Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 16

From Tristram Dalton

From John Jay
Edmund Jenings to John Adams, 6 April 1784 Jenings, Edmund Adams, John
From Edmund Jenings
Sir London April 6th. 1784.

I have done myself the Honor of Answering your Excellencys Letter of the 10th of Febry by two different Posts, as far as was then in my Power.1 I have now to give your Excellency Information of the only Metter which remained Unanswered.

I am told an Express is Arrived from Congress brought by a Mr or Major Franks announcing the ratification of the Treaty on the 14 of Febry,— The Major is believe gone on to Paris.2

the Elections are carrying on with great Violence, it is generally believd they will run against the Coalition— Mr Fox is likely to lose His in Westminster. & Lord John Cavendish is thrown out of the City of York.3

Mr Barclay is just returned to Paris. and Mr Ridley is now in London, Mr Chace talks of returning to America soon.

Give me leave to Ask whether the Abbè Mablys Book is published in Holland.

When does your Excellency expect Mrs Adams,?

I beg to be remembered most kindly to your Son

I am with the greatest Consideration / Sir / Your Excellencys / Most Obedient Humble Servant

Edm: Jenings Old Slaughters Coffee House St Martins Lane.

RC (Adams Papers).

 1.

Of 24 Feb. and 12 March, both above.

 2.

On 15 Jan., the day after it named Col. Josiah Harmar to carry the original, Congress appointed Lt. Col. David Salisbury Franks to carry a triplicate of the ratified definitive treaty to Europe. Harmar reached Paris on 120 29 March; Franks arrived at London on the 30th. Franks remained in Europe and later served as Thomas Barclay’s secretary during his mission to Morocco that resulted in the 1786 Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship ( JCC , 26:29, 34–35; Jay, Unpublished Papers , 2:706; Morris, Peacemakers , p. 448; AFC , 6:312; Miller, Treaties , 2:185–219).

 3.

Lord John Cavendish lost his seat in the 1784 election, and Charles James Fox’s return to his seat in Westminster was delayed until March 1785 by a prolonged scrutiny of the vote, forcing him in the interim to sit for the constituency of Tain Burghs (Namier and Brooke, House of Commons , 2:203, 205, 455, 460).