Papers of John Adams, volume 6
1778-04-10
We1 have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr. Adams, appointed by the Congress to replace Mr. Deane in the Commission here, is safely arrived, and purposes to wait upon you as soon as recovered a little from the Fatigue of his Voyage.2
The Ship in which he came is a Frigate of 30 Guns, belonging to the Congress. In her Passage she took a large Ship from London to New York, with a Cargo valued at 70,000 £ Sterling.
The3 Congress had resolved to detain General Bourgoyne and his Army for Breach of Capitulation; and have now in all above 10,000 Prisoners of the Enemy in their Hands.4 The Remainder of the British Troops continue closely pent up in New York and Philadelphia, and in a suffering Condition for Provisions.
Mr. Adams brings, among others, the enclos'd Resolutions of Congress, which it may be agreable to your Excellency to see.5 They will probably discourage the English Ministry in their 26 27Projects of tempting the Commissioners here, or the Congress there, to enter into Treaties, wherein every thing was propos'd to be granted us, except Independence. They have met with no Encouragement here, and it is from these Resolves certain they will meet with none there, especially after the Treaties come to be known, which Mr. Adams is confident will be ratified immediately.
We have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servants
In the left margin opposite this point is the notation “M. francklin annonce l'arrivee” de M. Adams successeur de M. Deane et la prise d'un riche vaisseau anglois.”
JA commented at length on his first meeting with Vergennes, which took place on 11 April. The visit was perhaps hastened when JA learned, at dinner on 10 April, that Vergennes was surprised that JA had not called on him immediately upon his arrival at Paris (
Diary and Autobiography
, 2:298–299; 4:47–48).
In the left margin opposite this point is the notation “resolution du Congrès du retenir prisonniers le Gl. Burgoyne et son armèe.”
See James Lovell to JA, 1 Jan., note 2 (above).
Probably those of 22 Nov. 1777, which James Lovell cited in his letter to JA of the same date and quoted in another letter to JA of 1 Dec. 1777 (both above).
1778-04-11
These may serve to inform your Honours of my present Situation, and how far advance'd, in Readiness; I am at the Pantoon1 and shall Careene my Ship on Tuesday next, and Expect by the last of the Week to have her finished as to heaving down; after that I hope in a short Time to be prepared for Sea. My Ship and Riging being so much shatered, it will take me some Time longer then I imaganed to get in Readiness, but having a Gentleman (John Brondfield Esqr.) to apply to who exerts himself in every Measure for the befenfit of the Ship will Expedite my geting ready. I hope your Honours may have Dispatchd Capt. Palmes before this comes to Hand.2 I should be extremely happy to hear from Paris. There is a small Schooner arrived here from Charlestown South Carolina, thirty Days passage, I've had a short Conversation with him, he brings us nothing new about our 28American Affairs, we have it here that four Days Past a Guernsey Privatere took two Spaniars from Bilboa and one small Brig from Bayone off the Mouth of this River. I've nothing more to add at Present, but Remain with the Greatest Respect, Your Honours Obedient Humble Servent
That is, a pontoon or large flat-bottomed barge equipped with cranes, capstans, and tackle and used for careening ships (
OED
).
This is Richard Palmes, captain of the marines on the Boston (JA, Diary and Autobiography
, 2:290, note 1). The Commissioners acknowledged the receipt of this letter and reported the departure of Capt. Palmes in a letter to Tucker of 15 April (RC, MH-H:Tucker Papers; Dft, Adams Papers—both in JA's hand).