Title: From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 3 August 1807
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

Dear Madam
Quincy August 3d 1807

In your third Volume page 169, you say that “on the twenty Second of April 1782, Mr. Adams was admitted at the Hague and with the Usual Ceremonies received as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America.” This mistake of a few days in Chronology is Scarcely worth a Remark, but I suppose you would wish to be correct. It was on the Nineteenth day of April, not the twenty Second.
In the 176 Page you quote an Author as Saying that “one more Such Revolution, (as ours is understood) would give Freedom to the World.” There has been one Revolution Since, and what kind of Freedom has it given to the World?
I have passed over a Passage which ought to have been noted in page 175. You say “The People have been divided between an Aristocratic and a Republican Party: the one influenced by their Attachment to the Statholder The other had is operated with the Interests of France.” It is not Surprising that an American Lady Should misunderstand and be misinformed in relation to the Government of Holland and the Temper Genius and Habits of the People, as well as their political Principles. But nothing can be more diametrically opposite to the Fact than your Representation of it. The Dutch Nation had no Idea of any Republic but an Aristocracy. The Aristocratic Party instead of being influenced by an Attachment to the Statholder were the only Persons who opposed him and finally drove him to Bois Le Duc. The People, as distinguished from the Aristocracy were almost universally his Friends, and attached to him as much as the People of France were to their King, or as the People of England were to theirs. It was the People, as contradistinguished from the Aristocracy who first established William the first Prince of orange. These People Supported Maurice and afterwards King William. These People have Supported the Sathouderat in all times. It was with the good Will and applause of this Same People think I attached to the Statholder and in opposition to the Aristocracy, that Barneveld was beheaded, Grotius imprisoned and banished to France, and the De Witts massacred. These were among the first of Mankind in Integrity Talent and Wisdom, yet they were Sacrificed as many Similar Characters are now in America to popular Prejudices and the falshoods and Slanders which Such Prejudices always engender and which Mrs Warren has manifestly countenanced encouraged and flattered in her History. This Same People instead of cooperating with the “Interests of France,” have always been in opposition to it, and always attached to the Statholder and the English Nation. Their affection for Us was chiefly partly because they considered Us as a part of the English Nation and partly because they thought We were contending against our oppressors as their Ancestors had done against Spain. The Cry of Liberty had a Charm in their Ears, but they knew not what American Liberty meant. They probably thought it was the Same as their own, thought they had none in reallity, that is no Political Liberty any more than the People of France. They had no legal or constitutional Mode of expressing their opinions or their Wishes or their feelings. And they never did express them but upon great and dangerous Emergencies and then only by Mobs, Riots, Uproars and Seditions. Had a Maurice or even a King William been Statholder when I was in Holland Mr. Vanberkel and your present Correspondent, might have experienced the Fate of De Witt’s for the Populace was on Tiptoe and wanted only a little more encouragement, to have proceeded to the last Extrmities.
I had many opportunities of observing the Sentiments of these People. I was present at Utrecht at the time of the Revolution of that Province.  These People had been wrought up to fury against the Aristocracy, and under the Conduct of a Scotch officer of their Army had demolished the old Aristocracy and chosen a New one by popular Election. Annual biennial or any other Elections limited by years, were either not thought of or could not be carried. I Saw the Ceremony of Inauguration And this Scotch officer was the Master of the Ceremonies and administered the Oaths. Every officer And every Magistrate of the new order was permanent was perpetual was for Life. The People could not trust themselves with Periodical Elections. Here then was a new Aristocracy instituted by the voluntary decree of the People with the Same Functions and Powers with that which they turned out by Force, and in which the People had no share, over which they had no Power and could have no Influence but by a fresh Uproar. When the King of Prussia came to the Aid of that Statholder, all these People flew over to his Side with rapture, and the whole Seven Provinces became as yellow as an orange.
I could relate Proofs enough of this, one I will mention more. The Baron Van Der Capellen De Poll, often complained to me, that the Patriots could do nothing with the People. He said they were haunted by the Demon of Aristocracy, in every Province City and Village. It entered into the Souls of every order of Citizens. He met with it and was resisted by it in every project he could invent. One instance in particular he related to me in detail. He went, he said upon Some Occasion to Amsterdam and took great Pains to Assemble the Merchants to deliberate upon some political Question in which the Commerce of that City was interested. He procured a general Meeting, and proposed Some Measures to be taken. He Strove to reason with them and convince them, and persuade them to put the Propositions to vote: No; the great Majority would have no Question put. They would appoint Three or four Men to manage the Business according to their Judgments. The Baron hoped the Committee would report to the assembly that their Results might be deliberated on and accepted or rejected by the assembly at large. No. The Cry was immediately general, if the Business was to be conducted and decided in a Croud they would have nothing to do with it. Accordingly a Small Committee was appointed, with full Power to do the whole at their discretion and the Assembly was immediately dissolved to meet no more. It is the Aristocracy which has always inclined to France. Barneveldt Grotius the De Witts were all of that Party and disposed rather to France than England. The French Ambassors, the French Court and Nation have always endeavoured to conciliate these, and consequently always in opposition to the Statholder and the People, both of whom have been always inclined to the English. It was the People in their Uproars who made the Statholdership permanent, first for Life and afterwards hereditary.
The Attachment of the People to the Statholdership appeared in a thousand Instances. The Capital Manufacturers, who were inclined to the Aristocracy And consequently to France, tried the Experiments with their Journeymen. Mr. Van Heukelem of Leyden the greatest Woolen Manufacturer I believe in the United Provinces,  who employed a great Number of Workmen told me, that the biggoted devotion to the orange Family among all the Artificers was astonishing, that he had gone among his own People and conversed familiarly with them, endeavoured to convince them that the Statholdership was unnecessary, that it was a restraint of their Liberty and the Republiick would be better without it. But he said he could make no impression. His Journeymen to a Man rejected all his insinuations, and declared to him, in plain Dutch language “Say or do what you Will You and your Friends, We will have a Statholder.” And they run out into long Histories of the Contests between the Regencies and the Statholder, in which they Shewed the Oppression of the People, and the disgrace of the State, when the Patriotic Party had prevailed, and the happiness of the People and prosperity of the State when the House of orange had prevailed in justification of their resolution, which Surprised him. He had no Idea he Said “that those People had so much Knowledge of the History of the Country.” This History, is very true, not withstanding the Splendid naval Actions under their Aristocracy in Some Periods.
One more Anecdote, which happened when I was in Holland, Shall be related. The Legislature passed and proclaimed a Placart, forbidding all Persons to wear orange Cockades. It was posted up in all public Places and published in all the usual forms of a Public Law. The Doyen of the Turf Lifters, immediately procured him a Monstrous orange Cockade, and wore it publicly every where in the Streets of the Hague in open defiance and Derision of the Legislature. Did this Legislature prosecute this Man? No. They dared not. Did the People hiss this Man? No. As far as they dared they Snickered and giggled, and were mightily pleased...There is a Sett of Men, called Turf Lifters because they carry Turf about the Cities for the Consumption of the Inhabitants, and being generally very Stout hardy and daring Men, are as much dreaded in popular Uproars as are the Butchers of Pensilvania. This Doyen was the oldest Man of this Class at the Hague, fourscore and upwards I believe; had been one of the Stoutest of them and famous for his feats on former occasions. In short he was Supposed to have the Body of the Turf Lifters as much at his Devotion as Mackintosh was once supposed to have a certain Class in Boston. What could the Legislature do? braved, disobeyed insulted to their Faces by a Turf Lifter! They dared not exert one Act of Authority. But a Caucus of their Chiefs after grave consultation and deliberation concluded to Send two of their most popular or rather least unpopular Members to treat with the Doyen. These Gentlemen took an opportunity to Send for him Secretly in an amicable Way. He appeared. They represented to him the Placart. I know it very well said the old Man. They represented to him his Conduct in disobedience of it.—Very true said the old Man and here is the hat with the Cockade in it. They then assumed an Air of Friendship, entreated him to consider the dangerous tendency of his Behaviour: that it would produce divisions, Quarrells, and perhaps Uproars. For all Riots Routs and Unlawfull assemblies, in the Laws of Holland are called Uproars. They used every argument which could influence his Reason or touch his Feelings. The old Man heard them all with a Solemn, Stern, immoveable Countenance, till they had exhausted their ingenuity, without uttering a Word. After they had ceased for Sometime, and a Solemn gloomy Pause on his Part, he raised his Arm on high and with his brawny enormous Fist, Struck upon the Table before them, a blow almost enough to Split the Board and roared out “There is no knowing how to live with you.” And here he ceased. The Gentlemen then began to enquire, Why? how? what is the matter? What hinders your Living with Us? or what part of our Conduct is it that you do not understand. Mention it and We will explain it, if We can. It was a long time before they could get any thing more from him: but at last he broke out again. “It is but So many years ago that you issued a Placart commanding all Persons to wear orange Cockades: now you Send out another forbidding all Persons to wear orange Cockades. There is no knowing where to find you.” The Gentlemen continued to reason, to soften to apologyze, without daring to threaten. At last the old Mans generous Feelings were wrought upon, and he expressed them in his own Way. Taking his Cockade out of his hat “Well,” Said he, “this once Il I will put you upon Tryal. I will wear the Orange Cockade no more: But remember this if you ever issue another Cockade Placart commanding Us to wear the orange Cockade, Dunder and Blixom Seize me if I obey you.” This is the vulgar Dutch oath, which is as Strong and horrid as any you can conceive in English. This which is a true History, shews the Distinctions of between Statholders and Aristocrats, and the People: and that the last are were unalterably attached to the first.
