Papers of John Adams, volume 14
d1783
I take the Liberty to inform your Excellency that I arrivd here Safe last Friday after having had a tolerable good Journey.
I have seen a Gentleman in this Town twice since my Arrival— He has said nothing in particular to me, but his Reception has been somewhat Cool.—1 if He Continues his Silence, I propose to go, where your Excellency recommended to me.2 but I do it with some Anxiety, being fearful, after what has happened, to bring on myself fresh troubles if you Excellency has therefore any Commands to give me, I beg to have them as soon as possible
Permit me to intreat your Excellency to let me have the Original Letter, which has done so much Mischief— I have examind some that I have by me, and I think I have thereby a clue to discover the Author. if I am right in my present Idea, of Him, Your Excellency has not been mistaken.3
I am with the greatest Respect / Sir / Your Excellencys / Most Obedient / Humble Servt.
RC (Adams Papers).
Jenings had returned from Paris where he had been since early Dec. 1782 (JA, D&A
, 3:91). His likely purpose for going, at least in part, was to make an effort to resolve his conflict with Henry Laurens. Laurens believed Jenings to be the author of a series of anonymous letters that were intended to divide American diplomats in Europe (vol. 13:63–65). For Jenings' correspondence and meetings with Laurens while at Paris, see Laurens, Papers
, 16:294–295, 303–324. The “Gentleman” whom Jenings had seen since his return to Brussels was almost certainly William Lee, whom, according to Edward Bridgen, Jenings had accused of being the author. Laurens wrote to Lee on 21 Dec. 1782 to inform him of the accusation, but he did not name Jenings as the source. In his replies of 24 and 25 Dec., Lee emphatically denied authorship and demanded the name of his accuser. Laurens did not comply with Lee's request in his reply of 8 Jan. 1783, but Lee likely deduced from Laurens' letters that it was Jenings (same, p. 92–93, 125–126, 299).
Presumably to London, where Jenings arrived toward the end of February (from Jenings, 14 March, below).
That is, the anonymous letter of 3 May 1782, which Jenings had enclosed with his of 6 June 1782. JA believed it to be the work of someone associated with an Amsterdam banking house disappointed at being denied participation in JA's 1782 Dutch loan (vol. 13:98–101).
je me propose d’aller à Versailles dans Le Cours de la semaine prochaine. je Chercherai de nouveau la traduction des Prior Documents que je n’ai point trouvée chés Mr Pissot.1 je m’émpresserai de 208vous La remettre aussitôt que je me la serai procurée. je vous Prie d’être persuadé du desir que j’aurai toujours de Concourir à vos vues; et je m’éstimerai heureux de pouvoir par là meriter votre Confiance.
Je Suis avec un Profond respect / Monsieur / Votre très humble et / très obéissant serviteur
Translation
I propose going to Versailles at some point next week. I shall make another search for the translation of “Prior Documents,” which I did not find at Mr. Pissot's.1 I shall hasten to send it to you as soon as I have obtained a copy. I pray that you will be persuaded of the desire that I have always to concur with your views and shall consider myself happy if I can thus deserve your trust.
I am with profound respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers).
Addenet, who had served JA as a translator, was apparently looking for a French translation of John Almon's A Collection of Interesting, Authentic Papers, Relative to the Dispute between Great Britain and America; Shewing the Causes and Progress of that Misunderstanding, from 1764 to 1775, London, 1777. Usually referred to as “Prior Documents,” it was a supplement to Almon's The Remembrancer, but no translation has been found (vol. 9:412;
Catalogue of JA's Library
). Pissot was a Paris bookseller from whom JA had bought books in the past (JA, D&A
, 2:437).