Papers of John Adams, volume 17

To Thomas Barclay

From Philip Mazzei

552 To John Jay, 27 October 1785 Adams, John Jay, John
To John Jay
Dear Sir Grosvenor Square Westminster Octr. 27. 1785

Yesterday at the Levee at St. James’s, the Marquis of Carmarthen came to me and told me, that he Should deliver those Papers I had communicated to him relative to the Correspondence between Governor Bowdoin and Captain Stanhope, to Lord How, in whose Department it was to consider such Things. His Lordship added that He Thought some of the Letters extreamly improper in a Captain of a Man of War to a Governor: and that he had carefully examined the Letters of the Governor to See if there was any Thing which could have given Occasion to them or excused them: but that he could find nothing. I Suppose from this Information, that the Captains Letters will be dissapproved at Court as they are generally by Men of Sense, although Some of John Bulls Children, who cannot, or will not distinguish between ill Nature, or ill Manners, and Spirit, Applaud them.1

With great Regard, I have the Honour to be / Sir your most obedient and most humble / Servant

John Adams.

RC (PCC, No. 84, V, f. 709–710); internal address: “His Excellency John Jay Esqr / Secretary of State for foreign / Affairs.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 111.

1.

For JA’s representation to the Marquis of Carmarthen regarding the Stanhope Affair, see his 21 Oct. letter to Jay, and note 3, above.