The “Republicanism” Madam of the People of the United Provinces, was Statholderism, or House of orangeism: and the Republicanism of the Regencies, was Aristocracy, unlimited by any Statholder on one Side or any People on the other.
Of The third Party you speak of, which embraced a System more free I know nothing. It existed not in my time. Mr. Cerisier, after I left the Country published a Book which he called Groundwettige Herstelling in which he recommended a Constitution in three Branches somewhat like that of England, as I have heard. I understood not enough of the Dutch to read it. And I have often heard the most zealous Friends of Liberty in Holland wish for the Constitution of England instead of their own. Other Third Party I know not. It must have been even more insignificant than our Third Party in America, who love their Country only without fawning Love or Servile fear either of France or England. The Aristocratic Party called in the French to Subdue the Statholder and the People, and the World has Seen their Reward. There were others, the most worthy Men in the Nation who wished for a good Understanding with all their Neighbours, without any Servile Attachments or Submission to any.
By what has been Said I think it is manifest that Either your Information or mine is extreamly erroneous. For Eight years, i.e. from 1780 to 1788 I was conversant in Holland and held a public Employment in it. Several years I lived constantly there. I read as much as I could of their History Policy and Government. I inquired diligently into the Character, Views, Principles and Habits of the Nation.
In the next Page Mrs Warrens Benevolence to Mr Adams is again displayed in a copious Stream of his her historical Eloquence. “Mr. Adams had never enjoyed himself so well, as while residing in the Dutch Republic.” I know not what foundation Mrs. Warren has for this observation. In holland I had a Fit of Sickness, the most Severe that I ever experienced and as dangerous as any Man ever passed through and lived. It left me debilitated both in Body and in Memory to a degree that I have never since recovered, and for two years after it I had Scarcely a day of good health. I was pursued into Holland by the Intrigues of Vergennes and Franklin at least as much as I ever had been in France, and was embarrassed and thwarted both in my negotiations for a Loan and in those of a political Nature by their Friends Agents and Spies, as much at least as I ever had been in France. I had found Friends, very ingenious and learned Friends in France as well as  in Holland. “His Genius was not altogether calculated for a Court Life, amidst the Conviviality and Gaiety of Parisian Taste.” The How does Mrs. Warren know this? Who is her Informer. I know of no source from whence she could draw it except the English Newspapers in which the American Refugees inserted a great deal of such coarse Stuff. Pray was the Genius of Franklin or Jay or Laurens or Jefferson better calculated? Do you think the Genius of Mr Morris, Mr Monroe, Mr Livingston or Mr. Armstrong better calculated? If you do, you know nothing of Franklin Jay, Laurens Morris, Monroe, Livingston or Armstrong. It was not the Genius of any of these that made them agreable or disagreable in France, but their Politicks and their Subserviency or Repugnancy to the Political Views of the French Minister. “In France he was never happy.” I declare this is false, and affirm that I was as happy in France as I ever was in my Life, excepting the last Seven years. “Not beloved by his venerable Colleague Doctor Franklin.” Would you advise me to publish and explain the reason and History of this? A Volume as large as one of yours might do it, and it may one day be done. At present I will give no other Answer to this observation than this. Mr Silas Deane was beloved, dearly beloved by his Venerable Colleage Doctor Franklin, and Mr Arthur Lee and Mr. Ralph Izzard most cordially hated. Thwarted by the Minister, the Count De Vergennes, he was; but never, untill he became an Ambassador for Peace and Commerce nor then untill he had been forced to give some broad hints that he never would consent to Sacrifice the Fisheries, and an hundred and Fifty millions of Acres of Land, and the Independence of his Country too to the Caprice of that Minister. My not being beloved by my Venerable Colleague, and my being thwarted by De Vergennes are the greatest Glories of my Life, and I shall rejoice in both to my last hour. Your Idols Mrs Warren will not have their Worship increased if you force me to expose them naked, “ridiculed by the fashionable and polite, as deficient in the Je ne Scai quoi so necessary in polished Society.” Franklin Jay Laurens, Jefferson, Morris Monroe Livingston and Armstrong I Suppose were not deficient in this Je ne Scay quoi. Mrs Warren, you have exposed yourself to eternal ridicule, by this very Lady like, I will not Say, Insinuation but assertion. No Man or Woman in France, ever ridiculed me, in my presence or within my hearing. I never was informed that any Person had ridiculed me behind my back. No Symptom of Ridicule ever appeared in print in any Journal, Pamplet or other publication in Print that ever came to my Knowledge. I was treated in France by all sorts of People from the Throne to the Foot stool with invariable respect and Kindness. When I returned from France in 1779 after having resided there about fifteen Months I brought with me the Kings full approbation of my Conduct Signified to me by his order in a Letter from the Count De Vergennes, and I have in my Possession authentic Proofs in Writing of the Esteem and respect of some of the most confidential Agents of the two Ministers De Sartine and De Vergennes. If the Labour were not too great I would send you Copies.
Nevertheless, I will not Say that I was not ridiculed in France. Was there a King or a Priest in Europe, or a Noble a Magistrate, who was not ridiculed? Was there a Saint an Angell or a God in Heaven, who was not ridiculed? Was there a faithful Husband, or a chaste Wife in France who was not ridiculed? I trow not. Was the Grand Franklin not ridiculed? I will relate to you two Anecdotes, which nothing but your History would have drawn from me. The Dutchess De Polignac, was a great Admirer of the Grand Franklin, for reasons which I could detail, from probable Conjecture, which would do no honor either to the Favourite or the Philosopher, But I forbear. The Dutchess, when in Company with the King and Queen, was always launching out in Panegyricks upon the Grand Franklin. The King Sometimes Smiled, Sometimes Snickered, but said very little. After sometime upon a Visit to the Royal Manufactory of Porcelaine at  Seve he gave Secret orders to have a Chamber Pot made of the finest materials and most exquisite Workmanship, with the most exact Portrait of the Grand Franklin painted on the Bottom of it, on the inside: and this most elegant Piece of Furniture for a Lady’s Bed Chamber, the King presented to the Dutchess with his own hand, that She might have the Satisfaction of contemplating the Image of her Great Philosopher and Politician whenever she had occasion to look at it. This fact I received from such Authority that I have no doubt of the Truth of it. But if it was a Fiction, it Shows in a very Strong Light the Ridicule that was thrown upon the American Ambassador by Somebody.
I dined at a Great House in Paris, in Company with Archbishops and Bishops, and many other Ecclesiastics, with Dukes Marquisses and Counts, and many Ladies. Dr Franklin too was one of the Company. I observed Something circulating from hand to hand round the Table, and very Shrewd Looks, Shruggs and Gesticulations with Some half Suppressed Tittering. Whether it was put into Franklins hand in its Course or not, I know not. I rather think not. It was carefully concealed from me. But after the Company rose from Table, two Abbe’s of my Acquaintance came to me, while the Company were drinking Coffee and shewed me the Picture which had circulated round the Table and made so much diversion. With all the Skill of the finest artists in Paris, America was represented as a Virgin naked and as beautifull any and graceful both in Face and Figure as the Venus of Medicis, and the grand Franklin, with his bald head, with his few long scattering straight hairs, in the Act of debauching her behind her back. Can you imagine any Ridicule more exquisite than this both upon America and Franklin? A Lady of fourscore cannot fail to blush at this, but she has forced it from me and brought it upon herself by her History...I expressed the Utmost disgust at this impudent insult upon us all. The Abbees Shrugged their Shoulders and said C’est une Pollisonerie francoise. It is a Piece of French Blackguardism...You may depend upon it, Madam, it required all the imposing Influence of the Government, the Accademicians and Œconomists, and even of the Atheists Deists and Philososphers, and it has since appeared that these last had more Influence than all the former, to keep Up the respect to the Grand Franklin. The Watchword had been given and every one of these Agreed Whenever he appeared, to say, with Solemn French Gravity “C’est un homme respectable!”. Without this his droll Appearance would have been the Sport of the Populace wherever he went, notwithstanding all his “Je ne scai quoi.”
It was the eternal Wrangles among my Colleagues and the Parties of Americans and french Small Folk who were attached to them; and the Injury and Ruin to our public affairs that were the Consequence of them, that occasioned all the Unhappiness I felt in France. But I had little less of this in Holland and should have had as much if I had been honoured with Colleagues. Who is, or who has been your Informer Mrs Warren?—He or they whoever they may be, were so deceived themselves or So determined to deceive you, that I declare to you all the Suggestions are false. I have no recollection that I ever had a dispute with any French Man or Woman in my whole Life, nor ever received an uncivil Word from or uttered one uncivil Word to any of them. Neither Frigidity or Warmth ever appeared to any of them. Certainly not Warmth. They have been Englishmen and Americans, and perhaps sometimes Dutch Men who have excited My Irritability, not French Men. Even Mr Brissot who has immortalised a transient Conversation between him and me at my House in Grosvenor Square in which he reports I believe truly that I Said I did not believe the French Nation capable of a Free Republican Government does not insinuate that there was the least Warmth. The whole Conversation passed in perfect good humour and entire Civility. He left me in Friendship and Sent me after his arrival in France a compleat Sett of his Works. The harshest Word that ever passed between me and any Frenchman that I recollect was this. The Duke De Liancourt on a Visit to me when Mr Jays Treaty with England was first ratified worked himself up into a Passion, and Spoke in very harsh Terms against the Treaty and the Government for ratifying of it. I heard him long without uttering a Word. At length his Language became so indecent that I thought it out of Character for me to hear it. I gravely but coolly said to him that I thought it unbecoming in him a Stranger treated as he had been every where with Uniform Hospitality and even Kindness to indulge himself in Such Expressions concerning the Government that protected him and a People who afforded him so good an Assylum. The Duke retorted upon me “Quand on a l’esprit de Party, on est pres de l’injustice.” “When a Man has a Spirit of Party, he is near the Confines of Injustice.” And here the warmth ended. Neither of Us every thought the worse of the other for this. I have had a sharp Contest or two with De Vergennes upon public Questions in Writing. He treated me ill and I return’d him huff for huff. But these Papers were laid before Congress in 1780 and 1781, and will speak for themselves. They were excited by a Scandalous Attempt of his to impose upon America, and I would not be the Instrument as he wanted to make me of his foolish and dishonest Trick. I had the Thanks of Congress for what he resented so highly, and their Vote of Thanks is on Record.
