Papers of John Adams, volume 14
br:24
th:1782.
When I address'd the rest of the Commissioners by Letters last Month, I was not inform'd you was at Paris; or I should not have been so wanting to my interest, as not to have entreated your assistance and Protection, as I did theirs, in the support of the cause of an Innocent and suffering Family. I know the afflictions consequent to War have ever been horrid; But as I hope we are near a happier Period, let me beseech You to give us reason, from the support I trust you will grant our Cause, to rejoyce in the completion of so great a Blessing, as Peace: and that thô now oppress'd and Afflicted, we may again, from the Wisdom, justice, & uprightness of those in Power, enjoy the Comforts we have been so long deprived of.1
I have the honor to be Sir, / Your Excellencies Oblig'd & Obedient / Hble. Servt.
RC (Adams Papers).
Lady Juliana Fermor Penn (1729–1801) was the daughter of Thomas Fermor, 1st Earl of Pomfret, and widow of Thomas Penn, son and heir of William Penn, founder and proprietor of Pennsylvania. Her son John, the current proprietor, held a 75 percent interest in the estate. Under its Divestment Act of 1779 Pennsylvania took 24 million acres of unsold land from the Penn family for a settlement of £130,000 while permitting the Penns to retain private estates and proprietary manors surveyed prior to 4 July 1776 and income from that property. Lady Penn wrote to Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens on 23 Nov. to seek their assistance in obtaining a more equitable settlement (Franklin, Papers
, 38:343–344; Jay, Unpublished Papers
, 2:424–425; Laurens, Papers
, 16:67). When that was not forthcoming, the family filed a claim with the British Loyalist Commission and was awarded £4,000 annually in perpetuity (Lorett Treese, The Storm Gathering: The Penn Family and the American Revolution, University Park, Penn., 1992, 149p. 17, 187–191, 195–200, 205). The issue of the Penn family's claims had already been raised during the peace negotiations, for which see the articles agreed to by the commissioners and Richard Oswald on [4 Nov.], above.
r26. 1782
On my arrivel here—I enquir'd if any person was going for L’orient that might be depended on—but no such opportunity offer'd—Therefore agreable to your orders—I sent an Express with the packet under cover to Mr Barclay, who Wrote me, that he should forward them as deser'd—
The charge of the Express I have paid—(ten Louis) The Vessells at L’orient and here, which Were to sail for Boston—remain in suspence relative to peace or War, and when the Matter will be determin'd We Know not, But when it is certain peace or War & the Vessells takes freight—I shall send the things for Mrs. Adams with the Letters, as you deser'd—1 If Mr Thaxter is well enough—and any news arrives at Paris—I should take it as a faver if would inform me— please to present him & Mr Storer my regards— Compliments to the Gentlemen who honor'd me with their acquaintance— While here, if I can render you any service, I shall think myself happy—
I have the Honor to be / your Excellencys most / Obedient Humble servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams / Paris.”
For the shipment of items to AA, see Jeremiah Allen's letter of 7 Jan. 1783, below.
Allen, a young Boston merchant, had gone to Europe with JA on La Sensible in 1779 and returned to America in 1781. In Sept. 1782 he sailed again for Europe and went to Paris, where he visited JA on 27 Oct. and apparently remained throughout the peace negotiations (vol. 13:448, 451, 452; JA, D&A
, 3:38–39, 58, 83).
e.Dec. 1782
L’incluse, que vous voudrez bien avoir la bonté de fermer & acheminer par la voie de Mr. Barclai à l’Orient, vous paroîtra bien interessante. Mr. De Berer., qui vient de me quitter a été bien aise de profiter de toutes ces anecdotes, pour sa dépeche de demain.1
Nos amis vous prient, Monsieur, d’appuyer de tous vos bons Offices possibles la Négociation de mrs. les Plenipo: de cette rep., surtout quant aux dédom̃agemens qu’ils demandent, ainsi que pour la liberté parfaite & illimitée de leur Navigation; afin que ces 150Messieurs aient lieu de faire mention dans leurs dépeches ici de ces bons Offices, & que nos amis puissent s’en prévaloir non seulement pour confondre les Anglomanes, mais pour exalter à leurs peuples respectifs les effets de l’amitié fraternelle des Américains pour cette nation. Un petit mot de réponse là-dessus, que je puisse leur répéter de la part de Vre. Exce., leur fera grand plaisir.2 En attendant je suis chargé de vous présenter leurs respects, & ceux de mon Epouse & fille, & à Mrs Thaxter & Storer bien nos complimens. J’espere le premier rétabli de son rhume, & le second toujours fraix & gai.
