nations, and a future negotiation to ripen these hints into a plan
that may be beneficial to both. The system of revenue, which it is
dangerous and difficult to alter in Spain, as well as in all other
countries of Europe, will be the principal objection. I have collected
together with some difficulty a few gazettes, which I have the honor
to transmit to Congress, from which all the news may be collected that
I have been able to learn. Congress will easily perceive the eagerness
with which the belligerent powers are bent on war, without manifesting
the least disposition for peace, and most of all, Great Britain, whose
ostentatious display of trifling successes, and whose weak exultation
shows, that nothing can divert her from her furious course. But she is
exhausting and sinking her forces every day, without gaining any
lasting or solid advantage, and she has reason to fear, from the
combined fleets of France and Spain, under such enterprising,
experienced, and approved officers, as d'Estaing and du Chaffault, the
entire ruin of her commerce and navy in the course of a campaign or
two more.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Paris, February 12, 1780.
Sir,
Having obtained permission from your Excellency yesterday, when I did
myself the honor to wait on you at Versailles, to write on the subject
of my mission, I have now the honor to acquaint you, that on the 29th
day of September last the Congress of the United States of America did
me the honor to elect me their Plenipotentiary to negotiate a peace
with Great Britain, and also to negotiate a treaty of commerce with
that kingdom, and Mr Francis Dana, member of Congress, and of the
Council of Massachusetts Bay, Secretary to both commissions.
As I was not at Congress when this transaction took place, I am not
able to inform your Excellency very particularly of the rise and
progress of it. But from conversation with gentlemen at Boston, who
were members of Congress, and from private letters, I learned in
general, that it was not the result of any sudden deliberation, or the
fruit of any particular event of the war, prosperous or adverse, but a
measure that has been more than a year under consideration, and
finally agreed to on this principle, that as it was uncertain at what
time the belligerent powers might be disposed to treat of peace, which
could not be concluded without a Minister from the United States, it
would save a great deal of time for this power to have a Minister in
Europe fully authorised to treat, and in concert with Ministers from
the other powers at war, conclude a peace with great Britain, and a
treaty of commerce consistent with that already made with His Most
Christian Majesty, and such others as might be made with other powers.
I am persuaded it is the intention of my constituents and of all
America, and I am sure it is my own determination, to take no steps of
consequence in pursuance of my commissions, without consulting his
Majesty's Ministers. And as various conjectures have been, and may be
made concerning the nature of my appointment and powers, and as it may
be expected by some, that I should take some measures for announcing
these to the public, or at least to the Court of London, I beg the
favor of your Excellency's opinion and advice upon these questions.
1. Whether, in the present state of things, it is prudent in me to
acquaint the British Ministry that I am arrived here, and that I shall
be ready to treat, whenever the belligerent powers shall be inclined
to treat?
2. Whether it is prudent in me to publish in any manner, more than the
journals of Congress may have already done, the nature of my mission?
3. Or whether to remain on the reserve, as I have hitherto done since
my arrival in Europe?
If any propositions should be made to me directly or indirectly from
the British Ministry, I shall not fail to communicate them without
loss of time to your Excellency, and I beg the favor of your
Excellency, as I am the only person in Europe who has authority to
treat of peace, that if any propositions on the part of Great Britain
should be made to his Majesty's Ministers, that they may be
communicated to me, at least as far as they may relate to the interest
of the United States.
Although I am not confined by commissions, nor instructions, nor by
any intimations from Congress to reside in any one place in Europe
more than another, yet my own inclinations as well as those of the
public would be most gratified, and the public service most promoted,
by my residing here. I must, therefore, request his Majesty's
protection and permission to reside in this kingdom for some time,
with or without assuming any public character, as your Excellency may
think most advisable.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO M. DE SARTINE.
Paris, February 13th, 1780.
Sir,
It was not until my arrival at Passy, that I had the honor of your
Excellency's letter of the 31st of December last.