I cannot but admire the wonderful fluency and the dear delight with which those Soft Expressions “Not beloved” “thwarted,” “ridiculed,” “viewed with Jealousy” “hated” “Frigidity and Warmth” are rolled along by Mrs Warren and applied to her old Friend who has been all his lifetime more tender of her reputation and that of her Husband than his own. What have I done to deserve this?
“He there did little of Consequence”! I cannot Say that Mrs Warren knew any better: but I must Say she was altogether unqualified to write the History She has undertaken, if she did not. For the whole Time I was in the Commission, with Franklin and Lee, I did the whole Business of it. Luckily I have in my Possession, the original Letter Book of the Commissioners. It is a Folio and pretty full. Every Letter in it, but two, was written by my hand, And appears in my hand Writing. If Mrs Warren will make me a visit I will shew her this Book, one Copy of which I left with Franklin and another I Sent to Congress. Congress I believe thought there was Something of Consequence done and of difficulty too: otherwise they would not probably have sent me to Europe again to make Peace and that alone, and that with so much Unanimity. Through the whole of this Period, All the Public Papers were put into my hands I disposed of them as they required and wrote all the Answers to Letters and all other public Papers in my Book, had them copied fair by a Clerk and Mr Franklin and Mr Lee had nothing to do but come to my Appartement and Sign them. This was the daily course, except in cases where I thought there might be a difference of opinion among us, and then I consulted by my Colleagues first, and then drew the Papers According to the Sense of the Majority. I had afterwards a great deal to do, and I did it, in getting the Frigate Allyance fitt for Sea, in composing the almost War that existed between the Captain and his Purser  one side all his other officers and crew on the other, and in disposing of five and thirty Prisoners who had been arrested for Mutiny and a Plott to carry the Ship to England.
Under my Single Commission for Peace, I resided in France but a few Months from February to July I believe only. In that time I did Business enough, at the express desire of De Vergennes, to involve me in a Controversy with him about Paper Money, and to convince him of the inadmissibility of a Plan that he urged me to recommend to Congress, the most absurd unjust and ridiculous Suggestion that ever came into the head of a French Projector. It was No less than for Congress to distinguish Frenchmen from all other Nations and even from all our own American Citizens, by paying French Men for the paper Money in their hands or the hands of their Agents in Silver and Gold dollar for dollar, when We had resolved to pay to our own People only one for forty. I conducted that Controversy with perfect decorum, transmitted all the Papers Pro and Con to Congress and received from them a Vote of Thanks for my industrious attention to the Interest and Honour of my Country and especially in this Controversy with De Vergennes.
After I had been in Holland about a year, the Count De Vergennes desired to See me at Versailles to consult with me as the Sole Minister for Peace, concerning certain Propositions of the Emperor of Germany and the Empress of Russia, of a Meditation of the two Imperial Courts in order to bring forward a Peace among the Belligerent Powers among whom America was one. I went to Versailles accordingly and consulted with the Minister and Stated to him in Writing the Rules and Principles by which I should conduct the Negotiation. These were the same that were observed by Me and Mr Jay, when the final Negotiation came on.
I will now explain to you, Madam, the Want of Love to me in Franklin and the Hatred of Vergennes. Franklin, like many others, thought himself the Founder of the American Republick. He had been flattered both by Europe and America, till his head was turned. He thought himself injured because he was not appointed by Congress to conduct all their Negotiations in Europe. He has repeatedly told me that there was no need of more than one. De Vergennes was of the Same opinion and wished Franklin should be the Man, because he could manage him as he pleased. Disappointed in this he united with Deane against Lee and Izzard, in hopes of getting rid of all of them. Disappointed in this and finding me Sent to Europe he was more allarmed than ever. It was When Peace was contemplated it was the Expectation of Franklin to be appointed alone to negotiate it, and Vergennes wished and expected it too. But his Agents in America found that Franklin could not be carried, and I was elected allmost Unanimously to that exclusive Commission which they had destined for Franklin. This, as a demonstration that I possessed more of the Confidence of our Country than himself mortified Franklin and all his Friends beyond Expression. When Vergennes and Franklin found themselves disappointed in getting the Philosopher alone into the Commission for Peace, they sett themselves to intriguing with all their Engines, to get others associated with me: and this Point they could not carry without courting the Vanity of every Part of the Union. For this Part End five Commissioners were determined on John Adams Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson. By thus uniting the local Feelings of every Part of the Continent, they carried the new Arrangement. No Man on Earth rejoiced in this more than I did: and no Man had so much reason, for I had trembled under the Burthen of my Responsibility from the moment it had been imposed on my Shoulders. But the new Commission brought a real mortification to me. My Commission for Commerce was revoked, and none given to the five Commissioners for Peace. In this De Vergennes had compleatly carried his point. But both Franklin and Vergennes were excessively mortified in another Point. In Spight of all their Intrigues, they had not only failed in obtaining the Sole Power to Franklin, Congress had been So obstinate and disobedient as to give the first Place in the New Commission to John Adams. Here Madam you have the true Secret why Mr Adams was not beloved by Mr Franklin. Jealousy And Envy engender Malice and Revenge. Franklin found that John Adams possessed more of the Confidence of his Country than himself.
If you have ever Seen Mr Marbois famous intercepted Letter you can be at no loss for the Motive of De Vergennes dislike of me. Marbois had not dared to write that Letter, if he had not been previously instructed by Vergennes to oppose Us in our Claims to the Fisheries and out extended Boundaries. Marbois Conduct was directly contrary to all his Declarations to me in our Voyage together, even on the grand Bank of Newfoundland. He must therefore have found Instructions at Philadelphia contrary to his own opinion.
If you have Seen a Publication entitled Politique des Cabinets, which has been published by the late revolutionary Government, you must have Seen the clearest demonstration of every Thing I ever Suspected concerning the designs of Vergennes. There is a Memorial in it of Vergennes which lays open his whole Head and heart in relation to America. No wonder he did not like me, when he found me an inflexible and uncorruptible opposer of all his Plans, and especially that I thwarted, foiled defeated and compleatly defeated tryumphed over him in every one of his Projects, respecting Fisheries Boundaries Independence and every Thing a Treaty with Holland a Loan of Money and every Thing else, excepting the unfortunate Commission for Commerce with England: here he succeeded to the incalculable damage of America by the Timidity of Some and the Selfish Views of others in Congress. I know what I Say, in all these Points and could write an History of them, much more correct, Madam than yours.
After all I have no reason to think I was hated by a Single Courtier not even by Vergennes. I did Business with him often after all this in perfect good humour and politeness: dined frequently at his Table. My Integrity was acknowledged both by him and his Master to the last. Of this I have unquestionable Testimony.
I was not Summoned from the Hague, by Congress to assist in the important work of negotiating Peace. As I had been alone in the old Commission for Peace given me in 1779 and had communicated to Congress all my Proceedings, and was now placed at the head of the new Commission Congress knew that I should attend the Negotiation as Soon as it was proper. Congress indeed passed a Resolution enjoining on all their Commissioners to attend, but this was intended for Mr Jefferson and Mr Laurens. Mr Jefferson nevertheless never attended at all; and Mr Laurens not till the last Evening of the Conferences before the Signature of the Preliminary Articles, When he gave his Vote like a Man, upon the Article of The Fishery, and procured the Insertion of an Article concerning Slaves.
The Dutch Government never conceded to the Propriety of Assisting the United States by an Advance of Monies, as you Say in the 178 Page. Neither the States General nor the States of any Province, nor the Regency of any City ever interfered in the affair of Money. Nor did the affluent Merchants, or others in Possession of vast private property offer with So much allacrity, their handsome Loans. The great Capitalists were very timorous. Some of the most respectable had even refused to open a Loan for me. Mr John Hodgson was the only Millionary who would consent to accept even that Lucrative office. Some Houses of Small Capital, but good Credit were ready enough to Accept. I had infinite difficulty and perplexity with this Business, which would require too much time to devellope. At last the House of Wilhem and Jean Willink were persuaded to Unite with the Van Staphorts and De La Land & Finie and a Loan was opened with moderate but not Great Success at first. The Willinks were oppulent and had more oppulent Relations. I am Madam as in former Letters, Still your / Friend

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 8 August 1807
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

Dear Madam
Quincy August 8 1807

More demonstrations of your Friendship for Mr Adams appear in the 229 page of the third Volume. The Same disposition to wink him out of Sight, to represent him in an odious light, to lessen and degrade him below his Station, which runs through every part of your history in which he appears, is very visible here again.“Mr John Adams had left Holland and joined the Plenipotentiaries of the United States, previous to the Agreement, on Provisional Articles for Peace Signed November, (you should have known that it was the thirtieth) 1782.”
