Adams Papers Digital Edition

Diary of John Adams, volume 2

Monday March 4. 1776.

Draft Resolution Concerning Instructions to Delegates, March—April 1776.

[Notes on Relations with France, March—April 1776.<a xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" href="#DJA02d283n1" class="note" id="DJA02d283n1a">1</a>] JA [Notes on Relations with France, March—April 1776.] Adams, John
Notes on Relations with France, March—April 1776.1

Is any Assistance attainable from F.?

What Connection may We safely form with her?

1 st. No Political Connection. Submit to none of her Authority—receive no Governors, or officers from her.

2d. No military Connection. Receive no Troops from her.

3d. Only a Commercial Connection, i.e. make a Treaty, to receive her Ships into our Ports. Let her engage to receive our Ships into her Ports—furnish Us with Arms, Cannon, Salt Petre, Powder, Duck, Steel.

 1.

These notes, very likely prepared for a speech in Congress or in committee of the whole, follow the entry of 4 March after a short interval of space in the MS. The subject of overtures to France was recurrently debated throughout March and April.