Papers of John Adams, volume 14
e.Janv. 1783.
Voici enfin l’Etat militaire Suédois. Je l’ai extrait d’un Livre que Mr. D’Asp m’a prêté, & duquel j’ai ordonné à un Libraire de faire venir 2 Exemplaires d’Allemagne, où il est imprimé. Sir J. Jay vous aura remis, Monsieur, un petit Livret Hollandois sur la même matiere quant à cette rep., & dont j’en voie demain un second Exemplaire de votre part dans un paquet à Mr. Livingston.1
J’écrirai à Berlin, pour me procurer un pareil Etat delà, s’il y a moyen.2
Voici une Lettre pour Mr. De Linde, que vous voudrez bien, Monsieur, cacheter d’un oubli, & faire rendre.3
Me. Dumas, en priant Son Exce. d’agréer ses respects & ceux de sa fille, trouve les Anglois plus lambins encore que les Hollandois. “Si elle étoit Mr. Adam, elle leur demanderoit une réponse cathégorique, qu’elle iroit attendre à Lahaie.”4
Votre Lettre du ler. Janv. me laisse un violent appétit pour les Topicks que vous m’y promettez de m’expliquer plus particulierement.
Je Suis avec un très-grand respect, Monsieur / De V. Exce. le très humble & très obeissant / serviteur
Translation
Here at last is the state of the Swedish military. I took it from a book that Mr. Asp lent me and have instructed a bookseller to order two copies from Germany, where it is printed. Sir James Jay will have given you, sir, a small Dutch booklet on the same subject regarding this republic, and I'm sending a second copy on your behalf in a packet to Mr. Livingston.1
I shall write to Berlin to obtain a similar account if possible.2
Here is a letter for Mr. De Lynden, sir, which you should please seal and deliver.3
Mme. Dumas, who begs your excellency to accept her greetings and those of her daughter, finds the English even more inclined to drag their feet than the Dutch. “If she were Mr. Adams, she would ask them for a categorical response, which she would go and wait for at The Hague.”4
Your letter of 1 January has given me a fierce appetite for the Topics you promise to explain in greater detail.
I am with very great respect, sir, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à Son Excellence Mr. Adams, M. P. des E. U.”
Neither Dumas' sources for his accounts of the Dutch and Swedish armies, nor the accounts themselves, have been found. However, Benjamin Lincoln acknowledged receiving them in a letter of 29 April (Adams Papers), indicating that they had arrived in a packet from Thomas Barclay. According to Lincoln, Barclay ascribed the absence of a cover letter from JA to its being lost when it fell into the water.
In Dumas' letterbook (Nationaal Archief:Dumas Papers, Microfilm, Reel 1, f. 483–484), immediately following his letter to JA is an undated one to Count Ewald Friedrich von Hertzberg, the chief minister of Prussia, requesting information on the Prussian army.
In Dumas' letterbook (same, f. 481–482), immediately preceding Dumas' letter to JA, is one of 16 Jan. to Baron de Lynden van Blitterswyck expressing concern over events at Paris.
Marie Dumas is referring to JA's decision to address the States General on 9 Jan. 1782 and demand a categorical or unequivocal response to his memorial of 19 April 1781. She, as well as JA, believed that it forced the Dutch to recognize the United States as independent and JA as its minister to the Netherlands in April 1782 (vol. 12:108–110).
Your Favour of the 23 of December never reached me, till to day. The Souvereignty of the United States of America, is indeed recognized by Great Britain, Holland and France explicitly, and will probably be So Soon by all the Nations of the Earth. Much remains however to be done, I agree with you. To remove all Causes of Disunion and cement the Affections and Confederation of the States, to give Stability and Authority to the Laws, to extend our Commerce and regulate our Finances, to preserve Intelligence and Virtues in the People and at the Same time a martial Spirit and military Establishments So that our Liberties may neither be in danger at home nor from abroad; to regulate the system of foreign Affairs So that We may be as Usefull to Europe, and derive as much benefit from it as our natural Situation and Circumstances will admit, without being duped by its Artifices or infested with its faults; is Occupation Sufficient for all the Talents and Virtues which our Country affords.
Europe is indeed as you observe an excellent School, but it is a detestible one at the Same time, and I confess to you, I Sometimes fear We shall be better Schollars at learning its Vices and Follies than its usefull Institutions and commendable Qualities.
I am not able to give you any Information respecting Peace or War. my private opinion is, that there will not be another Campain though the Peace may not be determined on, long before the Time for opening one.— But this opinion is founded upon Reasons so uncertain even in my own mind that I cannot depend much upon it, nor pretend to advise you.— I am, sir your humble servant
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr Thomas Boylston, under Cover to Messrs / Lane Son and Fraser, London.”; APM Reel 108.