Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 9

C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation

To Edmé Jacques Genet
Barriers, between Great Britain and the United States of America to Reconcilliation, Alliance, or even Peace, 1 June 1780 JA

1780-06-01

 Barriers, between Great Britain and the United States of America to Reconcilliation, Alliance, or even Peace, 1 June 1780 Adams, John
Barriers, between Great Britain and the United States of America to Reconcilliation, Alliance, or even Peace
ca. 1 June 1780 1

1. The Obstinacy , Malice, Revenge, Pride Obstinacy, and Absurdity of the King, and Royal Family.

2. The Guilt, and Danger of the Ministry. Danger to their Lives 365and personal safety, as well as of Ruin to their Fortunes, Characters and Reputations.

3. The Ambition and Avarice of the Minority, whose Chiefs have the same hunger for the Loaves and Fishes2 as the Ministers, as little Attention to and affection for the public as they, and therefore dare not displease the King, and so give up their hopes of his favour by, adopting any Principles or espousing any system, that could lead to Reconciliation or to Peace.

4. The general Prevalence of Profligacy,

LbC (Adams Papers).

1.

The date is derived from the document's position in the Letterbook following JA's letter of 1 June to Genet and preceding that of 6 June to Dumas. It is clearly unfinished, occupying only a quarter of a page that is otherwise blank. Certainly it reflects, although in a more direct fashion, JA's views regarding a peace settlement expressed in various letters and articles, most notably those commenting on Gen. Henry Seymour Conway's speech supporting his bill of 5 May and Lord George Germain's speech attacking it (to Genet, 17 and 28 May, both above). But neither its purpose, whether as a draft of a newspaper article or simply a memorandum for JA's own use, nor the reason for its being left incomplete has been determined.

 2.

JA referred to “the Loaves and Fishes” in connection with the parliamentary opposition in his first letter of 20 May to the president of Congress (No. 69, calendared, above).