When his Majesty's intentions of granting me a passage to America were
communicated to me, I had little expectation of returning in the same
frigate; but the Congress having honored me with a fresh mission to
Europe, their Excellencies, the late and present Ministers from his
Majesty to the United States, concurred in a proposal to Congress, and
a requisition to the commander of the frigate, to afford me a passage
in her voyage home, which Captain Chavagne agreed to with particular
marks of politeness to me and Mr Dana, and the others who accompanied
me.
I have again to express to your Excellency the obligations I am under
to the captain, and all the officers of the Sensible, for their
goodness to me and mine. But it is more particularly my duty to
express again my thanks to his Majesty, for this fresh favor, to M.
Gerard and the Chevalier de la Luzerne, who procured it for me, and to
your Excellency, for your approbation of it.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO JOHN ADAMS.
Translation.
Versailles, February 15th, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which you did me the honor to write me on
the 12th of this month. I think before I reply to the different
points on which you consult me, that it is proper to wait for the
arrival of M. Gerard, because he is probably the bearer of your
instructions, and will certainly be able to make me better acquainted
with the nature and extent of your commission. But in the mean time, I
am of opinion, that it will be prudent to conceal your eventual
character, and above all to take the necessary precautions, that the
object of your commission may remain unknown to the Court of London.
Besides, Sir, you may be assured, that his Majesty sees you with
pleasure in his dominions, that you will constantly enjoy his
protection, and the prerogatives of the law of nations. For my own
part, Sir, I shall be eager to give you proofs of my confidence, as
well as of the sentiments with which I have the honor to be, &c.
DE VERGENNES.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 15th, 1780.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform Congress, that on the 9th of this month,
and not before, I had the good fortune to arrive in this city, from
Ferrol (where I arrived on the 8th of December) with Mr Dana, Mr
Thaxter, and the rest of the company in tolerable health, after a
journey of near five hundred leagues, in the dead of winter, through
bad roads, and worse accommodations of every kind. We lost no time
more than was indispensably necessary to restore our health, which was
several times affected, and in great danger; yet we were more than
twice as long in making the journey by land, as we had been in
crossing the Atlantic ocean.
The next morning after our arrival at Paris, Mr Dana and myself went
out to Passy, and spent the day with his Excellency Dr Franklin, who
did us the honor the next day to accompany us to Versailles, where we
had the honor to wait on their Excellencies the Count de Vergennes, M.
de Sartine, and the Count Maurepas, with each of whom we had the honor
of a short conference, upon the state of public affairs. It is
sufficient for me to say in general, that I never heard the French
Ministry so frank, so explicit, so decided, as each of these gentlemen
was in the course of this conversation, in his declarations to persue
the war with vigor, and to afford effectual aid to the United States.
I learned with great satisfaction, that they are sending, under
convoy, clothing and arms for fifteen thousand men to America, that
seventeen ships of the line were already gone to the West Indies,
under M. de Guichen, and that five or six more at least are to follow,
in addition to ten or twelve they have already there. I asked
permission of the Count de Vergennes to write to him on the subject of
my mission, which he cheerfully and politely agreed to. I have
accordingly written to his Excellency, and shall forward copies of my
letter and his answer, as soon as it may be safe to do it.
The English are to borrow twelve millions this year, and it is said,
that the loan is filled up. They have thrown a sop to Ireland, but
have not appeased her rage. They give out exactly such threats as they
did last year, and every other year, of terrible preparations. But
Congress knows perfectly well how these measures have been
accomplished. They will not be more fully executed the next year than
the last, and if France and Spain should throw more of their force,
especially by sea, into America the next year, America will have no
essential injury to fear.
I have learned since my arrival at Paris, with the highest pleasure,
the arrival of M. Gerard, Mr Jay, and Mr Carmichael, at Cadiz, for
whose safety we had been under great apprehensions. I have now very
solid hopes, that a treaty will soon be concluded with Spain, hopes
which everything that I saw and heard seemed to favor.