I was engaged in Holland in very diligent Service, in order to compleat a Treaty and negotiate a Loan. The Treaty was an unweildy Business. It must be conducted by me in English, and by a large Committee from all the Seven Provinces, in Dutch. When any Proposition was made by me it was in English, but it was expected and would have been insisted on, that the English Should be accompanied with a Translation into Dutch or French. There were Some Gentlemen, among the Dutch whose opinions must be consulted whose disposition was to retard rather than accellerate. When any Proposition was made by me, I must first write it in English then translate it or get it translated, then have it copied and Sent. When the answer or a Counter Proposition or Project came to me, it was in Dutch. I understood not enough of this Language to depend on my own Construction of it. Consequently must procure it to be translated into French or English. These Projects and Counter Projects and those Translations in various Languages occasioned a delay that was as pleasing to the English and Statholderian Party as it was irksome and inconvenient to me. The Maneuvres concerning the Loan in which I was “thwarted and embarrassed by the French as much as in the Treaty I was by the English Party.” The Points and Questions which were Started by these able Negotiators, gave me a great deal of Trouble and occasioned long delays. The Loan was of great Importance to my Country, and occasioned also much Trouble and delay. I was loth to leave these important Objects unfinished. On the other hand a Later Commission from the King of England appeared in Paris to treat of Peace: but no Notice was taken of America, except under the vague general Style of France Spain and any other States. a Copy of this was Sent to me. I wrote to my Colleages that I would treat with England under no Such Commission, that I would not leave the Business I was engaged in till a Commission should appear to treat with The United States of America as well as with France, Spain and Holland. Another Commission was Sent over to Paris and communicated to me, Still without an Acknowledgement of the United States America. I wrote again to my Colleagues, that I would not go to Paris to meet any Such Commission. It was trifling with Us. As Soon as a Commission should appear to treat with The United States of America, I would leave all my Engagements in Holland and fly to Paris but not before. At last a Commission to Mr Oswald appeared to treat with France the United States of America. The Moment I received it, I acquainted my Dutch Negotiators that our Treaty must be finished and Signed immediately or not at all, for my Presence was indispensible at Paris. The Treaty was immediately finished and signed, and I was in Paris as soon as post Horses could carry me. When I arrived in Paris nothing was done. Franklin would agree with Jay in nothing. Mr Jay had drawn up a Memorial to the French Minister, a very able Paper to convince him that We ought not to treat but with a Commission Acknowging The United States a belligerent Power. Franklin would not Sign it. Franklin and his Satellites insinuated about, that Mr Jay was a Lawyer, and addicted to disputation &c &c Immediately after my Arrival in Paris Mr Jay, communicated to me all that had passed, enumerated all his Embarrassments, stated to me the Principles on which he had acted: that Mr Franklin would agree with him in Nothing: that he had Sketched a Plan of a Treaty: but that nothing had been done and nothing discussed. I told him the Principles on which he had Acted were the Same on which I had insisted during the whole Time that I had been alone in the Commission that the Count de Vergennes knew it for I had communicated them to him in Writing at the time of the proposed Mediation of the two Imperial Courts: that I approved of every Step he had taken and that he might depend upon it, I would pursue the System to the End. The next day I went out to Passy and Spent Part of the Day with Dr Franklin. I wished to know his Sentiments: but not a Word could I get out of him. Solemn, frigid Silence on the Subject of our public affairs. Merry and pleasant enough about Trifles and Tittle Tattle. In the End I told him that I had conversed fully with Mr Jay, approved every Step he had taken, and Should proceed with him throughout upon the Same Principles which he knew I had always professed and maintained towards the French considering myself a Servant of a Nation totally independent of England, upon an equal Footing with her, and as independent of France as of England. The old Politician Said nothing: But when the first Conferences were opened, a Day or two after, he turned to his Colleagues and Said “I will go on with you, and treat without consulting the Court, and the rather because they communicate nothing to Us”.—All the Reason and Address of Mr Jay had never been able to bring him to this; but when he Saw that two could and would make a Treaty without him, he thought that would make an ill Sound in America and Europe too.
“He was no favourite of the officers and Administrators of the Gallican Court” What then? Was Mr Lee Mr Izzard or Mr Jay a favourite? They loved their Country better than France: So did I. No American Minister ever was a favourite but Mr Deane and Mr Franklin, and by this Time at least you know the reason of it. It was no more nor less than a Servile complyance with their Intrigues however absurd unjust and ruinous to the honor and Interest of America.
“His manners were not adapted to render him acceptable in that refined and polished Nation.” My Manners again! Why am I Singled out to be Stigmatised as a Clown? Because Mrs Warren had a particular Spight against me, the cause of which Shall be investigated in its proper Place. In the meantime I affirm that the Assertion is false. My Manners were as acceptable and as well accepted as those of any American who ever resided in France in a public Character.
Nor did he appear to have much partiality for, or confidence in them. He certainly never had any Partiality for them from his Cradle to this day. Had he indulged any Partiality for them in his public Station he would have violated his Duty and justly forfeited the Esteem of his Country. “Or confidence in them.” In the King he had the Utmost Confidence, believing him a Sincere cordial friend to America and desiring nothing but Justice and good faith for us and determined to Act with Justice, good faith and Generosity too towards. In the Count De Vergennes I had no Confidence at all believing him to be fixed in designs to deprive Us of our Fisheries and half our Territory to prevent our Connections with Spain Holland and all other Countries if he could that We might be made as dependent on France as possible, and to Sow the Seeds of eternal discord with England particulary by preventing a Treaty of Commerce between Us. That I was right in this belief is fully proved by a thousand facts: but Mr Marbois Letter and the Politique des Cabinets, has placed it beyond all doubt with the present Age and Posterity. You have Slided over Franklin in page 230 too Softly and Smoothly for an Impartial Historian. A feather often Shews which Way the Wind blows. An Exemplification of this light Proverb is in the 231 Page. “David Hartly Esqr on the Part of Great Britain, and Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams Esquires in behalf of America &c Signed the Treaty affixed their names and Seals to the Treaty” How could this historical Departure from all my Commissions, from our joint Commission and from the Treaty itself, have happened? You knew, or ought to have known before you attempted to write Such an History that I had been alone in the Commission for more than a Year before Mr Franklin or Mr Jay had any Thing to relation to it: that I had been employed in various Negotiations under it, in which I had established all the Principles upon which a Majority of the New Commission finally Acted. You knew that I was placed by my Sovereign at the head of the new Commission, that I acted as the head of it through all the Conferences and in the final conclusion Signed and Sealed it before all the other Ministers. Yet in your impartial History you are pleased to place both Franklin and Jay before me. This discovers Such a Want of Candour, Such a willfull departure from the most authentic documents of History, public Records: that I can Account for it only by a Spirit of inveterate Bitterness against me and a determined Resolution right or wrong to Strip me of all my Laurells You will Say no doubt this is “Sighing for Rank.” Very well: Say So Mrs Warren. Make the most of it. But I Say it is not Sighing for rank. You may call it boasting of rank with my more colour. But why Should not I blazon my Escutcheon as well as Mrs Warren, hers? But to be Sober I deny that it is boasting of Rank. Mrs Warren boasts that her Brother, (and consequently herself) was equal to any one in the  State, in Point of Birth. In the name of all Heraldry and all common Sense is not Birth, Rank, at least as much as Preceedency in a Procession? And yet your Co Patriots will contend for this as Sharply as the Apostles debated the question which Should be greatest.
In delineating the Character and painting the Complexion of this Transaction I would appeal to Thucidides Plutarch Livy or Tacitus whether this Circumstance was not essential to be remarked, to Shew the real Character of all my Colleagues of the Count de Vergennes and his Mirmedons, among whom were Deane and twenty others among whom was even Paul Jones, of Myself, and above all of Congress. The unbiased Judgment, the Spontaneous Volition, the natural Feeling and affection of Congress had Selected me from all the other Candidates to negotiate a Peace and Commerce alone. My Dispatches had almost daily arrived to them giving them an Account of every Step of my Progress, of my Passage in a Leaky Ship four and twenty days on the point of Sinking, of my Journey through Spain, which was worse than a Campaign in the field, of my Journey through France and my Conduct at Paris and Versailles of my Journey to Holland and all my Conduct there; after all this the Intrigues of De Vergennes and Franklin Deane and all his friends, and all the Influence of De La Luzerne and Marbois; could not carry Franklin nor Jay, Jefferson nor Laurens to the head of the new Commission. Jay had been President of Congress, Jefferson had been Governor of Virginia Laurens had been President of Congress, Franklin had been I never know what in Politicks, yet all these Interests could not carry any one to the head of this new Commission but John Adams. Congress, to their honour had then then the Integrity Candour and Fortitude to resist all Influence, and refuse to disgrace degrade or discourage a Man who had been the first Object of their Choice whose whole Conduct they approved, and who they knew had run the Gauntlett through burning Ploughshares, and Rank between ranks of Jannisaries armed with Scorpions, and reached the Goal without a Scar upon his foot or a Sting or Scar upon his back. Now Madam call this Vanity; call it Pride of Talent; or call it as Some of your French Friends call Such Things all moral Principle the “Vanity of human Virtue.” You are welcome Madam to make the Severest Use of it, in your Power. You knew, Madam and General Warren knew that at th in those times I had much more of the Confidence of Congress and of all the most intelligent and disinterested People in America who had any Access to the Secret of affairs, than Franklin. Congress had Seen Franklin and me together before them above a year i.e. from May 1775 to the Autumn of 1776. They had Seen me active and alert in every branch of Business, both in the House and on Committees, constantly proposing Measures, Supporting those I approved when moved by others, opposing Such as I disapproved, discussing and arguing on every question: on the contrary they had seen Franklin from day to day Sitting in Silence, a great part of his time fast asleep in his Chair. He was employed on Committees more in compliance with the Prejudices of the People in Europe and America, than for any Use he was of or any Service he performed. Congress had seen my Dispatches from Europe and compared them with those of Franklin. They had distinguished mine with high applause on many Occasions. Franklins never.
