themselves in foreign countries, ought to conform themselves exactly
to the civil and mercantile laws, which shall there subsist, as well
as to the ordinances of every place where they live, or to which they
may send their vessels. Nevertheless, to the end that they may, as
much as possible, be instructed in those laws and ordinances, the
College of Foreign Affairs will communicate to that of Commerce, all
the writings that have relation thereto, that they may be able to give
notice of them to the merchants by the means of the public papers.
"ARTICLE XII. Although our intention is, to protect efficaciously and
vigorously the navigation and the commerce of our faithful subjects,
nevertheless, we intend not by any means to permit that there result
from it the least prejudice to one or the other of the belligerent
powers, or that individual merchants should profit of it to make
unlawful gain. To this effect, we forbid expressly any of our
merchants and trading subjects to permit strangers to negotiate, or
send ships to sea, under his name. Every person who shall in this
respect transgress our will, shall be deprived forever of our imperial
protection for his vessels, as well as of the right of fitting them
out in future. If our subjects, interested in maritime commerce,
follow exactly this ordinance in all its points, they may be assured
of our entire and unlimited protection concerning their affairs in
foreign countries, as well as of a zealous and affectionate
intervention on the part of the Ministers, Agents, and Consuls, who
reside there on our part. To this end, our College of Foreign Affairs
will communicate to them in sufficient season the most precise
instructions. But those among our subjects who shall depart from these
regulations, ought not to expect the least protection on our part,
whatever unfortunate accidents and other damages they may sustain, by
their voluntary transgression of the orders which they shall have
received, and not to depart from the requisite circumspection
recommended to them. The College of Commerce, in notifying this
ordinance to the body of Russian merchants trading in our ports, shall
at the same time be held to furnish the custom-houses with the
necessary instructions relative to this order, as well as to
communicate our will to the Governors of Provinces where there are
ports, that at the same time they may be observed in all the tribunals
which may concern them."
Czarsko-Selole, 19th of May, 1780. The original is thus subscribed by
the hand of her Imperial Majesty, Catterine.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS
Paris, July 19th, 1780.
Sir,
There is an article of news from Copenhagen of the 4th of July. "The
vessels of war, the Prince Frederick and the Jutland, each of seventy
guns, and the frigates, the Pearl and the Alsen, are in the Road. The
Admiral's flag will be hoisted on the 6th on board the Justitia, of
seventyfour guns, and all the Dutch fleet will consist, this year, of
ten ships of the line, from seventyfour to fifty guns, and six
frigates, thirtysix to thirty. There has already sailed of this fleet,
one ship of sixty guns, for the coast of Guinea; one of fifty is in
the north sea; another is in the Road of Elsinore, for a guard ship,
and three frigates have sailed for America. Thus the squadron will
remain composed of seven ships of the line and three frigates, which
are to join the Russian fleet. Yesterday and the day before, arrived
in the Road of this city a Russian fleet, consisting of fifteen ships
of the line and four frigates, under the command of Admiral Borislow,
of Vice Admiral Kruse, and of the commandant, Polibin; and on the 1st
of this month, there passed before the port of this city, the Swedish
ships of war, coming from the Baltic Sea, and making sail toward the
Sound."
_Elsinore, 27th of June._ "There has sailed from this port a convoy of
eighteen merchant ships, destined for the North Sea, under the convoy
of a Swedish ship of the line and a frigate."
There is a paragraph in the Amsterdam Gazette of the 14th, which is
worth translating, because these paragraphs oftentimes betray a great
deal of politics. It is this; "the conquest of Mobile, made by the
Spaniards, the news of which has lately arrived here, appears so much
the more important, as it leads infallibly to that of Pensacola, by
which the Spaniards may cut off one of the principal avenues of
Jamaica, and may, in time, intercept the commerce and the provisions
of this Island, from whence they are much annoyed at Mexico by the
English, who sufficiently incline to extend themselves when they can,
and had made since the peace so great progress in this part of the
world, that to stop them, the war was become almost indispensable to
Spain." It might have been added, that it was become indispensable to
France too; for the English have ever made it a maxim to go to war
with France, as she had a fine fleet and a flourishing commerce. Burn,
sink, and destroy, were the words with England whenever a formidable
navy appeared upon the ocean, belonging to any other nation.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO JOHN ADAMS.