The Alliance frigate, now under the command of Captain Jones, with
Captain Cunningham on board, is arrived at Corunna, where she is to be
careened, after which she is to return to L'Orient, and from thence to
go to America, as I am informed by Dr Franklin.
Mr Auther Lee, and Mr Izard, are still in Paris, under many
difficulties in procuring a passage home. Mr William Lee is at
Brussels. Mr Izard has been to Holland, to obtain a passage from
thence, but unfortunately missed his opportunity and returned
disappointed.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 17th, 1780.
Sir,
It is necessary, that I should inform Congress in what manner I have
been able to procure money to defray my expenses in my long journey,
through the greatest part of Spain and France to this city.
On my arrival at Ferrol, I was offered the loan of money by the French
consul, M. de Tournelle, who, at the same time told me, there was a
gentleman at Corunna, M. Michael Lagoanere, who had heretofore acted
as an American agent at that place, and who would be very happy to
supply me. On my arrival at Corunna, M. Lagoanere did me the honor of
a visit, and offered me every assistance in cash, otherwise telling me
at the same time, he had some money in his hands, which he supposed
belonged to the United States, being part of the proceeds of some
prizes heretofore made by Captain Cunningham. That this money,
however, had been attached in his hands by some Spanish merchant, who
had commenced a lawsuit against Captain Cunningham. I accordingly
received three thousand dollars for myself and Mr Dana, and a letter
of credit on the house of Cabarous at Bayonne, for as much more as I
should have occasion for. On our arrival at Bayonne, Mr Dana and I
received of that house fifty louis d'ors, and a bill of exchange on
another house of the same name and family at Bordeaux for the like
sums, our expenses having exceeded all our computations at Corunna, as
our journey was necessarily much longer than we expected, on account
of the uncommon bad weather and bad roads. This bill was paid upon
sight. So that, upon the whole, we have received the amount of
seventeen thousand four hundred livres, all on account of M. Lagoanere
of Corunna. Of this sum, Mr Dana has received the amount of four
thousand nine hundred and seventyone livres and fifteen sols, and I
have received twelve thousand four hundred and twentyeight livres and
five sols, for which sums we desire to be respectively charged in the
treasury books of Congress.
As this money is expended, if M. Lagoanere should draw upon us for it,
all the authority we have to draw upon his Excellency the Minister
here will not enable us to pay it, and if M. Lagoanere should be so
happy as to avoid the attachment and leave us to account with Congress
for this money, the small sum we are empowered to receive from his
Excellency will go a very little way in discharging our expenses. We
must therefore pray, that Congress would forward us authority to draw
upon his Excellency for the amount of our salaries annually, which,
without all doubt, will be paid.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
Paris, February 18th, 1780.
My Dear General,
You know extremely well the skill of our enemies in forging false
news, and their artifice in circulating it, not only through the
various parts of Europe, but in the United States of America, to keep
up the spirits of their friends and depress those of their
adversaries. It is their annual custom in the winter to send abroad
large cargoes of these lies, and they meet with a success in making
them believed, that is really astonishing.
Since my arrival here, I find they have been this winter at their old
game again, and have circulated reports here, in Holland, and other
parts of Europe, that they have made new contracts with other petty
Princes in Germany, by which, together with those made before, they
will be able to draw seven thousand fresh troops from that country to
serve in America. That by appeasing the troubles in Ireland, they
shall be able to avail themselves even of the military associations
in that kingdom, by depending upon them for the defence of the
country, and to draw near ten thousand men from thence for the service
in America. That they have concluded a treaty with the Court of
Petersburg, by which Russia is to furnish them with twelve ships of
the line and twenty thousand men, which they say is of the more
importance, on account of the intimate connexion between Russia and
Denmark, as the latter will be likely by this means to be drawn into
the war, with their numerous fleet of fortyfive ships of the line. The
greatest part of these tales are false. I know very well what is said
of Russia is so contrary to all that I have seen and heard of the good
understanding between Versailles and Russia, that I have no doubt of
its falsehood. But as I am very lately arrived, and, consequently,
have not opportunity to examine these reports to the bottom, I beg the
favor of you to inform me, with all the exactness possible, how much
truth there is in them, if any at all.
