Papers of John Adams, volume 9
I am obligd to You for a letter the 14th Instant.1 My writing to You is from the motive of making You acquainted from time to time with any material movement or particular news from this quarter, which may be interesting or serving in any way the business you are engagd in; Your particular situation must put it out of your power to write when even you may wish to do so, and I by no means expect regular Answers to Letters I send You. I should be happy to render you any services here, and if You can spare but a few minutes when any thing favorable from America reaches Paris, (for bad news flies quick enough) to inform me thereof, it is all I can expect from You.
We have got accounts here from the Windward Islands so late as the 20th Feby. and from Jamaica the 4th Feby. Nothing material from the last mentiond place, save that the former accounts we had of the Spaniards possessing Pensacola seem not to be true at least that place was not taken the 3d Jany.
The fleet which saild the 26 Decr. for Barbados was arrivd Gen. Vaughan and about 4,000 Men was with it and were preparing about the middle of Feby. for an Expedition against Grenada. A secret Expedition saild from Jamaica about the last Jany. 800 Men, one Man of War and 5 or six armd Ships, supposd for the Coasts of South America nearest to Guatimala.
A Passenger by the last Ship from Barbadoes, says, that two transports of Clintons Expedition had been blown to the West Indies (Antigua), but this is not publickly known or put forth by Gazette Authority. If it is true, that expedition must have faild in its purpose against Charles Town.
There are strong reports that ministry having received intelligence very lately that a Squadron of 5 or 6 Ships were going directly from France to North America, have orderd six men of war under Adml Greaves to the New York Station. The West India fleet which have been some time at Ports are still detaind as well on account of the Winds, as the waiting for some additional men of war to see them safe and out of the reach of the Brest fleet. They will sail with about 20 Ships of war, only 3 or four to proceed on to the West Indies, which it is said will make the summer West India Fleet about 32 sail of the Line.2
Altho we have so recent accounts from the West Indies and many 91quick voyages from thence, there is not a tittle from N York or America since of 26 Decr.3
Probably JA's second letter of 14 March in reply to Digges' letter of the 3d (both above). There JA promised to be a faithful correspondent.
The information provided by Digges appeared in London newspapers on or previous to the date of this letter. See, for example, the London Chronicle of 25–28 March, and London Courant of 27 and 28 March.
JA made a verbatim transcript of this and the preceding four paragraphs and enclosed it in a letter of 4 April to Sartine (Arch. de la Marine, Paris, Campagnes B4, vol. 182), to which there are apparently two replies (both Adams Papers). In the first, which is dated 5 April and does not mention the letter of the 4th, Sartine wrote in his own hand that he already had the information supplied by JA, but thanked him for his consideration. The second letter, dated 15 April and in a clerk's hand, mentions the letter of the 4th, and thanks JA for the information that he has provided.
Permit me, late as it is, to congratulate you on your Safe arrival one More to this Country, after the very disagreable passage you must have had, Owing to the distress of the frigate you was on board of.
You was so Good as take Charge of a Letter for Governor Livingston from me at Lorient last year; nay did you See him or did you send the Letter to him.1
I am happy to tell you, that I have all most Recovered My health; and as there is a fleet of French Men of war going out to America, I am Exceedingly Anxious to profit of such an Opportunity; can you and will you be so Good as to procure me a passage in one of them; Should they be destined for Virginia I can be of some Service to them, on that coast which I should be happy to do.
I wish Much, to have had the happiness to See you, before I left this country, as I have Many things to Say, that in those days ofus it would be imprudant to trust to paper.
Should I be So lucky as Git permition to go, in One of the Men of war for America; and you have any dispatches for the Continant, I beg leave to Offer you My best Services, on the delivery of them, as any thing Else, that I have the power of doing. Plan to direct to me, Au Soins de Mons. Schweighauser, I have the Honor to be with Much Respect Dear Sir, your most Obd H Ser,
See Livingston's letter to JA of 17 June 1779 (vol. 8:95), and JA's reply to this letter of 10 April (below).
Thus in the manuscript.
For Livingston, former lieutenant on the frigate Boston and, with John Bondfield and William Haywood, shareholder in the privateer Governor Livingston, see vols. 6 and 8.