Papers of John Adams, volume 14
r.12. 17821
We have the Honour to congratulate you, on the Signature of the preliminary Treaty of Peace, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, to be inserted in the definitive Treaty, 121when2 France and Britain Shall have agreed upon their Terms. The Articles, of which We do ourselves the honour to inclose you a Copy,3 were compleated, on the thirtieth of last Month.
To Us, at this Distance, the present opportunity, appears to be the most favourable,4 for you to communicate your mission to the Ministers of the Empress of Russia, and to the Ministers of the other neutral Powers residing at her Court, and if5 you have no objections, We presume you will wish to be furnished with the inclosed Paper,6 to communicate at the Same Time.
We heartily wish you Success, and if you Should inform Us of a fair prospect of it, We Shall propose7 an Article in the definitive Treaty, to Secure the8 Freedom of Navigation according to the Principles of the late marine Treaty between the neutral Powers
With great Respect, We have the Honour to be, / Sir, your most obedient and most humble / Servants
RC (MHi:Dana Family Papers); internal address: “The Honourable Francis Dana Esq.”; endorsed: “Letters from J. Adams & others / Commissioners of the U. States / Dated Paris Decr: 12th. 1782 / Recd. Jany: 1st. 1783—O. Stile.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108. LbC-Tr (Adams Papers); APM Reel 103.
The copy in the Letterbook is clearly a draft and is dated 6 Dec., the date of JA's letter to Dana indicating the commissioners’ intention to write him concerning the preliminary treaty. In his Diary entry for 12 Dec. JA wrote that the commissioners “met at Mr. Laurens's, and signed the Letter, I had drawn up” (JA, D&A
, 3:95).
In the Letterbook the remainder of this paragraph initially read “the other belligerent Powers Shall have adjusted the Terms of a general Peace. This great Work, of which We do ourselves the Honour to inclose you a Copy, was compleated on the thirtyeth of November.”
Not found.
The Letterbook at this point reads “favourable opportunity,” but “opportunity” is canceled and inserted in the previous line to follow “present.”
In the Letterbook the passage from this point to the following comma initially read “there are no Objections to it, unknown to Us.”
In the Letterbook at this point is the canceled passage “for that Purpose.”
In the Letterbook “propose” is inserted in place of “insist on.”
Note that the remainder of this paragraph is a verbatim rendering of the first item in the commissioners’ proposed articles to be included in the definitive peace treaty of [ca. 10–13 Dec.], above.
eDec. 1782
Une seconde Lettre reçue ce matin de Mr. Van Arp, d’Amst. m’engage à écrire tout de suite;1 voici ce qu’il me dit en Hollandois.
122“Je vous suis obligé de votre prompitude à écrire à S. E. Mr. Adams. Je suis seulement mortifié de devoir vous donner une nouvelle peine à ce sujet: c’est que le Capne. Steph. Crack a dû renoncer au com̃andement du Vaisseau le Fearnot Brig à 2 ponts du port com̃e dans ma précedente, lequel sera com̃andé par le Capne. Raphaël Simpson de Boston, pour faire voile au plutôt pour Boston, monté de 10 Canons, Equipage & munitions de guerre en conséquence, selon l’affiche ci-jointe. C’est donc sous le nom du Cap. Raphaël Simpson de Boston que S. E. aura la bonté de mettre le Passeport demandé.”
Je crois qu’il s’est agi ce matin du Ministre que cette rep. enverra au Congrès. L’affaire de la Conjuration des Cocardes, & plusieurs autres qui étoient déjà sur le tapis, fait que par discrétion je me suis abstenu d’importuner nos amis, fort occupés, & que je patiente jusqu’à Dimanche, pour savoir ce qui se sera passé. En attendant, Made. Dumas, qui avec ma fille, vous présente ses honneurs, non contente des Serrures & Verroux qui assurent la porte de l’hôtel, l’a fait fortifier en dedans d’une chaîne, que l’on tend toutes les nuits.
Une cinquiême Ville, Hindelopen, en Frise, a suivi l’exemple de Dokkum & des 3 autres dont j’ai déjà fait mention.
Je Suis toujours avec le respectueux attachement qui vous est voué, Monsieur, / De V. Exce. / le très-humble & très / obéissant serviteur,
S’il n’y a pas de forte raison, qui empêchent les préliminaires signés d’être publiés; il seroit à souhaiter qu’ils le fussent dans ce pays, où l’on abuse du serment extorqué avant de les com̃uniquer, pour laisser la nation dans l’erreur, malgré ce que nous pouvons dire pour la rassurer, dans des doutes qui l’inquietent encore.2
Translation
A second letter, received this morning from Mr. Van Arp in Amsterdam obliges me to write to you at once.1 Here is what he says in Dutch:
“I am obliged to you for writing so promptly to his excellency Mr. Adams. However, I am mortified at having to trouble you again on this subject: Capt. Stephen Crack has had to resign his command of the ship Fear-not, a brig of two decks and the burden as previously described. It will now be commanded by Capt. Raphael Simpson of Boston. It is to sail as soon as possible for Boston, mounting ten cannons, with the requisite crew and ammunition, as detailed in the attached manifest. His excellency should therefore please make out the passport we requested in the name of Capt. Raphael Simpson of Boston.”
I believe that this morning the question of who the republic will send to Congress as its minister was raised. Because of the Cockade Conspiracy and several other matters already on the agenda, I discreetly refrained from bothering our friends, who are extremely busy, and I am waiting until Sunday to see what transpires. Meanwhile Madame Dumas, not content with the locks and bolts protecting the door to the house, has had it additionally fortified with a chain on the inside, which we attach every night. She and my daughter send you their respects.
A fifth town, Hindelopen in Friesland, has followed the examples of Dokkum and the three others I already mentioned.
With continuing respect and devotion I remain, sir, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant
If there is no compelling reason to prevent the preliminaries from being made public, it would be a good idea for them to be published in this country, where the oath of secrecy is being abused, leaving the nation misinformed and, despite all we can say to reassure it, in a state of worried uncertainty.2
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à Son Exce. Mr. Adams.”
For Van Arp's first letter as well as the other matters mentioned by Dumas here, see Dumas’ letter of 10 Dec., above; but see also JA's reply of 19 Dec., below.
For JA's initial reaction to Dumas’ proposal to print the preliminary treaty, see his reply of 19 Dec.; and for his later opinion, see his 7 Feb. 1783 letter to Dumas, both below.