Title: Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 7 Dec. 1785
From: Barclay, Thomas
To: Adams, John

              Dear Sir

              Paris

              7m. Decr. 1785

          I wrote you the 2d. Instant advising
            you of My Bills
          No. 9. of the 1. in Favor of M. Darcel 200
          — 10 of the 2d. Favor of Do
            —200
          and I am Now to Inform you that I have farther Valued on you of this Date in Favor of M
            Grand
          No. 11—One Hundred Pounds Stg.
          No. 12—Two Hundred Pounds
          Making together Three Hundred Pounds Stg. which please to
            honor and place to account of the United States—I am with great respect / Sir / Your
            Most Obed

              Thos Barclay


Title: Elizabeth Brown to John Adams, 8 Dec. 1785
From: Brown, Elizabeth
To: Adams, John

              Sir

              Sleaford Lincolnshire

              Dec the 8. ’85

          The trouble I have already giving your Excellency and the favour I
            am about to request of you, on so slight an Acquaintance demands an Apology. but you Sir
            I know will not require one. minds like yours are repaid Obligations by the pleasure
            they receive in confering Benefits—
          In the first Letter I did myself the Honour to write to you. I
            informd you the Letter inclosed for Col: Warren was of much import to me—The purport of
            it was this We had near a Year before sent Col: Warren a power of Attorney to receive
            the interest of one Thousand pound Lawful money which Letter we had received no account
            of—and as we expect to leave this place in the spring we wish’d to have the Business
            settled before we go—this was the reason of my troubleing you at that time, and the
            inclosed Letter from Col: Warren will show you the cause of this——But before I proceed
            it will be necessary to inform you my Grandfather at the Decease of my much’d Hond: Father Bequeath’d me one Thousand pound Lawfull Money which
            his Executors M: J—and Mr: A— Otis were to pay me, and I
            expected to receive the interest. untill it was convenient to them, to pay the
            principal—But Judge Sir! what was my surprise when instead of the said interest, I
            Yesterday received the Letter I have inclos’d for your perusal and Advise, and shall
            ever look on myself Obligated to you if you can put me in a way of getting the Money
            safe to England and to inform me if you think it Necessary for me to go over and receive
            it, or whether it may not be negotiated by sending an order to some Gentleman of the
            Law, which Gentleman I must beg you to recommend being totally ignorant of the present
            Inhabitance of Boston——
          I should have been Happy to have paid my respects to you in person
            and to have consulted with you, but at present I have no call to London—when I have will
            do myself that Honour—in the mean time hope you will
            favour me with your Advise——Need I remind Mr: Adams that the
            person who now addresses him and Implores his patronage to recover the small remains of
            the Wreck of her Fathers fortune,? is the Daughter of a man who sacrificed his Time
            Healthand Fortune at the
            shrine of Liberty, and tho he was unfortunate—the effort was Great, an while there
            remains a spark of Virtue in the Breast of my Countrymen his memory must be
            revered——pardon me this digression [tis a] tribute I owe to one of the Noblest spirits
            [that ever a]nimated a Human frame, but I have[ . . . ]
          Mr: Brown joins me in Compts: to you [and] with myself will be much Obliged by your
            Advise my Compts: attends Mrs:
            Adams and I have the Honour / to be with very great respect / Yr Humle: Sert

              E Brown


Title: John Adams to Unknown, 10 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To:

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr. 10 1785.

          I have received from Paris an Ordinance Arret Du Conseil
            D’Etat Du Roi de France of the 18th. of September last, to
            this Purpose vizt “The King having judged, fit, for assuring and facilitating the
            Importation of Subsistances into his Colonies of America, to permit Foreigners to
            introduce, there dry Fish, by means of certain Duties; and his Majesty, not intending
            that this Liberty Should be prejudicial to the national Fisheries, which he will always
            consider as worthy of his Special Protection, he has resolved to Grant to French
            Merchants who apply themselves to this Fishery a Bounty of Encouragement capable of
            exciting their Zeal, and which may put them in a condition to sustain, without any
            Disadvantage every Kind of Rivalry of Foreigners.
          Art 1. There shall be grant, to French Merchants, for five Years
            from the 1st. of October a Bounty of Ten Livres a Quintal of
            dry Fish which they shall transport, whether from the Ports of France, or whether from
            the Places where they Shall have carried on their Fishery, into the Windward or Leward
            Islands, upon Condition that the said dry Fish Shall be of the French Fishery, and
            imported by French Ships.
          I have recd also another Arret Du
            Conseil D’Etat Du Roi of the 25th. of september last.
          “Experience having caused to be felt the Necessity of procuring for
            the Blacks of the Windward Islands, a Sure Subsistance in the Rivalry of the Fish of
            foreign Fisheries, with those of the French Fisheries, it had been at first established
            by a Tax of Eight Livres a Quintal afterwards by one of five Livres only, upon the
            Introduction which might be there made of this Article by Foreigners to the End to
            compensate, as much as possible, the Difference of Expence
            Price of the one and the other Furniture: From that time
            the King having acknowledged that it was convenient to authorize the Same Rivalry at st.
            Domingo reducing nevertheless to a smaller scale the Tax which Should be imposed upon
            foreign Importations into his Several Colonies of America, His Majesty by the Arrêt of
            his Council of the 30. August. 1784, has permitted to Foreigners to introduce there, dry
            Fish, Solely by the Free Ports (Ports d’entrepot) marked out, upon payment of a duty of
            three Livres per Quintal, the amount of which should repaid out in Bounties of
            Encouragement for the Introduction of Salt Fish, of the national Fisheries. These
            Successive Dispositions had been calculated upon the Produce of these last, which did
            not offer, but a moderate surplus beyond the Consumption of the Kingdom. But
            the Sensible Augmentations which they have taken, Since the Return of Peace, the
            Emulation which reigns in this respect, among the Merchants of Several Ports of the
            Kingdom, the Hope of Arriving, in a little time to Results still more Satisfactory, if
            they were excited by the Efforts of Government: all these Motifs have determined his
            Majesty to facilitate, by new Advantages, the Sale of Fish of the French Fishery, in his
            Windward and Leward Colonies.


Title: Rufus King to John Adams, 10 Dec. 1785
From: King, Rufus
To: Adams, John

              Sir

              New York

              10 Dec. 1785

          Mr. Hancock has accepted as President
            of congress and will be here in a few days; Seven States have been represented for a few
            days only since November commenced—Six States only are now represented, I inclose a list
            of their Names of the Delegates—
          A Bill passed the house of representatives of Massachusetts during
            their autumn Session, repealing all the Laws preventing the Return or Residence of
            Tories or Refugees to that State, and admitting them on the Footing of Aliens—But
            meeting with opposition in the Senate, it was postponed untill the next session—it
            passed the House upon a Division of 141 for, and 18 against the Bill, the question being
            taken by Year 2 Ways.
          Although this measure failed, yet the Legislature passed a law
            relative to the Whale Fishery, which is greatly to be commended, and taken as a part of
            a System, is certainly wise and politick—
          The navigation act was altered so as to conform it to the
            commercial Treaties entered into by the United States, continuing the impositions upon
            all British commerce—
          I inclose a Gazette, which contains the Massachusetts Law
            encouraging the Whale Fishery—
          In great haste, but perfect / Respect / Your most obt. servt

              Rufus King


Title: Henry Mitford to John Adams, 10 Dec. 1785
From: Mitford, Henry
To: Adams, John

              Honorable Sir,

              Fleet-prison

              10th. Decr. 1785

          Conscious of the liberty of introducing myself in this manner, I
            have nothing but the goodness of your heart to appeal to for pardon—for it and the still
            greater freedom in presenting you the triffling efforts which accompany this—They are an
            invention totally of my own, urged by necesity to preserve an Existance in this House
            where I have been confined (chiefly from errors of a Father) now Three years &
            half—enduring visisitudes painful to recollect & with which I will not wound
            your feelings—
          Permit me to inform you Sir, I am the Son of a Gentleman, Robt. Mitford who possesed an Estate at Mitford Castle—
            Northumberland of £5000 Pr Ann. which he enthral’d so much
            by a blind attachment to Sir Robt Walpole during his
            administration—chiefly in Elections—as to leave it at his death much worse than naught—
            —I was bred in the Sea Service—but from sentiment and attachment to America, refused
            preferment in so unatural a cause—This conduct highly disobliged my friends who had
            little Idea of poverty & honor existing together, that altho many of those are
            in the most ample prosperity & high in Office I am left here to perish—if it
            were not for some triffling talents such as I now present.—
          I shall not at this moment give your Exellency further trouble than
            to beg you to be assured the motto I have placed on the racks came from a heart panting
            for the welfare of America— —and beg leave to subscribe myself your Excellencies—Most
            Devoted / & Obedient Humble servant

              Henry Mitford

            From the nature of my situation, May I flatter myself you will
              condescend to enclose your Answer seal’d—up—


Title: John Adams to James Warren, 12 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Warren, James

