Adams Family Correspondence, volume 3

John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 18 April 1778 Thaxter, John AA

1778-04-18

John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 18 April 1778 Thaxter, John Adams, Abigail
John Thaxter to Abigail Adams
Dear Madam York Town Feby. April 18th. 1778

Since I had the pleasure of addressing you last, I have found in the office a Narrative respecting Count Pulaski, a copy of which is inclosed.1 He is a great Character. Congress, in confidence of his military skill and prowess, and attachment to the American Cause, have authorised him to raise sixty eight Horse and two hundred Foot.2 The Horsemen are to be armed with Lancets, and the Foot in the manner of Light Infantry. This Corps is called Count Pulaski's Legion. He is the Brigadier general of it. Many gentlemen, distinguished for military Experience, affirm, that this Legion will be very serviceable in harrassing the Enemy, in private expeditions &c.

13

Pulaski is a Hero in Grain. He inherits his Ancestors Love of and inflexible attachment to, the Liberties of Mankind, as well as their martial Virtues. He was very active last campaign at the head of some light Horse. His post becoming very disagreeable to him on account of some difficulties, which originated from no better principle than envy, he resigned. He is now provided for in a mode agreeable to his wishes.

While I am upon a military subject I will add some thing further, which may give origin to great Speculation, but I hope serious deliberation also—viz., Whether some provision at the close of the war should not be made for officers, who hazard their Lives in bravely defending their Country's Cause? Secondly, whether that provision should be for Life or a term of Years? Thirdly, Whether some provision should not be made for the Wives of those who may be slain in Battle? And Fourthly, Whether some further Compensation or reward should not be given to Soldiers at the end of the War? These Questions will shortly, I believe, come before the several States, for their Consideration. They are questions of great importance to any Country but more especially to a young one. The establishment of Pensions is a serious matter. To the propriety of which I shall not presume to speak. I am unqualified. If American Independence does not negative the measure, there may be no Impropriety in it perhaps—I cannot determine. Thus much one may venture to affirm, that it is a matter, in the determination of which, every inhabitant of these States is deeply interested.

A Contract has been entered into lately between an Agent of a certain House and the Commercial Committee of Congress.3 I have seen it, and I think we may expect a full supply of Cloathing, military Stores and Money in Consequence thereof. It is suspected that two powers hitherto friendly are at bottom. This, from its nature, Madam, you will consider is not known to many, nor that respecting a future provision for Officers and Soldiers. I am perfectly safe in committing it to your prudence.

A vessel has lately arrived at South Carolina with a valuable Cargo of Cloathing and military Stores. Congress had the first offer. Proper measures have been adopted to transport the Cargo, in Consequence of their accepting the offer.

I would inform you that I have got through your agreeable favor of Feby., which from its length you imagined would discourage me.4 I hope, from the length of time, I shall be honoured (if my Scrolls do not interrupt you) with several Sheets of the production of your Ingenuity. I seldom hear of our Braintree friends, tho' They are nearly 14overwhelmed with an inundation of letters from me. I am always happy in hearing of their Welfare, and flatter myself that tho' out of sight they have not forgotten, Madam, your very humble Servt.,

J.T.

PS Please to remember me to all friends.

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “April 18.” For the enclosure see note 1.

1.

“An exact narrative concerning Count Pulaski of Poland,” copy, 2 pages, in Thaxter's hand, attached to his letter but here omitted. This high-flown account of Casimir Pulaski's family and military feats ends as follows: “This we certify at Paris May 30th. 1777. Signed Roderigue Hortales & Co.” The paper was docketed “Pulaski” by JA in old age, and by CFA with its date.

2.

Congress took this action on 28 March ( JCC , 10:291).

3.

The famous contract offered by Beaumarchais' fictitious firm of Roderigue Hortales & Cie., agreed to by Congress on 7 April, and reported on the 16th as executed between Beaumarchais' agent in Philadelphia, J. B. L. Theveneau de Francy, and the Commercial Committee of Congress ( JCC , 10:316–321, 356).

4.

AA to Thaxter, 15–18 Feb., vol. 2, above.

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1778 JA AA

1778-04-19

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 April 1778 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
My dearest Friend Passy, near Paris April 19. 1778

This Letter will be conveyed to you by Sir James Jay and Mr. Digges. Sir James is a Brother of the Chief Justice of N. York.1 Mr. Digges is of one of the southern states.2

I never felt myself under so much Embarrassment in Writing because there never was so much Danger of my Letters falling into British Hands.

I am pleasantly situated at Passi, a fine airy, salubrious Situation, in the same House with Dr. Franklin, with whom I make one Family. The Dr. is in fine Health and great Reputation.

Long before this Reaches you, the News will have arrived of the Treaty between this Kingdom and America, a great Event indeed in our History, which cannot fail to have the most important and decisive Effects.

The Trade between the two Countries will vastly increase and the Security of it, will make it more profitable.

My dear Johnny is well fixed in a school,3 and his Behaviour does Honour to his Mamma.

My Love to my dear Daughter, and my dear sons at home.

I am yours, ever, ever yours, John Adams

RC (Adams Papers.)

1.

Sir James Jay (1732–1815), M.D. Edinburgh 1753, knighted by George III in 1763, after sundry adventures on both sides of the Atlantic because his 15political views were suspected by both Americans and British, was to serve as JA's physician during the latter's grave illness at Auteuil in the fall of 1783. His erratic conduct angered his brother John, and his career and views remain obscure to this day. See Sir James Jay to American Commissioners, 14 April 1778 (PPAmP:Franklin Papers); JA to Arthur Lee, 6 April 1784 (Adams Papers); Jay, Correspondence and Public Papers , 1:236; 2:297–298; JA, Diary and Autobiography , 3:143–144; Stokes, Iconography of Manhattan Island , 5:1145; Monaghan, John Jay , p. 29, 32, 37–38, 215; Appletons' Cyclo. Amer. Biog. ; Morris, Peacemakers , p. 298–299, 359–360, 433.

2.

George Digges (1747–1792), younger brother of the better-known Thomas Digges (1742–1821), Marylanders who found themselves in England at the outbreak of the Revolution and had some difficulty in knowing which way to move, if at all. George Digges sailed from France for Boston with Sir James Jay and on 12 Aug. 1778 took an oath of loyalty to his state at Annapolis. See William Bell Clark, “In Defense of Thomas Digges,” PMHB , 77:381–438 (Oct. 1953), especially p. 386–388, 390, 438. Thomas remained in England and became a frequent but secret correspondent of JA. The “Mr. Digges” mentioned by JA in his Diary and Autobiography , under date of 20 April 1778, was therefore George rather than Thomas, and was misidentified by the editors in their note on that entry (vol. 2:304). Thomas, as Mr. Clark's article makes clear, did not come to Paris until the spring of 1779. Jay and Digges arrived in Boston on 1 July (AA to JA, ca. 15 July, below, and note 3 there).

3.

This “pension” school was kept by one Le Coeur in Passy. Among JQA's American schoolmates there were Franklin's grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache; Jesse, son of Silas Deane; and Charles B. Cochran, evidently a South Carolinian. See JQA to AA, 20 April, below; Le Coeur to JA, 31 July, also below; JQA to Charles B. Cochran, 18 July 1814 (RC, privately owned, printed in AHR , 15:572–574 [April 1910]); JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:301; 4:58.