Carmichael to make out and transmit to Philadelphia a clear and full
state of the public accounts; and also agreeably to Dr Franklin's
request, to send him an account of the bills remaining to be paid. The
Doctor has not received his account; and I have no reason to suppose
that you or Mr Morris have received the other. I am not easy about
this matter, for in case of the death or recall of Mr Carmichael, (by
whom all these accounts were kept, and through whom I managed those
transactions,) I might experience difficulties respecting those
accounts, which may now be avoided.
I understood from Mr Barclay, that he is authorised to examine and
settle these accounts, and as Mr Carmichael has not much to do at
Madrid, I am very desirous that he should be ordered to bring here all
the books and papers relative to these accounts, and with me to attend
their settlement by Mr Barclay. Be so good as to lay this matter
before Congress without delay.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
Passy, July 20th, 1783.
Dear Sir,
The delays which have postponed the completion of the definitive
treaty, have hitherto prevented my trying the effect of the waters of
Bath for a pain in my breast, which has continued in different degrees
for a year past. Were I much longer to neglect that only probable
chance of restoring my health, my little family might have much reason
to complain.
I fear that the fluctuating counsels of the British cabinet will
protract that business, until so late in the season, as not to leave
me sufficient time both to give the waters a fair trial, and
afterwards go to Spain, before the weather will become too inclement
for an invalid to travel such a distance in a country so destitute of
accommodations. Should that be the case, I shall hope to be excused
for not undertaking it, especially as nothing of importance remains
there to be done, except preparing the draft of a treaty of commerce,
which I hoped to have been able to bring with me to America in the
spring, when it was my fixed resolution to resign.
But as I should then pass the winter without being useful to the
public, Congress may not perhaps think it reasonable, that their
allowance to me should be continued. I think it my duty therefore to
apprize them of these circumstances, and to refer it to their
discretion to assign such earlier date to my resignation, as they may
think best. I must beg the favor of you to request and to inform me of
their decision on this subject, without delay, for as I shall not
probably have an opportunity of sailing before June next, it is
important to me to know by what rule I am to regulate the expenses of
my family in the meantime.
As you know upon what principles I have devoted myself to the public
for the last nine years, and as those motives would be questionable if
after the war I did not return to a private station, I hope the
propriety of my resolution to resign will appear manifest, especially
when to these considerations are added the circumstances of certain
individuals of my family, whose afflictions and whose relation to me
give them the strongest claims to my care and attention.
Be pleased, Sir, to present to Congress my warmest acknowledgments for
the marks of confidence with which they have honored me, and assure
them that by becoming a private citizen, I mean not to retreat from
any duties, which an American owes his country.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
New York, July 25th, 1784.
Sir,
Having waited until the settlement of the public accounts was
completed, I left Paris the 16th of May last, and on the 1st of June
embarked with my family at Dover, on board the ship Edward, Captain
Coupar, in which we arrived here yesterday. Mr Barclay has
transmitted, or will soon transmit to Mr Morris, a state of the above
mentioned accounts; and as it will thence appear, that some of the
bills drawn upon me have been twice paid, it becomes necessary for me
to inform your Excellency of the particular and cautious manner in
which that business was transacted on my part. Soon after the arrival
of the first bills, I directed Mr Carmichael to prepare and keep a
book, with the pages divided into a number of columns, and to enter
therein the dates, numbers, and other descriptive particulars of every
bill, that might be presented to me for acceptance, and to which on
examination he should find no objection. I made it an invariable rule
to send every bill to him to be examined and entered previous to
accepting it; and from that time to the day I left Spain, I never
accepted a single bill until after it had been inspected and sent to
me by him to be accepted. Further, to avoid mistakes and frauds, I
also made it a constant rule, that every bill presented for payment,
should undergo a second examination by Mr Carmichael, that if he found
it right, he should sign his name on it, and that the bankers should
not pay any bill unless so signed.