Translation.
Versailles, July 20th, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which you did me the honor to write me on
the 13th of this month. I am very sensible of the confidence with
which you have communicated your ideas on the present situation of the
United States, and the need they have of the immediate assistance of
some ships of the line and some frigates. The Chevalier de Ternay and
the Count de Rochambeau, are sent with the express design, which is
the subject of your letter. They will concert their operations with
Congress and with General Washington. And as the King has given them
no precise orders with regard to their return to Europe, but has left
them at liberty to act as they shall judge proper for the relief of
America, there is every reason to believe, that they will take their
station during next winter in North America, if that shall be
agreeable to Congress, and that they will employ the ships and troops
under their command, according to the plan that shall be settled
between them and the American Generals.
You will perceive, Sir, by this detail, that the King is far from
abandoning the cause of America, and that his Majesty, without having
been solicited by Congress, has taken effectual measures to support
the cause of America. I flatter myself, Sir, that these generous
proceedings will excite suitable sensations in America, and that they
will prevail over the falsehoods, which the common enemy and their
wicked adherents propagate there, in order to raise suspicions of
France, and to induce the Americans to take resolutions, which will
terminate in their slavery and dishonor.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DE VERGENNES.
* * * * *
TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Paris, July 21st, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me yesterday,
and am extremely sensible of your Excellency's confidence in
communicating to me the destination of the armament under M. de Ternay
and the Count de Rochambeau, and the probability that the ships will
winter in North America.
I assure your Excellency, that scarcely any news I ever heard, gave me
more satisfaction; and nothing, in my opinion, can afford a more
effectual assistance to America, or make deeper or more grateful
impression on the minds of her inhabitants.
I am infinitely mistaken, if the service of the King in the conduct of
the war, both in the West Indies and North America, does not derive
such essential advantages from this measure, as will demonstrate its
wisdom to all the world, as well as to the English and Americans the
King's determined benevolence to the American cause.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, July 22d, 1780.
Sir,
The King of England's speech at the prorogation of Parliament,
contains nothing remarkable, worth the attention of America, except
compliments to the two Houses upon their magnanimity and perseverance
in the pursuits of this just and necessary war, which he says, has put
it in his power to make such efforts, that he dares hope, with the aid
of Divine Providence, to disconcert the violent and unjust designs of
his enemies, and induce them to listen to equitable and honorable
terms of peace. These efforts have already been followed by success
both by sea and land, and the happy and important turn, which affairs
have lately taken in North America, makes me conceive the best founded
hopes of the return of the affection and loyalty of my subjects of the
Colonies, and of their happy reunion with their mother country.
There is one more sentence, which deserves attention. "Exert
yourselves to inculcate this important truth, that rebellious
insurrections to resist or reform the laws, cannot fail to terminate
in the destruction of those who have made the attempt, or by the
subversion of our happy and free constitution." Americans will make
their own reflections on this speech. It is very certain, that it has
not the air nor the spirit of peace.
_Madrid, the 27th of June._ "We expect to learn in a few days, the
formation of the combined fleet in the Bay of Cadiz. The following is
the state of the Spanish vessels which are now there, ready to go out
under the command of Lieutenant General Don Louis de Cordova; La Tres
Sainte Trinite, of one hundred and twenty guns; the Foudre and S.
