Papers of John Adams, volume 5

From John Hancock, 2 February 1778 Hancock, John JA From John Hancock, 2 February 1778 Hancock, John Adams, John

From John Hancock

Monday Noon 2d Feby 1778

Mr. Hancock's Compliments to Mr. Adams. The Inclos'd Letter from the Baron De Kalb he Received under Cover.1 Mr. Hancock would have been exceedingly Glad to have Seen Mr. Adams at his house at any time when he has been in Town, and had Mr. Hancock have known when he was in Town he should have Sent to him; if Mr. Adams should Come to Town on Wednesday next, and it would be agreeable to him to Dine with Mr. Hancock in Company with a few Friends it would Give Mr. H pleasure; if it should not suit Mr. Adams, and he will appoint any other Day (except Thursday) Mr. Hancock will be exceedingly Glad to wait on him.2

RC (Adams Papers); docketed in an unidentified hand: “Mr Hancock”; by CFA: “Feby. 2d 1778.”

Hancock was forwarding Kalb's letter of 2 Jan., omitted here (DSI:Hull Coll.), which was accompanied by letters to Count de Broglie and to Kalb's wife. On 3 399Feb. JA wrote (LbC, Adams Papers) to acknowledge receipt of both this letter and Kalb's letter of 27 Dec. 1777 (above). Kalb wrote again on 1 Feb., enclosing additional packets for delivery in France (Adams Papers).

Hancock was unaware of or chose to ignore JA's contempt for what he deemed Hancock's unseemly seeking of high office, such as the presidency of the congress and the governorship of the state.

To Lafayette, 3 February 1778 JA Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de To Lafayette, 3 February 1778 Adams, John Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de

To Lafayette

Sir Braintree Feb. 3. 1778

I had Yesterday the Honour of receiving, from the Hand of my worthy Friend General Knox, your kind Letter to me,1 together with five others, which, with Submission to the Fortune of War, shall be conveyed and deliverd as you desire. I am happy in this opportunity to convey Intelligence from you to your Friends, and think myself greatly honoured and obliged by your Politeness and Attention to me. A Favour which makes me Regret the more my Misfortune in not having had the Honour heretofore of a more particular Acquaintance, with a Nobleman, who has endeared his Name and Character to every honest American, and every Sensible Friend of Mankind by his Efforts in favour of the Rights of both, as unexampled as they were generous. I thank you, sir for the kind Advice, communicated by General Knox, to which I shall carefully and constantly attend. Shall at all Times be happy to hear of your Welfare, and to have an opportunity of rendering you any Service in my Power. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect and Esteem, sir your most obedient and most obliged humble sert.

LbC (Adams Papers); notation: “Sent.”

That of 9 Jan. (calendared above).

To Henry Laurens, 4 February 1778 JA Laurens, Henry To Henry Laurens, 4 February 1778 Adams, John Laurens, Henry

To Henry Laurens

Sir Braintree February 4. 1778

I had this Moment the Honour of yours of the 15. Ultimo and I thank you for your Kindness to Mr. Thaxter of whom I had not before heard, Since he left this Place.

The Act of Congress inclosed in your Letter,1 I will take with me to Europe, for which Country I hope to embark in five Days in the Boston Frigate, not without Regret at having been delayed So long.

I shall make out Six Copies of the Resolution, and give Direc-400tions for Sending one, by every Vessell, that shall sail from hence, untill they are all gone.

I was disappointed in not finding, any Mention of the State of Burgoines Arms, which it Seems were damnified and unfit for Service; and Bayonettes and Swords which were without Scabbards; Circumstances which seem to be material; because those Injuries must have been done after the Convention, and in Violation of it, for no doubt the Intention of the Contracting Parties was, that all those Things Should be Surrendered without Injury.

Your Account of the Trick, played upon Dispatches to Congress, is indeed alarming, and naturally excites Jealousies. If Mr. Lovell has received from me an Extract of a Letter, I received from Nantes,2 he may possibly have a similar Suspicion to mine, which does not ascribe this Trick to Ld. Stormont or his Emissaries.

Certainly too much Vigilance and Caution cannot be used, in communicating Intelligence, between Congress and their Agents abroad. I am sir, in great Haste having many Things to think of and to do, in Preparation for my Voyage, with the sincerest Respect and Esteem your most obedient, and most huml sert

John Adams Feb. 8

P.S. Mr. Burgoine, is much agitated with the order to suspend his Embarkation. He has requested, an Interview with Mr. Hancock and Mr. S. Adams. The latter was ill and unable—the former by Advice of the House of Representatives, I hear is to meet him.3

RC (ScHi); addressed: “Honourable Henry Laurens Esqr President of Congress York Town”; franked: “on public service”; docketed: “John Adams 4 Febry 1778 Recd 8 March.”

According to Laurens, he had not been able to obtain a copy for JA of the congressional resolution of 8 Jan. that forbade the embarkation of Burgoyne and his troops. JA did receive from Gen. Heath, however, one of the copies sent to him (Heath to JA, 4 Feb., Adams Papers).

The only known letter from Nantes in this period is that of 29 Sept. 1777 from William MacCreery (above). See James Lovell to JA, 8 Feb., note 2 (below). JA may be implying that Thomas Morris was somehow involved in the trick played on Capt. Folger.

Hancock was named with two others as a committee to join with appointees of the Council to consider what should be done about the congressional order of 8 Jan., but the Journals of the House make no mention of a meeting between Hancock and Burgoyne (Mass., House Jour. , 1777–1778, 5th sess., p. 173).