Papers of John Adams, volume 8

From J. D. Schweighauser, 18 May 1779 Schweighauser, John Daniel JA

1779-05-18

From J. D. Schweighauser, 18 May 1779 Schweighauser, John Daniel Adams, John
From J. D. Schweighauser
Sir Nantes 18 May 1779

I hope you are ere now safely arrived at L Orient and that you have found all the arrangements made for your passage to America to your Satisfaction, which I shall be happy to learn, particularly as it is wispered here that the Alliance's destination is again changed and that she is to go strait to Boston, I sincerely wish it for you persuaded how much more agreable it will be to take your passage in her than in another.

I received your Letter of the 5 Instant by which you propose settling the small accounts of articles bought for Mrs. Adams with Mr. Pu-66chelberg and receiving from him the money you may want which I note accordingly.1

Mrs. Schweighauser Mr. Dobreé and family join me in most respectfull Compliments to you.

I have the honor to be most devotedly Your mo obedient & mo humble Servant. J. Dl. Schweighauser

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

No letter of 5 May has been found, nor have the items purchased by JA been identified, but see his personal accounts for the period (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:340–341 ). The accounts indicate that on 22 May, JA received 2,930.16. livres from Schweighauser and Puchelberg.

From Ralph Izard, 21 May 1779 Izard, Ralph JA

1779-05-21

From Ralph Izard, 21 May 1779 Izard, Ralph Adams, John
From Ralph Izard
Dear Sir Paris 21st. May 1779

I have received your favour of 13th. May,1 on the subject of Dr. Franklin's conduct on the 12th. of last January, for which I thank you. I should have been glad if you had gone more fully into it; perhaps however it is unnecessary, as the principal fact is established.

I can have no objection to your communicating our correspondence on this subject to Dr. Franklin; but you will be good enough to excuse my declining to write to him about it. In your presence, and Mr. Lee's he promised to send me a Copy of the Letter which you refused to sign. He afterwards gave me the same promise under his hand, which I shewed you at Passy. He has not however thought proper to pay the least regard to either of these engagements. I wish therefore to trouble him as little as possible with my Letters. I have had the pleasure of frequently seeing the Chevalier de la Luzerne, and M. de Marbois, the Secretary of the Embassy, and congratulate you on your prospect of having such agreeable companions in your Voyage. They appear to me to be very worthy, sensible men; and I am very happy in thinking that they will give universal satisfaction to our Countrymen both in, and out of Congress. I am extremely desirous of returning to my native Country, and it will give me great pleasure if my next Dispatches from Congress should put it into my power to do it. The last Post from London brought nothing new. No account had been received of the sailing of Admiral Arbuthnot's Squadron,2 who was still in Torbay; so that I hope M. la Motte Picquet, who sailed from the neighbourhood of la Rochelle on the 10th. with the American Ships under his Convoy will not meet with him. My Wife desires her Compliments, and I am Dr. Sr. Your most obt. hble Servt.

Ra. Izard
67

RC (Adams Papers); docketed: “Mr Izzard 21. May 1779.”

1.

Not found, but see Izard's letter to the Commissioners of 12 Jan., note 1 (above).

2.

Adm. Marriot Arbuthnot had been scheduled to sail for America in April, but, delayed by bad weather and the French attack on Jersey, did not set out until 24 May, and then as commander of a convoy of 215 ships carrying reinforcements and supplies to America (Mackesy, War for America , p. 260–261).