Ferdinand of eighty; the Sainte Isabelle, the Ange Gardien, the
Serieux, the Atlas, the St Pierre Apotre, the Orient, the St Raphael,
the St Joachim, the St Damase, the St Isidore, the St Eugene, and the
St Laurent of seventy; the Mino of fiftysix; the frigates, the Ste
Lucie of thirtysix, the Ste Rufine of twentyeight, the Ste Barbe, and
the Assomption of twentysix; the chebecs, the Majorquais, and the
Murcien of thirtysix; the St Sebastian of twentyfour, and the
corvette, the Ste Catharine of eighteen. To these vessels must be
added the squadron of Ferrol, which entered on the 23d of May in the
Bay of Cadiz, under the command of Don Athanasio Baranda, and composed
of the vessels, the Conception of ninety; the St Charles and the St
Vincent of eighty; the Ferme, the Galice, the St Paschal, and the
Brilliant of seventy; the Septentrion of sixtyfour; the frigates, El
Carmen and the Perpetua of thirtysix; as well as the corvette, the Ste
Helene of twentytwo guns; making thus a total of twentyfour ships of
the line, six frigates, four chebecs, and two cutters."
_Cadiz, the 24th of June._ "The squadron of M. de Beausset, composed
of seven ships of the line, anchored on the 18th in this Bay. His
frigates brought in two small ships loaded with corn and flour, and a
cutter of twelve guns. The cruise of this squadron has served very
much to keep the enemy's cruisers at a distance; and the neutrals not
fearing to be disturbed, have come here in great numbers. The 19th,
the Protector, commanded by M. D. Achen, arrived here; she fell into
the midst of the Quebec fleet; but as she sailed ill and had no
frigate, (the Galatea having been separated from her) she was not able
to take more than two vessels, the cargoes of which were rich enough,
and which she sent into Lisbon."
Thus the French and Spanish ships at Cadiz amount to thirty of the
line. This fleet, combined with that of Brest, and with the Active,
the Guerrier and the Cæsar, gone to convoy merchantmen to a certain
latitude, and to a ship of one hundred and ten guns, from Rochfort,
and all commanded by the Count d'Estaing, would give a good account of
the English.
_Petersburg, 23d of June._ "The squadron equipped at Cronstadt, having
received its last orders, sailed from thence the 19th of this month.
As the service to which it is destined will not permit it to return
before winter in the ports of this empire, the Court has sent to its
Ministers in Holland, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and
Denmark, orders to request of those respective powers, that there may
be granted to this squadron a free entry into their ports, and all the
succor of which they may have occasion, in case they should be obliged
to put in there by any accident," &c.
_Copenhagen, 4th of July._ "The arrival of the fleet of fifteen
Russian ships of the line in our port, is soon to be followed by the
departure of the Danish fleet. The Justice, of seventyfour guns, the
last of the vessels that we have armed to form it, will go tomorrow
into the Road; and the day after, the Vice Admiral de Schindel will
hoist his flag on board of her. We shall then have in service eight
ships of the line, two of fifty guns, and six frigates, to wit, the
Justice, and the Princess Sophia Frederick, commandant Krieger, of
seventyfour; the Jutland, and the Prince Frederick, Commandants de
Kaas and Lous, of seventy; the Droit d'Indigénat and the Wagrie,
Captains Gormar and Bille, of sixtyfour; the Dannebrog and the
Holstein, Captains Ellebracht and U. C. Kaas, of sixty; the Mars and
the Greenland, Captains Lutken and Knudsen, of fifty; the Bornholm
and the Riel, Captains Schaning and Tender, of thirtysix; the Moen,
Captain Budde, of thirtyfour; the Cronberg, Captain Ziervogel, of
thirtytwo; the Alsen, Captain Count de Reventlau, of twentyfour, and
the Christian, Captain Stockflelk, of twenty guns. Of these,
nevertheless, the Holstein sailed the 30th for Guinea; the Bornholm,
the Moen, and the Christian, are in the islands of America, and the
Greenland serves as a guard ship in the Road of Helsingore."