In Page 250 You Say that “in 1783 interested and ambitious Men endeavoured to confound Opinion Ideas, and darken Opinion, by asserting that Republicanism was a dark an indeffinite Term.” This is News to me. I thought my Enemies had agreed to impute all this to me. I was not here, and did not return till five Years afterwards. But whoever asserted it in 1783 I asserted in Print in 1786 and have frequently asserted it Since in Conversation and in Public: and I now most Solemnly repeat it; and You Mrs Warren and General Warren too know it to be true. Ask your Friend Mr Speaker Morton; ask any other Man of Sense and Learning of your Party throughout the Nation, and if he answers at all and has any regard to his Character, he must Say the Same Thing. Fraud lurks in generals. There is not a more unintelligible Word in the English Language than the Republicanism. Neither Yourself nor The General has ever condescended to commit yourselves to any Definition of it and I venture to Say you dare not attempt it to this hour. Do you mean by Republicanism a Government in a Single House of Representatives exercising all Legislative Executive and Judiciary Functions, without a Governor or Senate or permanent Judges? I presume to Say you dare not Say this. Do you mean a Mixed Government of a Senate and House without a Governor? I believe you will not Say this. Do you mean a Governor Senate House and Judges as they are in this State? If you do I agree with you in all your Republicanism. This is my Republicanism and I was the Father of it in this State in 1779. But if you agree to this now it is but very lately that you would avow it.
Your thirty first Chapter, Madam is like Mustard after Dinner as your our Friends the French Say; or like the volunteer Toast after a Feast, when the original List is exhausted. After the Termination of the Revolutionary War your Subject was compleated. I have no Objection however to follow you. The Same good Will to me appears in the Suppliment as in the Body of the Work. Not the least Notice is taken of my repeated Elections as Vice President, nor of a laborious discharge of the very arduous Duties of that office for Eight Years. Three Successive Elections, two as Vice President and one as President might have convinced you that the People did not believe, the falsehoods that were fabricated concerning my Monarchical or Aristocratical Biasses which you have So unjustly countenanced. Nay I presume to Say that the People do not believe them at this hour. No it was not untill twelve years has passed, and a ruthless Host of Liars and Libellers had been hired like mercinary Hessians and Anspachers to conquer America to propagate every Species of Slander in Newspapers, Pamphlets, Hand Bills and by Secret Spies Emissaries and Agents throughout the Union. And after all, Colonel Burr and Alexander Hamilton effected the Revolution. Do you glory in the Exploits of these virtuous Men and pure Republicans? Yes I know you do. But even these Heroes could not have affected it, if the Election of South Carolina had been held in Charlston. Though New York and Pensilvania had been turned by your Splendid determined Republicans Mr Burr and Mr McKean, I had an equal Number of Votes till you come to South Carolina—Shall I hint to you Madam, a few of the plausible Reports they propagated among the Germans in their own Language and among all the religious Sectaries thro the United States? They not only Spread the Splendid History of the Allyance between the two Royal Houses of Adams and Guelph, and a thousand other explanatory and corroboratory of that probable Invention but that President Adams was determined to take away their Lands and give them to the Yankees. Gentlemen of the best Characters have informed me, that in travelling the Back Parts of Pensylvania, they have heard a general mourning and Grief and Rage among the Germans, crying “What a dreadfull Man this President Adams is? We came here from Germany, many Years ago, We have laboured very hard night and day, We have got a little Land Some of Us more Some less, Some of Us three or four thousand Acres perhaps, by our Sweat, and now this cruel President Adams is going to take it all away from Us and give it to them New Englandmen.” Other Reports were Spread among the religious Men and Sects, not only the German Lutherans and the German Calvinits, but all other denominations through the Union Catholics, Protestant Episcopalians Methodists Moravians, Anabaptists Menonists, Quakers &c This was the decicive Stroke of that infernal Policy which decided the Election. Among all the Sources of my Information on this head, I will Select an Anecdote which will give you a clear Idea of it. When on my last Journey to Washington, I passed through York Town in Pennsilvania where more than twenty Years before I had Satt Some months in Congress, the People had been violently Agitated by electioneering Passions, I had Scarcely Satt down by the Fire Side at an Inn where I was to Sleep, before a German Clergyman Sent the Landlord to me to desire the Liberty of Speaking to me. I prayed the Landlord to introduce the Gentleman without Ceremony or a moments delay. Behold the Dialogue between Us. Domine “I am the Minister of a German Church. My poor People are honest but ignorant of the English Language and liable to be imposed on, by artful and designing Men. Many Persons have come among Us and many Papers in our Language have been Sent among Us. My poor People come to me to ask me what they shall do. I have long wished to see you, though a Stranger that I might tell you, what reports are sent among my poor Germans, and that I might ask you what truth there is in them. Adams. I thank you Sir for your candor and Frankness, please to mention the reports and I will answer to them with the Same Frankness and Candor. Minister. They report that you made the Constitution of Massachusetts and have had influence enough in that State to Establish the Presbyterian Religion, and make all other Sects of Christians pay Taxes for the Support of it. Adams I had a Share in the Convention that formed the Constitution, but I did not draw the Article respecting Religion, but that Article as it is obliges no Man to pay to the Support of any particular sect. Every Man is at Liberty to apply his Taxes to the Support of his own Church and Minister. Minister. Taxes however they are obliged to pay. Adams Taxes for Building Churches and Supporting Ministers, with Some limitations and exceptions that I am not certain that I remember they are obliged to pay. Minister. Well that is an Establishment of Christianity. This was Said with an Arch and Smiling Countenance, which I understood very well to mean I am very glad they have established Christianity, but I must not acknowledge it because my People have been taught to believe that any Establishment in Pensylvania, will be an Establishment of Scotch Presbyterianism. Adams. What other Reports Sir. Minister. A great many but foolish ones. I will mention one more. They Say that you belonged to Dr Priestleys Church in England, and used to Sett down to the Lords Table with him, after hearing him preach against the Divinity of Christ. Adams I never was in Dr Priestlys Church or Meeting: I never heard him preach against the Divinity of Christ and never received the Communion with him, as I remember. Minister you cannot conceive Sir how much distressed my poor Germans have been nor how much Anxiety and trouble I have had with them: but I am very glad to have seen you for now I can Speak from your own mouth.
This Idea was propagated through the Union, that I was a Presbyterian, that I was about to introduce an Establishment of Presbyterianism and compell all other denominations to pay Taxes to the Support of Presbyterian Ministers and Churches. And a kind of continental Synod or General Assembly of Presbyterians which was called at Philadelphia a little before this time, an Innovation that allarmed all but Presbyterians, contributed infinitely to countenance those Electioneering Manœuvres. Upon the Catholicks I have reason to believe they had Some Effect. Upon the Protestant Episcopalians they had little or none: for these had received too much countenance and assistance from me in Holland, and England for them to believe that I was a biggotted Presbyterian, or that I would promote any Establishment that would do Injustice to them or any other denomination. With the Baptists Quakers Methodists and Moravians as well as the Dutch and German Lutherans and Calvinists it had an immense Effect and turned them in such Numbers as decided the Election. They said Let Us have an Atheist or Deist or any Thing rather than an Establishment of Presbyterianism.
My next Anecdote is not So grave. It was propagated far and wide and as I have been well informed, believed by Thousands of Voters in the Southern States, that I had written to General Pinckney when he was in Europe to go to England and bring over with him four of the prettyest Girls he could find there and bring them over with him two of them for my use and the other two for his. But after I had entertaind them for Some time, I found I was grown old and did not want them. Therefore I borrowed Money at Eight Per Cent to pay them for their Services to pay their Passages back to England, and Sett them Up in comfortable Circumstances there!
These are the Principles, Motives and Artifices that influence our Elections, Madam. Of what avail is Virtue Talents Services in Such Scenes of Corruption? What is this better, than purchasing Votes with Money? When a Nation is So nearly divided that the Majority may be decided by a few Thousands, a few hundreds, or Sometimes even by a Single Vote: and this Vote or this hundred or this thousand Votes can be obtained by Such fabrications as these, bad Men will be always Sure of their Elections because they will employ them such means without Scruple, while good Men will despize and abhor them. There a are Scattered in various Parts of your History, Madam, insinuations about Tittles and a titled Nobility, & which I Supposed were intended as Sarcasms upon me.
