Papers of John Adams, volume 7
When I had the honour to lay my Accounts before you, I left the general one unfooted intending to compleat it after Examination. I now send it properly closed and settled to the 30th May 1778.1
You have also inclosed the account of the Magazine, Invoice of Arms repaired, and your general Account since that Period, all settled to the 10th September 1778, Balance in your Favour seven thousand three hundred eighty Six Livres 18/9. I have since received a Bill for Bayonnet Sheaths use in the magazine amounting to three thousand three hundred ninety one Livres 12. This with the Articles mentioned at the Foot of the general Account will leave a Balance of about eleven thousand Livres in my Favour, for which I shall take the Liberty to draw on you giving advice accordingly.
Duplicates of all my Accounts are transmitted to Congress.
I am sorry to inform you that the Dispatch Capt Barnes who sailed from this port the 29th Ultimo is taken and carried into Guernsey.
I have the Honour to be with great Respect Honble Gentlemen Your most obedient & most humble Servant
Jonathan Williams' accounts with the Commissioners for the period from 12 May 1777 to 30 May 1778 are in the Lee Papers at the University of Virginia (Lee Family Papers, Microfilms, Reel 3, f. 767–772). Included with these accounts are others dealing with such matters as the repair of arms, the outfitting of ships, 64and the merchandise consigned to Williams that he still had on hand or had sent to America (same, f. 773–805). These accounts should be compared with those in Foreign Ledgers, Public Agents in Europe, 1776–1787 (DNA, RG 39 [Microfilm], f. 25, 51, 53). None of the accounts mentioned by Williams below have been found.
We have considered, with some Attention the Papers which you have laid before Us, containing a Project of a Treaty to be made between the Republic of the United Provinces, and that of the United States of America.2
As Congress have entrusted to Us the Authority of treating with all the States of Europe, excepting Such as have particular Commissioners designated by Congress to treat with them, and as no particular Commissioner has been appointed to treat with their High Mightinesses: We have already taken such Measures as appeared to Us Suitable to accomplish So desirable a Purpose as a Friendship between two Nations So circumstanced as to have it in their Power to be extreamly beneficial to each other in promoting their mutual Prosperity. And We propose to continue our Endeavours, in every Way consistent with the Honour and Interest of both.
But We do not think it prudent for many Reasons3 to express at present any decided4 Opinion concerning the Project of a Treaty which you have done Us the Honour to communicate to Us.5
We cannot however conclude without expressing a ready Disposition to treat upon so great an Object, which6 besides laying a foundation of an extensive Commerce, between the two Countries would have a very forcible Tendency to Stop the Effusion of human Blood; and prevent the further Progress of the Flames of War. We have the Honour to be with the Utmost Respect, sir your most obedient and most humble servants.
In the Letterbook this letter follows one of 22 Sept. and immediately precedes one of 26 Sept.
“For many Reasons” was interlined for insertion here.
This word was interlined for insertion here.
The Commissioners' response to Lee concerning his negotiation of a draft treaty with the Netherlands can be seen as a reprimand for his assumption of powers not given him by the congress. It is also an indication of the Commissioners' concern that his negotiation of a treaty with an equally unauthorized representative from Amsterdam, Jan de Neufville, would undermine the delicate negotiations then being carried on with Pieter 65van Bleiswyck, the Grand Pensionary, through C. W. F. Dumas. Indeed, the Commissioners were still awaiting a response from van Bleiswyck to their previous overtures (Commissioners to Dumas, 9 Sept., above). Assuming that Franklin made them known to his colleagues, the Commissioners were probably also influenced by Dumas' letters to Franklin of 3, 8, and 11 Sept. (PPAmP: Franklin Papers), in which he expressed his reservations about the Lee-Neufville efforts (see Dumas to the Commissioners, 4 Sept., and note 2, above).
The following twelve words were interlined for insertion here.