Papers of John Adams, volume 14
e.Mars 1783.
En com̃ençant par le plus pressé, voici une Lettre de Son Excellence le Ministre Plenipo: de cette rep. auprès de nos Et. Unis.1 Il m’a chargé en outre de vous demander les Eclaircissemens suivants.
1o. Quels Meubles & fournitures il lui convient principalement d’emporter avec lui d’ici, plutôt que de les acheter & faire faire à Philadelphie?
2o. S’il devra faire une Entrée publique, ou S’il pourra s’en dispenser, sans se singulariser d’avec les autres Ministres Etrangers, & sans compromettre la dignité de la Puissance qui l’envoie, dans l’opinion de celle où il est envoyé?
3o. Dans le cas où l’Entrée publique Soit nécessaire, lequel lui tournera mieux à compte, ou de faire faire un carosse de parade (pour cette seule journée où il s’en servira peut-être) ici, ou à Philadelphie?
Mr. Wheelock est parti pour Amsterdam, content de moi. Mr. Van Berkel le Pensionaire, à qui je l’ai présenté, est d’avis qu’il ne propose l’affaire ouvertement, que lorsque la conclusion générale de la paix aura remis les Esprits de ce pays dans une Assiete plus 314tranquille & plus gaie. J’ai accompagné les deux freres2 à Leide où nous avons dîné chez Mr. Luzac & où Mr. Van der Kemp est entré de tout son coeur dans le Plan. Il doit avoir écrit aujourd’hui là-dessus au Professeur Oosterbaan à Amsterdam,3 & à deux autres maisons Anabatistes à Harlem & en Frise. Il sera lui-même à Amsterdam d’une grande fête, qui S’y doñera le 15 à Mr. De Capelle du Pol & à Mr. Van Berkel où l’affaire pourra être com̃encée.4 E[nfin] Mr. Gyzelaar s’interessera aussi a la réus[site du] Plan, quand il sera temps de le proposer dans sa ville. Pour à La Haie, le meilleur nous a paru de ne point faire usage des Lettres pour Le Pce. & pour McL——,5 au moins quant à présent, & jusqu’à-ce que la Réussite ailleurs empêche de tourner la proposition en ridicule, & de la traverser.
Vous devez avoir reçu actuellement, Messieurs, ainsi que les Ministres de France & d’Espagne, par ceux de la Repe. à Paris, l’ouverture d’entamer la Négociation pour un Traité de Garantie réciproque de la Liberté des mers.6 Ces Messieurs comptent à cet égard, & principalement, sur les promesses réiterées que vous m’avez autorisé de leur faire, sûrs que vous ne vous laisserez point influer ni diriger par Shelburne & Co:, qui s’entendent, disent-ils, com̃e larrons en foire. Vous n’aurez pas de peine à comprendre l’allusion.— Si cette convention pouvoit se faire avant la signature du Traité définitif, ce seroit le triomphe ici de nos républicains.— Quelqu’un m’ayant objecté, que l’Angle. pourroit en prendre ombrage Si ce Traité se faisoit avant l’autre; Et depuis quand, ai-je repliqué, la France a-t-elle recom̃encé à avoir peur de donner ombrage à l’Angleterre?
Je Suis avec grand respect, & en vous présentant les obéissances de ma famille avec les miennes, Monsieur / Votre très-humble & très / obéissant serviteur
Translation
Beginning with the most urgent matter, here is a letter from his excellency the minister plenipotentiary of this republic to the United States.1 He has further instructed me to ask you the following questions:
1. What furnishings and supplies would it be advisable for him to take from here, rather than buying them or having them made in Philadelphia?
2. If he should make a public entrance or if he can dispense with this without appearing too different from the other foreign ministers or compromising the dignity of the power that is sending him, in the opinion of the power that receives him?
3. In case a public entrance is indeed necessary, which would turn best 315to his account, to have a ceremonial carriage made (for this one day when he might use it) here or in Philadelphia?