I arrived from Europe on the 17th of June 1788, Soon after the Adoption of the National Constitution, by the State of Massachusetts. A Title to be given to the President, when he should be chosen and the Government come into operation, was a common Topick of conversation. The first Person Whether it should be excellency or any higher Tittle. The first Person that I remember to have heard propose a Title was our present Governor Mr Sullivan. He Said “when Congress Should come together they would have nothing to do, (Such was the form of his Expression) but to give the President the Title of ‘His most Patriotic Majesty.’” After Congress were together and Washington had arrived, and before his Inauguration, I was informed that your Correspondent Mrs Montgomery, had in a Party of Ladies and Gentleman taken the lead and given to the President the Title of Highne His Highness. After all this the two Houses of Congress resolved that the President Should be received in the Senate Chamber by the Vice President. I arose from the Chair and respectfully asked the direction of the Senate, by what Style I should address him? by the Title of Sir, your Honour your Excellency, or any other? A Senator arose and moved that a Committee Should be appointed to consider what Title Should be affixed to the office. Mr Richard Henry Lee I think was Chairman of the Committee and he drew the Report made it to the House and it was accepted by a large Majority among whom were Mr Lee himself and Several others as determined Republicans as any in the United States or in the World. The Report gave the Title of His Highness to the President. It was Sent down to the House. There the Members were more equally divided. Mr Madison was in doubt what was best to be done. The repulsive force began to be felt between Madison and Hamilton. They had acted contended and wrote in concert hitherto in the formation recommendation and Adoption of the national Constitution. The Moment was now Arrived when they must divide. Washington should have appointed Madison Secretary of State when he appointed Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury. This would have continued the Harmony between them. Madison visited Washington to know his Sentiments. I knew his Sentiments before.   He had conversed with me before on the Subject And I know that his opinion was in favour of a Title. I know not all that passed between Washington and Madison because I was not present; but this I believe to be the Truth from Information that I ought to credit. Washington was far from expressing any disapprobation of a Title; So far that he thought a decent Tittle to the Office to be useful and proper but he wanted no Title himself and was convinced from what he heard and read in Conversation and read in the public Papers, that if the Title of Highness was given it would excite such a popular Clamour, that Congress would either be obliged to rescind it or it would produce Such a prejudice against the National Government as would do more harm than good. Mr Madison! Am I right in this? I appeal to you. If you contradict me, I will give it up.—Mrs Warren! If my Country men choose to distinguish themselves from all other Nations in Trifles while they are imitating them in essentials, I will not quarrell. If they would be pleased to pass a Law that all Majistrates, Justices Judges, Senators, Governors Vice Presidents and Presidents Shall be Thee-ed and Thoued as William Penn addressed King Charles and King James I acquiesce. I have nothing to Say against obedience to their Sovereign Will. But I will Say that my Obedience is implicit and not voluntary. My Opinion is unaltered. My opinion is that Titles of Office are useful in this Country, in order to distinguish Grades and facilite Subordination. Titles of office are very different from Titles of Nobility. Titles of office are not hereditary. Nor are they for Life unless by Curtesy, rather than Custom, at least in our Country. The Title of your Worship or your Honour, or your Excellency is no Mark of an hereditary Nobility in any Country, certainly not in this, any more than the Title of Colonel or Major General. The Title of Excellency is given in Europe to Ambassadors, Commanders in Chief of Armies or Fleets, to Governors of Provinces &c &c &c but none of these are hereditary. Excellency Honor established by the Constitution of Massachusetts and even by Law in Connecticutt are not hereditary Titles—Nevertheless I Say go on my dear Countrymen, with the Style of John Ad George Washington John Adams Tom. Jefferson, Jemmy Sullivan, for your Presidents, Vice Presidents and Governors if you will. But I will Say to you that in my humble private opinion, your Liberties will not be secured, nor your happiness promoted either by Quakerism or Clownism. Imitate the Quakers in their Virtues not their Oddities. After all there is not a Country under Heaven in which Titles are mo and Preceedency are more eagerly coveted than in this Country. The Title of Excellency and Honor and Worship, of Councillor Senator Speaker, Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lt Coll, Major, Captain Lieutenant Ensign Sergeant Corporal and even Drummer and Fifer, are sought with as furious Zeal as that of Earl Marquis or Duke in any other Country. And as many Intrigues and as much Corruption in many Cases are used to obtain them.
It was my Intention when I began these Letters, Mrs Warren to have avoided any observations at present on any Parts of your History but Such as have an immediate relation to myself. Indeed I shall not depart entirely from this rule in Saying Something of Mr Dana. He was appointed Secretary of Legation to my first Commissions to degotiate Peace and Commerce, with great Britain. His Birth his Education, his Connections, his Information, his Talents his Services as a Member of Congress, were Such Such, and the Friendship which had Subsisted for many Years between me and his Father and his Unckle Judge Trowbridge, and himself had been Such that I thought myself honoured by his appointment and Connection with me. An uninterrupted Harmony And Friendship was maintained between Us, during the whole time We were together in France and in Holland and after We were Separated by Congress and he was Sent to Russia.
In the Pages 301. 2. 3. 4. and 5 of your Second Volume you have taken Notice of this Gentleman, in a manner that shews your want of information as much well as Impartiality. You Say that the Empress of Russia only among the European Nations, refused peremptorily to receive any Minister at her Court, under the Authority of the Congress of the United States of America. The Truth is that every Power but France had refused. Spain had refused, The Empress of Germany had refused, the King of Prussia had once promised but afterwards refused, The Grand Duke of Tuscany had refused. Holland had refused in reality. In Short every Power of Europe to whom overtures had been made had refused. How then, in order to throw a Slurr upon Mr Dana could you make this Assertion? “She did not even deign to See the Person Sent on by Congress.” Did the King of Spain deign to See Mr Lee? Did the Empress of Germany deign to See Mr William Lee? Did the grand Duke of Tuscany deign to see Mr Izzard? Did the States General of the United Provinces deign to See me, till they had explicitly acknowledged the Independence of America? Did the King of France deign to See Mr Deane Mr Arthur Lee, or even Dr Franklin till a Treaty had been Signed by his Ministers? No, from December 1776 to February 1778, the Grand Franklin was obliged to Skulk about in obscurity in Paris: never admitted to the Presence of the King Queen or any branch of the Royal Family, nor to any of the Ministers of State unless privately and in Secret: and in truth very often under trepidations least he should be finally obliged to fly the Country? Inquire Madam if you please of the Secretary of this Common Wealth, Mr Jonathan Loring Austin.
Mrs Warren Should have known more of the Law of Nations, the Policy of Governments and the Ettiquette of Courts before She hazarded assertions So dogmatically and indeed before She attempted to write History. She Should have know more of the Facts in this case. The Empress of Russia and the Roman Emperor, had offered their Mediation to France England and Spain in order to terminate the War, and decide the Questions between them, particularly whether the United States of America were or ought to be British Subjects or an independent State! That I may not mistake or misremember any Circumstance, I will Send you a Copy of the following Letters, and minutes made at the Time, while I was Still alone in the Commission for Peace.
Versailles July 7. 1781. Hotel de Jouy.
Sir
I have the Honour to inform your Excellency, that, upon an Intimation from you, Signified to me by Mr Beringer, And Afterwards by the Duke de la Vauguion, that the Interests of the United States required me here, I arrived last night in Paris and am come to day to Versailles, to pay my respects to your Excellency and receive your farther communications. As your Excellency was in Council, when I had the Honour to call at your office, and as it is very possible that Some other day may be more agreable I have the honour to request you to appoint the time which will be most convenient for me to wait on you. I have the Honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant
John Adams
His Excellency the Comte De Vergennes.
This Letter I Sent by my Servant, who, waited untill the Comte descended from the Council, when he delivered it into his hand. He broke the Seal, read the Letter and Said “He was Sorry he could not See Mr Adams, but he was obliged to go into the Country immediately after dinner, but that Mr Adams Seroit dans le cas, de voir Mr De Raineval (his first Under Secretary of State) who lived at Such a Sign in the Rüe St. Honoré”. After dinner I called on Mr De Rayneval who Said “M. Le Duke de la Vauguion has informed you, that there is a Question of Pacification, under the mediation of the Emperor of Germany and the Empress of Russia, and it was necessary that you Should have Some consultations, at leisure (a loisir) with the Comte De Vergennes, that We might understand each others Views. That he would See the Comte tomorrow morning and write me, when he would meet me. That they had not changed their Principles nor their System: that the Treaties were the foundation of all Negotiation.” I Said that I lodged at the Hotel De Valois, where I did formerly: that I Should be ready to wait on the Comte, when it would be agreable to him, and to confer with him upon every thing relative to any Propositions which the English might have made. He Said the English had not made any Propositions, but it was necessary to consider certain Points and make certain preparatory Arrangements, to know whether We were British Subjects, or in what light We were to be considered—I Said I was not a British Subject: that I had renounced that Character many years ago, forever, and that I Should rather be a Fugitive in China or Malabar, than ever reassume that Character—He repeated that he would See the Comte in the Morning and write me, when he would meet me.
You may easily Suppose Madam, that I was allarmed, when I heard From the Representative of the Comte De Vergennes, that it was Still a question with him whether We were British Subjects, when We had declared five years before that We were not, and When the King of France, at least a Year and a half before had Solemnly Stipulated that We were not, and that We never Should be. However as Mr Rayneval had recognized their Principles their System and their Treaties, I had little Apprehension from the French. But I was more Startled to find that the two Imperial Courts were about to make a question both about the Effect of our Declaration of Independence and our Treaties with France. Mr Rayneval, according to his Promise wrote me and I returned him this answer
Paris 9. July 1781
Sir
I have this moment the Honour of your Billet of this days date: and will do myself the Honour to wait on his Excellency the Comte De Vergennes at his office, on Wednesday next at nine O Clock in the Morning according to his desire. I have the Honour to be, with much Esteem Sir your humble and obedient Servant
John Adams
Mr  Rayneval.
