Papers of John Adams, volume 10
1780-10-19
I shall make no apology for troubling you, Sir, as you have been so Kind as to grant me that liberty. I hope you received by Mr. Celesia my preceeding letter of 19th. August, inclosed in which there was one for the Govr. of Virginia numbered 21. You will find here the following, numbered 22, which I beg you to peruse, and forward to its destination.1 You will see by it that after Mr. Celesia left Genoa I remained there some time, and had good success with the People towards disposing them in our favour. But what can I do, my dear Sir, without powers to act, and even any thing to show? I find however that in money-matter they incline more to deal with Congress, than with a separate State.
Pray, Sir, take the trouble to write to Mr. Jefferson and other Friends, and procure that I may not be Kept here inactive at the time of our greatest wants. I shall ever be obliged to you for the favour of an answer to both my letters, and would be glad to Know by which 293vessels those for Virginia are sent, inclusive my private for Mr. Jefferson, which I left with you. With my best compliments to Mr. Dana and Mr. Thaxtarr I have the honour to be most respectfully, Sir Your Excellcy: most Obedient & most humble Servant
For Mazzei's letters to Thomas Jefferson of 19 Aug. and 19 Oct., see Jefferson, Papers
, 3:557; 4:51–52.
1780-10-20
The close confinement of our friend and the denyal of all visits, the use of pen, ink and Paper, as well as all newspapers, still continues with unabated rigour. No person but His Son accompanyd by Mr. Manning has yet found way to Him, and these have been peremptorily refusd a second visit. It now appears that Government find him nothing but His furnishd appartments, Mr. L ordering his own dinner every day from the Coal Exchange Tavern in Thames Street. Government allow 5/ pr day for sustenance to all State Prisoners, and He may claim this pittance or not just as He pleases at the end of His Confinement. It is a pity that His severe ill treatment is not known in America.
No news yet from America since the late Carolina accounts. There are two Ships arrivd in Scotland which left St. Kitts the 6th. and 10th. Septemr. No news transpires by them. If they brought any that was palatable to Scotsmen it would certainly have got out before this, so that from the silence I suppose there is none which can be reckond bonny.
I am your Ob ser
We have just heard of 8 or nine arrivals from Ama. at Amsterdam. These vessels must bring some late American Accounts. When you get the Amn. Account of the affair of Camden please to favor me with it.
