Papers of John Adams, volume 17

To the Marquis of Carmarthen, 26 May 1785 Adams, John Carmarthen, the Marquis of

To the Marquis of Carmarthen

Bath Hotel May 26. 1785

Mr Adams has the Honour to acquaint the Right Honourable the Marquis of Caermarthen, that he is just arrived in Town with Credentials from the United States of America, and desires to be informed at what Hour, he may have the Honour of paying his Respects to his Lordship.1

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RC (British Library, London:Leeds Papers); endorsed: “May. 26. 1785. / Mr. Adams.” FC (Adams Papers). LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 111.

Francis Godolphin Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen (later the 5th Duke of Leeds), served as William Pitt’s secretary of state for foreign affairs from 1783 to 1791. Always an advocate of Britain’s effort to retain its American colonies, he had supported the North ministry until 1780 when he joined the opposition after his dismissal as lord lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire for refusing to oppose the county association movement (vol. 8:371; AFC , 6:193; DNB ). Carmarthen replied to JA’s request on the morning of 27 May 1785, setting the time of his meeting with JA at either one o’clock at his house in Grosvenor Square or four o’clock at his office in Cleveland Row (Adams Papers). JA immediately replied that he would meet Carmarthen at one at Grosvenor Square, and would bring WSS with him (LbC, APM Reel 111). For more on Carmarthen, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 10, above.

John Adams’ Memorandum of a Meeting with the Marquis of Carmarthen, 27 May 1785 Adams, John

John Adams’ Memorandum of a Meeting with the Marquis of Carmarthen

London—Fryday May 27th. 1785

Agreable to appointment Mr: Adams and Mr: Smith waited on the Right Honourable the Marquis of Carmarthen at oneo Clock at his House in Grosvenors Square, and were immediately received Mr. Adams presented his original Commission which is as follows—

The United States of America in Congress assembled.—

To our trusty and well beloved John Adams Esquire send Greeting.—

We reposing special trust and confidence in your Integrity, Prudence and Ability have nominated constituted and appointed and by these Presents do nominate constitute and appoint you the said John Adams our Minister Plenipotentiary to reside at the Court of His britanic Majesty and do give you full Power and Authority there to Represent Us, and to do and perform all such Matters and Things as to the said Place or Office doth appertain, or as may by our Instructions be given unto you in charge. This Commission to continue in Force for the space of three Years from this Day, unless sooner revoked

In Testimony whereof—We have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Witness His Excellency Richard Henry Lee our President at the City of New York this twenty fourth Day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty five, and of our Sovereignty and Independence the Ninth—

Richard Henry Lee. P.

Chas. Thomson secry John Jay

Secretary for the Department of foreign Affairs—

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Which His Lordship having read returned— Mr. Adams gave him an Authenticated Copy— Mr. Smith presented his Lordship with his original Commission as Secretary to the Legation—which is as follows.—

The United States of America in Congress assembled—

To our trusty and beloved William S. Smith Esquire, send Greeting.—

We reposing special trust and confidence in your Integrity Prudence and Ability have nominated constituted and appointed and by these Presents do nominate constitute and appoint you the said William S. Smith Secretary to our Legation to His britanic Majesty. This Commission to continue in Force for the space of three Years from this Day unless sooner Revoked—

In Testimony whereof We have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed Witness His Excellency Richard Henry Lee our President at the City of New York this first Day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty five, and of our Sovereignty and Independence the Ninth.—

Richard Henry Lee. P.

Cha Thomson Secry John Jay

Secretary for the Department of foreign Affairs—

Which His Lordship having read & returned Mr. Smith presented him with an Authenticated Copy. His Lordship appointed Wednesday next oneo Clock to introduce Mr. Adams at the Royal Levee, at the conclusion of which he should be introduced to His Majesty in his Closet for the purpose of presenting his Letter of Credence, and that on the next Levee Day Mr: Smith should be presented to His Majesty as Secretary to the Legation—1

LbC in WSS’s hand (Adams Papers); APM Reel 111.

For JA’s presentation to George III on 1 June, see his letters to John Jay of 1 and 2 June, both below. In a letter to Jay of 15 June, WSS wrote that he would “this Day step on the stage, and make my Court to majesty” (PCC, No. 92, f. 9–10); although in a 24 June letter to Mary Smith Cranch, AA indicated that the audience had been on the 16th ( AFC , 6:188).