Mr. Holtzhey m’a envoyé une seconde Médaille pour vous, charmante. Je vous l’enverrai Monsieur par premiere occasion. En attendant, voici sa Lettre, & Description.3 L’emblême du Coq m’a rappellé un trait, si je ne me trompe, des Mémoires de Vargas. L’Ambassadr. de France au Concile de Trente parlant d’une maniere qui déplaisoit au Minre. du Pape, celui-ci l’interrompit en criant Gallus cantat. L’Ambassadr., sans se déconcerter, repliqua Utinam Petrus fleret.4
Je suis, Monsieur, avec tous les sentimens de respect & de dévouement sincere que vous connoissez, de votre Excellence / le trèshumble & très-obéissant / serviteur
P.S. Vous aurez vu Sir J. Jay avant que celle-ci vous parvienne; & j’espere d’apprendre qu’il est tout-à-fait libre. Ce que vous me dites dans la vôtre du 13 de Mr. Brantzen, a fait grand plaisir à nos amis. Ce que vous avez la bonté de m’apprendre de la pêche, & ce que je devine com̃e je puis des autres points, m’en fait un que je sens mieux que je ne puis l’exprimer
Translation
Would you be so kind as to seal and send the enclosed letter to Lorient, via Mr. Barclay? You will find it very interesting. Mr. Bérenger, who has just been to see me, was happy to use the material in his dispatch for tomorrow.1
Our friends are asking, sir, if you can make every possible effort to support the negotiations of the Dutch plenipotentiaries, especially in regard to the compensations they are seeking, and to the total freedom of the seas. It would be very helpful if these gentlemen had cause to mention your good offices in their dispatches, and if our friends could take advantage of such mentions—not only to thwart the Anglomanes but to better extol to their constituents the benefits of America's fraternal friendship toward this nation. A brief answer from your excellency to this effect would greatly please 151them.2 Meanwhile, I am to present you their respects, and those of my wife and daughter, and to offer our compliments to Mr. Thaxter and Mr. Storer. I trust Mr. Thaxter has recovered from his cold and that Mr. Storer is as lively and cheerful as ever.
Mr. Holtzhey sent me a second medal for you, which is utterly delightful. I shall send it to you at the earliest opportunity. Meanwhile I enclose his letter and description.3 The emblem of the cock reminded me of a witty sally, if I recall correctly, in the memoirs of Vargas. The French ambassador to the Council of Trent was speaking in a manner that displeased the papal envoy, who interrupted him loudly with the words Gallus cantat. The ambassador, without turning a hair, replied Utinam Petrus fleret.4
I remain, sir, with all the respect and sincere devotion you already know, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant
P.S. You will have seen Sir James Jay before this reaches you, and I hope to learn he is entirely free. What you said about Mr. Brantsen in your letter of 13 December was most gratifying to our friends. What you so kindly informed me of concerning the fisheries, and my own best guesses as to the other points, caused me a pleasure I can better feel than express.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à son Exce. Mr. Adams, Mine. Plenipo: des Et. Un.”
Dumas refers to his letter to Robert R. Livingston begun on 17 Dec. and completed on the 26th, which contained additional information about the riots at The Hague (PCC, No. 93, II, f. 161–173). His visitor was Laurent Bérenger, secretary to the French ambassador at The Hague.
See JA's letter of 19 Jan., below.
Holtzhey's letter was of 23 Dec., above.
Dumas refers to Francisco de Vargas Mejia (1484–1560), a Spanish jurisconsult present at the Council of Trent, and specifically to his Lettres et memoires . . . touchant le concile de Trente, Amsterdam, 1699 (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale
). In the exchange referred to by Dumas, the papal envoy declared “the cock crows,” to which the French ambassador retorted “if only Peter would weep.” Both men refer to the Vulgate, Mark 14:72, “Prius quam gallus cantet bis, ter me negabis. Et [Petrus] coepit flere” (Before the cock should crow twice, you will deny me thrice. And Peter began to weep).