The bills twice paid, or rather the different numbers of the same set,
stand entered in different places in the book abovementioned; and I
can only regret, that the entries of the numbers first presented and
accepted, were not observed by him, either at the time when the
subsequent ones were offered for acceptance, or at the time when they
were afterwards brought for payment.
It gives me pleasure to inform your Excellency, that the British and
American ratifications of the treaty of peace were exchanged a few
days before I left Paris. The day of my departure, I received under
cover from Dr Franklin, a copy of the British ratifications, which I
have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed.
With great respect and esteem, I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN JAY.
_P. S._ I shall send with this letter to the post office, several
others, which were committed to my care for your Excellency.
THE
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
FRANCIS DANA;
MINISTER FROM THE UNITED STATES TO RUSSIA
Francis Dana was a native of Massachusetts, and educated at Harvard
University, where he was graduated in the year 1762. He studied the
profession of the law, and was among the first to espouse the cause of
the Colonies in resisting the aggressions of the mother country. In a
letter to General Washington, dated Philadelphia, April 1st, 1776, Mr
John Adams speaks of him in the following terms.
"The bearer of this letter, Mr Francis Dana, is a gentleman of family,
fortune, and education, returned in the last packet from London, where
he has been about a year. He has ever maintained an excellent
character in his country, and a warm friendship for the American
cause. He returns to share with his friends in their dangers and their
triumphs. I have done myself the honor to give him this letter, for
the sake of introducing him to your acquaintance, as he has frequently
expressed to me a desire to embrace the first opportunity of paying
his respects to a character so highly esteemed, and so justly admired
throughout all Europe, as well as America. Mr Dana will satisfy you,
that we have no reason to expect peace with Great Britain."
Mr Dana returned to Massachusetts and was chosen a delegate to
Congress in December of the same year, though he did not take his
seat in that body till the November following. This station he filled
till September, 1779, when he was appointed Secretary to Mr John
Adams, the Minister Plenipotentiary for negotiating a treaty of peace
and a treaty of commerce with Great Britain. He went to Europe with Mr
Adams, and resided with him in Paris, and a short time in Holland. On
the 20th of June, 1780, he was commissioned to negotiate a loan in
Holland, provided Mr Adams should be prevented by other business from
attending to it. As Mr Adams undertook the negotiation, Mr Dana did
not enter upon this commission.
On the 19th of December, he was elected by Congress to be Minister
resident in Russia, with authority to accede to the convention of the
neutral and belligerent powers for protecting the freedom of commerce
and rights of nations, and also to negotiate a treaty for this
purpose. He received his commission and instructions in Paris, and
after spending a short time in Amsterdam and Berlin, he arrived at St
Petersburg towards the end of August, 1781. Here he applied himself
with zeal and activity to the objects of his mission, but the policy
of the Russian Court was at that time such, as to prevent its
recognizing the independence of the United States, or receiving
publicly a Minister from that government. In his private capacity, Mr
Dana was treated with due consideration, and was promised that, after
the signature of the definitive treaty at Paris, he should be admitted
to an audience of the Empress, and received in his public character,
as Minister from the United States. Meantime his continued ill health
had induced him to solicit from Congress permission to return home,
which was granted. He sailed from St Petersburg in a ship bound for
Boston, where he arrived in December, 1783.
Mr Dana was a member of the Convention at Annapolis, and of the
Convention of Massachusetts for ratifying the Constitution of the
United States. In this latter body he took an able and decided stand
in favor of the Constitution. He was afterwards for many years Chief
Justice of the State of Massachusetts, and died in 1811, at the age of
sixtyseven years.
THE
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
FRANCIS DANA.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, August 10th, 1780.
