Papers of John Adams, volume 16

Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 4 March 1784 Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje Adams, John
From Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
Sir Amsterdam 4 March 1784.

We take the Liberty of sending herewith the General Bond of the new Loan with the Dutch Translation of it, and beg you’ll be so kind as to pass this Act before an English Notary in the Hague and to send us the Gross together with the Dutch Translation as soon as possible back.1 It will be necessary also to make different Copies to send ’em to Congress for its Ratification. Your Excellency will observe we have made the Form of the Bond in such a Manner that your Excellency might be saved the Trouble of signing all the Copies, as was before done, the which Alteration will we hope be acceptable to your Excellency.2

The Loan goes tolerably well. We have already collected almost as much Money as is sufficient to pay the Bills, which are now due, 74 and we have some good Expectations that we shall be able in a short Time to accept also the remaining Drafts of Mr Morris.

We have the Honor to remain with due Respect / Sir / Your Excellency’s / Most humble and obedt Servts.

Wilhem & Jan Willink Nics. & Jacob van Staphorst de la Lande & fynje

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

That is, the consortium was enclosing English and Dutch language versions of the loan contract. JA was to return the engrossed (grosse in Dutch), notarized copies of the contract. See the notarized English version of the contract for the second Dutch loan at 9 March, the day on which it was notarized, below. The engrossed Dutch copy has not been found.

2.

That is, the contract provided that the obligations for the loan could be sold over the signature of the consortium’s members. For the provision in the first Dutch loan of [11 June 1782] requiring JA’s signature on the obligations, see vol. 13:112.

Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 8 March 1784 Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Adams, John
From the Marquis de Lafayette
My dear Sir Paris March the 8th 1784

Before I Had a Pointed Reason to write, My friendship for You, and our Common zeal for the Public Had dictated it— But I must Begin with the Article that in My Mind Creates some Uneasiness

it is writen from Amsterdam that Mr John Adams is very Violent Against the Society of the Cincinnati and Calls it a french Blessing—and that He says, altho’ I Have long Announced an intention to Go to America, I Never fulfill it, which seems to Hint a want of zeal to Comply with the desire of My American friends1

Was I to take the Matter up, as a french Man, I Might tell You, that the french Court Had Not, that I know of, dreamt of the Society Before Count de Rochambeau Was writen to By General Washington—2 and I Might Add, that Orders, titles, and such other foolish tokens of Vanity, are not more Valued in france, nor earn so Much, As they are in Germany, Russia, Spain, and Great Britain— But As it is as An American that I Engaged, Bled, Negotiated, fought, and Succeeded in our Noble Cause, I only want to Mark out my Conduct to You, whom I Esteem, and whose Esteem, in point of Republicanism particularly, I Hold in the Greatest Value

The institution in itself I do not Examine—it is worth paying attention to it— should it be dangerous, it must not subsist— Should some parts be exceptionable, Amendments Must Be Made— in Case it is quite Harmless, the American officers Might Be indulged in 75 that, as the Country is not a little indebted to them— Opinions Must Be Collected, Because Opinions, of Honest Men May differ— Lee was the Hero of Some, General Washington Was Mine, and so on— I don’t loiter into the Merits or demerits of the Society— I only want to Acquaint You with the Part I Have taken

The Society’s Letters Respecting the french Army were directed to their Generals and Admirals—the Permitting of it, Has Been Considered at Versaïlles, as a Compliment Paid to a large and Meritorious Body of Americans, as a Badge of Union Between the two Countries, and I Had no part to Act in the Business—3 The part I Acted, Was, 1stly., to Accept for myself, and deliver the Thanks of the Society to American officers pointed out By gñl Washington— 2dly after it Was Accepted By the french officers to deliver it to them in a polite and Brotherly Manner—and When I acted so, I was led By two Motives—the One, because, independant of the Affectionate and dutiful Regard that Binds me to Our Gallant, patriotic Army, independant of What Can Be said in favour of that Free Maçonnery of Liberty, it Has Ever Been My duty and inclination to set up in the Best Light Every thing that is done By a Body of Americans—and When wrong Measures, Such as are some times taken in County or town Meetings Have Been By me disputed for in foreign Compagnies, I will Be still more desirous to see a Proper Respect paid to the Measures of such a Respectable Body as the American officers— My Second Motive is, that Independant of Any Propriety of the Institution in itself, Had I Amendments to propose, it Should Be in America and Not in Europe, and that, on the Moment the Society is Unpopular, a two words Resolve from an Assembly May entirely destroy it, when, if danger is feared, I Heartily would Consent to the destruction.4

I Have not Entered into the Merits of the Assossiation— Your Opinion, and Mine, on the Subject, are not to Have Effect in Europe— Let us Reserve it for America, where it May Be of Use— I only Wanted My Conduct Not to Be Misrepresented to You—and As To My democratic principles, Let it Be Remembered, that at a time When Your Situation Was to the Worst, and My disobeïng this Court Might Be Ruinous, I Went over a Volonteer in the Cause from Which others Could not Recede Unless they Were Deserters.

