Papers of John Adams, volume 18

From John Adams to William White, 28 February 1786 Adams, John White, William

To William White

Sir Grosvenor Square Feb. 28. 1786

Your Favour of the 26 of Nov. by Mr Peters,1 I had not the Honour to receive, till a few days ago. I am much obliged to you, for this Mark of your Confidence, and for the Pamphlets and Papers inclosed, which I had Yesterday an Opportunity of communicating to the Archbishop of Canterbury, when his Grace did me the Honour of a Visit to deliver me the inclosed Letter, with the Desire of the Bishops that I would transmit it to the Committee.2

I have not understood, that there will be any political Objection against the Measure you desire. if any Such Should arise, as an American Citizen tho not an Episcopalian I can very consistently endeavour to remove it: because I do not believe that the Benevolence of the Father of all, is confined by our Lines of Distinction or differences of Opinion: and because I think that when We can enlarge our Minds to allow each other an entire Liberty in religious 190 matters the human Race will be more happy and respectable in this and the future Stage of their Existence. It would be inconsistent with the American Character, and with the Principles of our Constitutions to raise political Objections against the Consecration of Bishops as it is merely a religious Ceremony. The States will no doubt take Care that no Temperal Powers inconsistent with their civil Politics shall be annexed to the Character. This however is their Affair.

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

John Adams.

RC (NHi:Joseph Reed Papers); internal address: “The Revd. William White D.D. / Philadelphia.”; endorsed: “His Excelly / John Adams Esqre / Feb. 28. 86.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 113.

Vol. 17:607–609. White replied on 28 June to thank JA for his aid in facilitating the ordination of Protestant Episcopal bishops (Adams Papers). See also the Episcopal convention’s 24 June vote of thanks to JA, enclosed with David Griffith’s 26 June letter, both below.

White’s 26 Nov. 1785 letter was carried by Richard Peters (1744–1828), University of Pennsylvania 1761, a Philadelphia lawyer, judge, and farmer. Peters served on the Continental Board of War from 1776 to 1781 and was elected to Congress in 1782. In 1785, he visited Europe to promote Episcopal ordination ( AFC , 7:46; DAB ). For a memorable evening at Dolly’s chophouse during his visit to London, see the [ca. 21 March 1786] letter from himself, WSS, and Thomas Jefferson, below.

As John Moore, archbishop of Canterbury, requested in his 27 Feb. letter (Adams Papers), JA enclosed a 24 Feb. letter from English prelates to the delegates of the American Episcopal Protestant Church’s first general convention. They pledged to make a legal appeal to aid Americans seeking ordination. Alarmed by talk of proposed American alterations to the liturgy, however, they pressed for details “lest we should be the instruments of establishing an ecclesiastical system which will be called a branch of the Church of England, but afterwards may possibly appear to have departed from it essentially, either in doctrine or in discipline” (William White, Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, N.Y., 1880, p. 353–354).

To John Adams from the Marquis of Carmarthen, 28 February 1786 Carmarthen, the Marquis of Adams, John

From the Marquis of Carmarthen

Sir, St. James’s, February 28th. 1786.

In Answer to the Memorial You did me the Honour to deliver to me on the 8th. Decr:,1 I have to observe to You, Sir, that it is His Majesty’s fixed Determination, upon the present, as well as on every other Occasion, to act in perfect Conformity to the strictest Principles of Justice and good Faith.

The Seventh Article both of the Provisional and of the Definitive Treaties between His Majesty and the United States, clearly stipulates the withdrawing, with all convenient Speed, His Majesty’s Armies, Garrisons and Fleets, from the said United States, and from 191 every Port, Place and Harbour within the same; and no Doubt can possibly arise respecting either the Letter or the Spirit of such an Engagement.

The Fourth Article of the same Treaties as clearly stipulates, that Creditors, on either Side, shall meet with no lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value, in Sterling Money, of all bonâ fide Debts heretofore contracted.

The little Attention paid to the fulfilling this Engagement, on the Part of the Subjects of the United States in general, and the direct Breach of it in many particular Instances, have already reduced many of the King’s Subjects to the utmost Degree of Difficulty and Distress: nor have their Applications for Redress (to those whose Situations in America naturally pointed them out as the Guardians of public Faith) been as yet successful, in obtaining them that Justice to which, on every Principle of Law, as well as of Humanity, they were clearly and indisputably entitled.

The Engagements entered into by Treaty ought to be mutual, and equally binding on the respective Contracting Parties. It would therefore be the Heighth of Folly, as well as Injustice, to suppose one Party alone obliged to a strict Observance of the Public Faith, while the other might remain free to deviate from its own Engagements, as often as Convenience might render such Deviation necessary, though at the Expence of its own National Credit and Importance.

I flatter myself however, Sir, that Justice will speedily be done to British Creditors; and I can assure You, Sir, that whenever America shall manifest a real Determination to fulfil her Part of the Treaty, Great Britain will not hesitate to prove her Sincerity, to cooperate in whatever Points depend upon her, for carrying every Article of it into real and compleat Effect.

The inclosed Paper contains a State of the Grievances complained of by Merchants, and other British Subjects, having Estates, Property, and Debts due to them, in the several States of America.2

I am, / Sir, / Your most obedient / humble Servant.

Carmarthen.

RC and enclosures (Adams Papers); internal address: “John Adams Esqr. &c. &c. &c.”; endorsed: “Ld Carmarthens Letter / Feb. 28. 1786.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 111.

JA’s memorial was dated [30 Nov. 1785] (vol. 17:624–625) and was presented to Carmarthen at a meeting on 8 Dec., which JA describes in his 9 Dec. letter to John Jay, above. JA enclosed a copy of Carmarthen’s reply, and its enclosures, for which see note 192 2, with his 4 March 1786 letter to Jay (PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 147, 151–178).

Carmarthen enclosed a 24-page document consisting of a “State of the Grievances complained of by Merchants, and other British Subjects, having Estates, Property, and Debts due to them, in the several States of America” (p. 1–15); an “Extract of the Case and Memorial of the Merchants of London, Bristol, Liverpool, Whitehaven and Glasgow, Trading to Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, previous to the Year 1776” (p. 15–21); and two lists of “Money paid into the Treasury” in Virginia and Maryland “on Account of British Debts” (p. 22–23). As he had promised in his meeting with JA, described in JA’s 27 Feb. 1786 letter to Jay, above, Carmarthen itemized each state’s laws preventing the collection of outstanding debts, mainly as evidence of American violations of Art. 4 of the definitive peace treaty. Further, Carmarthen wrote: “An American, is protected in his Property by Our Laws. All Our Courts are and always have been open to him for the Recovery of any Debt, as well Interest as Principal” (p. 14). When Jay reported to Congress on 13 Oct. regarding the exchange between JA and Carmarthen, he included the texts of JA’s memorial and Carmarthen’s reply with its enclosures ( JCC , 31:781–797); but see also Jay’s 1 Nov. letter (first letter), and note 2, below.