I went to Versailles and waited on the Comte Accordingly. Mr Rayneval was present. Every Thing was conducted with perfect good humour and politeness. There was however a visible perplexity in the Comtes mind. At Sometimes he Seemed resolved to Shew me all the Propositions of the two Imperial Courts, at other times he Seemed to think that I ought to See only that or part of that which related to America. When he had Shewn me what he thought proper, I perceived what the Points were which he wished me to consider. 1. Whether I would go to the Congress at Vienna when the two Imperial Courts were to mediate or Sit as Umpires. 2. Whether I would appear there as a British Subject or in a doubtful Character to be decided by the Umpires? 3. Whether I would consent to the meeting of Such a Congress whether I was to be in it or not? 4. Whether I would consent to the Mediation or Umpirage of the two Imperial Courts. In Language the most temperate and measured both in Conversation both and by Several Letters, I explained myself to the Comte. That I would go to Vienna, if the Comte De Vergennes Should advize me to Such a Journey. That I could not appear there as a British Subject, nor in an equivocal Character. That I could not consent to any Congress unless I was to be admitted in it as a Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States and an independent Sovereignty. That I could consent to no Mediation or Umpirage, untill the Independence of my Country was acknowledged by Great Britain as well as by the two Imperial Courts, and by all other Courts whose Ambassadors were to be admitted to the Congress. That I could enter into no Conferences or Explanations with any Minister from any Power, untill that Minister had Shewn me a Full Power to treat with the Minister of the United States of America and exchanged Copies of Full Powers with me. To detail all our Conversations and Conferences upon these Points and Send you Copies of my Letters to the Comte upon this occasion would be too tedious and is unnecessary. These were the Principles on which Mr Jay and I insisted fifteen Months afterwards untill a Full Power arrived to Mr oswald exactly in the form that We contended for, after two Attempts had been made to evade Us, and two Commissions which We reprobated Sent back to England: Though the Comte de Vergennes would feign have had Us treat under them and Dr Franklin united with the Count De Vergennes. This Madam will be Sufficient I hope to explain to you the Principle on which the Empress Katharine Acted in refusing to receive Mr Dana. She could not have received him and been consistent with herself. Mr Dana however was uniformly treated in that Country with personal respect and Civility, and was promised to be received in his public Character as Soon as England Should acknowledge the Independence of America, and was upon the Point of being received and of making a Treaty when Suddenly the Intrigues of Vergennes and Franklin with the Members of Congress effected his recall. In Short to consider the Conduct of Vergennes and Franklin, from first to last, it would seem as if the former had Sworn an eternal Seperation between Aamerica and all Europe except France, and the latter eternal hatred against every virtuous Man and faithfull servant of his Country.
Mr Dana was placed in no more “unpleasant Predicament, than every American Minister in Europe, had been placed in every other Country, even in France. Instead of being ‘at a Loss’ what further Steps to take” Mr Dana was at no loss at all. He knew that he had nothing more to do but to wait, till Great Britain had acknowledged our Independence, and instead of returning to America voluntarily, he did not give up his fair Prospect of Success in his Embassy till he was recalled by Congress, for the ill Will of Vergennes and Franklin had not been able to Starve him out, as they intended. He had now a Friend in me, and a Resource in my Resources in Holland.
The Note at the Bottom of this Page Mrs Warren, makes me blush for you. The Scandalous Chronicle Says that the Grand Autocratrice, had “an Animal Weakness” as a great Lady of my Acquaintance once expressed it to me. That She had Sometimes conversed with Strangers, from other Motives than Curiosity or Policy: but not publickly. She had never that We hear or read of Acknowledged the Independence of a new Nation for the Sake of Such Interviews. I blush for my Country too. A certain Native of America, who had been as he thought a Great Man in Europe, and who thought himself and was thought by Some others to be the m handsomest Man in the World both in Face and Figure, as well as the Man of the most polished manners and irresistable Address. This Gentleman made a Voyage or a Journey or both to Petersbourg, in hopes of obtaining an Audience of the Autocratrice, for the benefit of his Country. But the Lady was as cold as Marble. Neither the Face nor the figure nor the Address could procure a Glance or an Ogle from her. There is in this page Madam, a manifest Allusion, though coloured and covered with too much Art for an Historian, to what, I am as much ashamed as you to explain. Mr Dana I presume was not mortified that his Face Figure and Address, did not procure him Such an Audience. Besides it is generally Understood that the Empress was too much of a Statesman to be influenced in Politicks by such Audiences and Interviews. She too much resembled her Great Example Elizabeth of England.
In page 302 You Say it was doubted by many whether Mr Dana was “qualified,” though “an Attorney of Emminence”. Why an Attorney? Why not a Barrister? “He had neither the Address, the Penetration, the Knowledge of Courts, or the human Character, necessary for a Negotiator,” &c. Who, in the Name of Astonishment in all America at that time had a Knowledge of Courts? Franklin alone had resided in England as a despized and Scorned Agent at the Court of St. James’s.
In Address, and good Breeding he was excelled by very few Americans. In France and in Holland, where he lived with me I know, that his Manners Address, Learning Knowledge and good Sense was were acknowledged by all who conversed with him. If by Address you mean graceful Attitudes and elegant Motions and Gestures, he had received as Genteel an Education as any Man in America—if you mean a civil and polite Conversation, he was at least equal to any American then in Europe.
“It requires Equanimity of Temper and true Greatness of Soul, to command and or retain the respect of Great Statesmen and Politicians”. Where did Mrs Warren learn this great Mystery? Has Mrs Warren been in Courts? and acquainted with Great Statesmen? When? Where?—Oxenstiern, who had been acquainted, said to his Son “Go and See, by what kind of Men this World is governed” But if Equanimity of Temper, and Greatness of Soul, were necessary, Mr Dana had them in all his Negotiations and Public Transactions in Europe, as far as I knew or ever heard, in as great a degree as any Man. Indeed the Diplomatick Corps, and Ministers of State in Europe are Generally Men of So much good humour and good Breeding, that one has no provocation or excuse for being otherwise with them. Even when Some of them endeavour to cheat you, they do it with an eternal Civility.
I am weary and ashamed of commenting on this monstrous Perversion of Truth and Decorum, in this bitter Satyr upon a Gentleman who is now living, in Retirement, after having filled the Office of Chief Justice of the State of Massachusetts for, I believe Eighteen Year, after his return from Europe. In the Science of Jurisprudence, and in general Information, he was unquestionably equal to any Chief Justice who had ever Satt upon that State Seat. The Purity Integrity and Impartiality of his Administration has never been impeached or questioned even by his Enemies. It is therefore highly reprehensible in any Woman or Man in the World, to publish Such an envenomed Satyr under the Grave Title of an History.
Still in hopes of receiving Justice and Some reasonable / Satisfaction for the Injuries you have done me, I still / Subscribe myself your Friend

John Adams


Title: From John Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 15 August 1807
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, Mercy Otis

No. 9.
Dear Madam
Quincy August 15, 1807

In order to give you all the Authentic Documents necessary to explain the Remarks I have made upon your History, I have omitted to give you Copies of one or two Commissions which I intended to have transcribed in their Places. One of them is in these Words.
The United States of America in Congress assembled
To all to whom these Presents Shall come Send Greeting.
Whereas these United States, from a Sincere desire of putting an End to the Hostilities between his Most Christian Majesty and these United States on the one part, and his Britannic Majesty on the other, and of terminating the Same by a Peace founded on Such Solid and equitable Principles as reasonably to promise a Permanency of the Blessings of Peace Tranquility, did heretofore appoint the honble. John Adams, late a Commissioner of the United States of America at the Court of Versailles, late Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts and chief Justice of the Said State, their Minister Plenipotentiary, with Full Powers, general and Special to Act in that quality, to confer, treat, agree and conclude, with the Ambassaors or Plenipotentiaries of his Most Christian Majesty and of his Britannic Majesty and those of any other Princes or States whom it may might concern, relating to the re-establishment of Peace and Friendship; and whereas the Flames of War have Since that time been extended, and other Nations and States are involved therein: Now know Ye, that We Still continuing earnestly desirous, as far as depends upon Us, to put a Stop to the Effusion of Blood, and to convince the Powers of Europe, that We wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate the War by a Safe and honourable peace, have thought proper to remove the Powers formerly given to the Said John Adams and to join four other Persons in Commission with him, and having full Confidence in the Integrity, prudence and Ability of the honble. Benjamin Franklin, our Minister Plenipoteniary at the Court of Versailles, and the honble. John Jay late President of Congress and Chief Justice of the State of New york, and our Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid and the honble. Henry Laurens formerly President of Congress and Commissionated and Sent, as our Agent to the United Provinces of the Low Countries, and the honble. Thomas Jefferson Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, have nominated, constituted and appointed and by these Presents do nominate, constitute and appoint, the said Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson in Addition to the Said John Adams, giving and granting to them the Said John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson, or the Majority of them, or of Such of them as may assemble, or in case of the Death Absence, Indisposition or other impediment of the others, to any one of them, Full Power and Authority general and Special, conjunctly and Seperately and general and Special command to repair to Such Place as may be fixed upon for opening Negotiations for Peace, and there, for Us, and in our name, to confer, treat, agre and conclude, with the Ambassadors, Commissioners and Plenipotentiaries, of the Princes and States, whom it may concern vested with equal Powers relating to the Establishment of Peace, and whatsoever Shall be agreed and concluded for Us and in our name to Sign and thereupon to make a Treaty or Treaties, and to transact every Thing that may be necessary for compleating Securing and Strengthening the great Work of Pacification, in as ample form and with the Same effect, as if We were personally present and Acted therein, hereby promising in good Faith, that We will accept, ratify, fulfill and execute what ever Shall be agreed, concluded and Signed by our Said Ministers Plenipotentiary or a Majority of them, or of Such of them as may assemble or in case of the death, Absence, indisposition or other impediment of the others, by any one of them, and that We will never Act, nor Suffer any Person to Act contrary to the Same, in whole or in any Part. In Witness whereof We have caused these Presents to be Signed by our President and Sealed with his Seal. Done at Philadelphia, the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one, and in the fifth Year of our Independence by the United States in Congress assembled.
