Papers of John Adams, volume 14
st1783
I did myself the Honor of writing to Your Excellency about a Week Ago. I have now only to enclose the last bill introduced into the House of Commons for the purpose of opening an Intercourse with the United States.1 and what passed thereupon Yesterday in the House, where I was, & where I observed as much embaressement arising from Ignorance or Selfishness, as can be imagined. Your Excellency will Compare this Bill with the first, which it is said here, was somewhat approved of at Paris. and you will see the present Disposition of the Times here. I have pointed out the Mischief of the present bill to many with some effect.— the American Merchants had a meeting to Day to appoint a Committee to attend & inform the House of Commons, of their Sense of this Business, the Importance of which is felt by them. I attended the meeting in Hopes of collecting some Information. but little was done in it more than naming a Committee & agreeing to address the King for his paternal care in making Peace2 the Address did not pass Unanimously. I am not Idle in my pay.— I shall I believe send to Your Excellency, some productions which will give you my Idea of the present business— if I had your Excellencys I should be enlightened.
I am with the greatest Consideration / Sir / Your Excellencys / Most Obedient Humble Servt.
PS. No certain Account yet of the Ministry Many Ships put up for sailing to Boston Virginia &c.3 with the Manufactures of GB.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excellency John Adams Esqr..”
Probably the printed copy of “A Bill for the Provisional Establishment and Regulation of Trade and Intercourse between the Subjects of Great Britain and those of the 357United States of North America,” or American Intercourse Bill. A copy of the bill, introduced on 3 March, is in the Adams Papers, filmed at [1783].
Debate on the bill in the House of Commons was postponed on 20 March in anticipation of a report from a 21 March meeting of London merchants trading in America. Several more meetings were held before a written report was submitted to William Pitt on Friday, 28 March. Pitt resigned the following Monday, however, and the bill was permanently tabled without the report being made public. The report is probably identical or similar to a document preserved in the Pitt papers endorsed “Observations on the Trade of North America by the Committee of American Merchants.” That document, dated 22 July, calls for a reduction or elimination of duties on American imports and an increase in bounties on goods exported to the United States (Edmund C. Burnett, “Observations of London Merchants on American Trade, 1783,” American Historical Review, 18:769–780 [July 1913]).
On 5 April the London Gazette published an address to the king from the “Merchants and Traders of London interested in the Commerce of North America” asking that “liberality” be exercised in crafting a commercial agreement (same, p. 772).
The final five words of the postscript are written in large script, apparently for emphasis.
t:Petersbourg
March 12
th.1783. O.S. [
23 March N.S.]
In the Gazette of Amsterdam of the 4th: of March which has this day come to hand, we read, On débite que les Etats-Unis de l’Amerique nommeront un nouveau Ministre auprès de cette République, à la place de Mr: Jean Adams, qui se trouve actuellement à Paris, et qui aussitot après avoir reçu la ratification du Congrès, reviendra ici pour prendre congé, et partira ensuite avec Mr: Van Berkel à bord d’un vaisseau de Guerre pour se rendre en Amerique.1 I pray you to inform me how much of this is true, and if you really intend to return to America, that you wou'd let me know as nearly as may be, the time of your proposed departure, the place, and manner. that if it is practicable for me I may join you, and that we may return as we came together. Our Country is now most happily in peace: that you who have contributed so greatly to its freedom and happiness, shou'd wish to spend the rest of your days there with your agreable family is not to be wondered at. It has had my constant good wishes if no more, and from a firm persuasion that it will not be in my power to render it here any other service than by making a good treaty of Commerce, if I may be able to effect it, I shall rejoice in the moment when I quit this Country to return to our own, and to my family and friends— I am sick, sick to the heart of the delicacies and whims of European Politicks— A nobler field for glory was never opened before a Souvereign— A Sovereign never loved or sought glory with more zeal—yet—
When we shall meet again we will talk over these things
I have not heard from your Son since he wrote me from Gottenbourg as I have before informed you; nor can I yet learn that he has taken up any money upon the credit I procured for him. I hope he is safe with you before this time. If you leave Europe before me, pray desire Mr: Thaxter to take any papers, books, or other things he may have under his care for me to America with him, provided you shou'd sail for Boston, and to deliver them to Mrs: Dana on his arrival there. If you sail for Philadelphia he may put them into a trunk, first sealing up the papers, and leave it in the care of Messrs: Ingraham and Bromfield, subject to my directions—
I am dear Sir with much esteem & respect your Friend and / obedient humble Servant
P.S. Let Mr: T. immediately destroy the Copies of all such Letters he may have on hand, as I have already received.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency J: Adams / Minister Plenipotentiary &c.”; endorsed: “Mr Dana. March 12 OS. / recd & ansd. April 18. 1783.” Filmed at 12 March.
For a summary of the report in the Gazette d'Amsterdam of 4 March, see Dumas’ letter of 28 Feb., note 1, above.