Papers of John Adams, volume 14
th.1783.1
I did myself the Honor of writing to your Excellency, and sending several inclosures by the last Post. I send herewith another, which ought to have preceeded in publication one, which your Excellency has received.2
415I suppose Mr Hartly is or will be soon, with you. He says He shall settle matters at Paris in a little while. and Mr Fox has said the same thing. the Bill which the Latter Gentleman has just introduced into the House, will not go far enough unless great Powers are given to the King; for the Execution of which the Minister must be responsible, and these are ticklish Times for a bold Minister to Act in.
Mr Fox, who takes the whole of the American business on Himself, is bold in his Nature for he is clear sightd & not frightned by shadows, but some of his Colleagues may perhaps endeavour to prevent his taking those Manly steps, which the Times require, the Man with whom I conversed last Wednesday will I am Affraid Clog Him as much as possible, and his Ennemies are ready to trip up his Heels; He has a difficult part to Act, & perhaps it may not be made Easy, by the Instruments, He makes use of, which is perhaps forced, or which has intruded itself into his hands. all you Gentlemen Know the Man & I trust will soon raise Him out of his Profundity, that is, to use his own words out of the Bottom of all Bottoms. I have some Notion, that He thinks of opening, examining & correcting the Treaty lately made, what He will get thereby I Know not— perhaps He thinks too of going to America as the british Minister
Mr Ridley has communicated to me a Request from Mr Barclay, that I would render myself at Paris to assist Him in the Execution of his Commission for settling the public Accounts. If I thought myself Capable of doing any Good, I would have immediately complied with the Invitation, but I really think I am not qualified for that business, & have at the same time an Idea that I can be of some Service here, if your Excellency thinks so, I Know you would have me Continue where I am. I therefore refer the whole to your Excellency; Mr Ridly will do Himself the Honor of speaking to your Excellency on the Subject & will communicate to me the result of your determination
I take the Liberty of sending to your Excelleny an Imitation of Aurea Libertas.3 &c by a friend
There is in the papers a long account of the Affairs of this 416Country in the East Indias, but half of the busysness is not told. a want of food, of money of Discipline is like to ruin the base & baseless Domination in the Indias Our Friend Heyder Ali has certainly done much for America & Humanity.
I am with the greatest Consideration / Sir / Your Excellencys / Most Obedient / Humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr.”; endorsed: “Mr Jennings Ap 15 / ansd. 21. 1783.”
Note that JA's 21 April reply to this letter is not JA's letter of that date, below, but rather is the postscript to his 18 April letter to Jenings, below.
JA mentions the enclosures sent with this letter and that of 11 April, above, in his reply to Jenings of 18 April, below, but they are not with Jenings’ letters in the Adams Papers and have not been further identified.
Jenings refers to
JA's letter of 16 Sept. 1782 (vol. 13:468–469). There JA gave the text of a Latin toast, beginning with the words “Aurea Libertas” or “Golden Liberty,” offered by Christiaan Everard Vaillant at a celebratory dinner JA attended soon after Dutch recognition of the United States (JA, D&A
, 3:25).
Jenings at this point references an explanatory note below the poem: “His Excellency Mr Adams.”
Jenings at this point references a second explanatory note below the poem: “Holland and America.”
In Answer to the Inquiry of Mr Fagel you will please to inform him that the Letters of Credence of Mr Van Berckell should be addressed “To the United States of America in Congress assembled”
“Friends and Allies.”
The King of France indeed has added the Word “great.” “great Friends and Allies.”— But I think it would be much better to leave out the Word great and all other Epithets.— Congress have never assumed any other Style, and I hope they never will assume or receive any other.1
I have the Honour to be sir your / respectfull and obedient servant
RC (PHC:Charles Roberts Autographs Coll.); internal address: “Mr Dumas.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108.
For Hendrik Fagel's inquiry, see Dumas’ letter of 11 April, above, and for the form used by France, see the letters of credence of 28 March 1778 and 31 May 1779, respectively, for Conrad Alexandre Gérard and the Chevalier de La Luzerne as French ministers to the United States (
JCC
, 11:753–754; 15:1279). Actually the French formula was “Très chers, grands amis et alliés” or “Very dear, great friends and allies.” The Dutch took
JA's advice and Van Berckel's 27 May letter of credence was addressed “Aan de vereenigde Staaten van America in het Congres vergadert Onse Vrienden en Geallieerden” or “To the United States of America in Congress Assembled Our friends and Allies” (PCC, No. 129, f. 21, 23).