Papers of John Adams, volume 12
1781-12-30
Vous avez desiré Monsieur que des que je serois arrivé a Versailles je communiquasse a Monsieur Le Comte de Vergennes La disposition que vous avez a faire La demarche qui vous a eté conseillée par plusieurs membres bien intentionés des etats d’hollande, et que je lui fasse Connoitre en meme tems La resolution que vous avez prise de vous en abstenir S’il La desapprouve; ce Ministre me Charge de vous mander qu’il ne trouve aucun inconvenient a la visite que vous vous proposez de faire au president de l’assemblée des etats generaux aux ministres de La Republique et aux deputés des principales villes ce la province d’hollande pourveû que Sans laisser aux uns ni aux autres aucun écrit ministeriel vous vous borniez a leur demander si Le memoire que vous avez remis il y a quelques mois a eté l’objet des deliberations de Leurs hautes puissances et quelle est La reponse que vous pouvez transmettre au congrés des etats unis de l’amerique Septentrionale.
Je ne Scais pas encor precisement Monsieur quand je pourrai etre de retour a la haye mais je ne prevois pas que mon absence soit plus longue que je L’avoit projetée. Recevez Monsieur une nouvelle assurance des sentiments Inviolables de la Consideration tres distinguee avec lesquels J’ay Lhonneur d’etre Votre tres humble et tres obeissant Serviteur
1781-12-30
You have desired, sir, that as soon as I should be arrived at Versailles, I should communicate to the Comte de Vergennes the disposition you have to take a step that has been recommended by several well intentioned members of the States of Holland, and that I should give him to understand at the same time the resolution which you have taken to abstain from it, if he disapproves it. That minister charges me to acquaint you that he perceives no inconvenience in the visit which you propose to make to the president of the Assembly of the States General, to the ministers of the republic, and to the deputies of the principal cities of the province of Holland, provided that, without leaving with one or the other any ministerial writing, you confine yourself to demanding of them, whether the memorial which you presented some months ago, has been an object of the delibera-168tions of their high mightinesses, and what is the answer which you may transmit to the congress of the United States of North America.
I do not yet precisely know, sir, when I shall be able to return to The Hague; but I foresee nothing to prolong my absence beyond the time I at first projected. Receive, sir, fresh assurance of those inviolable sentiments of the most distinguished consideration, with which I have the honor to be your most humble and most obedient servant,
JA published this letter in English in the “In the latter end of December, 1781, I concluded to present myself a second time to the president of their high mightinesses, for an answer to my former memorial, and drew up a memorial in English and French; but as I had reason to believe the Duke De La Vauguion and the Comte De Vergennes would not now oppose me, but on the contrary would be pleased by being consulted, I communicated my design to the Duke, who encouraged the project, and I believe went to Versailles, chiefly to consult the Comte on the subject. He soon wrote me, according to his promise, a letter, of which the following is a translation.”Boston Patriot of 19 Sept. 1810. He introduced it by stating that
Immediately following the letter JA commented on its effect on his subsequent actions. “When I received this letter, and indeed before the Duke left the Hague, I had prepared my memorial in English and French; but I had no objection to substituting the Comte De Vergennes’s plan, which I thought however rather too tame and timid. I was therefore determined to consult my own privy council of Dutch patriots, who had never deceived me; who had never concealed from me any danger or difficulty, but who had always communicated to me every information, without exaggeration, which could afford me encouragement or hope. These were unanimously in favor of my memorial and against the Comte De Vergennes’s project. I asked them whether I ought not to strike out the epithet ‘categorical.’ Oh! no. By no means; that is the best word in the whole memorial. Our nation likes such hints: They think them manly. That word will excite more attention than all the rest, and you are sure now of the current in your favor. But if it should do no good, it will certainly do you no harm. We think you have hit the taste of our people.—I took this advice and proceeded as is detailed in my next letter to congress.”
For JA’s request for a categorical answer to this memorial of 19 April, see the Address to the President of the States General,