I have this Moment, your Favour of 22. of April, inclosing, five American Newspapers. I cannot express in two Strong terms, my Thanks for this instance of your Attention and Kindness, and if upon future Occasions, you will shew me, the same Goodness, you will very much oblige me. You have, many Vessells arrive consigned to you, and your Correspondences in America, are with Persons of such Consideration and Authority, that you will frequently have Intelligence of the best Kind and from the highest Sources. I cannot but wish that Congress would avail themselves to this Channell, to convey sometimes their Commands to their servant abroad.

I have great Consolation in the appointment of General Gates to the Command of the southern Army. The Affection and Confidence of the Soldier in their General, never fail to have great Effects, these have appeared, more than once, in Gates's favour, and I am persuaded will another time. I hope Charlestown will be saved, but if unhappily it should not, it will be soon regained.

A small Vessell, by which I wrote to America from Corunna, has been there, and returned to Bilbao from Newbury port, which she left 14 March. Two large Letters of Mark, which lay at Bilbao when I was there, by which I also wrote have arrived. English close shut up in N. York by Gen. Washington, Clintons fleet dispersed in a storm—no other News—not a Letter. He must have conceald his designd Voyage.1

The wise and prudent Negotiations among the neutral maritime 233Powers, which will prevent the flames of War from Spreading farther, the Proceedings in Ireland and in England together with the Operations of the Armaments from Brest, and Cadiz, wherever they are destined, afford Us a Prospect, of tolerable Tranquility to our Country, how long soever the War may continue.

If you can inform me, when the Dove or any other Vessell intends to sail for America from Nantes I shall be glad to send a Letter.

I thank you, sir, for your polite Congratulations, on my late Appointment. Happy, indeed shall I be if any Endeavours of mine, should contribute to extricate our Country out of her difficulties. Every American, may do somewhat; and few on this side the Water have more oppertunities than you, which renders your obliging offers of service, very precious to me.

As I Am determined to spare no expence to obtain Intelligence, if you will write for the Printer of the Baltimore Paper to send them me, regularly, and will undertake to pay for it, I will thankfully repay you.

Please to present my Respects to Mrs. Johnson and the little family, and believe me, with much esteem, your most obedient and humble sert.

Paris, 25 April 1780. RC (PCC, No. 84, I, f. 500–503).

In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams included long newspaper accounts from Dublin of events in Ireland, particularly the progress of the volunteer movement, and from London of the efforts of the British ministry to bring about a resolution of the Irish problem.

I thank you for the intelligence contain'd in your favor of the 13th. and when there are any other arrivals from America you will greatly oblige me by communicating any intelligence they may bring. I confess I am uneasy to hear from Chas. Town, for there is no doubt of Clinton having design'd his principle Force against that Town; as I cannot give any credit to the surmises of some people, that the rendevouze was at Tybee, in order to be ready for an attack on some of the Spanish possessions.

The infatuation of our Enemies is evidently the work of Providence therefore I have no expectation of a speedy Peace because the measure of their punishment is not yet full.

Their frenzy is turn'd into raving madness, as you will see by the proclamation against the Dutch,1 which is tantamount to a declaration of War, and the insulting language used against the Russians in the Ministerial papers; therefore as you say, we need not be surprised if they were to declare War against the whole World. This would be a favorable minute for Mr. Laurens, if he was in Holland, where no doubt his prudence will direct him to examine well his ground before he moves, for he may meet with, Characters both inimical and selfish, who under the garb of Patriotic and friendly zeal, may endeavor to lead him into error. The Dutch who are so jealous of any other nation but themselves, catching a Hering in the open Sea, think it not unreasonable or immodest to expect exclusive privileges in some part of the American trade and an equal freedom with others, to the fishery on the banks of Newfoundland.

By the last accounts from England Walsingham was not sail'd So that the fleet from Brest may get the start, if it has kept to the time appointed viz the 15th. of this month.

If you can prevail where you are to have a good look out kept to intercept the first West India fleet, which probably will be coming into the channel in June or July, I think our Enemies cannot have this year for channel service more than 30 Ships of the Line at the utmost for want of Men.2

Pray tell me if you heard before you left America, of my answer to Mr. Deanes charges having been read in Congress.3 That Gentlemans Agent and Correspondent in Holland,4 it is said, has reported there, that he is again in Congress, but I do not hear of any letters from America that mention such a circumstance.

With great regard I remain &c. Adieu.