Papers of John Adams, volume 9

To Edmé Jacques Genet, 3 May 1780 JA Genet, Edmé Jacques

1780-05-03

To Edmé Jacques Genet, 3 May 1780 Adams, John Genet, Edmé Jacques

To Edmé Jacques Genet

Dear Sir Paris May 3. 1780

I had, two days ago the Honour to inclose to the Minister a Boston Gazette of 21 February, in which is a Relation of a glorious Combat and Cruise of my Countryman Captain Waters of the Thorn. Let me beg of you sir, to insert this Account in the Gazette and the Mercure.1 There has not been a more memorable Action this War, and the Feats of our American Frigates and Privateers have not been Sufficiently 267published, in Europe. It would answer valuable Purposes, both by encouraging their honest and brave Hearts, and by exciting Emulations elsewhere, to give them a little more than they have had, of the Fame that they have deserved. Some of the most Skillful, determined, persevering, and successfull Engagements, that have ever happened upon the Seas, have been performed by American Privateers against the Privateers from New York. They have happened upon the Coast and seas of America, which are now very well swept of New York Privateers2 and have seldom been properly described and published even there, and much seldomer ever inserted in any of the Gazettes of Europe, whether it is because, the Actions of single and small Vessells and these Privateers are not thought worth publishing, or whether it has been for Want of some Person, to procure it to be done.

Yours most sincerely John Adams

RC (CLjC). LbC (Adams Papers). Due to fire damage, the dateline and greeting have been supplied from the Letterbook copy.

Genet promised to print the account, which appeared on 13 May in the Mercure de France, “Journal Politique de Bruxelles,” p. 75–77 (from Genet, 4, 10 May, Adams Papers).

The preceding ten words were interlined.

To the President of Congress, No. 58, 3 May 1780 JA Huntington, Samuel President of Congress

1780-05-03

To the President of Congress, No. 58, 3 May 1780 Adams, John Huntington, Samuel President of Congress

To the President of Congress, No. 58

Paris, 3 May 1780. RC (PCC, No. 84, II, f. 15–17). LbC in John Thaxter's hand (Adams Papers); notation by Thaxter: “N.B. Nos. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58 were delivered the 7th of May by Mr. Adams to Dr. Franklin, who was to send them with his own Dispatches to Captain John Paul Jones.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 3:648–649.

In this letter, received by Congress on 19 Feb. 1781, John Adams sent the terms of an Anglo-French cartel for the exchange of prisoners, signed at Versailles on 12 March and at London on 28 March, noting that the agreement brought honor to both sides.

RC (PCC, No. 84, II, f. 15–17). LbC in John Thaxter's hand (Adams Papers); notation by Thaxter: “N.B. Nos. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58 were delivered the 7th of May by Mr. Adams to Dr. Franklin, who was to send them with his own Dispatches to Captain John Paul Jones.” printed: Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 3:648–649.

To the Comte de Sarsfield, 3 May 1780 JA Sarsfield, Guy Claude, Comte de

1780-05-03

To the Comte de Sarsfield, 3 May 1780 Adams, John Sarsfield, Guy Claude, Comte de

To the Comte de Sarsfield

Sir Hotel de Valois May 3. 1780

I have the Honour of your Billet1 and thank you for the Pains you have taken, to procure me the Remonstrances. I went to the Palais, but was too late. I employed a Bookseller, but without Success. It is astonishing to me, that there should be So total a Suppression of Such a set of finished Models of oratory, and such golden monuments of public Virtue, as I have heard them represented to be. Your Billet 268in English was very well understood, because it was very well written: but, another time, let me beg you to write in french, because I suppose it is more familiar to you to write in that language, and it is quite as easy for me to read. The Gentlemen with me present their respects. I have the Honour to be, with great Esteem, sir your most obedient servant

LbC (Adams Papers).

Of 29 April (above).