successes, which are mostly however of the negative kind, that they
talk in a style very different from that of peace. There are two
reflections, which the English cannot bear, one is that of losing the
domination of the colonies as indispensable to the support of their
naval superiority over France and Spain, or either of them, in
possession of a powerful fleet at the peace. Their maxim is to make
themselves terrible at sea to all nations, and they are convinced that
if they make a peace leaving America independent, and France and Spain
powerful at sea, they shall never again be terrible to any maritime
power. These reasons convince me, that Great Britain will hazard all
rather than make peace at present. Thompson's "Britannia," which
expresses the feelings as well as the sentiments of every Briton, is
so much to the present purpose, that I hope I shall be pardoned for
referring to it, even in a letter to Congress.
I have the honor to be, with the highest esteem, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Paris, February 19th, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which your Excellency did me the honor to
write me on the 15th of this month, and lest I should not have
explained sufficiently in my letter of the 12th the nature and extent
of my commissions, I have now the honor to enclose attested copies of
both, as well as of that to Mr Dana.
With regard to my instructions, I presume your Excellency will not
judge it proper, that I should communicate them any further than to
assure you, as I do in the fullest manner, that they contain nothing
inconsistent with the letter or spirit of the treaty between his
Majesty and the United States, or the most perfect friendship between
France and America, but, on the contrary, the clearest orders to
cultivate both. I have hitherto conducted according to your advice,
having never communicated to any person since my arrival in Europe the
nature of my mission, excepting to your Excellency and Dr Franklin, to
whom it was indeed communicated by a resolution of Congress, and to
him in confidence. I shall continue to conceal, as far as may depend
upon me, my actual character, but I ought to observe to your
Excellency, that my appointment was as notorious in America as that
of Mr Jay, or Dr Franklin, before my departure. So it is probably
already known to the Court of London, although they have not regular
evidence of it. I mention this, lest some persons might charge me with
publishing what I certainly did not publish.
I thank your Excellency for the assurances of his Majesty's protection
and of your confidence, which it shall be my study and endeavor at all
times to deserve.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
M. GENET TO JOHN ADAMS.
Translation.
Versailles, February 20th, 1780.
Sir,
You have been afraid to trouble the Count de Vergennes, and you have
done me the honor of addressing yourself to me, in order to know what
you are to think of several rumors, which the English have endeavored
to spread. I am infinitely flattered by the mark of confidence, which
you have been pleased to give me, but I have thought myself obliged to
lay the letter before the Minister. He has directed me to assure you,
that on every occasion he will be very happy that you should address
yourself directly to him, and that you will always find him ready to
satisfy your inquiries.
He has remarked, as well as yourself, the address which our enemies
use to circulate false reports, and to make Europe believe that the
Americans are making advances to them, in order to treat of an
arrangement with them. The Count de Vergennes is likewise persuaded
of the contrary, as he is assured that no new treaty has been
negotiated with the Princes of Germany, and that no levies are making
there, but for the sake of filling up the old ones. He does not think
that the news of the treaty with Russia, nor that which relates to the
Court of Denmark, are better founded. He told me that I might do
myself the honor to write you, that all those rumors are false, and
that you run no risk in presenting them as such to the persons, on
whom you think they have made some impression, both in Europe and
America.
I am extremely anxious to have the honor to see you, and congratulate
you on your happy return. As I but seldom go to Paris, I wish your
business may permit you to do me the honor to call at my house and
accept of a family dinner.
I have the honor to be, &c.
GENET.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 20th, 1780.
Sir,
Since my arrival in Europe, I have had the mortification to see in the
public papers a series of little successes, which our enemies have had
in the prosecution of the war. The first was a very exaggerated
account in the English Court Gazette, of their successes against the
Spaniards in South America. The next was the history of the repulse of
General Lincoln and the Count d'Estaing at Savannah, and the raising
of the siege at that post. These were soon followed by the capture of
the Spanish fleet of transport ships by Rodney's squadron, and the
advantage gained by that Admiral over the Spanish ships of war, after
a most gallant resistance, however, off Gibraltar.
