Papers of John Adams, volume 14
e.May 1783.
Je viens de recevoir l’honorée vôtre du 1er. court. & j’y répons sur le champ.
Mr. Votre fils se comporte avec tout le sens & les manieres d’un hom̃e fait & bien élevé. Il est le favori de Made. Dumas, & nous témoigne que notre compagnie lui est aussi agréable, que la sienne l’est à nous. Il n’a point oublié sa Langue maternelle, parle fort bien le François, & peut se faire entendre en Allemand & en Hollandois. Il a eu la Compagnie pendant plusieurs jours ici de son Compagnon de voyage Mr. Hardouin du Havre, qui aura l’honneur de vous remettre une Lettre de sa part.1 Ils ont fait des promenades à cheval ensemble. Celles par la foire, que nous avons cette semaine, offrent un tableau mouvant & brillant, qui mérite que nous différions jusqu’à la prochaine, de philosopher dans le bois & en chambre. Mais dès Lundi prochain nous tâcherons d’imiter les Scipion & les Lællus.—2 Les Etats d’Hollande viennent de nous donner l’exemple, en se séparant ce matin, pour aller se reposer chez eux jusqu’à Mercredi 28, Mr. Van Berckel entre les bras de sa future, & les autres. . . . ils ne m’en ont point fait confidence.
Je sens parfaitement, Monsieur, la vérité de ce que vous dites dans les deux derniers paragraphes de votre Lettre;—& je trouve étonnant, com̃e vous, que nous ne recevions aucune nouvelle de l’Amérique, pas même la ratification de votre Traité du 7 Octobr. dernier.— Il est entré le 4 de ce mois un navire au Texel, the Congress, Jn. Keddy, de Philadelphie. Ma[is] s’il avoit quelque Dépeche, il me semble que je devrois déjà en savoir quelque chose.
Agréez, Monsieur, les respects de Ma famille & les assurances de celui avec lequel je suis / De votre Exce. / le très-humble & trèsobéis- / sant serviteur
Translation
I have just received your esteemed letter of 1 May and am replying at once.
Your son comports himself with all the sense and manners of a wellbrought-up young man. He is the favorite of Madame Dumas, and we have every indication that he finds our company as agreeable as we do his. He has not forgotten his mother tongue, speaks very good French, and can 471make himself understood in German and Dutch. For several days he enjoyed the company here of his traveling companion, Mr. Hardouin of Le Havre, who will have the honor of bringing you a letter from him.1 They went riding together. A promenade by the fair, which we have this week, presents so lively and brilliant a tableau that we are postponing until next week our philosophical discussions in the woods and in chambers. But from next Monday on we shall strive to emulate Scipio and Lællus.2 The States of Holland, which separated this morning, has just set us an example by going home to rest until Wednesday the 28th; Mr. Van Berckel in the arms of his future wife, and the others . . ., they have not confided in me.
I understand perfectly, sir, the truth of what you say in the last two paragraphs of your letter. And, like you, I am astonished that we have no news from America, not even the ratification of your treaty of 7 October last. On 4 May there came into the Texel the ship Congress, Jn. Keddy, from Philadelphia, but if it brought dispatches, I think I should have heard something by now.
Accept, sir, the respects of my family and the assurances of mine, with which I am your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “A Son Excellence Mr. Adams M. P.”
Of 6 May. For its content, see
JA's 1 May letter to Francis Dana, note 4, above. JA received the letter on the 14th and replied on the same day, complaining of the quality of his son's handwriting and advising him regarding his studies and behavior (
AFC
, 5:160–161).
Presumably Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus, who with Gaius Laelius and other philosophers and scholars formed the Scipionic Circle (
Oxford Classical Dicy.
).
th.1783.
I have recieved the Letter, which You did me the Honor to write me on the twenty ninth day of last Month, and the friendly Sentiments it contains, towards the United States of America, deserve my warmest Acknowledgments.
The Resolutions of the States of Friesland, taken in the Assemblies of February and April 1782, do Honour to that Province.— The Acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of the United States of America, and the Refusal of a seperate Peace by their High Mightinesses the States General, was one of those critical Decisions which sometimes turn the Tide of the Affairs of Men, and produce the unravelling of great Scenes among Nations. It seemed to open the Eyes of the British Nation, and to determine the fluctuating Opinions of the whole World, and consequently contributed very much to accelerate the Peace.
472The Medals, You did me the honor to present me with this Letter, are struck in great Perfection, and express with a beautiful Simplicity the two great Events they were intended to commemorate. You will please to accept of my Thanks for them. The first favorable Opportunity shall be taken to present one of them to Congress, as You desire.—1
Your Republick, I am persuaded, will have no Cause to repent of the Part She has taken in favor of America— And may the Friendship, Correspondence and Alliance between the two Nations be perpetual.
Permit me to add my best Wishes for the Prosperity of your Society, & the Felicity of your Persons and Families.—
With great Esteem and Respect, I have the / honor to be, / Gentlemen, / your most obliged and / obedient humble Servant.
RC in John Thaxter's hand (Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden); internal address: “To the Members of the Society established / at Leeuwarden, under the Device, / ‘By Liberty and Zeal.’” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108.
Despite JA's promise, there are no extant letters from him to Congress conveying the medals, but see note 2 to the society's letter of 29 April, above.