Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 17

From Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst

From Thomas Jefferson
To the Count Frederik von Reventlow, 30 July 1785 Adams, John Reventlow, Frederik, Count von
To the Count Frederik von Reventlow
Sir Grosvenor Square Westminster July 30. 1785 1

I have the Honour of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed a certified Copy of an Act of Congress of the 21. of March last, instructing me to communicate to Mr St. Saphorin, the high Sense, the United States of America in Congress assembled, entertain of the liberal Decision made by his Danish Majesty, on the Question proposed to his Minister by me, respecting the ordination of American Candidates for holy orders in the Episcopal Church commonly called the Church of England. I am informed by Mr Jay our Minister of foreign Affairs, that Congress has been pleased to order him to transmit Copies of my Letter and the other Papers on this subject to the Executives of the different States, And he is perswaded they will receive with Pleasure this Mark of his Danish Majestys Friendly Disposition.2

At the Time when these Resolutions passed, it was Supposed in 288Congress that Mr St. Saphorin, continued at the Hague, but as he is removed from thence, I presume it will equally fullfill the Intentions of Congress in expressing their Respects and Acknowledgments to his Danish Majesty, if they are communicated by a nearer Channel.3 Permit me then the Honour of requesting of you Sir, that you would transmit the Inclosed certified Copy to your Court.

With great Respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir your / most obedient and must humble servant

LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Comte de Reventlow Envoy / Extraordinary from the King of / Denmark to the Court of Great Britain. / Charge des Affaires of Denmark.”; APM Reel 111.

 1.

Frederik, the Count von Reventlow, who would present his credentials on 3 Aug., would serve as the Danish envoy to Great Britain until 1788 ( Repertorium , 3:46).

 2.

For JA’s role in Mason Locke Weems’ quest for Episcopal ordination and the part played in the effort by Armand François Louis de Mestral de Saint Saphorin, Danish minister to the Netherlands, see vol. 16:index. To this point, JA quotes more or less verba tim from John Jay’s 31 March 1785 letter enclosing Congress’ resolution (16:583–584). For TBA’s 1792 attempt to publish in Mathew Carey’s American Museum this letter and Reventlow’s reply of 22 Aug. 1785, below, see AFC , 9:284, 286, 287.

 3.

Saint Saphorin presented his recall as minister to the Netherlands in June 1784 and since Nov. 1784 had served as Danish minister to Russia ( Repertorium , 3:49, 52).