Papers of John Adams, volume 13
1782-09-01
I have not heard from Mr Lawrens since He sent me the Letter of a part of which I have sent your Excellency a Copy but Mr Lee tells me that He has written to London demanding a Passport to go from thence to America as He finds a difficulty in getting a safe Passage there from France. My Friend in London1 writes me that the Passport is granted at the request of Lord Cornwallis.
I Know not whether Mr Lawrens will come this way, should He do it—I wish I had your Excellencys Leave to explain to Him the grounds of your Conduct towards Him, which I should be glad He saw in a clear Light.
I inclose a continuation of the Letters &c.2 I have seen your Excellencys name mentiond frequently of late in the news papers.3
The State Papers shall be sent for Publication—I should be glad to Know what news papers of England Your Excellency has an Opportunity of seeing.
A Ship has brought Letters from Baltimore as late as the 14th of July—they say that the Trade is almost Annihilated by the English Cruisers. That the people are dissatisfied with the heavy Taxes which they are unable to pay and that by Consequence the Army is unpaid—that the Old Mr Carrol and the Lady of the Young one are dead.4
I am with the greatest Consideratn Sir Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Sert
Probably Edward Bridgen, from whom Laurens had requested assistance in obtaining a passport, for which see Laurens' letter of 25 Aug., and note 6, above.
This was probably the second of JA's “Letters from a Distinguished American,” which had appeared on 27 Aug. (vol. 9:545–550).
The specific newspaper comments to which Jenings refers have not been identified, but the Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser of 24 Aug. reported that on 15 Aug. JA had given “a splendid entertainment to several of the Foreign Ministers, &c.,” and the London Chronicle of 24–27 Aug. and Parker's General Advertiser and Morning Intelligencer of 27 Aug. indicated that on 22 Aug. JA had met with a committee of the States General.
Charles Carroll, father of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, died on 30 May 1782. Mary Darnell Carroll, wife of the younger Charles Carroll, died on 10 June (Ellen Hart Smith, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Cambridge, 1942, p. 216).
1782-09-02
I wrote you on the 10th. 13th. and 17th. of August, but have no Answer as yet to either Letter. All is well here, and will not only remain so but grow better and better.
Since it is from Bows and Smiles and Invitations to Dinner and Such kind of Indications that We are to collect the deep Politicks of Courts, I Suppose I may augur well for your Negotiations with Spain, because I have lately received a polite Invitation to Dine at the Hotel D'Espagne ici. The Spanish Minister however, has been very complaisant, ever Since my Reception here. But although he Sometime Since did me the Honour to dine with me he never has asked me to dine with him till now.
I presume you have Seen A Copy at least of Fitzherberts Commission. If not I will Send you one. I have also another Paper, of consequence to communicate to you, but I must intreat you, to keep wholly to yourself the Source from whence you derive this or any other Intelligence you may get from me.1
You know very well the Terms upon which you and I have ever been. We have often differed in opinion upon Politicks and Supported our opinions with Ardour: but notwithstanding this I have ever had a full Confidence in your Honour and firm Attachment to the Cause of our Country. And there has never to my Knowledge been any Misunderstanding between us. I Sincerely hope there never will, and on my Part there will never be given any occasion for it. We may differ in opinion again, without diminishing Esteem or Affection. But there are Persons in the World who will use all the Arts of the Devil to breed Misunderstandings between Us. Let Us agree to be upon our Guard against them.
The “Paper, of consequence” was probably the instructions given to Gerard Brantsen, the Dutch peace negotiator, for which see JA's letter of 18 Aug. to Robert R. Livingston, above.