Papers of John Adams, volume 11
1781-03-13
With infinite pleasúre we always obey Yoúr Excellencys commands, and are preparing fifty bonds provisionally with their coupons, to be send tomorrow. As soon as it may be required we will take care to have a greater quantity ready. We will join these to a sufficient provisionall quantity of blancs of the Coupons, which Yoúr Excellency promisd to retúrn ús with the bonds when Sign'd.
May we thank yoúr Excellency most sincerely for her observations that the Loan hath not been opend to soon, this Releases oúr úneasiness of not succeeding in it as yett as we had wished; a proper time Certainly will Come on in Coarse and we wish it to be very soon, as much as it may lay in oúr power we will advance it.
There can remain hardly any doúbt butt the acknowledgement of American Independence and of a generall free Trade is the object of the Mediation of Rússia, and we for oúr Selfs have reason to rejoice in it, we coúld only wish that oúr Republicq had acted a greater part there in; as she was once able to resist her Enemy before alone, and now seems to creep before that same Nation, though she may depend on the Assistance of all the Other Powers.
How this Mediation turns, it certainly can do no harm to the American Caúse, and there fore can not affect the Loan, we hope we shall not be deceived, and will take the more Care of it by yoúr 199Excellencys repeated Caútions, we think we go on very well, and as we have always and will act to oúr conscience, we can not be wrong; May yoúr Excellency Succeed to oúr wishes at every experiment she might chúse to try! We expect some intelligence next Week, which she will be acquainted with if answering oúr expectations.
With all Respectfull regard we have the honoúr to be Honourable Sir, Yoúr Excellencys most devoted and most obedient humble servants
1781-03-14
This is just to acquaint you that Colo. Lawrens arrived at L'Orient on the 8th. instant in our Frigate the Alliance from Boston, and was to set off on the 10th. for this City; so that he may be hourly expected. If he has any Letters or Dispatches for us, he will doubtless bring them himself. No News of Colo. Palfrey. We fear the Shelalah is lost at Sea. I enclose a Philadelphia Newspaper of the 30th. Jany. by which I think it will appear Arnold is not doing any great things in Virginia—the old business of stealing Negroes and Tobacco, and burning defenceless habitations is their honorable employment. Jefferson proclamation will I beleive put an end to the modern paroles.2
James Searle wrote to JA on this date to introduce Isaac Hazlehurst Jr., “a Native of Britain but a firm Friend to America, and an Enemy to Tyranny” (Adams Papers). Hazlehurst presumably carried the letters from Dana and Searle as well as Elbridge Gerry's letter to JA of 10 Jan., above, which reached Paris on the evening of 14 March (Dana to Gerry, 15 March, MHi: Dana Family Papers, Francis Dana Letterbook, 1780–1781).
Probably the Pennsylvania Packet of 30 January. It contained a report of 12 Jan. from Petersburg, Va., noting the burning of homes and abduction of slaves by troops under Benedict Arnold. It also included Gov. Thomas Jefferson's proclamation of 19 Jan. prohibiting any citizen of Virginia, “otherwise than when in arms,” from offering or receiving a parole from British forces that would “withdraw from his Country those duties he owes to it.” For the proclamation and the circumstances surrounding it, see Jefferson, Papers
, 4:403–405.