Papers of John Adams, volume 16
I have rec’d your Letters of the fifth and ninth, and at last my Trunks are arrived, so that I am now collected into one Spot. I shall. be much obliged to you, to settle my Account, according to your own Judgment as soon as possible. I would not charge any Thing 281 wrong, nor willingly any thing that shall appear to be so. Yet I ought in Justice to charge what is right.
As to my coming to Paris, it is uncertain, and will be determined upon Mr: Jefferson’s arrival; If, as M: de la Fayette writes me, Mr: Jefferson is united with Dr: Franklin and me, in a Commission to treat with the maritime Powers, I shall be obliged to come.1 But all is uncertain, and indeed I doubt, whether Mr: Jefferson will embark before Congress have an opportunity to consult Mr: Jay. The Dr. writes me, that Mr: Jefferson is talked of to succeed him. Is he to die? or to resign? or be displaced.
Your’s &c.
Will you let me know whether Com: Jones is gone? I owe him a Letter and if he is in Paris I will pay it.2
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Thos: Barclay Esqr: Consul General”; APM Reel 107.
See the Marquis de Lafayette’s letter of 25 June, above.
John Paul Jones, who had delivered dispatches from Congress to JA at London in Dec. 1783, was then at Paris, but there is no indication that JA wrote to him (vol. 15:387–388). JA’s last letter to Jones was of 12 Aug. 1782 (vol. 13:233), and the two would not exchange letters again until Jones’ letter of 7 Jan. 1786 (Adams Papers) and JA’s reply of the 21st (LbC, APM Reel 113).