Papers of John Adams, volume 19
r:Sir
th.February 1787
Congress at length begins to do Business—seven States are represented, and Genl: St: Clair was three Days ago chosen President.—1
Since my last to you of 17th: Ult: I have not had the Pleasure of receiving any Letters from you.—2
You will herewith receive a Letter from Congress to the Queen of Portugal,3 which you will be pleased to transmit in the Manner suggested in my Report, of which you will find a Copy enclosed. The Colonel will I hope be pleased with the Commission. Being persuaded that your Instructions to him will comprehend every proper Object, I forebear suggesting any Hints on that Head.—4
A Report on your Correspondence with Lord Carmarthen relative to the Posts and Treaty of Peace, was made to Congress on the 13th. Day of October last,5 and you shall be informed without Delay of the Result of their Deliberations upon that and other Points arising from your Letters. As yet no great Progress towards a Decision on any of them has been made.—
I find myself too much constrained by the Reflection that this Letter is to go by the Packet to be very particular.—
With great and sincere Esteem and Regard I am &ca.
FC (DNA:RG 59, Microfilm, Reel 1, f. 236–237); internal address: “To the Honorable John Adams Esquire”; notation: “For the Letter and Report mentioned herein— See Book of Reports page 265. Vol: 2d.”
Congress achieved a quorum on 17 Jan., and on 2 Feb. it elected Gen. Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818), of Pennsylvania, a veteran of the Seven Years’ War and the Revolutionary War, as president. On 5 Oct. St. Clair was appointed governor of the newly formed Northwest Territory (
JCC
, 32:1, 11; 33:610;
ANB
).
Jay’s letter of 17 Jan. acknowledged JA’s letters of 3 and 27 Oct. 1786 (vol. 18:470–472, 490–492). There, Jay indicated that Congress had done nothing since 3 Nov., and that “foreign & indeed domestic Affairs must continue much at a Stand” until it achieved a quorum (
Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789
, 2:680).
In the left margin, marked for insertion at this point, is the notation “By hands of Col. Smith.” These words likely appeared in the RC, which has not been found, and may indicate that the letter to Maria I was either enclosed with Jay’s letter to WSS of this date (same, 3:53–54), or that the letters to JA and WSS were both sent under a cover addressed to WSS.
Jay reported to Congress on 25 Jan. 1787 (PCC, No. 81, III, f. 181–184) regarding JA’s first letter of 27 June 1786 (vol. 18:358–359). JA had suggested that Congress thank Maria I for her orders to the Portuguese Navy to protect American ships against Barbary depredations, which he learned of from Luiz Pinto de Balsamão, the Portuguese minister to Britain. Jay included with his report a draft letter to the queen, adding that “as this Communication was made by the Queen’s Envoy in London to Mr. Adams, your Secretary thinks this letter should be transmitted to him, and that the Compliment would be more delicate if his Secretary was commissioned to carry and deliver it. Perhaps too, so striking a Proof of Respect might among other good Consequences promote the Conclusion of the Treaty.” Congress approved the letter, and the means by which it would reach Maria I, on 3 Feb. 1787 (
JCC
, 32:16–17). See also WSS’s [11 April] commission and instructions for his mission to Portugal, both below.
For Jay’s 13 Oct. 1786 report to Congress on the Marquis of Carmarthen’s 28 Feb. reply to JA’s [30 Nov. 1785] memorial on the frontier posts, Congress’ response to that report, and JA’s communication of Congress’ response to the British foreign minister, see vols. 17:624–625; 18:190–192, 501, 503. See also Jay’s letter of 2 April 1787, below.