Sir,
Mr Adams having left Paris the 27th of last month, to visit the Low
Countries, I do myself the honor of forwarding to your Excellency two
packets, the one containing his letters to you from No. 89 to 99
inclusive, and two private letters from a gentleman in London to him,
the other containing letters numbered in their order from No. 1 to 10,
inclusive. I shall also forward to your Excellency, if the bearer can
take them, all the newspapers we have on hand. The whole will be
committed to the care of Captain Jones, who will sail in the Ariel.
Had I been apprized less suddenly of the time of Captain Jones'
departure, I should also have sent translations of the declarations of
the Courts of Copenhagen and Stockholm to the belligerent powers,
conforming to that of the Empress of Russia, relative to the commerce
of the neutral powers, and the armed neutrality. These declarations
are in the "_Suite des Nouvelles d'Amsterdam_," of the 8th of August,
No. 63. The fleet, which left Virginia the 14th of last June, under
the convoy of the _Frère Rodêrique_, bound for France, are all except
one, which foundered at sea, the crew being saved, safely arrived. A
vessel, which left New London the 27th of June, was cast away on the
rocks entering Rochelle. We have no letters by any of these vessels,
but learn from them, that no intelligence had been received from M. de
Ternay, when they left America. We cannot but lament our total want of
intelligence respecting the state of our country.
I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, &c.
FRANCIS DANA.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Paris, August 24th, 1780.
Sir,
I did myself the honor on the 10th instant to write to your
Excellency, by Captain John Paul Jones, who then expected to sail
soon, in the Ariel, for Philadelphia, assigning as the reason the
absence of Mr Adams, who was gone to visit the Low Countries. I then
forwarded to your Excellency two packets, one containing his letters
to you, and two private letters from a gentleman in London to him; the
other containing letters to and from the Minister, and I also sent all
the newspapers we then had on hand, directing the whole to the care of
Captain Jones.
Mr Adams has not returned. I had a letter from him of the 17th
instant, in which he makes no mention of his being about to return, so
that it is probable he will stay there sometime longer. If anything
occurs here worthy the notice of Congress, during his absence, I shall
not fail to do myself the honor of communicating it to your
Excellency. The packets sent with this contain Mr Adams's letters to
your Excellency from No. 91 to 100, and letters to and from the
Minister, from No. 1 to 7 exclusive, and also the newspapers, which
have come to hand since making the first packet. We have not received
any advice of the arrival of M. de Ternay, or any intelligence of the
operations of the Spaniards on the Continent, since the reduction of
Mobile, or of the combined armaments in the West Indies.
I am, with the greatest respect, &c.
FRANCIS DANA.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Amsterdam, September 20th, 1780.
Sir,
Having been disappointed in my expectations of forwarding to your
Excellency the packets mentioned in the above letter from France, I
have brought them on to this place, and shall commit them to the care
of Captain Joseph Cook, of Providence, who is now ready to sail, and
waits only for a wind.
I beg leave to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr Searle, a member of
Congress, arrived at Paris on the evening of the 10th instant, and
immediately sent me the despatches of Congress committed to his care.
I perused them, and waited on him in the morning, and had a
conversation of several hours with him, as well upon the subject
matter of those despatches, as upon the concerns of our country.[13]
I thought it my duty immediately to prepare to set off for Amsterdam
with the despatches, and did so the next day at noon, and without
quitting my carriage arrived at Brussels the day after, and at
Amsterdam on the 16th, where I had the happiness of finding Mr Adams
in good health.
