Papers of John Adams, volume 14
r.26
th.1782.
Your favor from Bourdeaux of the 19th., I have had the pleasure to recieve, & congratulate You on your successful Voyages. I thank You too for your Care of my Dispatches and kind Attention to me.
The Dutch have been induced to make common Cause with Us, but have not yet exerted themselves in it with so much Unanimity & Zeal as might be wished for their own sakes as well as ours— Yet it makes a material Odds to have them for Us, rather than against Us. Your Friends in Holland are all well, as are those at Boston, from whence we have Letters to the 10th. of October.
If any Questions should be asked me on the part of M. de Castries or others, relative to your Affairs, I shall not fail to give all the Light in my Power. Mr. Broom I know very well & have a great Esteem for him. If I can find a safe Conveyance to Bourdeaux, I shall be glad to send a few Letters by your Vessel.— My Respects if You please to Mr. Bondfield, Mr. Price, and any other Acquaintance at Bourdeaux.
I have the honor to be, Sir, &c
LbC in John Thaxter's hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr. Brush / Chez Messs. V. P. French & Neven / negociants à Bourdeaux”; APM Reel 108.
e.Nov. 1782
J’espere que Vous avez reçu toute mes précédentes, que j’ai adressées selon les directions que Mr. Thaxter m’a données de votre part; & qu’il a aussi reçu les siennes que j’ai envoyées à lui-même pour lui & pour Mr. Storer. Je suppose aussi que vous avez reçu la Médaille de Mr. Holtzhey, dont un Exprès de Mr. le Duc de la V. étoit chargé de ma part pour vous, pendant que vous étiez encore en route.
Ma derniere renfermoit une Lettre pour Mr. Livingston.1
La semaine derniere s’est passée ici à refaire Mr. le Gd. Pensre. pour un 3e. quinquennium.2
Nos amis ici, à qui j’ai fait vos complimens, & qui vous les retournent cordialement, me chargent de vous dire, qu’ils s’attendent que vous ne vous montrerez pas trop facile dans les concessions à exiger de l’ennemi, & à lui accorder. Ils vous prient aussi de me mander, si vous êtes sur le pied d’une bonne & cordiale Intelligence avec Mr. Brantzen; S’il est com̃unicatif, com̃e le lui enjoignent ses Instructions; quelles sont ses allures; si vous en êtes content?— Ils insistent à présent fortement, pour faire arranger & résoudre la nomination & l’envoi d’un Ministre de la Rep. en Amérique, afin qu’il puisse y aller le printemps prochain.3
La poste, qui va partir, me laisse à peine le temps de vous assurer du respectueux attachement avec lequel je suis, Monsieur / Votre très-humble & très / obeissant serviteur
Translation
I hope you have received all my previous letters, which I addressed according to Mr. Thaxter's instructions; and that he has also received his own correspondence, which I sent on for him and Mr. Storer. I suppose too that you have by now received Mr. Holtzhey's medal, which the Duc de La Vauguyon included in an express sent off while you were still en route.
My last communication contained a letter for Mr. Livingston.1
Last week was taken up with creating a third five-year term for the grand pensionary.2
Our friends here, to whom I gave your greetings, respond cordially in 91kind. I am to tell you that they expect you not to appear too accommodating in the concessions you exact from the enemy, or in those you grant. They would like you to inform them whether you are on good terms with Mr. Brantsen and if you have a cordial understanding; if he is communicative, as instructed; how he conducts himself; and whether you are satisfied with him. They strongly insist that arrangements be made to appoint and dispatch a minister of the republic to America, to arrive there next spring.3
The post, being about to depart, scarcely leaves me time to assure you of my respectful attachment; I remain, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à Son Exce. Mr. Adams, Esqr. Min. plenipo: des E. U.”
For the letter to Livingston, see Dumas’ 19 Nov. letter to JA, note 2, above.
For the proceedings of the States of Holland and West Friesland regarding another term for Pieter van Bleiswyck, see the Gazette d’Amsterdam for 15 and 26 November.
No reply to this letter has been found, but for JA's view of Brantsen, see his letter to Dumas of 1 Jan. 1783; for the appointment of a Dutch minister to the United States, see Dumas’ letter of 28 Feb., both below.