Papers of John Adams, volume 15

From Francis Dana, [6 June 1783] Dana, Francis Adams, John

From Francis Dana

Dear Sir St: Petersbourg May 26th. 1783 O.S. [6 June N.S.]

I wrote you two letters by the last post, which I sent to Amsterdam upon the supposition that you might be at the Hague by the Time they will arrive there. They are dated the 21st. & 23d. inst:—1 I yesterday received a letter from your Son dated Hague May 12th. containing some account of his Route from hence to Stockholme.2 The matter contained in my confidential letter which you will receive from him, I pray you most earnestly to keep a secret even after your arrival in America; or in Congress. I have most substantial reasons for making this request.

I have additional reasons for thinking that jealousy of which I have spoken towards the Close of my last letter but one, exists in full Force. Yesterday I was there upon a previous appointment relative to my main Matter: yet the same kind of Conversation which you will find in that Letter, was renewed almost word for word. It was entered into indeed more minutely than ever. Nor is this all, {minister of Berlin}3 whom we had agreed shou’d be invited to the Consultation upon the main Matter, evidently supported the same sentiments with all his ingenuity. However they have not yet had my real sentiments upon the subjects, nor shall they have them. I know, I flatter myself, the Interests of our Country as well as they do at least. I declare to you at the same time that very possibly the hare 20wou’d not be worth hunting in the common Course. I have long had in contemplation some special views in this business, grounded upon local knowledge. Whether I shou’d be able to succeed in them is not certain. If I shou’d not to a certain degree, it is always in my power to waive the whole business. It is kind in our Friends to take so serious a concern in our Interests however.

I have not yet received any answer to my Memorial, but I was yesterday informed by my private Friend, that I shou’d have it on Monday or Tuesday next. By this delay I am inclined to think, they wait only for the account of the Conclusion of the Definitive Treaty, when the idea of Mediation will be done away. This is daily expected. The other objections may be then waived and thus the matter be compounded. It wou’d perhaps be thought to be too humiliating to give them all up.4

My credit here expired on the 15th. of last March. In February I wrote to Mr: Grand for another Year’s Credit, but have received no answer from him so that I am at this time almost destitute of Cash.5 The method of supply by bills, proposed lately by Congress, perhaps makes the difficulty. They never can arrive here in time. Thus if one matter does not drive me away, another will. This leads me to propose to you, if it be not inconvenient to yourself, to place the Money advanced to your Son in the hands of your Bankers, subject to my drafts. For if I shou’d have to traverse this Continent on to Holland upon my return, when I arrive there I shall be absolutely destitute of Cash. Congress are not aware of the difficulties those changes create. I have never received but one bill from them. If I remain here several months longer I shall be under the necessity of drawing upon Dr: Franklin however repugnant it may be to the late arrangement. You may write upon this subject; if I shou’d have quitted this Country before your Letter arrives, I will take care that it be sent after me, & so of any others. Pray give Mr: Dumas the particular directions relative to sending on Letters to me, before you return to America. A safe voyage to you

I am with much respect and esteem / Your most obedient humble Servant

FRA DANA

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency J: Adams / Minister Plenipotentiary &c”; endorsed by John Thaxter: “Mr. Dana / 26. May 1783.”; filmed at 26 May. FC (MHi:Francis Dana Letterbooks, Private, 1782–1784).

Of [1] and [3 June], both above.

For JQA’s letter and Dana’s reply, see Dana’s letter of [3 June], note 3, above.

This passage as enciphered by Dana—165.37, or minister of Berlin—does not make sense and is probably an inadvertence, but 21one repeated by Dana in his letterbook. He probably meant 165.57, or minister of France, as he had in his letter of [1 June], above.