These small triumphs, although chiefly of the defensive and negative
kind, and a poor compensation for the blood and the millions they are
annually wasting, are, however, sufficient to cheer the spirits of the
British populace, and to banish from the minds of the Ministry all
thoughts of peace upon reasonable terms; for the English in the
present war act upon a maxim diametrically opposite to that of the
Romans, and never think of peace upon any event fortunate to them, but
are anxious for it under every great adversity.
A report of my appointment having also been carried to England by the
cartels from Boston, and being spread in Europe by various other ways,
by passengers in the Committee, by French passengers in the Sensible,
of whom there were a great number who had heard of it in all companies
in America, and by many private letters, and the English ministerial
writers having made use of this as evidence of a drooping spirit in
America in order to favor their loan of money, I thought it my best
policy to communicate my appointment and powers to the French Court,
and ask their advice, as our good allies, how to proceed in the
present emergency. I accordingly wrote to his Excellency, the Count de
Vergennes, the letter of the 12th of February, a copy of which is
enclosed; and received his answer of the 15th, a copy of which is
enclosed; to which I replied in a letter of the 19th, a copy of which
is also enclosed. When I shall receive his Excellency's answer, I
shall do myself the honor to enclose that.
If there is anything in these letters of mine, which is not
conformable to the views and sentiments of Congress, I wish to be
instructed in it, or if Congress should not concur with his Excellency
the Count, I shall obey their orders with the utmost punctuality and
alacrity. I have ever understood, that Congress were first advised to
the measure of appointing a Minister to negotiate peace, by the French
Minister then at Philadelphia, in the name of the Count de Vergennes.
However this may have been, it cannot be improper to have some one in
Europe empowered to think and treat of peace, which some time or other
must come.
Since my last, which was of yesterday's date, I have had opportunity
to make more particular inquiries concerning the pretended treaty with
Russia, and am informed, that the English Ministry did, not long
since, make a formal application by their Ambassador to the Empress of
Russia for a body of troops and a number of ships; but that the
application was opposed with great spirit and ability in the Russian
Council, particularly by the Minister for foreign affairs, and
rejected in council with great unanimity, and that the harmony between
Versailles and Petersburg remains as perfect as when I left France.
I have the honor to be, with very great respect, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO JOHN JAY, MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY AT MADRID.
Paris, February 22d, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I most sincerely congratulate you on your happy arrival in Europe,
which must be the more agreeable to you, for the terrible voyages you
have had. Every good American in Europe, I believe, suffered a great
anxiety from the length of time that passed between the day when it
was known, that the Confederacy sailed, and the time when the news
arrived of your being in Cadiz. I, too, have had my hairbreadth
escapes, and, after my arrival, a very tedious journey in the worst
season of the year by land. Happy, however, shall we be, if all our
hazards and fatigues should contribute to lay the foundation of a free
and prosperous people.
I hope no accident or disagreeable circumstance has happened to your
family, to whom I shall be obliged to you to present my respects. From
what I saw and heard in Spain, from the strong assurances I received
of the good will of the Court and nation, and from the great attention
and respect, that were paid me by officers of government of the
highest rank in the provinces through which I passed, I am persuaded
you will meet with the most distinguished reception, and I hope will
soon have the honor and satisfaction of concluding a treaty with
Spain. You will have the advantage of more frequent and speedy
intelligence from home, than we can have here, at least you will have
it in your power. There are vessels oftener arriving from America at
Bilboa and Cadiz, I think, than in France. Many of these vessels come
from Boston and Newburyport, perhaps the most of them. So that by
directing your correspondents to send their letters that way, you will
have them much sooner than we can commonly obtain them; and by
transmitting yours to Messrs Gardoqui & Co. at Bilboa, and Mr
Montgomery, or some other, at Cadiz, your despatches will go more
speedily, and more safely than ours, for we find it almost impossible
to get a letter across the Bay of Biscay from France in a merchant
vessel, there are so many privateers in the route; the danger of whom
is avoided chiefly by vessels from Bilboa keeping near the coast, and
running into harbor in case of danger, and wholly by those from Cadiz.