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr 12. 1785

          Your Favour of October 6. I recd but
            Yesterday. I had before written very fully to Mr Jay, a recommendation of your son to be
            Consull at Lisbon, and desired him to communicate it to the Members of Congress. I will
            write also to Mr Jefferson, and wish very heartily that he may be appointed. He is a
            modest and ingenious Man, and independently of the Merits of his Family, which are equal
            to any I know, his Pretensions personal are better than any one in Competition that I
            have heard of. There is a Probability of a Treaty with Portugal, but these Negotiations
            are so slow and capricious that I can never depend upon any Thing till it is signed and
            sealed. I will forward the Letter inclosed as I have before, to Winslow, in the
            Dispatches of the Chevalier De Pinto the Portuguese Minister, with whom I have the
            Pleasure of an agreable Acquaintance. He is a Man of Merit and offers me every civility
            in his Power. The Danger of the Letters being opened will be less in this Way than by
            the Post or any other Conveyance in my Power.
          I admire the Spirit of the Massachusetts Navigation Act but cannot
            pretend to judge of the Ability of the state to Support it.— — —It is thought by many
            that it would be better to confine it to British ships and Goods, or to those Nations
            who have no Treaty of Commerce with Us.—The French ordinance giving a Bounty of ten
            Livres a Quintal upon Fish of the French Fishery imported into their own Islands, or
            sold in the Marketts of Spain, Portugal or Italy, and laying a Duty of five Livres upon
            foreign Fish in their Islands is suspected to be in Retaliation, for our Navigation Act.
            I dont know whether it is good Policy to begin a commercial Conflict with commercial
            nations with whom We have Treaties, if it is possible to distinguish between their Goods
            & British as no doubt it is between their ships. Mr
            Boylston, took Passage in his own ship for France and has there sold here Cargo. Mr Barrett is arrived there, and I hope they will be able to
            open the Trade in that Article.— — —What the British Ministry will do, I know not and
            cannot expect to know till the session of Parliament. If they can Support their own
            Sperma Cati Fishery and We cannot find a Markett in France, they will continue the high
            duty.— —
          The Agents are gone, to Madrid, in their Way to Algiers,. I have a
            Letter from one of them at Bayonne.
          With great Regard your Friend & / sert

              John Adams


Title: Joel Barlow to John Adams, 12 Dec. 1785
From: Barlow, Joel
To: Adams, John

              Sir

              Hartford

              Dec 12 1785

          My friend Mr Trumbull has done me the
            honour to mention my name to you in a letter which is herewith enclosed. The Poem which
            he mentions is likewise forwarded thro’ the hands of Col– Humphrey to Doct Price with an
            assgnment of the Copy Right. I have requested the Doctor to use his discretion in
            procuring an impression & disposing of the copy-Right. Out of the first
            impression I wish to have about one thousand copies to supply the subscribers
            in this country, & that whatever subscribers Col Humphrey my obtain in Paris may
            likwise be supplied from that impression. Your known attachment to the liberal arts
            & your knowledge of the difficulties we labour under in this respect in our
            early stage of society in America, give me the confidence to address you on the subject.
            Should you deem it worthy of your attention I beg you would suggest to Doct Price some
            method in which it may be brought forward to advantage. I am, like most other poor
            Poets, in circumstances which require my attention to the profits of a performance,
            which has cost me considerable labour, & in which I have attempted the
            advancement of literature & human happiness.
          As the Poem is dedicated by permission to the king of France
            & his name will probably give it some advantage, I am at a loss whether there
            would be an impropriety in causing a copy to be presented to the Emperor of Germany
            & another to the Empress of Russia, as their characters occupy a place in the
            list of worthies it professes to celebrate. I suggest this not because I imagin it would
            be a present worthy of their acceptance, as a Poem, but as a curiosity from the
            NewWorld, & with the idea that it may operate in some degree as an emolument to
            the author. Whether it could be done with propriety thro their Ambassadors or otherwise
            you can better determine.
          With the highest respect I have the / honour to be sir / your
            obedient & / very humble Servant

              Joel Barlow


Title: Richard Henry Lee to John Adams, 12 Dec. 1785
From: Lee, Richard Henry
To: Adams, John

              Dear Sir

              Chantilly

              Decemb: y[thorn sign]e.
                12. 1785

          My Presedential year being ended I had left New York for this place
            (from which and from my family I had been thirteen months absent) before the Letters
            which you did me the honor to write me on the twenty six of August, the six and seventh
            of September came to hand; which has preventd me from shewing the Civilities to Mr Storer and Mr Wingrove that I
            should otherwise have taken pleasure in doing. The State of my health is so precarious
            (being at present prevented by the Gout in my right hand from writing my Self) that it
            is uncertain when I shall be permitted of return to Congress. But let me be where I will
            I shall always be happy to Correspond with you. My Brother Arthur Lee who now resides at
            New York a Commissioner of the treasurie of the U.S. will receive and forward to me such
            Letters as you are pleas’d to write. It gives me pleasure to know that Colo: Smith is so agreeable a secretary to you, indeed I had
            expect’d so from his Politeness, his good sense, and his Spirit. It is certainly a
            misfortune both to the United States and to great Britain that a Singular kind of after Wisdom in the Latter should so perpetually keep the
            two Countrys at variance with each other. To profit from experience so becometh Nations
            as well as individuals, that it denoteth much Ill to both when advice is not taken from
            that best source of knowledge. It is this kind of Wisdom
            that haveing already irrecoverably Lost to great Britain a great and valuable part of
            her dominions is now proceeding to deprive her of a great and valuable part of her
            commerce also. For I plainly perceive that the State errors and the Commercial mistakes
            of that Country are going to force these united States, Contrary to their inclination,
            into systems that will probably prevent our trade from ever again flowing, as it
            probably would have done, into British Channels. It is true that we may be injur’d in
            the Commencement of these experiments, but it is certain that those who
            Compel them will be more hurt. A Similar experiment has been lately made and the issue
            recent, yet such is the curse attending Britain and British States-men that they will
            neither remember the one or profit from the other. I join with you in hopeing soon to
            see American Factories establish’d in the East and certainly it will be highly agreeable
            to me to find Mr Steptoe promoting there his
            Countrys and his own good.
          I have the honor to be with every sentimet of affectionate Esteem
            and regard your friend / and Servt:

              Richard Henry Lee


Title: John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de

              Dear Sir—

              Grosvenor square

               Decr. 13. 1785—

          I have received your favour of the 30th. Ulto. and thank you for the extract enclosed—The
            Commerce of new England will follow their oil, wherever it may go and therefore I think
            it good Policy, in the Controller General to take of the duty—But there is another
            object of Importance I mean the sperma Cæti Chandles—Will you be so good as to inform me
            whether these are prohibited in france? or what duties they are subject to on
            Importation? whither these duties can be taken off,? Whether they are at all used or
            known in france? Whether they cannot be brought into fashion in private families, or
            even in Churches? they are certainly cheaper & more beautiful than Wax,
            & emit a purer, brighter flame—Potash, too: I want to know, what quaintity of
            Potash & Pearl Ash, is annually consumed in France? from what Country imported?
            in what it is paid for? whether in Cash, Bills or Goods? & at what Prices
            ordinarily? This is another article, by which france may draw to herself a great share
            of the Trade of New England—Our Merchants will be obliged to alienate their Commerce
            from this Country, and transfer it in a great measure to France.—They are awkward and
            unskilful, at present, how to effect it, and every aid you can afford them will be
            gratefully acknowledged—
          I hope that Mr. Boylston and Mr. Barrett, will be able to compleat a Contract, with Monsieur
            Tourtille De sangrain for the Illumination of your Cities—Boylston’s Capital will enable
            him to do what he pleases, but you may depend upon it, he will do nothing but what is
            profitable—no Man understands more intuitively, every thing relating to these subjects,
            and no man is more attached to his Interest—You sent your Letter by the post I suppose,
            in hopes it would be opened in the Post office and sent to Court to assist me a Little
            in my negotiation—I have the Pleasure to inform you, that your intentions were probably
            fulfilled, for although they conceal their art with more care then in the
            post offices here, than they think it necessary to make use of in Paris, yet I assure
            you there is not less Curiosity: And your Letter upon an attentive inspection may be
            plainly perceived to have been opened—I am glad of it, because altho’ it will not assist
            me much, nor make any great impression I shall at least have the Pleasure to think we
            teaze them a little—My best respects to Madam La fayette & Love to Anastasie
            & George—Yours

              J. A


Title: John Adams to C. & R. Puller, 13 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Puller, C. & R.

              Gentlemen

              Grosvenor square

              Decr. 13th. 1785

          on the 29 Novr. I accepted a Bill of
              Mr. Barclay No. 6. (by mistake
            as I suppose it ought to be No. 8) for 200£ st.—dated Paris
            24 Novr. at usance 1st. of
            y[thorn sign]e sett in favour of Mr. Grand.
          on this 13 Decr. I have accepted two
            Bills of 200£ st each drawn by Mr. Barlcay—dated
            Paris 1st. Decr. 1785—at usance,
              1st. of the sett in favour of Mr. Nicholas Darcell or order to be paid at your House on account of Willink
            & Van staphorst on act. of the United States of
            America—
          on the 1st. of Decr. I accepted a Bill of Dr. Tufts
            in favour of Samuel Elliot or order indorsed to Messrs.
            Harrisan Ansley & Co. for £100 st. at 30 day’s sight—this is to be Charged to the United
            states as part of my salary—
          I am &c

              J. A

            P.S. Decr. 13th. 1785—After the within was written, other Bills were presented to me and
              accepted vizt. No. 11. from
                Mr. Barclay in favour of Mr.
              Grands order for 100£ st. at usance 1st. of y[thorn sign]e sett.
              dated Paris Decr. 7. 1785 No.
              12 for 200£ st. in all other respects like No. 11.

