Papers of John Adams, volume 14

From C. W. F. Dumas, 28 March 1783 Dumas, C. W. F. Adams, John
From C. W. F. Dumas
Monsieur Lahaie 28e. Mars 1783

Quoique nous n’ayions pas encore le bonheur de posseder ici Mr. Votre fils, nous n’en som̃es plus inquiets. En attendant voici encore des nouvelles de lui, un peu de vieille date, il est vrai: mais c’est que la Lettre a fait le tour de Coppenhague à Paris & de Paris ici.

“A Coppenhague ce 25 fevr. 1783

“La Lettre, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur,1 dont Votre Excellence m’a honoré le 14 de ce mois, m’a fait rechercher ici avec empressement le fils de Mr. Adams, qui est venu me voir aussitôt qu’il en a été informé. J’ai appris de lui, qu’il étoit arrivé depuis quelques jours de Gothenbourg, d’où il a écrit il y a environ 3 semaines à Mr. son pere, pour lequel il m’a remis hier avant de s’embarquer pour Kiell afin de se rendre à Lahaie, une Lettre que je viens de mettre sous les auspices de Mr. le Comte de Vergennes.2 Il m’a prié en même temps, Monsieur le Duc, de vous faire agréer toute sa reconnoissance, & l’hom̃age de son respect. Je rends mille graces à Votre Excellence, de m’avoir procuré la connoissance de ce jeune & aimable Américain. A en juger par sa façon de penser & de S’expliquer, il m’a presque fait croire que les hom̃es naissent à 30 ans dans son pays, quoiqu’il n’en ait tout au plus que 16. Je suis faché que son départ trop prompt m’ait privé de la satisfaction de lui rendre ce séjour agréable. On ne peut rien ajouter à l’attachement respectueux avec lequel j’ai l’honneur d’être, de Votre Excellence, le trèshumble & très obéissant serviteur

La Houze.”

Mr. le Baron De La Houze est Ministre de France à Coppenhague.

J’arrangerai les comptes à payer avec ces Messieurs d’Amsterdam, selon vos ordres du 19.

L’on ne sait pas encore qui ira à Londres com̃e Ministre de cette rep. Il n’en est pas question encore. Ce qui est sûr, c’est qu’il n’y a pas la moindre apparence que ce Soit le Comte de Welderen.

L’incluse pour le Congrès vous apprendra l’état des choses ici.3

L’incom̃odité qui me faisoit souffrir, & qui m’inquiétoit beaucoup, diminue Dieu merci.

J’ai surpris ces jours passés les Tablettes de Miss Nancy; & j’y ai trouvé les deux chansons ci-jointes que son enthousiasme versificateur lui a inspirées.4 Les rimes n’y Sont pas toutes riches: mais 377com̃e la raison y est, je les ai louées, & je lui en ai demandé copie, afin que Mr. Thaxter vous les chante, Monsieur, dans quelque momens où vous serez fatigué des choses sérieuses.

Je Sens, Monsieur, combien il est naturel pour vous de desirer de retourner en Amérique & chez vous. J’ai pourtant dans l’idée que vous irez à Londres avant d’avoir cette Satisfaction; & ma grande raison, c’est que je crois que le Traité à faire avec La Grde. Brete. pour le Commerce aura besoin, plus que tout autre, d’une main ferme & inflexible com̃e la vôtre. Vous savez que je ne suis pas flatteur de mon métier: ainsi ceci n’est pas un compliment, mais ce que je pense.

Je Suis avec grand respect, Monsieur / De Votre Excellence / le très-humble et très / obéissant serviteur

Dumas

Enclosure

Chanson Sur l’air de Vous L’ordonnez 5

1.
Ami des Loix Du citoyen, de L’home Je veux chanter ta gloire a haute Voix come on chantoit dans la grece et dans Rome Tous tes pareils plutot que les grands Rois.
2.
Approchez vous Mes aimables compagnes Qui de la liberté avez le gout, Du protecteur qui toujours l’accompagne chantons l’honneur dont plusieurs Sont jaloux
3.
Si vous daignez Pour votre recompense O Gyzelaar, vous qui nous defendez Bien recevoir notre reconoissance Nous connoitrons que vous nous Estimez.
4.
Nous connoissons Tous ceux dont le coeur male Avec le votre en parfait unisson 378 Tend a briser cette chaine fatale Que nous avoit mis L’Enemi des Bons.
[5.]
Vivez donc Tous Un grand nombre d’années Accompagné des plaisirs les plus doux Literateurs qui nous avez charmées Ce sont les voeux que nous formons pour Vous.

Chanson sur l’air God save the King.