You will excuse my mentioning to you this channel of intelligence,
which might not possibly have occurred to you, and my wishing to make
some advantage of it to myself, by asking the favor of your
correspondence, and that you will impart to me the advices you may
receive through it.
We have nothing new here at present, but what you have had before.
Pray what think you of peace? It seems to be the will of Heaven, that
the English should have success enough to lead them on to final
destruction. They are quite intoxicated with their late advantages,
although a poor compensation for what they cost.
My respects to Mr Carmichael, and believe me to be, with respect and
esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 23d, 1780.
Sir,
Having been informed this morning by the Marquis de Lafayette, of
another opportunity for America, I have the honor to enclose to
Congress triplicates of former letters, and copies of some other
letters, which I have written and received lately. I have also packed
up all the newspapers and pamphlets I can obtain. The _Mercure de
France_ is a weekly publication of very ancient origin, and is become
lately very interesting to America, because those political
intelligences and speculations, which were formerly published in
another pamphlet, under the title of _Affaires de l'Angleterre et de
l'Amérique_ are now published in this, the other having been dropped.
The _Courrier de l'Europe_ has the most extensive circulation of any
gazette, although supposed to be rather too much under the influence
of the British Ministry sometimes; the _Gazette de France_ is
published by authority here, and has a great reputation for integrity;
in the _Gazette de la Hague_ the English find means to publish many
false reports. These papers and pamphlets, together with one or two
English papers, for which I shall subscribe as soon as possible, I
shall do myself the honor to transmit to Congress constantly as they
come out. From these, Congress will be able to collect from time to
time all the public news of Europe.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO SAMUEL ADAMS.
Paris, February 23d, 1780.
Dear Sir,
You will see by the public papers, that your Committee of
Correspondence is making greater progress in the world, and doing
greater things in the political world, than the electrical rod ever
did in the physical; Ireland and England have adopted it, but mean
plagiaries as they are, they do not acknowledge who was the inventor
of it. Mr Lee and Mr Izard will go with this letter in the Alliance,
and probably go to Boston. They will be able to inform you of
everything of a public nature much better than I can do, as I have
scarcely had opportunity to look about me as yet. They will give you
few hopes of peace, at least very speedily.
The associations of counties and committees of correspondence in
England, are very ominous to our old acquaintances the refugees, as
they attack unmerited pensions in the first place. But they must do
greater things than distressing these gentry; they must necessarily
produce great commotions in the nation. The speeches at these meetings
go great lengths, some of them openly justifying and applauding the
Americans, and others even applauding France and Spain for stepping in
to our assistance. The Court here seems determined more than ever to
pursue the war with vigor, especially by sea, and above all in the
American seas. They have already sent seventeen ships of the line
under M. de Guichen, to reinforce M. de la Motte Piquet, and seven
others are preparing at Brest. They are sending out clothing and arms
for fifteen thousand men for our army, and seem confident, that the
next campaign will be better than the last. I hope the spirit of
privateering among us will increase, because I think this is the way
in which we can do the most service to the common cause. I hope you
will be so good as to inform me of what passes, particularly what
progress the Convention makes in the constitution.[56] I assure you it
is more comfortable making constitutions in the dead of winter at
Cambridge or Boston, than sailing in a leaky ship, or climbing on
foot, or upon mules, over the mountains of Galicia, and the Pyrenees.
Believe me your friend and servant,
JOHN ADAMS.
FOOTNOTE:
[56] Convention of Massachusetts, of which Mr Adams had been chosen a
member soon after his return from France.
* * * * *
TO GENERAL JAMES WARREN.
Paris, February 23d, 1780.
