Papers of John Adams, volume 14
l.1783.
Above ten Daies after its date I was honor'd with your favor of the 10th. instant, & am indeed apprehensive with you, that America has lost the favorable moment for establishg a desirable commercial connection with Great Britain; but this is not the only, nor the greatest, mischief that has flow'd upon us from the same Source.
you will by this time be able to judge of the dispositions of the new British Ministry & of the new Negociator, therefore it is needless for me to say any thing with respect to them, especially as you are so well acquainted with their Character; I will only observe, that self important Men, are generally pleased when they are allowed to think, that other Men have as high an opinion of their Abilities & Importance as they have themselves.
It appears unnecessary now to trouble Mr. Dana with any Observations on the subject of a Treaty with the Emperor, as I am told that his Majesty has already named a Minister to go to Congress & I beleive that some conversation has been already, or soon will be, held with you Gentlemen at Paris on the Subject, & as I conjecture that it will be communicated to the Cte. de V. you may easily immagine into what Channel he will endeavor to turn the business.1
You cannot have a higher opinion of Mr. Saml. Adams than I have, for he was long before I left London my constant Toast as the American Aristides; but as to Dr. Franklin, I am convinced, that with all his Art &c, he wou'd soon sink into total oblivion like his friend Silas Deane, if the expenditure of the Public Money was taken out of his hands, & his adversaries were to cease talking of him, unless they mean to bring him to a Public Tryal for his enormous misdeeds. I know him too well, to suppose for a moment, that he wou'd pay a single Livre of his own money, to any little insignificant French Novellist for ranking him with the Gods.—
I propose to embark for Virginia in three weeks from this time, but in order to make my passage convenient I have been obliged to purchase a Ship will you therefore be so good as to inform me whether an American Passport will be necessary or useful, & if it is, can I request the favor of you to send me a Blank one.
I cou'd wish to know whether American Vessels will now be admitted into the Havannah, or any other of the Spanish Ports in the West Indias.2
Shou'd the definitive Treaty of Peace; between G. Britain & Am—be sign'd, before I go, you will greatly oblige me by a communication of the Event, if there is no political reason that forbids your doing so.
With the highest Respect & Consideration I have the Honor / to be—Sir / Your most Obliged & Obedt.— / Hb̃le Servt.—
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency, John Adams Esqr. / at Paris—”
An unfounded rumor, as Austria and the United States did not exchange ministers until 1838.
JA replied on 1 May that no passport was necessary and that he knew of no restriction on American ships entering Havana or any other Spanish port (LbC, APM Reel 108). Lee sailed from Ostend on 30 June aboard the Virginia, Capt. Robertson, and reached Virginia on 25 Sept. (Letters of William Lee, ed. Worthington Chauncey Ford, 3 vols., Brooklyn, N.Y., 1891, 3:945–946).
e.Avr. 1783.
Après avoir expédié ma Lettre d'hier, j'ai eu la visite de Mr. Van Berckel de Rotterdam, & vu Mr. son frere & M. De Gyzelaer chez eux. Ces Messieurs sont partis ce matin pour Amsterdam
Dans la Minute projetée des Instructions à dresser pour Mr. V. B——, il y est autorisé de faire mention au Congrès, “qu'on est informé ici, que l’Accession des Etats-Unis à la Neutralité armée a eu lieu.”—1 On a demandé Explication de cela a G. P.; & la réponse a été vague. En attendant qu'on en reçoive une plus précise, Sur laquelle on insiste, on m'a prié de vous demander, ce que vous croiriez pouvoir en dire. L’information en question, selon moi, ne peut être fondée que sur quelque avis secret du Ministre de cette Rep. à Petersbourg: ou bien, sur quelque confidence faite ici au Gd. Pre. & au Grr. par Mr. M——f, parti pour Paris, ou par le Seigneur qui l'a suivi de près.
Le prompt acheminement de la Note ci-jointe, est recom̃andé à votre bonté.2 Mr. votre fils, avec ma famille, vous présentent leurs respects
Je Suis avec tout celui qui vous est voué / De Votre Excellence Le très humble & / très obéissant serviteur
Translation
After mailing yesterday's letter, I had a visit from Mr. Van Berckel of Rotterdam and then called on his brother and Mr. Gyselaar. These gentlemen left this morning for Amsterdam.
In the draft of the instructions for Mr. Van Berckel he is authorized to tell Congress “that we are informed here that the accession of the United States to the Armed Neutrality has taken place.”1 The grand pensionary was asked for an explanation of this, and his reply was rather vague. Pending a more precise answer, which is insisted upon, I am to ask what you make of this. In my opinion, the information in question can only be based on some secret communication from the Dutch minister at St. Petersburg, 443or else on some confidential remark made to the grand pensionary and the secretary by Mr. Markov, who left for Paris, or by the gentleman who succeeded him here.
The prompt dispatch of the enclosed note is commended to your kindness.2 Your son and my family present their respects.
I remain with all those devoted to you, 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.”
Contrary to the Dutch assertion, corrected by JA in his reply of 1 May, below, the United States had never formally acceded to the Armed Neutrality. This was not due to any American obstacle; rather, such action required the assent of Russia, which did not recognize the new nation. The Dutch misapprehension may stem from unfounded reports that Russia was ready to recognize the United States and negotiate with Francis Dana (London Chronicle, 8–10 April) or from JA's vigorous efforts in early March 1781 to induce Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands to admit the United States to the Armed Neutrality in consequence of Congress’ resolution of 5 Oct. 1780 (vol. 10:448; 11:182–186). The issue became moot when Congress resolved on 12 June to abandon efforts to accede to the Armed Neutrality because of the desire of the United States to “be as little as possible entangled in the politics and controversies of European nations” (
JCC
, 24:392–394).
Presumably Dumas’ 25 April note regarding a carriage for the Dutch minister, Pieter Johan van Berckel (PCC, No. 93, II, f. 323).