Whatever may be the part that either powers will take in regard to the
project of an armed neutrality, the three Crowns of the North appear
uniform in their measures for the protection of the commerce of their
subjects, and these measures have already the effect, that their
ships, particularly the Swedish and Danish, are already sought for
freight in the Baltic, in preference to all others, while on the other
side there arrives no neutral vessels from the North Sea, in the
Sound, which does not make the most bitter complaints concerning the
ill treatment received from English privateers. A Dutch ship has had
nineteen of them on board of him since his departure from the coast of
France, and a Russian ship has been robbed of all his victuals by
these pirates, who had left him nothing but Gruau-Water, and eighteen
pounds of bread, upon which eight men were to subsist during three
weeks.
_Hague, 17th of July._ "Affairs between our Republic and the Court of
London are still in the same state of indecision. We learn, that the
latter has answered, by the Viscount Stormont to the different Memoirs
presented during some weeks, by the Envoy, the Count de Welderen, in
which, he insisted upon the stipulations of the treaty of 1674. 'That
in answer to these Memorials, and to all those, which could be
presented of the same nature, he, Lord Stormont, observed that the
Count de Welderen insisted upon that, which at this time no longer
existed; that it would be superfluous to repeat what had passed upon
this subject, that he should confine himself, therefore, to remind him
of the order, which the King had given in his Council, on the 17th of
last April, and of which he had had the honor to give him official
information.'"
I am thus particular in laying before Congress a state of the navies
of Europe, because they show the unanimity and ardor, with which all
the maritime powers are intent upon their commercial and naval
interests, upon the freedom of commerce and navigation, and upon the
rights of neutral nations, and to show, that America is universally
considered by them as such a magazine of raw materials for
manufactures, such a source of commerce, and such a nursery of seamen,
and naval power, that they are determined, that no one power in Europe
shall ever again monopolise it. We must, however, fight our own
battles, and bear our own expenses; for the slow march of those
powers, their maxims of dignity and systems of etiquette are such,
that they must have their own way, and operate in their own time.
England has hints and warnings enough, but she will not take them.
These events, however, all show the wisdom of Congress, in planning
the first treaty, which was first sent to the Court of Versailles,
upon the principle of perfect equality and reciprocity, granting no
exclusive privileges, and binding herself to no obligation not to
admit any other, and all other nations to the same; principles from
which it is to be presumed we shall not depart.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, July 23d, 1780.
Sir,
I have been amused some time with dark and unintelligible hints in
letters from London, of some messenger sent from Lord North to Madrid.
Three weeks ago I waited on the Count de Vergennes, at Versailles, to
acquaint him, that I had an intention of making a journey to Amsterdam
for a few weeks, as I flattered myself I might form some
acquaintances, or correspondences there, and collect some
intelligence, that might be useful to the United States. His
Excellency desired me to wait some time, for that in eight or ten days
he believed he should have something to communicate to me. I assured
him, that I would not go till I saw him again, or heard further from
him. This day sevennight, his Excellency informed me, that he was
ready to let me know, that a messenger from the Court of London had
arrived at Madrid, that the Spanish Ministry had demanded the
sentiments of the British Court concerning America. He said he was not
instructed. He was told he must previously explain himself upon that
subject. He determined to send an express to London for instructions.
This the Count de Vergennes said would take up two months, and
consequently leave me time enough to go to Holland, but if anything
should happen in the meantime, he would give me the earliest
information of it.
In the Courier de l'Europe of the 14th of July, is this paragraph.
"The report runs, that a person who has been Secretary of the Marquis
d'Almodavar, during his embassy from the Court of Madrid to that of
London, arrived here, (London,) some weeks ago, on board the Milford,
coming from Oporto, that after a stay of eight days, this frigate had
orders to transport to Lisbon this person, accompanied by Mr
Cumberland, Secretary of Lord George Germain, whose instructions
imply, that if at the end of twenty days he is not called to Madrid,
he is to return here immediately. As soon as this person arrived at
Lisbon, he set out for Madrid, where fifteen days after, Mr Cumberland
was invited to go, and where he is at present."
