Papers of John Adams, volume 12
1781-11-29
While you were at Sea I recd the inclosed dispatches with a desire to open them if you were absent, which I did, and read them with very great Pleasure.1 Mrs searle’s Letter I did not open you will receive it as I did.
I have received your kind Letter from L’orient.2 The dispatches for Congress are not now of Consequence, as Duplicates and Triplicates of them have arrived by Newman and Brown.3 You may burn them if you please, or let them lay in your Chest untill you return, but I beg you would observe a total silence about them.
I congratulate you, with great Joy on the surrender of York and Gloucester, Ld Cornwallis and his army. After this I think, We have nothing to fear.
If their H. M. would embrace this critical Moment to propose an Alliance with France and America, it would be the greatest Stroke of Policy, which they have struck this Century. But they are not to be depended on.
I have received Some very agreable dispatches from Congress of which you may hear in due time.4 They could not be better timed.
For the enclosures, see JA to Searle, 20 Oct., and note 2, above.
Not found.
Capt. Joseph Newman of the Massachusetts privateer Gates carried JA’s letters to Congress dated 16 May (2d letter); 11, 14, 15 July; and 3 August. He reached Newburyport on 21 September. Capt. Moses Brown of the 100Massachusetts privateer Minerva arrived at Cape Ann on or about 20 Oct. (vol. 11:317–319, 410–412, 418, 419–420, 436–438;
Adams Family Correspondence
, 4:216, 226, 239).
See JA to the Duc de La Vauguyon, 24 Nov., note 1, above.