Papers of John Adams, volume 6

The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Bleiswyck, Pieter van

1778-04-28

The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Bleiswyck, Pieter van

The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck

Sir Paris, 28th. April 17781

We have the Honour of acquainting your Excellency, that the United States of North America, being now an Independant Power, and acknowledged as such by this Court, a Treaty of Amity and Commerce is compleated between France and the Said States, of which we shall speedily send your Excellency a Copy, to be communicated if you think proper to their High Mightinesses, for whom, the United States, have the greatest 62Respect, and the Strongest Desire that a Good Understanding may be cultivated, and a mutually beneficial Commerce established between the People of the two Nations, which, as will be seen, there is nothing in the above mentioned Treaty to prevent or impede. We have the Honour to be with great Respect, Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servants

(Signet) B. Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams Plenipotentiaries from the United States of North America.

MS (Koninklijk Huisarchief, The Hague); with notes at the top of the first page: “Remis à S. A. le Prince d'orange d'original per Mr. le Conseiller Pens: de Bleiswyk, ce 14. May 1778 Copie:”; on the reverse: “(Adresse) A son Excellence M. P. van Bleyswyk. Grand Pensionaire d'Holande et de Westfrise, &c. &c. à La Haye.”

This letter is identical to the draft enclosed in the Commissioners' letter to Dumas of 10 April (calendared above). It was sent to Dumas in a letter of 30 April, which reached him on 5 May. On 14 May the letter was presented to the Grand Pensionary, the delay being caused largely by the apprehensions of La Vauguyon, the “Grand Facteur” (see Dumas to the Commissioners, 5, 7 May, both below).

Neither the RC nor the covering letter has been found, this despite the existence of the RC, at least, in 1866. In a letter to CFA of 20 Feb. 1866 (Adams Papers), A. Fischel enclosed a transcript of the RC, which he stated had been copied during his examination of Dutch diplomatic correspondence for the period of the American Revolution.

From John Bondfield, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John JA

1778-04-28

From John Bondfield, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John Adams, John

From John Bondfield

Sir Bordeaux 28 Apl 1778

I am honord with your favor of the 12 Instant.1

I shall pay perticular attention to see every article you have mention'd in your memorandum compleated and Shipt with care on board Captain Tucker directed as you have laid down. I hope you enjoy your health in the Air of Paris and that every thing around you contributes to your Satisfaction. Wherever my Services can be to you perticularly useful at all times permit me to assure you that I shall ever esteem the honor both from principal and personal attatchment to convince you that I am with great Respect Sr. Your most Obedient Humble Servant

John Bondfield

Permit me to introduce to your regard M. Diodati son in Law to Mons. Trenchard Phycician to his Majesty and Interested in 63 the House of Mess. Germani brother to M. Necker.2 His acquaintance may occationally be to you useful. Mr. John Texier of Amsterdam a Man of considerable Consideration at that City Brother to your Female friend the Adamite who put to your Solution certain philosophical querries at Supper left this on his return to Amsterdam to Day proposes to himself the Honor to pay his respects to you as he pass's.3

RC (Adams Papers).

Neither a letter to Bondfield of 12 April nor a list of the goods JA wished sent to America has been found, but see JA to Samuel Tucker, 29 April, and Tucker's reply of 9 May (both below). AA noted both the return of the Boston to America and “the articles sent by Capt. Tucker” in letters to JA on 21 and 25 Oct. ( Adams Family Correspondence , 3:108, 111).

Presumably Jacques Necker, who, though denied the title of Controller of the Treasury because he was a Swiss and a Protestant, served from 1776 through 1781 as Director General, first of the treasury and then of finances, and was an opponent, for financial reasons, of French intervention in the American Revolution (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale ).

John Texier was probably the brother of Pierre Texier, who, according to JA, was an Amsterdam merchant long resident in Bordeaux and with whom JA had a lengthy conversation on 3 April ( Diary and Autobiography , 4:38–39). For Mme. Pierre Texier's conversation with JA, which left him with some sense of shock with regard to French women, see Diary and Autobiography , 4:36–37.