              J. A


Title: John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 13 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Van Staphorst, Jacob,Van Staphorst, Nicholas,Willink, Wilhem,Willink, Jan

              Gentlemen

              Grosvenor square

               Decr. 13. 1785—

          I have now to acquaint you that on the 29 Novr. I accepted a Bill of Mr. Thos. Barclay. No. 6. (by mistake I
            suppose it ought to be Number 8) for 200 £ st dated Paris 24 Novr. 1785 at usance first of the sett in favour of Mr.
            Grand
          This 13th. Day of Decr. I have accepted Two Bills of 200 £ st each drawn by Mr. Barclay dated Paris 1 Decr.
            1785. at usance 1st. of the sett in favour of the order of
              Mr. Nicholas Darcell—these three bills ammount to
              600£ st. to be paid at the House of C.
            & R. Puller—these three are towards an important Purpose—
          on the 1st. of December 1785 I accepted
            a Bill of Dr. Tufts in favour of Samuel Elliot on order,
            indorsed to Messrs. Harrison, Ansley & Co. for 100 £ st at 30 Day’s sight—this is to be
            charged to the United states as part of my salary—
          According to your Desire in your Letter of Novr. 8th. I have desired Collonel
            Smith since his arrival, which is only within a few Day’s, to write you, in what manner
            he has disposed of 400£ furnished him on account of the United States and he has wrote
            you accordingly—
          I could not certainly have given you Notice of a Credit which I
            never gave, I think you must have made some mistake in your figures, I drew once for 6
            or 7000 thousand Guilders for Mr. Jefferson & gave a
            Credit to Colo Humphry’s for 1000 £ stg to pay
            for honorary swords & medals for our Generals &c But I have never given
            any other Credit—Mr. Jefferson may have received orders from
            Congress or the Navy Board to Draw, but you should have been informed of it
          I mean to be very exact in advising you of all my tranactions in
            Money matters—I dont indeed always advise you of the Draughts I make for my own
            subsistance on account of my salary & little disbursements for the United
            states—but as this is a pretty regular thing, as you must have observed, it is the less
            necessary—
          I have the honor to be &c &c &c

              J A

            Decr. 13th. 1785 Since the foregoing was written other Bills have been presented
              & accepted—vizt—No.
              11. from Mr. Barclay in favour of Mr. Grands order for £100 st: at usance, first of
              the sett dated at Paris Decr. 7th. 1785—No. 12. for 200£ st. in all other respects like No. 11.

              J. A—


Title: John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 13 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Gerry, Elbridge

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square
              Decr. 13. 1785.

          It was but last Week that I received your Letter of the 14th. of July.—With regard to the Money borrowed by me, and
            applid to the discharge of Mr Morris’s Draughts, My Bankers
            in Amsterdam have as they inform me, transmitted their Accounts both to the Board of
            Treasury and Mr Barclay.—By them it will appear that Several
            Millions of Livres I mean were remitted to Le Couteule at Paris, and by him
            to Mr Morris in Dollars by the Way of the Havannah. Several
            Millions more have been paid to Mr Grand upon Mr Morris’s Draughts, and several Millions more were paid at
            Amsterdam upon his Draughts in favour of Individuals Bills which he Sold at an handsome
            Exchange.
          The Spirit of the Mass. & N. Hamp. Navigation Acts are
            admired and applauded, and if they had been or would be followed by the other States
            would be practicable. But I pretend not to be able to judge at this distance. That every
            Thing may be taken into Consideration I enclose you an Ordonnance of France, which is
            suspected to be a Retaliation for those Acts
          The Arret of 18. Septr. gives a Bounty
            of ten Livres a Quintal upon all French Fish imported into their Islands or into the
            Marketts of Spain, Portugal or Italy The Arret of the 25 of Septr, increases the Duty upon foreign Fish imported into their Islands, to five
            Livres a Quintal. These two make a Difference of fifteen Livres a Quintal in favour of
            French Fish and against American and English. This is a Serious Blow to the British
            Fishery, and if it were possible to make the Ministry under stand it, they would see the
            necessity of opening the Trade of Newfoundland, that their Fishery might be Supplied
            from Us.—if it is not done, their Fishery will Suffer. As our Fishery appears to me,
            very deeply interrested in these Ordonnances, I think you are the fittest Person in the
            World to send them to. But I think you would do well to have them inserted in the News
            Papers.
          It is questioned by many of our judicious Friends whether the
            Navigation Acts should not have been confined to Brittish Bottoms or at least to Bottoms
            not in Treaty with Us.
          It is now generally agreed that the People in America have been
            extravagant, and that this fault has introduced a greater, an exorbitant
            unlawfull Usury, a sort of shylockism as detestible as it is destructive.— —This
            accursed spirit must divert all the Money from Commerce, untill the sharks have eaten up
            all the feebler Fish. No Accounts I ever heard from America, mortified me so much as
            this, as it discovers a Depravity of Heart that I could scarcely have believed, of so
            many, to their disgrace.
          M. De Calonne, the French Controller of Finances, has reduced the
            Duties upon American Oil, in French or American Bottoms to 7 Livres
              10s, a Barrique weighing 520 Weight, that is to about 30 Livres a Ton.—One
            Louis D’or & a quarter is so much less than 18£ 3s. sterling the Duty
            in England that one would think it might do.—I am persuaded you may sell all the Oil you
            can make in France at a good rate. Mr Boylstone has sold his
            Cargo there very well.—The Marquis De la Fayette is very kind in assisting every Body
            that goes upon that Business. it is a shame that our Whale Fishery should decline
            & Nantuckett be depopulated, when it is certain, there is a very good Markett in
            France. Mr Barrett is arrived, and I hope will be able to
            negotiate the Business.— — —But it should be a Capitalist: a Man who has Cash, and can
            give Credit. Our Cash Men, are not all shylocks I hope, letting Money at 5 per Cent per
            Month.—if they are curse them for me as well as yourself.—A Man must have an heart
            harder than the paving stones, who can see so valuable a Trade as the sperma Cæti
            Business lost to his Country merely because he will not employ that Money in Trade,
            which he letts out at such exorbitant Interest.
          I pity the Merchants from my soul, they have suffered many Ways,
            and particularly by the Paper Money which is very unjustly suffered to perish in their
            Hands. Pray desire your Friend King to write to me.
          your sincere Friend & most
           humble servant

              John Adams.


Title: John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 15 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Mazzei, Philip