Dear Sir,
The French Court seems to be now every day more and more convinced of
the good policy, and indeed the necessity of prosecuting the war with
vigor in the American seas. They have been, and are making great
preparations accordingly, and are determined to maintain a clear
superiority.
M. de la Motte Piquet has with him the Hannibal, the Magnifique, the
Diadème, the Dauphin Royal, the Artisane, the Réfléchi, and the
Vengeur, and if M. de Grace has joined him from the Chesapeake Bay,
the Robuste, the Fendant, and the Sphinx; in all ten ships of the
line. M. de Guichen has gone to join him with the Couronne, eighty
guns, the Triumphant, eighty; the Palmier, the Victoire, the Destin,
the Conquérant, the Citoyen, the Intrépide, the Hercule, and the
Souverain, all of seventyfour; the Jason, the Actionnaire, the Caton,
the Julien, the Solitaire, the St Michael, and the Triton, all of
sixtyfour; the frigates, the Medea, Courageuse, Gentille, and the
Charmante, all of thirtytwo. He had above a hundred sail of vessels
under his convoy, and the regiment of Touraine and Enghien, of more
than thirteen hundred men each, and the second battalions of Royal
Corntois, and of Walsh, of seven hundred men each, making in the whole
more than four thousand troops. Besides these, there are seven more
preparing at Brest to sail.
M. Gerard, Mr Jay, and Mr Carmichael are arrived at Cadiz in a French
frigate, the Confederacy having been dismasted, and driven to
Martinique. The Alliance carries this with Mr Lee and Mr Izard, who
will no doubt be treated with all respect at Boston.
Notwithstanding the commotions in England and Ireland, the success of
Provost at Savannah, and of Rodney off Gibraltar, and even the silly
story of Omoa, in South America, is enough to embolden the Ministry to
go on with a debt of two hundred millions, already contracted, to
borrow twelve or fourteen millions a year, in the beginning of a war
with France and Spain, each having a greater navy than they ever had,
each discovering a greater fighting spirit than they ever did before,
and obliging the English to purchase every advantage at a dear rate.
The premiums and bounties, that they are obliged to give to raise men,
both for the service by sea and land, and the interest of money they
borrow, are greater than were ever given in any former wars, even in
the last year of the last war. This cannot always last, nor indeed
long. Yet I do not expect to see peace very soon.
Pray write me as often as possible, and send the newspapers to me.
Your friend and servant,
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
COUNT DE VERGENNES TO JOHN ADAMS.
Translation.
Versailles, February 24th, 1780.
Sir,
I have received the letter, which you have done me the honor to write
me the 19th of this month. Your full powers, of which you have been
pleased to send me a copy, are perfectly conformable to what M. Gerard
has written to me about them, and they leave us nothing to wish for,
as to the form or matter. I think there will be no inconveniency in
informing the public of the principal object of your mission, I mean
the future pacification. It will be announced in the Gazette of
France, when it will mention your presentation to the King and royal
family, and you will be at liberty to give your eventual character a
greater publicity, by having it published in the Dutch papers. I could
only wish, that you would be so kind as to communicate the article to
me before you transmit it. With regard to the full powers, which
authorise you to negotiate a treaty of commerce with the Court of
London, I think it will be prudent not to communicate them to any body
whatever, and to take every necessary precaution, that the British
Ministry may not have a premature knowledge of them. You will no doubt
easily feel the motives, which induce me to advise you to take this
precaution, and it would be needless to explain them.
With regard to your instructions, Sir, I am satisfied that they have
for their certain and invariable basis, the treaties subsisting
between the King and the United States. M. Gerard has assured the King
of it, in the most positive manner, and his Majesty does more justice
to the uprightness of Congress, and to the stability of the sentiments
which they have hitherto manifested, than to have ever entertained, or
to entertain, the least doubt on this subject. This way of thinking
will convince you, Sir, that we have no need of seeing your
instructions, to appreciate properly the principles and dispositions
of Congress towards Great Britain.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DE VERGENNES.
