Papers of John Adams, volume 8
1779-06-10
I have the Honour of your Letter from Paris of the fifth of this Month, in which you inform me that by Advices from America, your Ennemies are determined to impeach your Attachment to our Country and her Cause, and in which you request my Opinion on that Point from the Knowledge I have had of your Conduct, while We acted together in Commission.
At the Same Time that I lament the Necessity of giving my Testimony to a Point, that ought to be so well established in every Part of the World, I have great Pleasure in declaring, that from my first Knowledge of your Fame to this Hour, I have never entertained one Moments Suspicion of your Attachment to our Country or her Cause, but on the contrary through the whole Course of that Period, which I think is more than ten Years I have seen frequent Proofs of your Fidelity and Zeal in it often times at a great Expence of Labour and Care at least, and at great Hazard. And particularly, through the Space of Time I had the Honour to serve with you, in Commission, I never Saw nor heard any Thing which gave me the least suspicion of the sincerity, Fidelity, or Zeal of your Devotion to the sovereignty of the united States, but on the contrary constant Evidence of a warm Affection for their Honour, Dignity and Prosperity. I have the Honour to be with great Esteem and Respect, sir Your most obedient and most humble servant.
This letter was enclosed in JA's letter to Lee of 9 June (above) and was submitted as an enclosure in Arthur Lee's letter to the president of the congress of 17 Oct. 1780 (PCC, No. 83, II, f. 302–303).
1779-06-12
This Moment I received yours of the 16 as it is dated, but I suppose was the 10.2 You cannot imagine how much I am obliged to you for this Letter and the other of the second, and the Parliamentary Remembrancer.3 I have read the 12 Letters and am charmed with their Spirit—hope the Author will continue, for his Abilities and Temper must be of great service to our Country.
Ld. N. is probably, at his old insidious Game, of taking Advantage of 84certain Disputes, in order to propose Terms. But his Lord ship may make himself easy, for if Congress should never meet again the Seperate states, would be two much for him. Your Letter for Gen. Gates have not received nor any other Letter from you, which I have not answered, but the two mentioned above, which contain Matters of such vast Importance that I cannot enlarge upon them at present.4
In his Letterbook copy, perhaps thinking of Jenings' dating of his letter, JA wrote “L'orient June 162. 1779.”
Now dated [ca. 6] June (above). See note 1 there.
In his Letterbook, from the preceding comma, JA wrote “with and the Parliamentary Register Remembrancer.”
JA had responded at length to Jenings' letter of 2 June on 8 June (above), but then decided not to send it.