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr. 15 1785

          In your favour of Octr. 29, you inform
            me that The Marquis has observed in Germany, that the Lies which are Spread to our
            disadvantage, must be injurious to our national honour, if We neglect to contradict
            them.— —When I came first to Europe, now approaching to Eight years ago, my Indignation
            was roused, at the Shame less Falshoods which were continually propagated, and I took a
            great deal of Pains to have them contradicted but I have long since found it an Augean
            Stable.—
          The Truth is, that this Impudence is encouraged in France, in
              France almost as much, and in Germany Still more, than in England.— —The real
            Motive is to discourage Emigrations. one half of Germany and more than half of England,
            Scotland & Ireland and no inconsiderable Part of France would be Soon
            on Tiptoe, to fly to America for relief from that intollerable Load which they now carry
            on their shoulders, if they knew the true State of Facts in America. The English
            Ministers, and the whole Hierarchy of their Dependents are aware of this, and there is
            an incredible Number of Persons constantly employed in preparing Paragraphs to represent
            The United States to be in a state of Anarchy and Misery, exposed to ruin by the
            Algerines and Indians &c.— —if you read the Gazettes of Brussells Avignon, Deux
            Ponts and several others, under the Influence of French Correspondents, nay if you read
            the Mercure de France itself, you will see, that all these Paragraphs are borrowed from
            the English Papers, and others quite as modest fabricated, for the same Purposes. The
            German Gazettes, are encouraged by their Licencers to insert every Thing of this kind,
            from the same Motives. you may contradict them to Eternity to no Purpose. Every
            Paragraph you insert will only occasion ten more lies to be made: and your Truths will
            be disbelieved & all the Lies credited: because you may depend upon it the
            Influence of Government, and of all their Runners and Sitters are against you, and these
            it is too manifest all over Europe, have the Faith of the Multitude at their
            Disposal.—In England there is not a Gazette nor a Writer, who inclines to publish freely
            in favour of America. — —if any one Attempts any Thing he is instantly attacked as an
            Encourager of Emigrations, as you may have lately seen in the Case of Dr Price.— —
          If I were to meddle in the Newspapers directly or indirectly in
            this Country, at present it must be with Caution and Delicacy.— —And I dont think it
            would be discreet to lay out Money in this Way.— —If I had Money to Spare from Purposes
            more essential, much might be done, by forming Acquaintances and communicating by their
            Assistance, true Information. But even in the Influence of the Table and of generous
            Hospitality, the Policy of our Country has restrained Us, within very narrow Bounds.
          I dont believe you will do any good by entering into the
            Fracasseries of the Men of Letters in France. De Mably was as honest as a Man and as
            independent a Spirit, as you will find among them.—In the Letter I wrote the Abby De
            Mably, which convinced him, as he told me in his Answer that he would be in
            his Grave long before he could collect the Materials for an History of the Revolution
            you know I told him, I was glad that he intended to write for that I knew his Principles
            so well that I had no doubt he would produce a Work, which would be worth attending to.
            I have no Remembrance that I ever desired him to write at any other Time, or in any
            other manner, untill I was informed that he was writing Letters to me. His first design
            of writing was announced to the World by himself in his Book “Sur le maniere d ’ecrire
            L’Histoire, which was written and printed while I was at the Hague, and before I went to
            Paris to the Conferences about the Peace, as you may see by looking into that Pamphlet
            near the End. When I read his Design, it was with Pleasure, because I expected something
            worth reading from what I had seen of his other Writings, tho I had at this time nothing
            like an intimate acquaintance with him.— —I am now glad he has written because, although
            there are many Things in which I am not of his opinion, there are many others that
            deserve the Serious Consideration of our Countrymen.—And I am under no Fears at all that
            Americans will be mislead by his Errors, the most material of which relate to The
            Freedom of Conscience and the Press, Points in which all America is so well grounded,
            that the greatest Writer in the World, or who has been in it, would not be able to shake
            them, much less a Philosopher born & educated living and dying, in the Midst of
            Principles of Intollerance in Religion and Government.
          If you refute Ranall & De Mably as you easily may in the
            Points in which they are wrong, you would do well to begin by confounding the insolent
            Nonsence, of De Peau and Buffon, who began earlier to abuse Us, and laid the Foundation
            for a great Part of the Impertinence which has followed.
          I have taken as much Pains as my Business would admit to find the
            Paper you enquire for, but without success.—I enquired after the Petition, Memorial or
            Remonstrance of the Merchants in a Company of Men of Letters, but none of them could
            tell me where to find it.—I have looked over a Collection of Petitions and Remonstrances
            of the City, but it is not there. The other Points you enquire about, I can give you no
            account of.
          Again as to my Desire to the Abby, to write. . . I might Say to him
            or his Friends, that I thought, instead of attempting an History, he was wholly
            unprovided of Materials for composing, I wished he would read over our Constitutions and
            give the World his Thoughts upon them. This is very natural and probable, but I have no
            distinct Remembrance of it, nor when nor where it was.—His design to write was conceived
            and determined, without any Request, Desire or Knowledge of mine, as you will see in his
            Work upon Writing History. knowing his fixed Intention to write, I thought it better
            that he should write upon a subject which I supposed he might understand, rather than
            undertake a Work which I was certain he knew little about, and for which from his great
            Age, it was impossible he should ever be qualified for.
          When I was told by his Friends that he was writing, and intended to
              add make me the Compliment to address his Work to me, it was very natural
            for me to say that I should be “bien flatté,” as I was; but I have no remembrance about
            it.— —I can neither contradict it nor confirm it, and it can be of no Consequence to any
            body.
          The Beginning of my Connection in the Business was this.—Soon after
            my Arrival in Paris in October 1782, upon the Negotiation for the Peace, the Abby De
            Mablys Book upon writing History was put into my hands. I read in the Close of it, his
            Declaration of his Design to write the Hystory of the American Revolution. at Dinner
            Sometime afterwards at Mr De Chaluts, the Farmer General, in
            Company with the Abby de Mably, his Friends & mine the Abbys De Chalut and
            Arnoux, mentioned to me the Abbys Design and asked me if I would furnish him with any
            Memorials. I then turned to De Mably himself and asked him, of what Part of the
            Revolution he intended to write the History? He answered of the whole? I asked him, if
            he had considered the Extent of the Subject? He Said perhaps it might be more extensive
            than he was aware of, but he thought he could write it, from the Memorials, which were
            publick together with such Enquiries as he might make among Gentlemen who had been
            concerned in it. I asked him if he had reflected, that the Question was of thirteen
            established Governments Subverted, and as many new ones erected, of a confederation of
            them, of a War of Eight Years conducted by them, by an Army formed anew, that it
            comprehended at least Twenty Odd Years of Time, and involved at last, almost
            all Europe And much of Asia & Africa? Upon this the three Abbys desired me to
            put down in Writing in English what I had then Said, for I spoke with
            difficulty as you know in French, and give it to the Abby who would get it translated
            into French.—I agreed: and Accordingly wrote the Letter which you have seen.—The Abby
            answered me, that I had convinced him he should be dead before he could collect a
            quarter Part of the Materials necessary to write Such an History.—in that Letter I told
            him that I was glad he intended to write his Thoughts. He afterwards changed his Mind
            about writing the History and determined to write Observations. This might or might not
            be by my Advice. I dont remember that it was or was not. He determined to address his
            Observations to me. This was not most certainly, by my Advice nor Desire, nor
            Expectation untill I was told he was writing to me. As this was merely a Compliment, it
            is very probably I returned the Compliment, by saying as I could very sincerely say, I
            was much obliged to him. I am sure by this time you must think as I do, that I have
            written much more upon this subject than it is Worth and thank me for subscribing myself
            your / humble servant

              John Adams

            I have made your Compliments to Madam, as you desire and she also
              is “bien flateé.”— —I assure you, I would not live another Ten Years without her, for
              the first Dukedom, no nor the first Kingdom in Europe nor for any Thing less than the
              Independence of America.—I read this to Madam, and she Says “bien flateé,” again.


Title: Christian Lotter to John Adams, 16 Dec. 1785
From: Lotter, Christian
To: Adams, John

              May it please Your Excellency!

              PapeStraat Hage

               December 16. 1785

          It is with the greatest reluctance, most honorble. Sir! that Your continuing Silence, forces me to incumber
            You again, to weary Your patience, with Sollicitations of which Your Excellency knows
            too well, that they ought to be granted, because it is Salary, made by Your own
            agreement, and for which I have Served.
          Your Excellency will be graciously pleased, to consider that it is
            too hard to be a double looser, and Silently punished for a crime another has committed,
            besides the many insulting letters from Amsterdam, filled up with nothing but vengeance,
            and orders to have me and my family turned out of the hotel, or to take Such measures
            which would be very unpleasing to me, but this is a mistake, because it might have been
            turned to enlargers of bills, besides to make it a littler more vexatious,
            have Sent to me, a Notarius publicus, with letters of immediate departure, and other
            emblems of disdainful wrath, whose unnecessary expeditions with those of one to
            translate the Inventory of Your Effects might rather have been Saved.
          To the great Satisfaction of my well wishers I have left the hotel
            the 28 of October, under the Inspection of Notarius Kleyn who was for that purpose
            employed and a wittness to whom I have delivered those things which belong to the hotel,
            and Such which are not mentioned in the list, resting in Your Excelys. hands.
          Your Excellency will be graciously pleased, Since my employment in
            Your Service has now its end, to order, that my quarter of a years Salary, with the
            expences I have been at for removing, might be paid to me.
          In expectation of Your Excelys. and the
            Ladies’s health and best welfare, with that of the two young Gentlemen, I take the
            liberty to Subscribe meself / Your Excellency’s / most devoted and most humble /
            Servant

              C: Lotter


Title: Margaret Smith to John Adams, 17 Dec. 1785
From: Smith, Margaret
To: Adams, John

              Sir:

              Jamaica.

               Decr: 17th.
                1785.

          your Esteemed Favor of the 2d Octobr: by Capt: Miller I received this
            day; I am greatly obliged by your simpathetick tenderness—a similarity of situation in
            being seperated from those that are dear to us—has laid me under the greatest
            Obligation; my mind was extreamly agitated in not receiving any Letters from my Son—and
            a variety of perplexing apprehensions was naturally Excited—which your kind attention
            has, in some measure Effaced. permit me Sir—tho’ personally a stranger to you, to return
            you my Grateful acknowledgments—not only for this seasonable Releif to my afflicted
            mind—But for the favorable sentiments so delicately Expressed of my Dear Son. I am
            perswaded he will never forfeit the good opinion you entertain of him, by any deviation
            from the path of Rectitude which he has pursued from his Earliest Infancy.
          Be pleased to make my Respects acceptable to Your Lady, &
            Daughter, and permit me to subscribe with sentiments of Gratefull Esteem.
          Your Oblid Humbl: Servt.

              Margaret Smith


Title: John Adams to the Governors of the United States, 18 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Governors of the United States

              Sir

              Grosvr. square

              Decr. 1785—

          (Circular)

          The Right honourable the Marquis of Carmarthen—His Britannic
            Majesty’s principal secretary of State for foriegn Affairs, in a Letter which His
            Lordship did me the honour to write me, on the thirteenth of last Month informed me that
            the Commissioners of American Claims had notified to his Lordship that by Virtue of the
            Act of Parliament now in force, they have appointed John Anstey of Lincolns Inn,
            Barrister at Law, to repair to the United States of America to inquire into such facts
            & Circumstances as may be material for the better ascertaining the several
            Claims, which have been or shall be presented, under the Authority of the present or
            former act, & that they are of opinion the Countenance of the several States
            might tend to facilitate the execution of this Employmt—and his Lordship having
            requested that I would communicate Mr Anstey’s Appointment
            to the Members of Congress and recommend him to their Protection & Countenance
            in the execution of the Business with which he is charged and as I conceive, that Mr. Anstey’s honorable reception in America & the
            facilities afforded him by Government in the execution of this employment, will redound
            to the honor & Interest of the U. S. I beg leave to recommend him to your
            Excellency, and to every Countenance, Protection, & aid, which the service may
            require & which your Excelly. may with propriety
            give—I am

              J. A—


Title: Joseph Palmer to John Adams, 19 Dec. 1785
From: Palmer, Joseph
To: Adams, John

              Germantown

               19th Decr:
                1785.