Mr. Wheelock has left for Amsterdam, quite pleased with me. Mr. Van Berckel the pensionary, to whom I introduced him, is of the opinion that he should only present the matter openly once the general conclusion of the peace treaty has restored people's minds to a state of cheerfulness and calm. I accompanied both brothers2 back to Leyden, where we had dinner at Mr. Luzac's house. Mr. Van der Kemp entered wholeheartedly into the plan. He was supposed to write about it today to Professor Oosterbaan in Amsterdam3 and to two other Anabaptist houses in Haarlem and Friesland. He himself will be in Amsterdam on 15 March for a grand entertainment in honor of Mr. Van der Capellen tot den Pol and Mr. Van Berckel, at which the matter can be broached.4 Finally, Mr. Gyselaar too will take an interest in the plan when it is time to propose it in his town. As for The Hague, it seemed best to us not to use the letters for the prince and for MacLaine,5 at least not now, until success obtained elsewhere prevents the proposal from being ridiculed and thwarted.
By now, gentlemen, you should have received from the ministers of the republic at Paris, at the same time as the ministers of France and Spain, an overture to open negotiations for a treaty of reciprocal guarantee of the freedom of the seas.6 These gentlemen are counting heavily on the oftrepeated promises you authorized me to give them, certain you will not allow yourself to be influenced or driven by Shelburne and Co., who get on, they say, like thieves at a fair. You will easily understand this allusion. If this convention could take place before the definitive treaty is signed, it would be a triumph here for our republicans. Someone offered me the objection that England might take umbrage if this treaty is concluded before the other; “And,” said I, “since when has France ever been afraid of giving umbrage to England?”
I am with great respect, and in presenting my family's compliments with my own, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “à Son Excellence / Monsieur Adams / Mine. Plenipo: des Et. Unis / Paris.”; internal address: “Paris à Son Exce. Mr. Adams M. P.”; endorsed: “Mr Dumas 6. March / 1782.” Text lost where the seal was removed has been supplied from Dumas’ letterbook copy (Nationaal Archief:Dumas Papers, Microfilm, Reel 2, f. 509–511).
John Wheelock and his brother James, who was traveling with him (vol. 13:488–489).
François Adriaan Van der Kemp was a close friend and student of Prof. Heere Oosterbaan, having studied under him at the Baptist seminary in Amsterdam (Harry F. Jackson, Scholar in the Wilderness: Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, Syracuse, N.Y., 1963, p. 19, 20, 21, 23, 24–25;
Nieuw Ned. Biog. Woordenboek
, 2:1025–1026).
For the banquet, which was rescheduled to 26 April, see Dumas’ letter of 24 April, below.
For JA's letters of introduction on Wheelock's behalf, see his 18 Feb. letter to Van der Kemp, and note 2, above. One of the letters, also of 18 Feb., was to Archibald MacLaine, minister of the English church at The Hague (LbC, APM Reel 108). Neither a recipient's nor a Letterbook copy of a letter to William V, “the Prince” or, as Dumas wrote in his 316letterbook, “le grand Personnage,” has been found.
Dumas refers to the proposal contained in his letter of 24 Jan., above, to which JA had replied on the 29th, also above, after consulting Benjamin Franklin and John Jay. Although Dumas indicates here that a formal request for negotiations should have been or would be received by the American Commissioners from Dutch peace negotiators Brantsen and Berkenrode, there is no evidence that such a proposal was formally presented.
th.March 1783.
Nothing but a persuasion of duty to my Country & my friendship to you could have prevailed on me to transmit the Letter which will accompany this;1 it was originally intended an Address to Mr. Jenings, but after it was finish'd, doubts arose in my mind, whether it would work any good effect upon him, as well as whether I ought in honor to myself to hold a further correspondence with that Gentleman. Circumstances which have since occured, convince me I determined well in witholding it. The paper contains a brief history of Mr. Jenings's misconduct respecting the Anonymos Letter, which, if he did not write, he industriosly procured & put into your hands, & upon that foundation he employ'd his “dangeros disposition” to “heal animosities” which had never existed & to “bring friends to a right understanding.” who had never been at variance. What he may have told you of the conversation at Bruxelles, I know not, but you will now perceive that when he was chased by no less than three demands for explication he sneak'd off with, “I imagined I saw.” As I am not accustomed to smile upon a Man when I am angry with him, ’tis probable I did not look very pleasant under the impertinence of his interrogatories, ’tis evident my answers were dealt with Caution, “I imagined I saw.” his imaginations had strangely deceived him, it was with his rudeness, I was “not quite satisfied.” I complained of it the moment he went from me.