* * * * *
TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.
Paris, February 25th, 1780.
Sir,
I had last evening the honor of your Excellency's letter of
yesterday's date, and shall conform myself to your advice.
I shall esteem myself highly honored by a presentation to the King and
royal family, and shall wait your Excellency's directions concerning
the time of it, and shall not think myself at liberty to make any
publication of my powers to treat of peace, until it shall have been
announced in the Gazette. After which, I shall transmit to your
Excellency any paragraph, which may be thought proper to publish in
the gazettes of Holland, and take your advice upon it, before it is
sent. My other powers shall be concealed, according to your advice,
and I shall have the honor to pay my respects to your Excellency very
soon at Versailles.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 25th, 1780.
Sir,
Since my letter of the 20th, I have received another letter from his
Excellency the Count de Vergennes, dated the 24th of February, which I
answered this day. Copies of both letters are enclosed.
I have also the honor to enclose a gazette, and an application from Mr
Comyn, of Marseilles, to be a consul for the ports of Provence and
Languedoc. I know nothing of this gentleman but what he says of
himself.
By the enclosed gazette, as well as by many others, Congress will see
of what wonderful efficacy in pulling down tyranny a committee of
correspondence is likely to be. Ireland has done great things by means
of it, England is attempting great things with it, after the example
of the Americans, who invented it, and first taught its use. Yet all
does not seem to produce the proper gratitude on the minds of the
English towards their benefactors. However, the glory of the invention
is as certainly ours, as that of electrical rods, Hadley's quadrant,
or inoculation for the smallpox.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, February 27th, 1780.
Sir,
There are so many gentlemen of rank going out to America, that there
can be no doubt Congress will be fully informed of the state of public
affairs.
Mr Lee, Mr Izard, the Marquis de Lafayette, Mr Wharton, and many
others, are going by different vessels. Besides these, Monsieur de
l'Etombe, who is appointed Consul General of France for the northern
district of America, as M. Holker for the middle, (I have not yet
learned who for the southern,) will go soon.
There is an armament preparing with the greatest expedition at Brest,
which is to be commanded by M. de Ternay, and to consist of eight or
ten ships of the line and frigates, six of the line and several
frigates, as it is said, (perhaps it is not yet certain nor determined
exactly how many of either,) with several thousand men; all numbers
are mentioned from six to ten thousand men, under the General officers
de Rochambeau and Jaucourt. Whether this force is destined to the
continent or the West Indies, time will discover; at present, it ought
not to be known. On the other hand, I see by a paragraph in a London
paper of the 16th of this month, that the Thunderer, Torbay, Ramilies,
Royal Oak, Triumph, and Egmont, are ordered for the West Indies, under
Captain Walsingham; the Southampton, St Albans, and Winchelsea, which
were talked of to go with him, are found unfit for service, and in so
bad a condition as to be ordered to be paid off. Thus the French are
likely to be drawn into the American seas in sufficient force, where
they have great advantages in carrying on the war. It is much to be
wished, that the Spaniards could be drawn into the same field of
battle, for Gibraltar must be taken in America if ever.
There are some persons, however, who think that the English will
avenge the French, the Spaniards, and above all the Americans, upon
one another, and it is certain that parties in England are working up
to a crisis. The petitions of the counties, their numerous committees
of correspondence, their hints of associations, have most certainly
alarmed the King and his Ministers to so great a degree, that for some
time their conduct was equivocal, giving hopes at times to the people,
that the Crown would favor the desired reformation in the expenditure
of money. But upon the news of Rodney's successes they grew bolder,
and determined to exert all the authority of the Crown to suppress the
meetings of the people. Accordingly the cry of faction, sedition, and
rebellion, was set up in Parliament by the majority, and the King was
advised to dismiss those lieutenants of counties, who had favored the
meetings of the people, advice which he has certainly taken. This is
a decisive measure. It will either discourage and suppress those
meetings, petitions, correspondence, and associations altogether, or
it will give them greater force.