          Since mine of the 28th Ultimo, looking over my bundle of unanswer’d Lettrs, I found one from Anthony Bowne, of Crumford Bridge, in
            Matlock, Derbyshire; this, with my reply, I enclose, with a view to Serve the
            public, & if you can Serve yourself & Frds
            at the Same time, it will give me real pleasure. This Bowne, & one I Bradley,
            were Sent to America, in ’73, or ’74, by a Mr Tillington
            & other Gentn of Derbyshire, in order to Search for
            Mines, which had been reported as rich & plenty, by Mr E Q of Stoughtonham: Bowne & Bradley kept at my House some
            considerable time, & appear’d honest men; & both appear’d knowing in
            practical Mineralogy; & Bowne in a particular manner; & by
            their Commission under the hands of Mr Tillington jr, I
            observed that both of ’em had been employ’d in the Lead Mines, 40 or 50 yrs; & that Mr Bowne, had
            been some years an officer in the Mines. This Mr Tillington,
            was then, or had been, a Member of Parliament. Bowne & Bradley sail’d from hence
            in the fall of the Year ’74 (from Plymo, as I think);
            & they arrived safe at Derbyshr; & their
            employers engaged a number of families, in the mineral way, to come over; but while they
            waited at the Port, news arrived of the increase of our troubles, & so they were
            dismissed, & return’d home—this was a heavy stroke to me—but that is private
            concern. This Bowne appears to me, thro’ this whole affair, a very honest man; as Such,
            & knowing, I think a good use may be made of him, & many Settlers in
            that branch of business may be obtain’d. Just before he went from hence, he told me,
            that if our troubles did not prevent it, (which he fear’d wou’d rise to bloodshed) he
            doubted not but in ten Years time, we Shou’d have 5 M[expansion sign] Settlers from that
            County, the Mines of which were almost exhausted, & none remain’d, that he knew
            of, so good as some here; samples of which, he carried with him. A principal Mine which
            he had in view, was one at Northampton; I was Sent by our Court to view it, &
              obtain an essay of its goodness, & found 70 to 80 [Per
            sign] Cent lead: This Mine belongs to Mr Bowdoin &
            others, who then ask’d £1 m[expansion sign] for that, with the Apparatus, &
            about 20 or 30 Acres of Land. Clap & Stoddard were not of Connecticut, as Bowne
            Supposes, but of Northampton, as I think; & Clap was the Clerk to the
            Lead-works; & he told me, that there was a range of Mines, in Southampton,
            Northampton, & another Town, of 13 miles in length. I saw of ’em in both South
            & Northampton, & think’em to be very good, & finely
            Scituated for working, there being plenty of wood, & fine falls of water,
            & much of the Mines in high Hills, & the land of small estimation.
          Bowne is a poor Man; but if he be living, & in health,
            & you have Sufficient power, you may thro’ him obtain a great number
            of Settlers, which are much wanted, especially in Manufactrs
            which we want, & are necessary for Support or defence. I think that we extend
            our new Settlemts to the westward too fast for the good of
            the whole; for it keeps labor high, in the Old Settlemts,
            & Sinks the value of our old Settled Lands; but if we can obtain a great number
            of Emigrants, especially such as have some property, the case will be reversed; Many of
            those would purchase old Settlmts, & we Shou’d move
            off to new Lands.
          You’ll please to Seal (after reading) mine to Bowne, & Send
            it to the Office: I decline concern in the Mineral way, at present; partly because I am
            not fully acquainted with the practical part of the
            business; & partly because I think myself fully
            acquainted with the practical, as well as theoretical, part of the Salt–Manufactures; in
            which I shall engage, if able to do any thing.
          I hear that Congress have so far attended to Sackett’s Memorial, as
            to have Copies sent, by the respective Members, to each State, in order to know whether
            such a grant to him & Associates, will be agreeable to the particular States.
            This looks as tho’ they approved his plan; And I don’t know but it may be of public
            utility, if it don’t extend our Settlemts too fast, which I
            fear, as mention’d above.
          I remain, my dear Friend, with every possible Sentiment of esteem,
            / Your Affeco frd & mo hble Servt

              J: Palmer


Title: John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 20 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Jefferson, Thomas

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr 20. 1785

          Mr Barretts Arrival at Paris, is a
            lucky Event, and his Appointment by the Merchants in Boston a judicious Step; but I am
            not So clear in the Choice he makes of L’orient to reside in.— —Paris, or even Havre,
            Seems to me a better Situation. Paris in preference to all others.— —If Boylstone would
            Act in concert with him, his Capital, would be equal to every Thing which relates to the
            Business: But he is a Singular Character irritable, fiery, avaricious, parcimonious, to
            a degree, that made me always doubtfull whether, he would Succeed: besides his Age and
            Ignorance of the Language. it is to be regretted that his Cargo cannot be put into the
            Hands of Sangrain because it is a great Object, to bring that Gentleman into an
            Acquaintance with the Qualities of the white Sperma Cæti Oil, and into a Course of
            Experiments of its Use. The first Point to be gained, is to Shew, that this Oil,
            considering all its Properties, may be used in the Reverberes cheaper, than the Olive
            Oil, Neatsfoot Oil, or Linseed Oil, or whatever other Substance goes to the Composition
            of that with which they now enlighten their Cities. We must engage OEconomy, as an
            Advocate in our Cause, or we shall finally loose it.— —The Marquis Tells me, the Duty is
            reduced to 7. Liv. 10. s the
            Barrique of 520 Weight—you State it at 11lt: 10s.—I should be glad to be exact in this Information, and to
            know which is right. But, 11lt: 10s the Barrique, even as you state it, is so much less than 18£. 3s. sterling the Ton, the
            Allien Duty paid here that one would think it must turn all the Trade to France as I
            hope it will, and as it certainly will if the French Government encourage the
            Attempt.—if an American Merchant can fix himself at Paris and remain a Man of Business,
            and not become infected with a Rage for Amusements, he might by corresponding with all
            the great Cities of the Kingdom soon do a great deal, towards introducing an extensive
            Trade between the United States and the French.
          I am extreamly Sorry for the Accident, which has retarded Mr Barclay, but I think with you that We must submit to it, for
            a reasonable Time.—But I hope Mr Barclay will not
            Suffer himself to be delayed one moment unnecessarily.—if any Pretences or Excuses for
            postponing are contrived, I hope he will break away from them all.—it is a horrid Thing,
            that Business so essential should have been neglected so long.—
          The Chevr. De Pinto is Sick, which will
            unluckily retard our Affair with him. But I will quicken it as Soon and as much as I
            can.
          With great Esteem I am, dear Sir your / most obedient Servant

              John Adams.


Title: Benjamin Goodhue to John Adams, 20 Dec. 1785
From: Goodhue, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

              Sir

              Salem

              Decr. 20th. 1785

          Having an acquaintance with your good brother Mr. Cranch, from being a fellow member of the same Legislative
            body; at his request and from the Assurance which he has given me, that a letter from
            from one of whom you have no Kind of Knowledge, where the views of the Writer are
            painted to the general good, would meet a Kind reception; I have taken this liberty of
            sending you inclosed the present state of our Cod & Mackerel fisheries in this
            Commonwealth, and hope the communication will be agreable—the statement is made from the
            best information I could collect, and I dare say is not far from the truth—What
            proportion the quantity of fish caught this year, bears to what was taken before the
            War, I cannot determine; but only inform you the common opinion is that there is better
            then half, and there is no room to doubt, that in three or four years, We shall equal,
            if not exceed in this business what we ever have been before—I take notice in one of
            your letters to your Brother you wish to be informed of the state of the English
            & French fisheries &c—I have not been able to ascertain their situation
            any further then this, that the Cod fishery at Nova Scotia is so inconsiderable as not
            to deserve notice, and I am sure if we conduct with the least prudence it never can be,
            because from the sterility of their soil they must be forever beholden to us for many of
            their supplies; and their almost eternal fogs, will ever prevent their fish from being
            cured in such a manner as will put it in competition with ours—their fisheries at
            Newfound Land doubtless are great; with what advantages they carry it on, I do not
            precisely Know, but am pretty confident they could not with any profit, if they were
            excluded from supplying themselves from the United States—the French have a
            considerable number of Vessels, perhaps two or three hundred, but from the size of their
            Vessels which are too large, and the natural indolence of men on hire, togather with
            their unacquaintedness with the bussiness, I believe they make no great hand of it, they
            ship cheif of their fish to France, and altho, they have put a duty of half a Dollar pr
            Quintal on our fish carried to their West India Islands, and placed the same duty as a
            bounty on the fish cured at Miquelon, only two small cargoes of their fish have for the
            Year past been exported to their Islands—on the whole I think it abundantly apparent,
            that we have greater advantages for carrying on the Cod fishery, then the Inhabitants of
            any other Country, and it gives me much satisfaction that there appears a disposition
            with us to improve it—The Whale fishery you are sensible is in a very languid condition,
            and for ought I see must continue so, unless Britain should unexpectedly relax from her
            present measures, or untill what I most hope, We may be able to find a sale for the Oyl
            in some other markets—The General Court, after much labour from the few Commercial
            characters in that Body, did the last session grant a bounty on Oyl, (a copy of which I
            inclose,—it was designd as a temporary relief to prevent those employ,d in the Whale
            Fishery from immediately quiting the Country (which very few have already done) and to
            see what events might turn up to occasion its revival—Britain & France with whom
            we should from our reciprocal wants, be most naturaly connected in commerce, have thrown
            such embarrassments in the way of our carrying bussiness, that it is at present very
            discouraging to those who have provided themselves with Vessels for the purpose, the
            number of which is as great as before the war, and might with ease be
            increased to any number required—I have ever consider,d this togather with the fisheries
            as particularly congenial to this Government, and to be the only thing which
            can give importance to the Massachusetts, when compared with the other States, and what
            alone would materialy produce that power in the United States, which the European
            Nations have reason to wish us dispossess,d of, And I sincerely hope Sir, that Our
            Countrymen, will not long be influenced by partial views, individual benefits or be
            gulled into erroneous measures, by false notions of National gratitude—
          I cannot omit mentioning the very great pleasure I receiv,d when I
            found by your Letters, to Govr. Bowdoin, Messrs. Cushing, Hancock Higginson & Cranch, which they
            were Kind enough to shew me, that you so warmly approved Our Navigation Act, and the
            pleasure was much enhanced, on account of its being a Child, I had with much difficulty
            brought into being, and whose existance, from its powerful opponents, promised to be of
            no long duration, the sentiments in your letters silenced their clamours, and the Act
            remains, essentialy the same, taking off only part of the restrictions on foreigners
            (British excepted) by reason of the difficulty of sending our produce to Market in our
            own bottoms, while the Algerine war continues—in carrying through this Act it became
            necessary to combat the interest of many considerable characters who found their account
            in foreign consignments, and who had been very industrious in prejudicing the
            minds of our Country brethren, by telling them that their Cattle &c would
            necessarily be sold at a less price—it is much to be regretted that our commercial
            importance is so little understood, and that even our Sea port Towns in a great degree
            neglect chusing persons to represent them who have an acquaintance with the subject,
            there has been for several years past, but two members in one branch of the Legislature,
            and almost as few in the other, that ever had any connection in the bussiness or
            pretended to scarce any Knowledge of it—and sorry I am to say that some even
            of respectable characters, appear to view our commercial affairs as trivial
            and unimportant— —What will be the future issue of our National concerns,
            deeply affects me with anxiety, and I confess from the sinister persuits of individuals,
            the discordent and perhaps opposite interests of some of the States, and the General
            aversion there is of giving Congress, those powers essential for the purposes of our
            federal government, the prospect to me appears not a little gloomy; the only consolation
            I derive, is from a reflection, that when the evils become severely felt we may be
            willing to apply a remedy—
          pardon my freedom in writing this letter, and be assured that I
            shall esteem myself honour,d in executing any commands you may see fit to lay
            upon me—
          I am with sentiments of high regard / Your Excellency.s Friend
            & servant