From that moment to this, he has been industriously engaged to
endeavor to effectuate the purposes of Congress. What success we may
meet with here is uncertain; but I hope I may give it as my clear
opinion to Congress, that their views would be very much facilitated
if Mr Laurens, or any other person whom they may think proper to
employ in this business, should be at the same time furnished with the
powers of a Minister Plenipotentiary to the States-General. Some
persons here, notwithstanding all that can be said, seem to be
apprehensive that the United States have granted exclusive privileges
in commerce to France. This idea is industriously propagated
throughout Europe, by the emissaries of our enemies, and especially in
this country. A disposition in Congress, therefore, to form an
alliance with the States-General upon principles of perfect
reciprocity of interest, although they should not at this instant be
prepared to enter into it, would unquestionably have a powerful
influence in effectuating the main intention of Congress, and further,
would give a consideration and independence to our councils throughout
Europe, which they will never acquire while they remain in their
present circumscribed state. We might, perhaps, look still further
with the hopes of much benefit to our country. There can be no
occasion of being more particular on this subject. Indeed, I should
not have troubled Congress at all from this place, with any letter of
mine, had not Mr Adams requested me to give my sentiments to Congress
upon the principal object of this letter. I have done so freely, and I
presume the candor of Congress will excuse me in it.
I am, with the greatest respect, &c.
FRANCIS DANA.
FOOTNOTES:
[13] Among these despatches, Mr Dana received a commission, empowering
him to obtain a loan in Holland, in case Mr Adams should for any
reason be prevented from attending to this object. As Mr Adams was
then in Holland, Mr Dana did not act under this commission. See John
Adams's Correspondence, Vol. V. p. 327.
* * * * *
_Commission to Francis Dana, referred to in the preceding Letter._
Whereas by our commission to the honorable Henry Laurens, bearing date
the 30th day of October, 1779, we have constituted and appointed him
the said Henry Laurens, during our pleasure, our agent for and on
behalf of the United States, to negotiate a loan with any person or
persons, bodies politic or corporate; and whereas the said Henry
Laurens having, by unavoidable accidents, been hitherto prevented from
proceeding on his said agency, we have, by our commission bearing
equal date herewith, constituted and appointed the honorable John
Adams, until the said Henry Laurens, or some other person appointed in
his stead, shall arrive in Europe, and undertake the execution of his
aforesaid commission, our agent to negotiate a loan as aforesaid;[14]
And whereas it may so happen, that the said John Adams, by reason of
some disability arising from the state of the business of his present
appointment, or otherwise, may be prevented from undertaking the
execution of the said commission, or having undertaken it, from
proceeding therein; we, therefore, reposing especial trust and
confidence in your patriotism, ability, conduct, and fidelity, do by
these presents constitute and appoint you, the said Francis Dana, in
the event of the disability of the said John Adams, as aforesaid,
until the said Henry Laurens, or some other person appointed in his
stead, shall arrive in Europe, and undertake the execution of the
aforesaid commission, our agent for and on behalf of the said United
States, to negotiate a loan with any person or persons, bodies politic
or corporate, promising in good faith to ratify and confirm whatsoever
shall by you be done in the premises, or relating thereto.
Witness his Excellency, Samuel Huntington, President of the Congress
of the United States of America, at Philadelphia, the 20th day of
June, in the year of our Lord, 1780, and in the fourth year of our
independence.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.
FOOTNOTES:
[14] See Mr Adams's commission in John Adams's Correspondence, Vol. V.
p. 329.
* * * * *
TO JONATHAN JACKSON.
Amsterdam, November 11th, 1780.
Sir,
You must before this time have heard of the capture of the late
President Laurens, on his voyage hither; that the enemy affect to
consider him a state prisoner, and have, accordingly, confined him to
the Tower, _in arcta et salva custodia_. Their treatment of him has
marked the barbarity of the nation from the throne to the footstool.
Does this look like peace? They recovered a part of his papers, such
as the plan of a treaty adjusted by Mr William Lee, with the Regency
of this city in 1778, a letter from M. de Neufville upon the subject,
one from our friend, the Commodore, one from Mr Stockton, and one from
an amiable character of this country, whom I personally know, Baron
Van der Cappellen. These were hurried over to Sir Joseph Yorke, and by
him delivered to the Prince, who, it is said, in much wrath, laid them
before the States of Holland, who transmitted copies of them to the
Regency, accompanied with certain resolutions.
