Papers of John Adams, volume 11
It is some Time since I wrote to you, and much longer since I have been honoured with a Line from you.1 I have but Just got to Town. Mr. George Storer who goes by the way of Denmark is on the point of sailing and I can only Inclose two papers received from Mr. Lovel, and the Boston Papers of the day.2 I shall write you soon and if you have not forgot that there is such a Man in the world perhaps you will again write to your Sincere Friend & Humbl. Servt. J Warren3
With all my diligence I could not get the above on Board the Ship. Another Opportunity now presents. The Navy Board send you the Boston Papers, and though wish to write you a long Letter it is out of my power. I have seen a Copy of a Letter from Dr. F. to C. which I am told has been forwarded to you.4 I hope you have received it. Will This Letter meet you in Paris, Holland or Vienna?
Warren's last letter to JA was of 19 Dec. 1780; JA's last letter to Warren was of 9 Dec. 1780 (vol. 10:424–425, 404–406).
It was Charles Storer, not his younger brother George, who was sailing for Europe. A 1779 graduate of Harvard, Storer was a distant relation of AA and ultimately replaced John Thaxter as JA's secretary. He did not arrive in the Netherlands until Aug. 1782. For more detailed accounts of Storer and his relations with the Adamses, see
Adams Family Correspondence
, 4:124; JQA, Diary
, 1:388. The material received from James Lovell and the Boston newspapers have not been identified.
JA did not write again until 17 June 1782 (MB). Warren's next letter is dated 22 July 1782 (Adams Papers).
Presumably Franklin's letter of 9 Aug. 1780 to the president of Congress, an extract from which Lovell enclosed with his letter of
Amsterdam, 5 June 1781. RC in John Thaxter's hand PCC, No. 84, III, f. 193–195. printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 4:468–469.
John Adams included an English translation of a statement made to the States of Zeeland by the deputies from the city of Middelburg on 14 May. The deputies, in consenting to provide higher bounties to those agreeing to serve in the Dutch navy, declared that the reasons for the unprepared and defenseless condition of the Republic should be disclosed to the States of Zeeland so that it could act with the other provinces in the States General to correct the situation and thereby provide for the adequate defense of the nation's territory, commerce, and possessions. Adams also reported that Zeeland had called on the States General to establish batteries on the coast of Flanders and that the States General had resolved to borrow twelve million florins to finance the war, an increase of four million over the sum previously voted. Finally, Adams noted that William V had traveled to Brielle, Hellevoetsluis, Goeree, and Willemstad to review troops and warships. Adams wrote in closing, “I send to Congress an account of these faint, feeble Symptoms of Life, because there is no appearance of any more vigorous. I am told that this Vis Inertia is profound Policy. If it is Policy at all, it is so profound as to be perfectly incomprehensible. However, their Property and Dominion, their Honour and Dignity, their Sovereignty and Independence are their own, and if they chuse to throw them all away, for ought I know, they have a right to do it. There is one Comfort, if other Nations have nothing to hope, they have nothing to fear from such Policy.”
printed
Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 4:468–469.)