Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

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James Lovell to Abigail Adams

197 John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1779 JA AA John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1779 Adams, John Adams, Abigail

John Adams to Abigail Adams

My dearest Friend L'orient May 14. 1779

I am taking an Opportunity by every Vessell that is going to inform you, that I am coming home as soon as possible. In Six or Seven Weeks I hope to have the Pleasure to see you, and my other Friends.

The new French Ambassador, who goes out to relieve Mr. Gerard, will go in the same Frigate.

We can get no News from America of any Consequence, and not a syllable of any Kind from Congress. There is but one Piece of News in Europe of any Importance, and that is from Holland and may be depended on, that the States General on the 26 of April, took the Resolution to convoy their Trade, notwithstanding Sir Joseph Yorks Memorial, and to fit out directly Thirty two Ships of War, for that Purpose—an important Event, which must have great Consequences.1—My Duty, Love and Respect, wherever due.

RC (Adams Papers).

This “Piece of News” and the comment thereon are taken almost verbatim from a letter JA had just received from Franklin dated at Passy, 10 May 1779 (Adams Papers). Sir Joseph Yorke (1724–1792), the veteran and domineering British minister at The Hague, was to cross JA's path directly in 1780. His Memorial of 9 April 1779, protesting Dutch ships' continuing to carry naval stores to France, is printed in Ann. Register for 1779 , “State Papers,” p. 425–427.