Papers of John Adams, volume 7
1778-12-09
Conformable to the resolution of Congress, of which a Copy is inclosed,1 I have drawn on you the 4th instant for Twenty four Thousand Livres at One Months date payable to Mr. Grand, which you will please to pay due honor to, by acceptance and payment when at maturity, and place the same to the Account of Congress.
'Tis generally beleived that a Congress will be held in the course of the Winter, between Ministers from the Courts of Versailles and Petersburg to endeavor at a reconciliation between the Emperor and King of Prussia;2 I am assured that G. Britain has prevail'd on the Court of Petersburg to take advantage of this opportunity to negotiate also an accommodation between France and G. Britain. It is to be proposed to France to relinquish her Treaties and engagements with America, but what advantages G. Britain means to offer as an inducement to France I have not yet properly learnt. I have no doubt that France will reject with disdain Such an ignominious attempt upon her Honor, even if her solid and substantial interests were out of the question, but still I think it adviseable to give you the information that you may act as you think proper on the occasion.
I have the Honor to be with very great Regard Gentlemen Your most Obedt. & most Humble Servant
Lee enclosed the third paragraph of the resolution of 7 May 1778, which empowered commissioners at other courts to draw bills of exchange for their expenses on the Commissioners at Paris (
JCC
, 11:473).
Lee's report of the Franco-Russian intervention to reconcile Austria and Prussia over the question of Bavarian succession, which resulted in the Peace of Teschen, was accurate, but his reference to a Russian effort to mediate between France and Great Britain was premature (Bemis, Diplomacy of the Amer. Revolution
, p. 73–74).
1778-12-14
I have just arrived and tak the Liberty To Right to your Honour to in form you of The Condision of the Brig morris. After a Passig of forty two Days I have arrived in Roscoff In the Province of Britancy and shall weight your in structions. I did intend for Nants or Bourdaux but from violant gaills of wind I had on this Coast have been obliged to 274make this port as my Riggin and sails are much Dammiged on the passig by voilant gails of wind. But I belive they would answar to Carry with a llittal Repair the Brigg To Carry hur to Morlaix should you Chuse to have hur Carried to that place as it not above four Leags Distance from wheir she now lays. I am Dear Sr your very humb to Serve and Obey
Post Crip
Sr as the Kings frigget Serin Commanded by Mr Cunat Dumeny Esqr2 is now hear and Expects to stay should the wind not shift befour I Receve your answar he offars his servis to Escort the Brig to Nants or Bourdaux.
No reply has been found, but on 28 Dec. the Morlaix mercantile firm of Cornic et fils, having twice written to Franklin with no reply, wrote to the Commissioners asking advice on what action to take regarding the Morris and its cargo of tobacco (PPAmP: Franklin Papers). On 2 Jan. the Commissioners informed J. D. Schweighauser of the Morris' arrival and ordered him to weigh the tobacco, deliver it to the Farmers General, and reimburse Cornic et fils, who were informed of these orders in a letter of the same day, for any money advanced to the Morris (both LbC, Adams Papers). On 14 Jan. the Commissioners wrote to Gunnison, ordering him to deliver his cargo to Schweighauser and to follow Schweighauser's instructions insofar as they did not conflict with his orders from the congress (LbC, Adams Papers).
Presumably Gunnison is referring to the French corvette Serin commanded by Duménil (Vicomte de Noailles, Marins et soldats français en Amérique pendant la guerre de l'indepéndence des Etats-Unis, 1778–1783, Paris, 1903, p. 374).