Sam. Huntington, and a Seal Attest Cha Thomson Secy.
Another Commission given the Same day is as follows
The United States of America
To all to whom these Presents Shall ComeGreeting.
Whereas his Most Christian Majesty, our great and beloved Friend and Ally, hath informed Us, by his Minister Plenipotentiary, whom he hath appointed to reside near Us, that their Imperial Majesties, the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany, actuated by Sentiments of Humanity and a desire to put a Stop to the Calamities of War, have offered their Mediation to the belligerent Powers, in order to promote Peace, Now know ye that We desirous, of as far as depends upon Us, to put a Stop to the Effusion of Blood and convince all the Powers of Europe, that We wish for nothing more ardently than to terminate the War by a Safe and honourable Peace, relying on the Justice of our Cause and persuaded of the Wisdom and Equity of their Imperial Majesties, who have so Generously interposed their good offices for promoting so Salutary a Measure have constituted and Appointed and by these Presents do constitute and appoint, our trusty and Well beloved the Honble. John Adams late a Delegate in Congress from the State of Massachusetts, the Honble Benjamin Franklin our Minister at the Court of France, the Honble. John Jay late President of Congress and now our Minister at the Court of Madrid, the Honble Henry Laurens formerly President of Congress and commissioned and Sent as our Agent to the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and the Honble. Thomas Jefferson Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, our Ministers Plenipotentiary, Giving and Granting to them or Such of them as Shall assemble or in case of the Death, Absence Indisposition or other Impediment of the others to any one of them Full Power and Authority in our Name, and on our Behalf in Concurrence with his Most Christian Majesty to accept in due Form the Mediation of their Imperial Majesties, the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany. In Testimony whereof We have caused these Presents to be Signed by our President and Sealed with his Seal.
Done at Philadelphia this fifteenth day of June in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one and in the fifth year of our Independence, By the United States in Congress assembled
Sam Huntington President and a Seal
Attest Cha Thomson Secy.
This Commission, I think is full Proof that Mr Laurens never had any other Commission or Credential in Holland except that of Agent to negotiate a Loan: because when they were assembling his Titles to do him honor in the Commission for Peace they would not have Suppressed a Superiour Title and inserted an Inferiour. This however was a Circumstance of little Consequence.
Soon after the Peace of the third of September 1783 I wrote to my Friends in Congress, particularly to Mr Gerry, that it was my Wish to return to America, but if Congress had any other Services for me in Europe they must send me my Family, for I was determined at all Events never to live another year in a State of Seperation from them. In 1784 Mr Jefferson, was a Member of Congress, and now, after having twice refused; the World being at Peace, and no British Men of War to fear Mr Jefferson conceived a fancy to go to Europe. Accordingly, as Mr Robt Morris informed me, he conceived a curious Plan of negotiating Treaties of Commerce with all the World. Fifteen Commissions were accordingly issued to John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to treat with France, England, and every other European Nation and all the Barbary Powers. Mr Jefferson came over to France with these Commissions, with Colonel Humphreys as a Secretary of Legation to all of them and I was Summoned from Holland to Paris to attend then. At the Same time, my dearly beloved Heroine had embarked with her Daughter and two Servants and arrived in England. In 24 hours to I arranged all my Papers took leave of the States General and Prince of orange and Satt out for London, where I met my two Angels and immediately went on to Paris, where We resided together about a year before I was ordered to the Court of St James’s. I have stated these minute Circumstances, that you might have a distinct View of my Residences in France. In 1778 and 1779 I was there about fifteen Months, during all which time I was treated with invariable respect and Esteem by the Court and City and Nation as far as I Saw it and I have now by me original Papers and Letters, expressing the Esteem of the King his Ministers and even the little Subordinate Agents of Ministers Some of whom I had thwarted in their little peculating Projects. From february 1780 to July 1780 I was in Paris again. Then I was invariably treated with Esteem and respect even by the Comte de Vergennes, notwithstanding a keen dispute in which he had officiously involved me respected certain public Questions which is on Record and I am not affraid to Submit to Posterity nor even to the Party poisoned present Age. I was only three Weeks in France in 1781 on the affair of the Mediation of the two Imperial Courts, and all that time I was treated with Universal Respect. I had no more to do in France, till I met Mr Franklin and Mr Jefferson in our fifteen new Commissions. I resided at Auteuil, near Paris little more than a Year under those, during all which time all Animosity between Mr De Vergennes and me Subsided. I attended the Levee of the King and his Minister, dined weekly with the latter, with the other Ambassadors and was treated with as much Civility as any of them. In 1785 I was ordered to England. Where then is the Ridicule and Hatred which Mrs Warren has taken so much delight to record, either from her own Imagination or from the Information of some Worthless Tatler, I know not who.
I have been earnestly solicited, Madam, by Gentlemen in various States to write Memoirs of my own Life, and for this reason because no other Person ever can write them. I am too old to hope for time to go through such a Work, which must necessarily be very voluminous, however insignificant it may be, but Suppose I should undertake it. I must relate many Things concerning, your Family. Suppose I should imitate your Example, and say Colonel Otis of Barnstable, was implicated by a large Portion of his Fellow Citizens, in this that and the other Thing which I have often heard of him. Suppose I should say Mr James Otis of Boston was implicated in all that I have heard and read of him. Suppose I Should Say General James Warren was implicated in all that I have heard of him during and Since the Revolutionary War. Suppose I Should Say of Mrs Warren herself all that I have heard of her, and Say She was implicated in them by a large Portion of her Fellow Citizens male and female. Suppose I should write all this, without inserting any refutation of any part of it or Suggesting any doubt of its Truth. I will go no farther at present. I turn with disgust from the Odious Idea. But I ask you how Such a Work would affect your Feelings? and what Judgment you would form of it, if it were published in Print in your own Time?
Since your History has been public I have been informed by Evidence which you cannot contest, that when Sometimes I have had Friends at your Table who have drank my health in a Toast General Warren yourself and the whole Family, instead of accepting the Toast have all drank the King of Great Britain. This no doubt was intended as an Heroic Avowal of your candid belief of my Corruption in Great Britain.!!!
Mrs. Warren it is my opinion and that of all others of any long experience that I have conversed with that your History, has been written to the Taste of the Nineteenth Century and accommodated to gratify the Passions Prejudices and Feelings of the Party who are now predominant. The Characters are not Such as you esteemed them in the times when they Acted, but Such as will please the present fashion. The Great Thuanus appealed to God for the Truth of his Histories: can Mrs. Warren imitate his Example? History ought to be written in no other manner.
In a former Letter I hinted that I might attempt to conjecture the Motives which had turned changed Mrs Warren from a Friend to a bitter Enemy to me. I have much to say on this head of a personal Nature. I know of nothing to say of a public nature. But at present I will mention only An Intrigue of a Party Complexion. I have been informed that when Mr Jefferson was Secretary of State there was a Meeting of the Antifederalists at Boston who agreed to write to Mr Jefferson and engage him to reserve himself for a Candidate for the next elections of President, and promised to Support him in opposition to me and all others. I was accordingly to be run down and turned out. Since that Time the Warren Family have countenanced Some of the Worst if not all the Calumnies which have been circulated against me.
Mrs. Warren! The Scottish Fratrum dulce Par, Alexander Callender and Alexander Hamilton might have printed Libels against me till this day and I might have let them all pass in Silent Contempt. But Mrs. Warren is a very different Author, A Native American of a Family I respect, and a Lady as well as her Husband with whom I lived in Friendship for many Years, though for the last three and thirty Years I have Seldom Seen them. I shall not suffer her Errors to go down to Posterity uncorrected. I call Callender Alexander because I believe him to have been the very Rascall who basely deserted his Bail in Scotland and fled from a Halter to this Country, where to disguise himself he assumed the Names of his great Patron Stephens Thompson Masen Mason.
If Mrs Warren is determined to be enrolled in the glorious List of Libellers of John Adams she is welcome. Ned Church Loyd, Freneau, Peter Markoe, Andrew Brown, Ben Beach, Duane Porcupine, John Fenno Junior, McDonnald and his Satellites Callender, Hamilton, Wood, Pasquin and the nameless Crew of the Chronicle. But most of these have already come to a bad End and the rest will follow. I am Madam as far as I possibly can be Still your Friend

John Adams