You are very sensible that it is of the utmost importance, that
Congress should have the exactest information of these things, and
that you and I cannot render a more useful service to our country at
present, than by collecting such intelligence with precision, and
transmitting it without delay. Knowing the pleasure you take in
serving the United States in every way in your power, I thought I
could beg this favor of you with propriety, and that you would believe
me always your friend and servant,
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO M. GENET, FIRST SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, February 18th, 1780.
Dear Sir,
Whether it is, that the art of political lying is better understood in
England than in any other country, or whether it is more practised
there than elsewhere, or whether it is accidental that they have more
success in making their fictions gain credit in the world, I know not.
But it is certain, that every winter since the commencement of the
present war with America, and indeed for some years before, they sent
out large quantities of this manufacture over all Europe, and
throughout all America, and what is astonishing is, that they should
still find numbers in every country ready to take them off their
hands.
Since my arrival in this city, I find they have been this winter at
their old trade, and have spread reports here and in Holland, and in
various other parts of Europe, and no doubt they have found means to
propagate them in America too, tending to keep up the spirits of their
friends, and to sink those of their opponents. Such as, that they have
made new contracts with several German Princes, by which they are to
obtain seven thousand men to serve in America; that they have so
skilfully appeased the troubles in Ireland, that they shall ever be
able to take advantage of the military associations there, by
depending upon them for the defence of the kingdom, while they draw
from thence ten thousand regular troops for the service in America;
that they have even concluded a treaty with Russia, by which the
Empress is to furnish them with twelve ships of the line and twenty
thousand men, as some say, and twenty ship of the line and twelve
thousand men as others relate. This they say is of the greater moment,
because of an intimate connexion, I know not of what nature it is,
between Russia and Denmark, by which the latter will be likely to be
drawn into the war against the House of Bourbon and America; and
Denmark, they say, has fortyfive ships of the line.
I know very well that the greatest part of these reports is false; and
particularly what is said of Russia is so contrary to all those
reports, which I have heard for these twelve months past of the
harmony between Versailles and Petersburg, that I give no credit to it
at all, but I find that all these reports make impressions on some
minds, and among the rest some Americans.
I therefore beg the favor of you to inform me of the exact truth in
all these matters, that I may take the earliest opportunity of
transmitting the intelligence to Congress, where it is of importance
it should be known.
I was much mortified when I was at Versailles the other day, that I
could not have the honor of paying my respects to you, but I was so
connected with other gentlemen, who were obliged to return to dinner,
that I could not; but I shall take the first opportunity I can get to
wait on you, and assure you that I am, with great respect, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
M. DE LAFAYETTE TO JOHN ADAMS.
Paris, February 19th, 1780.
Dear Sir,
As I came but this morning from Versailles, it was not in my power
sooner to answer the letter you have honored me with, and this duty I
now perform with the more pleasure, as it is of some importance to the
interests of America. Since the first day, when I had the happiness of
making myself and of being considered in the world as an American, I
have always observed, that among the many ways of attacking our
liberties, and among the most ungenerous ones, misrepresentations have
ever been the first weapons on which the British nation has the most
depended.
I am glad it is in my power generally to assure you, that the many
reports propagated by them and alluded to in your letter are not
founded upon truth. New contracts with petty princes in Germany have
not, I believe, taken place, and if any such merchandise were sent to
America, it would at most consist of a few recruits. The troubles in
Ireland, if there is the least common sense among the first patriots
of that country, are not I hope at an end, and it seems they now begin
to raise our expectations. The Russian troops, so much talked of in
their gazettes, I take to be mere recruits for those thirty thousand
Russians, that Mr Rivington had three years ago ordered to embark for
America.
