to my Bankers, to advance Money, to Mr: Grand are out, what shall I do? I have no orders to advance any Money. I hope Congress, or their

Commissioners of the Treasury, or their Financier, will give Authority and orders to me, or to their Bankers in Amsterdam to advance the necessary Sums, and determine how much, and to whom, to pay the Interest to this Court, too, which is already due. And let me know whether I am to open a new Loan, in Holland. of those already opened, that of two millions of Guilders, being full, and the other of five millions of Guilders very nearly so.
        I am happy in my old Friend Jefferson, and in my young one Humphreys. We do Business at Passy, because the Dr: is wholly confined to his house. his stone has grown So painful, when he walks or rides that he has wholly renounced both. I learn from his Cousin Williams, and his Grandson, that he can no longer Walk, his hour in his Chamber as he used. He appears otherwise well, and strong, but the loss of his Exercise, must soon affect his Health in other Particulars.
        The Business we are about is slow Work. many Courts discover an aversion to treat here, or on any other Champ de Bataille, but their own Dominions or those of the U. States.— What shall we do with the Barbary Powers? brave them, or treat? if the latter, where shall we get Money? The English Papers tell a Thousand lies, to excite a Panic, but there is some real Danger. The friendly Principles of an Oswald had lost their Influence, before his Death, and excepting a good humoured New Year’s Ode, and an Invitation to Congress to send a Minister to London, I have seen no symptom of them for a long time.
        Your friend sincerely

          My Family joins with me in respects to Mrs: Jay.


Title: Ratification of the Second Dutch Loan, 1 February 1785
From: Lee, Richard Henry
To:

          Duplicate
          [1 February 1785]

        Be it remembered that the within Contract or engagement entered into by the Honourable John Adams Esquire Minister Plenipotentiary of the United states of America to their High Mightinesses the Lords—the States General of the United Netherlands, in behalf of the said states with Messieurs Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob Van Staphorst and de la Lande & Fynje and their Successors and assignees for a Loan of Two Millions of Guilders dated at the Hague, March the ninth 1784 hath been read in Congress, approved and ratified and declared obligatory on the United States of America.—
        Done in the City Hall in the City of New York by the United States in Congress assembled this first day of February in the Year

of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty five, and in the Ninth Year of our Sovereignty and Independence.—

          Richard Henry Lee. P.Cha Thomson secy: