Adams Family Correspondence, volume 4
1781-08-20
I am too ill to write much. Your Ease of Mind is what I wish to promote by confirming what I have before said vizt. That Mr. A
Should a french Fleet be on this Coast, I shall have Opportunity to send your Things by Water.
Adieu.
A Cold Scrawl for a Man in a Fever. I have quite forgot what Word I may use. What I may not is at my Pen's End.
This project, which in the end had no material result, was set in motion by La Luzerne, no doubt under direction from Paris. The original of JA's commission, endorsed by him “Commission of 16. August 1781.—to negotiate a triple or quadruple Alliance,” is in Adams Papers, together with his instructions, endorsed “Instructions of Aug. 16. Holland.” For the background and printed texts see
JCC
, 21:846–848, 859, 876–880; Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 4:636–638. See also Elbridge Gerry's comment in his letter to AA, 31 Aug., below.