Dana expected a response on 9 or 10 June but did not meet with Ivan A. Osterman, the vice chancellor, until Saturday, 14 June. Osterman told Dana that when news of the signing of the Anglo-American definitive peace treaty reached St. Petersburg, Catherine II would grant him an audience, thereby recognizing the United States, and himself as minister to Russia. This meant that if the audience occurred—sometime in late September or early October as events turned out—Dana would accomplish his mission and be in a position to negotiate a Russo-American commercial treaty. Dana reported the outcome of the meeting with Osterman in a letter to Robert R. Livingston of 17 June, in which he included Osterman’s note stating the Russian position (Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 6:494–497). He also announced his apparent success in letters to C. W. F. Dumas and Benjamin Franklin of [20 June] (MHi:Francis Dana Letterbooks, Private, 1782–1784). He did not, however, address any letters to JA on the result of the 14 June meeting, a circumstance that might, considering their relationship, seem odd. But Dana intended for his friend to get the information from the letter to Livingston, for a notation on the letterbook copy indicates “Original by the Post of the day under cover to Mr: Adams who is desired to request Mr: Thaxter to forward a Copy of it” (MHi: Francis Dana Letterbooks, Official, 1782–1784). This explains why JA fully understood the anger and frustration expressed in Dana’s letter of [29 July], below, upon receiving orders from Congress to leave Russia unless engaged in negotiations with the Russian government.

Dana’s letter to Ferdinand Grand was of [4 March] (MHi:Francis Dana Letterbooks, Private, 1782–1784). His desire that Grand be queried about the renewal of his credit prompted Dana’s letter to Benjamin Franklin on [20 June], mentioned in note 4.

To Antoine Marie Cerisier, 9 June 1783 Adams, John Cerisier, Antoine Marie

To Antoine Marie Cerisier

Sir, Paris. June. 9th. 1783.—

I thank you for yours of the 2d. inst: The translation of my letters in the Pol: Hol: of the 2d. June: 82, fm. Parker’s Genl: Adverr: is very just as I believe. I have not the English to compare, but in memory. I am the more anxious abt: those letters as I committed a great indiscretion in sending them in the year 1780 fm. Paris without keeping a Copy of a single line of them— I am endeavoring to get the Originals; but, if I shd. fail in this I wish them to be fully published at present & reduced to a certainty, since such things are sometimes liable to change, obliterations Interpolations, &c:—1

The truth is, the letters themselves have little weight & made a small impression: but hereafter, when inquisitive Spirits begin greedily to search for documents of the Peace, if any one shd. discover in those letters the characteristic features of the Provisional Treaty of the 30th. Nov. 1782. he may think the letters & Treaty had the same Sire: and if he shd. afterwards find that the Writer of the letters, 2. or 3. yrs: afterwards, really did act in the Character of first Min: Plenipo: of the U: S: at the peace, he may think those letters of more importance than you & I do.2 For this reason I wish to have them now fixed, as well as may be, that no imposture may be 22practised in future, under color of them, & I am, for this reason the more obliged to you for translating them.

Yr: &:

LbC in Charles Storer’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr: Ceresier—”; APM Reel 108.

For JA’s unsuccessful effort to obtain the manuscripts of his “Letters from a Distinguished American” from Edmund Jenings, to whom they had originally been sent and who obtained their publication in Parker’s General Advertiser and Morning Intelligencer, see his letter to Jenings of 9 June and Jenings’ reply of [ca. 8 July], both below.

The anxiety expressed here and in his 9 June letter to Edmund Jenings, below, over being identified as the author of the “Letters” was due largely to the fact that he had written them in 1780 when he was the sole minister to negotiate an Anglo-American peace. In and of itself this might not have been a problem, but the “Letters” were at least an implied invitation to the North ministry from an American diplomat to conclude a separate Anglo-American peace in violation of the Franco-American Treaty of Alliance signed two years earlier. Such an offer, more than two years prior to the official opening of negotiations that resulted in a separate peace, placed JA in a somewhat awkward position, particularly since he had not informed Congress of his plans for publication (“Letters from a Distinguished American,” [ante 14–22 July] 1780, vol. 9:531–588). See also JA’s 9 June 1783 letter to Robert R. Livingston, below.