As to My Going to America, You know I came With an Instruction to settle a plan of Cooperation— Count de Grasse’s Misfortune postponed it—5 Negotiations Came on, and You thought I should stay—6 Count d’Estaing was Employed, and You thought I should Go 76 with Him— I did not set off Before the Affair of the Six Millions Was settled, as You Well know—7 When peace was Made, I Returned through Spain— The Minister and Consul Wanted free ports, Wished to Have L’orient, and Had no Instructions to Act officially— Instead of two that Were Promised, four Have Been Given—dunkirk, L’orient, Bayonne, and Marsïelles—8 That Affair Will Be soon Concluded, and Before the end of May I shall Set out for America— Many Reasons of delay Might Be pleaded— But they did not so much Weigh With me as to Retard the Intended Visit.

This Confidential Letter I Consider as a personal Mark of Esteem for You, and Respect for Your Opinion— Altho’ We Have differed in a few points, our fundamental principles are the Same— it is not to the Great Man I write Because My popularity, Thank God, is Established in the Kind, Liberal Hearts of the American Nation at Large— it is to the Honest Man, Because, Altho’ Your opinion some times Has seemed to me wrong, Your principles Have Ever Been Right and I greatly Valüe Your Esteem— Adieu, My dear Sir, Let me Hear some times from You and / Believe me affectionately Yours

Lafayette

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “M. De la Fayette. / March 8, 1784.”

1.

Lafayette would be elected president of the French chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati on 4 July (Myers, Liberty without Anarchy , p. 155). The source of his information about JA’s objections to the society in conversations with acquaintances at Amsterdam is unknown, but for the likely nature of JA’s comments, see his 25 Jan. letter to Matthew Ridley, vol. 15:468–469, and his reply to Lafayette of 28 March, below.

2.

This was George Washington’s 29 Oct. 1783 letter to the Comte de Rochambeau, in which he informed the Frenchman of his election to membership (Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 27:210).

3.

Pierre Charles L’Enfant journeyed to France to organize a French branch of the society, for which see Ridley’s letter of 27 Dec., and note 3, vol. 15:436–438. In addition to the letter to Rochambeau, for which see note 2, L’Enfant carried others from Washington to the former French minister to the United States, Conrad Alexandre Gérard, and the following French naval officers: the Comte d’Estaing, the Comte de Grasse, the Comte de Barras, and the Chevalier des Touches. The letters notified them of their election to the society, which came by virtue of their being named in the organization’s bylaws or, as it was termed, its “institution.” L’Enfant also carried a 20 Oct. letter from Washington to Lafayette whereby the Frenchman was charged with recruiting former members of the Continental Army for membership (Myers, Liberty without Anarchy , p. 146, 263; Lafayette, Papers , 5:158).

4.

Lafayette believed that JA’s criticism of the society was largely unwarranted, but he was not averse to making changes if that would promote its general acceptance. On 9 March 1784 Lafayette wrote to Washington that “Most of the Americans Here are indecently Violent Against our Assossiation.” He had not been “Remiss in opposing them,” but “if it is found that the Heredity Endangers the true principles of democraty, I am as Ready as Any Man to Renounce it. You Will Be My Compass” (Lafayette, Papers , 5:208–209). For additional comments regarding heredity and the revision of the society’s regulations, see his 25 June letter to JA , below.

5.

That is, the Comte de Grasse’s defeat at the Battle of the Saints on 12 April 1782.

6.

Compare Lafayette’s account of his service to America in this paragraph with that in his letter to the commissioners of 21 Nov. 77 1782, particularly his assertion that JA, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay delayed his return to America because of their need for his advice. Franklin and Jay disputed the Frenchman’s claim at the time, while JA attributed it to Lafayette’s “unlimited Ambition” (JA, D&A , 3:71).

7.

Presumably the 6 million livres promised by the French government for 1782, an understanding formalized in a contract signed by the Comte de Vergennes and Franklin on 25 Feb. 1783 and ratified by Congress on 31 Oct. (vol. 12:439; Miller, Treaties , 2:115–122).

8.

Lafayette had long been active in the effort of the United States to obtain free ports in France as provided for in Art. 30 of the 1778 Franco-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, for which see Lafayette’s letter to the commissioners of 12 May 1783, and note 2, vol. 14:477–478. For the final decision to grant the four free ports, see the 9 Jan. 1784 letter to Lafayette from the French finance minister, Charles Alexandre de Calonne, Lafayette, Papers , 5:189–190.