1.
Le premier des Adams asservit ses Enfans En trop mangeant Mais un plus sage Adams Leur destin menageant Les rend de notre temps Independans.
2.
Nymphes de L’ocean Et du grand continent Quil va baignant Come moi, par vos chants Celebrez en dansant De cet Evenement Lillustre agent.
Translation
Sir The Hague, 28 March 1783

Although we still have not the pleasure of having your son here, we are no longer worried about him. Meanwhile, I enclose some further news of him, admittedly a bit out of date, but that is because the letter went all the way from Copenhagen to Paris and from Paris to here.

“Copenhagen, 25 February 1783

“The letter, Ambassador,1 that your excellency kindly wrote me on the 14th of this month caused me to begin an urgent search for Mr. Adams’ son, who called on me as soon as he heard of it. He told me that he had arrived a few days earlier from Göteborg; that he had written to his father 379from there about three weeks before; and before embarking for Kiel en route to The Hague he gave me a letter for his father, which I have just entrusted to the Comte de Vergennes.2 At the same time, your Grace, he asked me to convey to you his deep gratitude and respect. I thank your excellency most warmly for introducing me to this pleasing young American. To judge by his way of thinking and speaking, he has almost convinced me that men are born at the age of thirty in his country, although he can barely be sixteen. I am sorry that his premature departure deprives me of the pleasure of rendering his stay agreeable. I can add nothing to the respectful esteem with which I have the honor to be your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant

La Houze”

Baron de la Houze is the French minister to Copenhagen.

I shall arrange for the bills to be paid with the Amsterdam merchants, as per your orders of 19 March.

We do not yet know who will go to London as minister from this republic. The question has not yet arisen. What is certain is that there is not the slightest likelihood of its being Count Welderen.

The enclosed letter for Congress will acquaint you with the present state of affairs here.3

The indisposition that was causing me such pain and worry is diminishing, thank God.

A few days ago I came across Miss Nancy's writing tablets and found the enclosed songs, which her enthusiasm for verse had inspired.4 The rhymes are not all splendid, but since they are not devoid of thought I praised them and asked her for a copy so that Mr. Thaxter might sing them to you in those moments when you grow weary of serious matters.

I feel, sir, how natural it is for you to wish to return home to America. However, I have an idea that you will go to London before you have that pleasure, and my main reason for so thinking is that the commercial treaty with Great Britain will need a firm and steady hand like yours, more than any other. You know I am no flatterer by profession; this is no compliment, but what I think.

I am with great respect, sir, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant

Dumas
Enclosure

Song, to the tune of “Vous l’ordonnez”5

1.
Friend of the law, Of citizens, of men, I wish to sing your glory aloud As they sang in Greece and Rome Your equals, rather than great kings.
380
2.
Draw nigh, My amiable friends Who have tasted freedom, and let us laud The constant guardian Singing the honor that others envy.
3.
If you do deign For your recompense, O Gyselaar, who defends us, Receive well our gratitude, Knowing that we are esteemed by you.
4.
We know All those whose hearts do ache With yours in perfect unison The fatal chain shall break, Imposed on us by enemies of the just.
5.
You live therefore For many a year Enjoying pleasures most sweet As writers who have charmed us do— Such are our wishes formed for you.

Song, to the tune of “God Save the King”

1.
The first of the Adams Enslaved his children By eating too much, But a wiser Adams Preserved their destiny, Giving them liberty In our own time.
2.
Nymphs of the ocean And of the continent That it doth bathe, Like me, by your songs Celebrating and dancing The illustrious agent Of this event.
381

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); addressed: “à Son Excellence / Monsieur Adams, Ministre / Plenipo: des Etats-Unis / Paris.”; internal address: “Paris à Son Exce. Mr. Adams.”; endorsed by John Thaxter: “Mr. Dumas / 28. March 1783 / inclosing 2. Songs from Miss Nancy.”

1.

The Duc de La Vauguyon.

2.

These were JQA's letters of 1 and 20 Feb. ( AFC , 5:86–87, 97–98). In the latter JQA described his 19 Feb. meeting with the Baron de La Houze, at which he learned of La Vauguyon's letter of inquiry indicating that JA had “been anxious on my account.”

3.

Presumably Dumas’ 27 March letter to Robert R. Livingston (Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 6:347–348).

4.

In 1782 John Thaxter described Dumas’ daughter Anna Jacoba, whom everyone called Nancy, as “a very pretty young Lady of about 16 or 17. Years old”; and in a 12 April 1783 letter to Dumas he stated that “I am much pleased with Miss Nancy's poetic Performances, which do much Honor to her Talents. She discover a happy Turn that way, and I hope she will indulge it, as it is a fine accomplishment” ( AFC , 4:355; PCC, No. 101, f. 359). This was not Nancy's first effort at versification in honor of a distinguished American. In 1779 she had written a song to celebrate the exploits of John Paul Jones, then in the Netherlands after the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis (Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic and Amer. Independence , p. 74–75).

5.