              Benja Goodhue

            NB. Rhode Island has pass,d a Navigation Act &
              Pensylvania has laid very considerable burthens on Vessels belonging to Nations not in
              alliance—


Title: John Jebb to John Adams, 20 Dec. 1785
From: Jebb, John
To: Adams, John

              dr. Sir

              Parlt. Street

              20 Dec —85.

          I have been prevented from paying my respects to you hitherto by
            y[thorn sign]e feeble State I have been in for some time—I
            am now still further prevented by an operation on my leg. But I cannot help referring
            you to a publication intitled Observations on a late
              publication intituled thoughts on executive Justice printed for Cadell in the
            Strand & Faulder in New Bond street—which must please you—if the work fails
            y[thorn sign]e letter at the End will gratify—but both are
            admirable—Eden has made a poor piece of work of it—& if he continues to go on,
            as he began—I shall not repine—Mr. Pitt & he alone
            of all y[thorn sign]e Cabinet negotiated y[thorn sign]e dark transaction—
          Mrs Jebb joins me in every expression
            of respect & good will to Mrs Adams & Miss
            Adams & I remain truly yrs

              John Jebb

            I beg respects to Col. Smith.—I shuld wish to see yr servt. agn. if convenient at y[thorn sign]e same House as before—


Title: Cotton Tufts to John Adams, 20 Dec. 1785
From: Tufts, Cotton
To: Adams, John

              Dear Sr.

              Weymouth

              Decembr 21t. 1785

          Your Favour of Sept. 9th I recd. and your Present of
            Neckar for which I return You Thanks and am much gratified with Your
            Sentiments on the Whale Oil Fishery, to this Branch of Business, the General Court have
            given Encouragement as You will find by a Bill sent You by Mr Cranch—Every Day more and more convinces me, that the commerical Restraints of
            Great Britain, so far as they respect America, will in general, greatly serve us, those
            that affect our whale Fishery may possibily injure us for some Time. But well tim’d
            Exertions, an Attention to our own particular Interest and an independent Spirit will
            not only reinstate us in the full Extent of our whale Fishery, but put it upon a much
            better Footing than formerly—. Almost every Measure respecting America adopted by Gt. Britain for many Years past, have by the Intervention of
            Providence and the general Course of Things have surprizingly forwarded and I
            had almost said driven us into the Road of Greatness—However fond many of my Countrymen
            may be of continuing a Trade with that Nation, for my own Part I am much in doubt,
            whether any advantageous Trade with her can be expected for many Years to
            come, if ever. it cannot I think untill our Merchants have paid their Debts, untill that
            System of Credit heretofore practised upon, is annihilated, untill the American Merchant
            can exchange American Produce for British on equal Terms, and further untill He has it
            in his Power to pay for what he wants, from a Surplus proceeding from the Labours of the
            People beyond what is necessary for their Support and the Payment of Taxes—I mean here
            to include what arises from Fisheries, Manufactures & Agriculture—The Debts
            owing to the People of that Nation must be paid—There is such a Dependance flowing from
            those Debts as is truly humiliating—By these, the Eyes of my Countrymen have been
            blinded—false Maxims of Trade adopted—public Measures often influenced, and the
            Ascendancy which the British Merchant has gained by his giving Credit is but too visible
            in a thousand Instances and has prevented numerous & beneficial Enterprizes that
            would otherwise have taken Place: This joined with the private Interest of our Merchants
            has ever discouraged every Attempt to Independance in Trade and the Establishment of our
            Manufacturies—The Restrictions of Great Britain and the Refusal of further Credit are
            however happily calculated to remove these Difficulties: And can We but continue a few
            Years in a State of Exclusion from her Commerce, Our Debts will be paid and our
            Independance of Mind established—
          The Writers of Great Britain, their Merchants & Ours, have
            but too succesfully propagated the Doctrine, That Manufactures cannot be carried on to
            Advantage in America, That it is not for the Interest of the People even to make their
            own Cloaths, inasmuch as they can buy them much cheaper from Britain & [. . .
            ]—employ their Time to much better Purpose on their Lands— — —They have wrought us up to
            a Prejudice in favour of british Manufacturers and to a Contempt of our own—But how
            little have they considered the real State of our Country! Is there not a considerable
            Part of the Year, that our Men cannot be employed in Agriculture and it is well known
            that our Women are but seldom in any Part of the Year—This is a known Fact in our
            Northern State—it is also true that We may have it in our Power to furnish
            all the Materials for manufacturing necessary Cloathing and what else we have reall Need
            of— —I say We may have it in our Power, because if in a State of Eight Years
              War We cou1d principally cloath the Inhabitants and a greater Part of the
            Soldiery with our own Manufactures, surely in Peace We may do much more—What are our
              People to do where the Earth is sealed and neither Spade nor Plough will
            enter And How are we to employ our poor Men Women & Children who must otherwise
            be a Bill of Charge—Could We in 1781 in the Town of Bridgewater convert 70 Tons of Iron
            into Nail Rods manufacture them into Nails in that & a few other Towns (not a
            Spoonfull of Corn the less raised that Year) which is affirmed to be a Fact and
              shall we Can We not in a State of Peace do much more
          There is near a Quarter Part of the Year that a large Proportion of
            our Males are unemployed, Multitudes of our Women are not fully employed And from
            our Children We get but little Advantage till 9 or 10 Years of Age—If all these
            Classes of People were profitably employd in Manufactures, We should have but little
            Occasion for those of Europe those being withheld I am very sure We should become more
            virtuous, more frugal, more industrious and should lay solid Foundations for Wealth—In
            this Point of View, Would it not be happy for us if all Intercourse with Gt. Britain should be Cut off for 20 Years at least or untill
            We had lost all connection with her Customs & Manner, Worn of the Habits of
            Englishmen and acquird the Art of living independent. In short I cannot view my Country
            independent untill She can draw her Support & Defence from within her self, nor
            any Trade beneficial that exceeds the Surplus of Labour abovementioned and which has not
            for its Object, the Increase, of our Cash, the Payment of Debts and Supplies such only
            as shall serve to excite Industry and render it more useful——But where does all this
            lead to? Youll be ready to think that I am not an Advocate for a commercial
            Treaty with Gt. Bn. I confess
            that I have my Doubts and am ready to fear that almost all the beneficial Effects I have
            mentioned would in a great Measure cease—That a free Intercourse, would keep us
            dependent. That it would prevent any Stability in our Manufactures, for want of which
            their Manufacturers will not emigrate & set down with us—That it will build up
            their Plantations, which otherwise might tumble to Pieces—That it will prevent a
            Domestic Market for our Excess of Provisions, which the Establisment of Manufacturies
            would give That it would subject us to an annual Expense that We are little able to
            bear, That the Residence of Foreign Ministers Consuls
            &c here would spread Corruption in Places where they may reside—That it would
            give the greatest Advantage for destroying our Civil Form of Government——These are my
            Fears and many others wch might be mentioned, but sensible
            that the narrow Sphere in which I move, forbids my deciding on this National Question—I
            shall no longer prevent You from Your better Thoughts, but conclud[e] myself With much
            Esteem & Affection / Your Friend & Very Hume
              Sert

              Cotton Tufts

            PS. I hope in my next to be able to announce to You a most useful
              Discovery, no less than that of extracting fresh from Salt Water by a very simple
              Machine—said to be invented by a Mr. Allen of Martha’s
                Vineyard It is much talk’d [. . . ] gains Credit—


Title: Samuel Austin to John Adams, 23 Dec. 1785
From: Austin, Samuel
To: Adams, John