The Regency have openly avowed the act. This has brought on the most
extraordinary memorial of Sir Joseph Yorke to the States-General,
which, perhaps, any foreign Minister ever made to an independent
State; calling for their open disavowal of the conduct of the Regency;
censuring them as a mad cabal, ever ready to sacrifice the public
interests to private views, aiding the natural enemy (France) of both
countries in destroying their mutual happiness; and it demands of the
States-General also, an exemplary punishment of the Pensionary, Van
Berckel, by name, and of all his _accomplices_, as disturbers of the
public peace, and violaters of the laws of nations, that is, of the
other members of the city Regency, for he acted officially in what he
did, and by their order.
In default of this, the memorial says, the King will take such
measures, as the maintenance of his dignity and the interests of his
people require. The Regency have hereupon published the whole matter
in the nature of an appeal to the people, which you will, doubtless,
soon have among you. What further measures they have taken to
vindicate themselves, and their country's rights and interests, are
not yet made public. The States-General will meet the 22d instant. It
is not probable they will, or can comply, with the several
requisitions of this memorial. You may ask me, as in another case,
what can Great Britain promise herself from all this? Whether or not
she expected to be able to effect a compliance with her demands, which
does not seem probable, by the weight of her influence in this
Republic; or whether this memorial was to serve as a balance to that
of the States-General, respecting the outrageous violation of her
territorial rights by Admiral Rodney, at St Martin's; or whether she
foresaw that the States-General will accede to the armed neutrality,
and is, therefore, determined to go to war with them upon other
pretences, so as to avoid for a time, at least, warring against the
whole confederacy; whether any of these things were the motive of this
singular conduct, is to me uncertain. If she seriously intends to put
her threat against this country into execution, I should conjecture
the last is the prevailing motive. For already Holland and three other
of the States have declared for an unconditional accession to the
neutral confederacy; two more have declared for an accession, but
allege that their territories in both the Indies should be guarantied.
This, however, I understand, is not absolutely made a condition, and
that their Deputies are at liberty to accede without such guarantee,
if they think fit. The seventh is the Province of Zealand, where the
influence of the Prince is without control, from thence, therefore,
nothing short of an open opposition to the neutral system is expected.
Whether the other six States are prepared and determined to accede
without Zealand, a short time will show.
The navy of these States is too feeble at present for an immediate war
with England, which they seem to apprehend must take place upon their
joining the neutral confederation. They have, I believe, but about
twentysix vessels, instead of the fiftytwo voted, ready for sea. It
has been apprehended, their naval preparations have been designedly
kept back, in order to keep up the fears of the States about a war
with Britain. There is no question but the Prince is fixed against it,
and whatever ideas some of our countrymen may have entertained of the
liberties of this people, they are as effectually enslaved by their
magistracy, as are any people in the old world by the mighty kings,
who hold almost all the rest of it in bondage. Nay, the influence of
the Prince seems to pervade almost every department of their
government, and the whole machine is much obstructed, when set in
motion in a direction repugnant to his inclinations and views.
May heaven preserve us from kings, princes, and stadtholders. The
people are the best guardians of their own liberties and interests.
I am, &c.
FRANCIS DANA.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS TO FRANCIS DANA, AS MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE COURT
OF ST PETERSBURG.[15]
In Congress, December 19th, 1780.
Sir,
The great object of your negotiation is to engage her Imperial Majesty
to favor and support the sovereignty and independence of these United
States, and to lay a foundation for a good understanding and friendly
intercourse between the subjects of her Imperial Majesty and the
citizens of these United States, to the mutual advantage of both
nations.
You will readily perceive, that it must be a leading and capital
point, if these United States shall be formally admitted as a party to
the convention of the neutral maritime powers for maintaining the
freedom of commerce. This regulation, in which the Empress is deeply
interested, and from which she has derived so much glory, will open
the way for your favorable reception, which we have the greater reason
to expect, as she has publicly invited the belligerent powers to
accede thereto.