Mr. Bridgen upon being informed of Mr. Jenings's declaration, vizt. “that it was at his particular desire the anonymos Letter had been sent to you.” denied it in the most possitive terms & confirmed the denial from under his hand. he also writ to Mr. Jenings charging him with having sent or delivered that Letter to you without his “concurence or desire.” Mr. Bridgen has further informed me, that in a late conversation with Mr. Jenings he repeated the charge, Mr. Jenings acknowledged he had said “the Letter had been sent by his desire” & that “he thought he might take such a liberty with him.” Mr. Bridgen's declarations & behavior discover that he himself 317entertains different Ideas of truth & honor. The subject requires no further pursuit, ’tis not my aim, to blast Mr. Jenings's Character but to undeceive you & to prevent, if possible, the progress of future evils, from his influence over or interference in our Councils & deliberations. The knowledge of this business is confined to those, whom it doth concern, except that I have never yet given the smallest intimation to Mr. Jay, you will of course make such communication to our Colleague as you shall think necessary.
Doctor Franklin is possessed of another anonymõs, much in terms of the one before us,2 dated Amsterdam, but it not only bears the mark of Bruxelles, but contains certain strokes within, which confirm my “Belief” of the Author of both. These papers were contrived not merely for the purpose of slandering of Mr. Adams, the grand view was to excite jealousy & by degrees to produce animosity among us all, Mr. Adams in the mean time to be played upon & hoodwinked by an excess of flattery. how far in my apprehension, the scheme succeeded I shall candidly intimate, if you desire it, the next time I have the honor of conversing with you— You may recollect, a plain spoken Man3 said to you at Hotel Yorke, “this is all very pretty Drama.” but you told all he said within half an hour.
Regarding Mr. Storer as your Secretary & confidential friend & as a Servant of the United States, I have given him such information as I judged necessary for putting him upon his guard. Mr. Storer will communicate as much of the State of public affairs in this Country, as probably I know—my knowledge extends not much beyond appearances. these do not please me. but I am told that I shall be better pleased in a few days; mean time, a certain Noble Lord4 now a little be-clouded has not failed to take the necessary advantage of his success, in artfully obtaining the “Provisional Treaty” without “the knowledge or participation of the great & good Ally of America”—for argument sake, I admit the fact—what then?—John Adams & Co. may be hanged but no damage will arise to the United States. I shall endeavor honestly to defeat His Lordship's pious designs— I suspected His Lordships goodness when he offered to make me a present of my self. Be assured of my sincerity in subscribing with great affection & regard / Dear sir Your obedient humble servt.
RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “John Adams Esquire / Paris.”; endorsed: “Mr Laurens 6. March / ansd 12. 1783.”
The enclosed letter from Laurens to Edmund Jenings was dated 24 Jan. and contained a detailed accounting of why Laurens believed Jenings to be the author or sponsor 318of anonymous letters sent to American officials during the previous year. The enclosure carries the notation: “Intended now only for Mr. Adams's information & for Mr. Jay's if Mr. Adams shall think it necessary.” For more on the controversy and the Laurens-Jenings conflict, see vol. 13:64–65, and Laurens, Papers
, 16:157–160, 277–333. Laurens also wrote to Benjamin Franklin on 6 March and noted there that he had informed JA that Franklin was “possessed of another anonymous Letter with the Bruxelles mark on it and I am now confirmed in my ‘Belief’ of the Author of both. I wish Mr. Adams may communicate all that I have further said on this occasion” (DLC:Franklin Papers). For JA's continued efforts to avoid involvement in the affair, see his reply to Laurens of 12 March, below. Franklin replied to Laurens on 20 March and, perhaps confusing the Laurens-Jenings difficulties with those between JA and himself, wrote that “Mr. Adams has communicated nothing to me on the Subject of the anonymous Letters. I hear frequently of his Ravings against M. de Vergennes and me whom he suspects of Plots against him which have no Existence but in his own troubled Imaginations. I take no Notice, and we are civil when we meet” (NjP:De Coppet Coll.).
Franklin sent JA copies of the anonymous letters, dated 31 Jan. and 8 May 1782 (Franklin, Papers
, 36:499–501, 37:289–291).
Presumably Laurens himself.
The Earl of Shelburne. In his letter to Franklin of 6 March, Laurens wrote that he had learned from a member of Parliament that “Lord Shelburne declared to the House of Lords, the Provisional Treaty was obtained from the American Ministers without the concurrence or participation of the Court of France, that the Court was not pleased and consequently would not hereafter be so friendly to the United States.” Shelburne's comment, however, has not been found in accounts of the debates over the preliminary treaty.