              Sir

              Boston

              23d Decemr. 1785—

          I am now to advise you, that John Rowe Esqr. Capt. Patridge Capt. Dashwood & myself have applied to our General
            Court, for their aid and assistance, to recover our money of Genl. How, for goods taken from us y[thorn sign]e.
              11th. March 1776. our cases being Similar, altho’ in some
            instances, altogether different from many other persons, who as well, as well
              as we, have lost their goods by the Kings troops, but being out of Town, could
            not know who took them, Consequently could not know who to demand them of.—
          But obviously different is our case, We were all of us in the Town,
            during the whole time the Town was shut up, in the Peace of
              the King, and had as good a right to the Kings
              Protection as any Subject in England, and accordingly was Promis’d by the Genl., we should have, both in Person & Property.—The
            Court has taken Order upon the Premises, heard of
            our Petition, and thoroughly Consider’d the Justice of our demand, and sent
            forward to Congress, all the Necessary Papers & Vouchers, and desir’d them to
            forward the same to your Excellency, that you may be Properly Authorizd to make demand
            for the reimbursment of our Monies, which papers I hope you will recieve soon after this
            reaches yr. hands.
          The above is wrote in Conjunction.—I beg leave now to give you an
              Accot. of Tracts relative to my own affair, which are
            Vouched by Papers Properly authenticated, and which will accompany the Papers sent to
            Congress to be forwarded to you.—I apprehend it needless to Say anything about the rude,
            and insulting behavior of the officer (Crean Brush) who took my goods, all which I was
            oblidg’d to Submit to.—Suffice it to say that on y[thorn sign]e 11th. March 1776 Crean Brush, an officer appointed
            by Genl. How, and by his written Orders (a Coppy of which
            you will have Sent you among the Papers from Congress) did by force and Arms, with near
            Twenty Soldiers, with their Guns and Bayonets enter my House and took from me in goods
            & Merchandize to the amount of Two Thousand Four hundred and Thirty Pounds 18/7
            Neat Sterling Cost, to which I have aded Fifty pct. Advance, which would not pay the Insurance &n Freight, as also
            Interest on the same, untill paid, as you will see by my Accot. sent to Congress.—Soon after Genl. How sent for the Selectmen to acquaint them, that the Kings troops were about
            leaving the Town, and gave some Orders relative thereto. I at that time having the Honor
            of being one of that Board, waited on him. By this interview I had an Opportunity of
            Conversing with him on the Subject of taking my goods from me in the manner
            he did, He Expressd himself with great Surprize and Indignation, that I should even
            think he mean’t to Alienate the Property of my goods, by no means he said, he mean’t no
            such thing, on the Contary, he Assured me in the most Sollemn manner my goods should all
            be returnd me again, or the Cash paid for them. He aded it was a Common thing for an
            Army when retreating and another army Pursuing, for the retreating Army to take from the
            inhabitants, every thing that might any ways be servicable to the Pursuers, but that as
            soon as the Confusion was over, the inhabitants had their goods return’d or
            the mony paid them, to the amount of what was taken away, and this he Asur’d me should
            be the case with mine.—He said further that what he had done was in Conformity to orders
            rec’d from the Minster, to Prevent the rebels as he calld them from being benifitted by
            them. Accordinly in a letter he writes Lord Dartmouth (which I have seen) given him an
              Accot. of Evacuating the Town, he has these words, “all
            the Woolen good also, that I could find room for belonging to those who chose to stay
            behind, the want of which is more distress: to the Enemy than any other Article
            whatever, has been shipd, Inventories of them taken in the best manner Possible, and Put
            under the Charge of proper persons, in order hereafter to be stor’d.”
          Agreeable to this, is his Orders to Crean Brush when he
            took the goods (Coppy of which you’ll have wi the Papers sent you from Congress) in
            which are these words, “You are hereby authorizd, and requir’d to take into your
            Possession, all such goods as Answer this discription, to give Certificates to the
            owners that you have receiv’d them for their use, and will deliver them to
            the owners orders, unavoidable Accidents Excepted.” Both the above Extracts, Plainly
            Evince, that it was never the intention, or design either of Genl. How or the Minister, that such goods so taken, should be look’d upon as
            forfited goods, on the Contrary, they were to be inventoried and Stored, and taken
            Proper care of, for the bennefit of the owners, and to be deliverd to their
            Orders, all which is Exactly agreeable to Genl
            Hows declaration to me, that they or the money should be return’d.
          But Contrary to this as I have been informd, the goods when they
            arriv’d at Hallifax, were all sold at Publich Vendue.—Possibly it may be objected that
            part of the goods were retaken, and I had part of them back again.—However true this in
            part may be, yet I concieve the Force of it will Vanish instantly when it is
            Considerd that those goods so retaken, only remov’d them still further from
            me, they being retaken from Genl. How, became instantly the
            Property of the Captors, and I never availd myself of any part of them, without Paying
            for the same—You will find among the Papers sent you from Congress, an Accot. given by Mr. Lane of a
            Conversation between him and Genl. How wherein he tells Mr. Lane, he took the goods for Security of
            for the Merchants in London, if so how unreasonable as well as unjust, is it,
            for the Merchants in London to be Pressing the debtor here, for those very goods, their
            Goverment has taken away from him, for their Security—But whether the goods taken, were
            for the Security of the Merchant, or whether for the reasons assign’d above, Viz to
            Prevent the rebels so call’d, from being bennifitted by them, I say in either case, I
            take it my Claim will not in the least be invallidated, On the Contrary, it will rather
                add strength thereto, and show very Plainly, that either the
            Merchant or the Goverment have got my money without any Consideration for the same—The
            only difficulty, th’at I can possible Concieve attending this affair, is Not
            distinguishing the different Circumstances of my case, and many others who
            have lost their Property as well as me, but not knowing who took them, know not where,
            nor to whom to apply for redress. but this is not my case, I know who took my goods,
              Genl. How took them, by his given to Crean Brush an
              Order for that Purpose, which Order I have by me for that Purpose and
            also his most Solemn Assurances the goods should be return’d or paid for.—
          View the two case as Stated above, how Essentially different are
            they, and I cannot but think every Candid person will instantly see there opposition. I
            am rather the more Particular here, because for want of making this distinction, some of
            the great men on your side the water, when they have been applied to upon
              these affairs have jumbled them altogether, and gave for answer there can
            no diffence be made, if we pay one, we must pay all, and there will be no end of Paying,
            this I Confess is a curious way of reasoning, but keeping the two cases in View the
            above way of reasoning appears altogether Childish and futile.—
          I own for myself, I never saw the Justice of Genl. How’s being answerable for that he knew nothing about, it
            may be thought quite sufficient, if he makes good his own Engagements, which
            he has most Solemly promis’d to fulfill, and this is what I have right to
            Expect Goverment will see done.—In fine I have not been Plunderd by Soldiers, nor had my
            goods Confiscated No, The King has had my money, and it has I suppose been appli’d to
            his use.—I don’t make application to Goverment to make good a loss that I
            have Sustain’d, which they have not been bennifited by, they have had my
            money, and to Suppose they won’t upon Proper Application pay me again, would reflect
            such disshonor on the English Goverment, as the most abandon’d of Mankind would detest
            and be asham’d of.—Upon the whole I thought it Proper to give your Excellency
            a history of my case, as well as to send the Vouchers to prove the facts. I know not
              whether Either of the above Gentlemen write you ⅌ this Conveyance, this in
            all probibillity will reach you, before the Papers from Congress comes to hand, This
            affair of mine, I sent forward to my Corespondent Messrs.
            Harrison & Ansley ⅌ the first Conveyance after Peace was Settled but nothing has
            been done but Perefect trifling—I have only to add, with the highest Esteem
            and respect to you, and yr good Lady— —Your Most Obedient and / Humble
            Servant—

              Samuel Austin

            P. S. Querie whether the 4th. Article of the Treaty peace don’t include my case


Title: David Ramsay to John Adams, 23 Dec. 1785
From: Ramsay, David
To: Adams, John

              Sir,

              New: York

              December 23d 1785

          Though personally unknown to you I take the liberty to inform you
            that the bearer of this Capt Coupar carries to London sixteen hundred copies of an
            original American work entittled
            “the History of the late revolution of South Carolina” consigned to Mr Dilly for sale.
            Mr Dilly has my orders to present you with a copy of it in my name. I beg that you would
            please to accept it as a testimony of my great veneration of your public character
            & as a mark of my gratitude for the services you have renderd & are now
            rendering to our common country
          I have the honor to be / with great esteem / your most obedient
            servt

              David Ramsay.


Title: John Adams to Nathaniel Barrett, 24 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Barrett, Nathaniel

              Sir

              Grosvenor square

               Decr. 24. 1785.