Those intelligences, my dear Sir, must be counteracted by letters to
our friends in America. But as the respect, which we owe to the free
citizens of the United States, makes it a point of duty never to
deceive them, and as the most candid frankness must ever distinguish
our side of the question from the course of tyranny and falsehood, I
intend paying tomorrow morning a visit to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and from him get such minute intelligence as shall answer
your purpose.
With the most sincere regard, I have the honor to be, &c.
LAFAYETTE.
_P. S._ On my return from Versailles, my dear Sir, where I will settle
the affairs of arms that I have undertaken, I will impart to you a
project privately relating to me, that is not inconsistent with my
sentiments for our country, America.
L.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 19th, 1780.
Sir,
Enclosed are copies of former letters to Congress, and I shall
continue to transmit copies, until I learn that some have arrived, for
which reason I must request the favor that his Excellency the
President, or some committee, may be desired to acknowledge the
receipt of letters, so that I may know as soon as may be, what letters
have arrived, and which have been less fortunate.
The art of making and spreading false news to answer political
purposes is not peculiar to Great Britain, but yet she seems to
possess this art, and the talent of giving to her fictions the colors
of probability beyond other nations; at least, she seems to have more
success in making her impostures believed than any other. It is her
annual practice in the winter to fabricate and export large quantities
of this merchandise to all parts of Europe and America, and she finds
more customers to take them off her hands than she ought, considering
how illicit the traffic is.
This winter her emissaries have been more assiduous than ever in
propagating reports, that they have entered into new engagements with
several other petty principalities in Germany, by which they shall
hire seven thousand men, for the service of the next campaign in
America. That by compromising with Ireland, they shall be able to take
advantage even of the military associations in that kingdom, and draw
from them a large number of regular troops for the service in America,
depending on the volunteer militia, or associators for the defence of
the country; that they have made a treaty with Russia, whereby that
power has engaged to furnish them with twelve ships of the line and
twenty thousand troops, as some say, and twenty ships of the line and
twelve thousand troops, according to others. This alliance they say
too is of the more consequence, on account of some connexion between
Russia and Denmark, who, it is insinuated, will follow Russia into the
war, and Denmark they add has fortyfive ships of the line, not manned
it is true, but England they say can man them.
These tales one would think are so extravagant and absurd, that they
would not find a believer in the world. Yet there are persons, who
believe them in all nations of Europe, particularly in Holland, and
there is no doubt the same song will be sung in America, and many will
listen to it. There is nothing further from the truth; they will find
the utmost difficulty to draw from Germany troops enough to repair the
breaches in the German troops made in America the last year; the same
with regard to Ireland. And as to what is said of Russia, there is not
even a color of truth in it, but on the contrary, the same good
understanding continues between Versailles and Petersburg, which
subsisted last winter, spring, and summer. As to Denmark, I have no
reason to think that she is disposed to assist Great Britain, but on
the contrary that she has armed to defend herself at sea against Great
Britain; but if it were otherwise, to what purpose would her ships of
the line be unmanned, when Great Britain cannot man the ships of the
line she already has.
France seems determined to pursue the naval war with vigor and
decision in the American seas. M. de Guichen sailed the beginning of
January with seventeen or eighteen ships of the line. Seven more are
now preparing at Brest with all possible expedition, supposed to be
for America. Those, if they all happily join the twelve ships left
there by the Count d'Estaing, will make a fleet of six and thirty
ships of the line. And the Court seems determined to maintain the
superiority in the American seas. This will give scope to our
privateers to weaken and distress the enemies of their country, while
they are enriching themselves.
There is no news of Admiral Rodney; from whence I conclude he is gone
to the West Indies.