Comédie Française orchestra director Antoine Laurent Baudron wrote “Vous l’ordonnez” for Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais’ 1772 comedy Le barbier de Séville (Dominique-René de Lerma, “Two Friends within the Saint-Georges Songs,” The Black Perspective in Music, 1:116 [Autumn 1973]).

Notice of Honorary Degree from Harvard College, 1 April 1783 Adams, John Willard, Joseph
Notice of Honorary Degree from Harvard College
[1 April 1783]

At a meeting of the President & Fellows of Harvard College April 1, 1783.

Voted, that the Diploma for a Doctorate of Laws, conferred on his Excellency John Adams Esqr, some time since, be immediately engrossed, and the Seal enclosed in a Silver Box.1

Copy/Attest:

Joseph Willard Presdt

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

For the history of JA's honorary doctorate, which had been voted in July 1781 and announced on 19 Dec. 1781, as well as the diploma, seal, and silver box, see the Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 9, above.

From C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1783 Dumas, C. W. F. Adams, John
From C. W. F. Dumas
Monsieur LaHaie 3e. Avril 1783

Nous savons ici, par Lettres de Hambourg du 25 du passé, que Mr. Votre fils, après S’y être arrêté quelques jours, en étoit reparti le 23.1

Voici des Lettres Américaines venues par la poste d’Angleterre. Celle de Mr. Guild S’est trouvée dans un paquet entierement usé & 382 image 383 image 384ouvert d’un côté. Il contenoit deux brochures: Letter to the Abbé Raynal by Ths. Payne, & Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana Cantabrigiæ in Rep. Massachsi. ab año 1642 ad an. 1782 alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt. 2 J’ai cru devoir déposer ces deux pieces dans votre Secretaire, & vous envoyer Seulement la Lettre.3

A certain face you would not meet in a wood, you will meet it, with his influenza in the future Congress of final pacification, at which I am assured he is appointed to assist. I Sat next him yesterday at the F. Ambassador's, who gave a Diplomatic Dinner.4 We were much talkative together about the several climates of Russia nearly corresponding with those of our States, and the extensiveness of both, about Kamtschatka, Capt. Cook, the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucase, which he told me he went through. There, said I, you may possibly have traaden on some of the Steps of Alexander the great. He Smiled, and I too, fancying him horded, when there, with the modern Hircanians, so formidable to Caravans.5

Je Suis avec grand respect, De Votre Exce. / le très-humble & très / obéissant serviteur

Dumas
Translation
Sir The Hague, 3 April 1783

We know by letters from Hamburg of 25 March that your son, after staying there for some days, departed on the 23d.1

Here are some American letters that came via the post from England. The one from Mr. Guild was in a very tattered parcel, open along one side. It contained two pamphlets: Letter to the Abbé Raynal by Thomas Paine, and Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana Cantabrigiæ in Rep. Massachsi. Ab anno 1642 ad an. 1782 alicujus gradus laurea donati sunt. 2 I thought I should place these two pieces in your writing desk, and send only the letter.3

A certain face you would not meet in a wood, you will meet it, with his influenza in the future Congress of final pacification, at which I am assured he is appointed to assist. I Sat next him yesterday at the F. Ambassador's, who gave a Diplomatic Dinner.4 We were much talkative together about the several climates of Russia nearly corresponding with those of our States, and the extensiveness of both, about Kamtschatka, Capt. Cook, the Caspian Sea and Mount Caucase, which he told me he went through. There, said I, you may possibly have traaden on some of the Steps of Alexander the great. He Smiled, and I too, fancying him horded, when there, with the modern Hircanians, so formidable to Caravans.5

I am with great respect, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant

Dumas
385

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à Son Excellence Mr. Adams M. P.”

1.

In fact, JQA left Hamburg on 5 April (JQA, Diary , 1:174).

2.

For the publications sent by Guild, see his letter of 28 Nov. 1782, and note 7, above, but Dumas is probably here referring to Guild's letter of 3 Dec., above, and the cover letter for the pamphlets dated the 7th (Adams Papers), for which see JA's letter to Guild of 9 April, and note 1, below.

3.

Dumas wrote the following paragraph in English and it has been inserted verbatim into the English translation.

4.

Dumas’ conversation at the French ambassador's dinner was with Arkady Markov, special Russian envoy to the Netherlands. In the summer of 1782 JA had a humorous exchange with the Russian centering on the similarity between the words “influenza” and “influence” (vol. 13:422, 424–425). In March, Catherine II had renewed the Austro-Russian mediation proposal, with the negotiations for the general peace to be held at Paris rather than, as previously intended, at Vienna. Markov was to join the Russian minister to France, Ivan Sergeevich Bariatinskii, for the negotiations (De Madariaga, Armed Neutrality of 1780 , p. 433; U.S. and Russia , p. 183).

5.

The Hyrcanians were the inhabitants of a region of ancient Persia located southeast of the Caspian Sea.