          I am happy to learn, by your favour of the 10th. that your prospects are satisfactory to yourself and promising for the
            publick
          You may depend upon every Personal and official exertion of Mr Jefferson, and the Marquis will take a pleasure and a Pride
            in assisting you, both by his knowledge of the Language, the Usages and the Characters
            in the Nation, by his powerful and numerous Connections, and by his own Reputation and
            Influence at Court & in the City, the Country and the seaports for no Man is
            more earnestly desirous of a friendly Commercial Intercourse between France and the
            United States—
          I think you will find that the United States may be supplied with
            many Articles of Cloathing, a Velvets, silks, Ratteens Cloaths, Cottons &
            Linnens & others from that Country at least as well as from this—
          The United States will probably Lay heavy Duties upon tonnage on
            the Vessels of those Nations, with Whom we have not commercial Treaties: and such will
            be prohibited from importing into our Ports—any Productions or Manufactures not the
            growth or Manufacture of the Country importing them—This will aid you very much—You will
            oblige me, by informing me from time to time, as far as may be proper of your
            Progress—
          If you can make it appear as I think you may that our Oil is
            cheaper than the Composition in use in the Paris Lamps, you will easily succeed—to this
            End an analisis of that Composition will be necessary, & a Price of the Parts
            must be known in order to compute the Cost of the whole—
          I wish well to your enterprize & if can be of any use to
            you in the pursuit of it, you will oblige me by informing when and how—
          I have the honour to be very respectfully Sir / Yours &c

              J. A


Title: John Adams to Richard Henry Lee, 24 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Lee, Richard Henry

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr. 24. 1785

          I am honoured with your Letter of 23 octr. and I must confess to you, that the situation I am in is the most pleasant in
            many respects, that I have ever been in, on this side the ocean. But still there is
            something wanting, which is quite essential. I mean a more benevolent spirit in the
            Nation towards the United States, a more honest disposition too is wanting. I even wish
            that my Candour could extend as far as yours, and exculpate the Court and Nation by
            imputing all to “a Delusion created by the most vindictive Characters in the world,
            meaning the Tory Refugees”. But I cannot be so charitable. The Refugees would be as
            insignificant as they are revengeful if the Nation was not as malicious and revengeful
            as they are and as dishonest too.—You have known me very well for eleven years, and you
            never knew me in Love with England, or possess’d of much Confidence in their wisdom or
            sincerity. You have often heared me say in Congress, that the national Character was
            altered, and had lost its best Characteristiks, Generosity & sincerity
           I assure you, Sir, I have found it since my residence here much
            worse and more universal than I ever before believed it to be. There is so general a
            Want of Principle, that I really consider the Nation as lost. I dont see a Possibility,
            that it should ever get over the Loss of America.
          We must look out for Commerce and Alliance, wherever we can find
            them, and suppose them necessary. We must consider the Commerce and Friendship, and even
            the continuance of Peace with England, as mere Contingencies, which may happen, but
            which are rather improbable.
          You give me great Spirits when you say “you have no doubt but that
            Smart Duties of Tonnage will be laid by all the States on the Vessells of those Nations
            with whom We have not commercial Treaties, and that such will be prohibited from
            importing into our Ports, Productions, or Manufactures not the Growth or Manufacture of
            the Country importing them.
          This alone, if the States go no further will do a great deal it
            will prevent British ships from carrying to America Russian Hemp & Duck,
            Sweedish Iron, Prussian ic, Silesian Linnens, Irish linnens, and all East India Goods
            nay spanish & Portugal Wines. I dont love to mention Cargoes from Affrica, for
            the rage of our Countrymen for Credit is such that they would take from England even
            Claret and Burgundy, if they could get it upon Tick—I hope the states will be careful to
            prohibit all Irish Productions in British Ships.
          I expect that the answer to our Project of a Treaty will be given
            in an Act of Parliament, The Ministry have lately consulted the Merchants, at least four
            houses and have a report from them—it is given out that it respects the Treaty with
            france, but it really relates to the American Commerce, Ministry have ordered a state of
            Shipping and Tonnage Trade to be made out, & preparations are making
            for a great Noise in Parliament—But it will not end in any system satisfactory to
            us.—
          The Hypocricy & Servility of this Nation has never appeared
            in any Thing more gross, than in the present universal cringing to the French,—Their
            stupidity appears in it, indeed as much as their Meanness, But the whole Nation would
            clean the wooden Shoes of the French upon Condition they would permit them to wreak
            their Vengence on us.
          Capt. Miller I presume has informed
            you, that your friend Mr. Steptoe unhappily died at Batavia
            on his return home.
          With great esteem I am &c &c

              J. A.


Title: Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 Dec. 1785
From: Jefferson, Thomas
To: Adams, John

              Dear Sir

              Paris

              Dec: 27. 1785

          Your favors of the 13th. &
              20th. were put into my hands today. this will be delivered
            you by mr[expansion sign] Dalrymple, secretary to the legation of mr[expansion sign]
            Crawfurd. I do not know whether you were acquainted with him here. he is a young man of
            learning & candor, and exhibits a phaenomenon I never before met with, that is,
            a republican born on the North side of the Tweed.
          You have been consulted in the case of the Chevalr. de Mezieres nephew to Genl.
            Oglethorpe, and are understood to have given an opinion derogatory of our treaty with
            France. I was also consulted, and understood in the same way. I was of opinion the
            Chevalier had no right to the estate, & as he had determined the treaty gave him
            a right, I suppose he made the inference for me that the treaty was of no weight. the
            Count de Vergennes mentioned it to me in such a manner that I found it was necessary to
            explain the case to him, & shew him that the treaty had nothing to do with it. I
            inclose you a copy of the explanation I delivered him.
          Mr. Boylston sold his cargo to an Agent
            of Monsieur Sangrain. he got for it 55. livres the hundred weight. I do not think that
            his being joined to a company here would contribute to it’s success. His capital is not
            wanting. Le Couteux has agreed that the Merchants of Boston sending whale oil here, may
            draw on him for a certain proportion of money, only giving such a time in their draughts
            as will admit the actual arrival of the oil into a port of France for his security. upon
            these draughts mr[expansion sign] Barrett is satisfied they will be able to
            raise money to make their purchases in America.—the duty is 7H-10 on the barrel of 520[TJ pound sign] French, and 10. sous on every livre,
            which raises it to 11H-5, the sum I mentioned to you. France
            uses between 5. & 6. millions of pounds weight French, which is between 3.
            & 4000 tons English. their own fisheries do not furnish one million &
            there is no probability of their improving. Sangrain purchases himself
            upwards of a million. he tells me our oil is better than the Dutch or English, because
            we make it fresh, whereas they cut up the whale & bring it home to be made, so
            that it is by that time entered into fermentation. mr[expansion sign] Barrett says that
            50. livres the hundred weight will pay the prime cost & duties & leave a
            profit of 16. per cent to the merchant. I hope that England will within a year or two be
            obliged to come here to buy whale oil for her lamps.
          I like as little as you do to have the gift of appointments. I hope
            Congress will not transfer the appointment of their Consuls to their ministers. but if
            they do, Portugal is more naturally under the superintendance of the minister at Madrid,
            & still more naturally under the minister at Lisbon, where it is
            clear they ought to have one. if all my hopes fail, the letters of Govr. Bowdoin & Cushing, in favor of young mr[expansion
            sign] Warren, & your more detailed testimony in his favor, are not likely to be
            opposed by evidence of equal weight in favor of any other. I think with you too that it
            is for the public interest to encourage sacrifices & services by rewarding them,
            and that they should weigh to a certain point in the decision between candidates.
          I am sorry for the illness of the Chevalr. Pinto. I think that treaty important: & the moment to urge it is that
            of a treaty between France & England.
          Lamb, who left this place the 6th. of
            Nov. was at Madrid the 10th. of this month. since his
            departure mr[expansion sign] Barclay has discovered that no copies of the full powers
            were furnished to himself, nor of course to Lamb. Colo.
            Franks has prepared copies which I will endeavor to get to send by this conveiance for
            your attestation: which you will be so good as to send back by the first safe conveiance
            & I will forward them. mr[expansion sign] Barclay & Franks being at this
            moment at St. Germain’s, I am not sure of getting the papers
            in time to go by mr[expansion sign] Dalrymple. in that case I will send them by
            mr[expansion sign] Bingham.
          Be so good as to present me affectionately to mrs[expansion sign]
            & miss Adams, to Colos. Smith & Humphries
            & accept assurances of the esteem with which I am Dear Sir / Your friend
            & servt.

              Th: Jefferson

            P.S. be pleased to forward the inclosed, sealing that to Congress
              after you have read it.


Title: John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 29 Dec. 1785
From: Adams, John
To: Mazzei, Philip

              Dear Sir

              Grosvenor Square

              Decr. 29. 1785

          I have found in the Remembrancer of the Year 1775, page 309, that a
            Petition was presented to his Majesty on Wednesday the 11th.
            of September, from the City of Bristol by Mr Burke, one of
            the Representatives of that City, in which are the following Words.
          “We owe a Testimony of Justice to your Colonies, which is, that in
            the midst of the present distractions, We have received many unequivocal Proofs, that
            our Fellow Subjects in that part of the world are very far from having lost their
            ancient Affection and regard to their mother Country, or departed from the Principles of
            commercial honour and private Justice. Notwithstanding the Cessation of the Powers of
            Government throughout that vast continent, We have Reason to think, judging by the
            Imports into this City, and by our extensive correspondencies, that the Commodities of
            American Grouth, enumerated by Acts of Parliament, have been as regularly brought to
            Great Britain, as in the most quiet times. We assure your Majesty that the Trade of this
            Port, and the Subsistence of a great part of your Kingdom, have depended very much on
            the Honourable, and, in this Instance, amicable Behaviour of your American Subjects. We
            have in this Single City received, within one Year, from the first of September 1774
            more than one million bushells of Wheat, to Say nothing of the great quantity of other
            valuable Commodities essential to our navigation and commerce.”
          Perhaps the foregoing is the Paragraph you are looking for.— —I had
            an Idea that there was Something to the Same purpose, in a Petition of the Merchants of
            London but as I have not yet been able to find it, I might be mistaken.—If I Should,
            Stumble upon any thing like it, I will send it you.
          After all, you must put an End to the Temptations to Emigration
            before you will Succeed in your Attempt to Silence Obloquy, against America, in the
            publick Prints.—The Mercure de France, the Gazettes de Deux Ponts, D’Avignon, De
            Bruxells which circulate in Paris, and all the Gazettes of Germany teem with Lies to our
            Disadvantage no less than the English Prints. The Strongest Motive to them all, is the
            Danger of Emigration and as long as Men prefer eating to starving Cloaths to Nakedness,
            and warm lodgings to the cold Air, this danger will not cease, nor the Fictions invented
            against it.
          Yours as usual

              John Adams