There is a body of people in England who are zealous and clamorous for
peace, and the Ministry find their account in amusing and silencing
them by equivocal appearances of negotiations. They have ever made it
a part of their political system, to hold out to America some false
hopes of reconciliation and peace, in order to slacken our nerves and
retard our preparations. They think also, that they can amuse the
Courts of France and Spain, with a talk about conferences and
negotiations, while they are secretly concerting measures to succor
Gibraltar, and carry on their operations the next campaign. But
serious thoughts of peace upon any terms that we can agree to, I am
persuaded they never had; but if they ever did entertain any thoughts
of negotiation, it must have been at the time of their consternation
for Sir Henry Clinton, and their despair of his success.
The total and absolute suppression of the tumults in London, and the
triumphant success of Clinton, beyond their most sanguine
expectations, has now given them such confidence and exaltation that
the people of America will dethrone Congress, and, like the Israelites
of old, demand a king, that they now think of nothing but
unconditional submission, or at least of delusive proffers of terms,
which they know the majesty of the people in America will not agree
to, in order to divide us, to make a few gentlemen apostates, and some
soldiers deserters.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO JOHN ADAMS.
Translation.
Versailles, July 25th, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which you have done me the honor to write
to me on the 17th of this month. I have read it with the most serious
attention, and in order to give you an answer with greater exactness,
I have placed in the margin every paragraph which seemed to require
observations on my part. You will there see, Sir, that I continue to
be of opinion, that the time to communicate your Plenipotentiary power
to Lord Germain is not yet come, and you will there find the reasons
on which I ground my opinion. I have no doubt you will feel the force
of them, and that they will determine you to think as I do. But if
that should not be the case, I pray you, and in the name of the King
request you, to communicate your letter and my answer to the United
States, and to suspend until you shall receive orders from them, all
measures with regard to the English Ministry. I shall on my part,
transmit my observations to America, that M. de la Luzerne may
communicate them to the members of Congress, and I am persuaded that
that assembly will think the opinion of the Ministry of France worthy
some attention, and that they will not be afraid of neglecting or
betraying the interests of the United States, by adopting it as a rule
of their conduct.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DE VERGENNES.
* * * * *
_Observations on Mr Adams's Letter of July 17th, 1780._
Translation.
I. The reasons, which determined the Count de Vergennes to give Mr
Adams that advice are so plain, that they must appear at first view.
1st. To be solicitous about a Treaty of Commerce, before peace is
established, is like being busy about furnishing a house, before the
foundation is laid.
2d. In the situation in which America stands at present with regard to
England, to announce to that power that they have forgotten her system
of tyranny, her cruelties, and her perfidy, is discovering too great a
degree of weakness, or at least too much good nature, and inviting her
to believe, that the Americans have an irresistible predilection for
her, and to fortify her in the opinion she entertains, that the
American patriots will submit through weariness, or the preponderating
influence of the tories.
3d. To propose a Treaty of Commerce, which must be founded on
confidence, and on a union equivalent to an alliance, at a time when
the war is raging in all its fury, when the Court of London is wishing
to ruin or to subjugate America, what is it but to give credit to the
opinion, which all Europe entertains, conformable to the assertions of
the English Ministers, that the United States incline towards a
defection, and that they will be faithful to their engagements with
France, only till such time as Great Britain shall furnish a pretext
for breaking them.
II. A person may be furnished eventually with plenipotentiary powers,
without being under the necessity of publishing them, until
circumstances permit him to use them. This happens every day. Mr Adams
is charged with three distinct commissions. 1. To take a share in the
future negotiations for peace. 2. To conclude a treaty of commerce
with Great Britain. 3. To represent the United States at the Court of
London. It requires no great effort of genius to show, that these
three objects cannot be accomplished at the same moment of time, nor
that the two last cannot serve as an introduction to the first. It is
necessary first of all to obtain from England an acknowledgment of the
Independence of America, and that acknowledgment must serve as a
foundation for a treaty of peace. Until this is obtained, Mr Adams
cannot talk of a treaty of commerce. To propose one while the Court of
London is flattering itself with the hopes of subduing America, and
while with that view it is making the most strenuous efforts, would in
the view of that Court be to propose what was chimerical, and would be
taking a step which it would hold in derision.