Papers of John Adams, volume 15

From James Lovell, 21 September 1783 Lovell, James Adams, John

From James Lovell

Dear Sir Boston Sepr. 21st. 1783.

It is long, since I took any Opportunity of repeating Assurances of my sincere and very great Esteem for you.1 Tired most heartily of the Jealousies & Animosities which are almost inseperable from governmental Emploies, and very hardly put to it to find Bread to eat or Rayment to cloathe myself and my numerous Family, I have rarely felt any proper Disposition of Mind for an Attempt to write either usefully or amusingly to you; and have rested quiet in my Conscience under a Supposition that Members of Congress & such like were doing the former, and your most excellent Wife and very lovely Children never failed of the latter. Indeed at this very Time I feel almost willing to be called a Brute & a Blockhead for omitting to write when I knew of so good an Opportunity and was even solicited to do it by Mr. Wheelwright, as his Introduction. Lord bless the young Man! where has he been not to know that it is the Pride of your Life to do Good, and that his best Introduction would be plumply to tell you that he stood in Need of your Informations Counsells or Influence. But, tho’ I myself am perfectly sure of all this, yet his Modesty might counteract his Interest if I did not comply with his Wish; and you might be left to Time and Chance for the Discovery not only of that good Quality in Mr. Wheelwright but of his Integrity Benevolence Sobriety & Industry which make him a valuable Citizen Companion & Friend, if it was not for this short Method of the honest written Testimony of your obliged Friend and much devoted humble Servant

James Lovell [22 September 1783]2

And now for one of Swifts Postscripts. Essentials omitted in the main Body of the Work.

302

Your Lady is well, but in much and very just Affliction, as you may readily conceive and will sympathetically feel upon reading the last Paragraph but one under the Boston Head.3

I have a very great Regard for Mr. Thaxter and am moreover in his Debt two or three very kind & very entertaining Letters which I will not attempt to repay because of the latter Quality; let him therefore take a large Portion of my Affectionate Regards as his Dividend in my present Bankruptcy of Wit and Imagination.

Mr. Chs. Storer was one of my favorites when a Child, I hope he is willing to be upon the Footing of a Friend with me now without any Dread of finding me with the Ferula always in my Hand.4

I embrace your Son with Tenderness from my Esteem of his most worthy Parents.

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr Lovel. Sept. 21. 1783.”

Lovell had last written to JA on 30 Nov. [1782] (vol. 14:102). Upon leaving Congress in April of that year, Lovell was appointed receiver of continental taxes for Massachusetts, but his financial woes persisted until he was named naval officer for the port of Boston on 3 July 1784 (Smith, Letters of Delegates , 18:xix; Boston Independent Chronicle, 26 April 1782; AFC , 5:357–358).

For this date, see note 3.

Under the section headed “Boston” in the Boston Gazette of 22 Sept. 1783 was the first published report of Rev. William Smith’s death at Weymouth on the 17th and burial on the 20th. AA informed JA of her father’s death in a letter of 20 Sept., but JA first learned of his father-in-law’s death in a letter from Isaac Smith Sr. that has not been found ( AFC , 5:253–255, 264–265).

Lovell, a teacher at the Boston Public Latin School from 1757 to 1775, counted Charles Storer among his many students. Another pupil, Harrison Gray Otis, later recalled Lovell’s distinctive use of the dreaded ferule: “He had a gymnastic style of flourishing, altogether unique—a mode of administering our experimentum ferules that was absolutely terrific” (Henry F. Jenks, Catalogue of the Boston Public Latin School, Boston, 1886, p. 19, 35–36, 92–93).

From C. W. F. Dumas, 22 September 1783 Dumas, C. W. F. Adams, John

From C. W. F. Dumas

Monsieur, Lahaie 22e. 7be. 1783.

Ma Lettre ne partira que demain, mais je l’écris ce matin pour la faire mettre à la poste, parce que je me propose, avant d’aller à Amsterdam, d’aller à Dort, entretenir notre Ami, non seulement sur la matiere de l’Emprunt, mais aussi, sur celle du Com̃erce entre les deux Rep., de la perfection duquel sur un plan en grand, j’ai obtenu depuis peu des notions importantes, que je lui communiquerai, ainsi qu’à Mr. Van Berckel.1

Voici une Lettre, reçue d’Angleterre dans ce moment Le papier des deux côtes du cachet s’est trouvé déchiré. Je l’ai raffermi avec des brins d’oubli; & vous verrez par le filet de papier, qui est encore 303entier, sous le cachet, qu’il y a du moins apparence que la Lettre n’a pas été ouverte.2

J’ai o[ublié], Monsieur, de vous parler d’une que Mr. D[ana] a fait l’honneur de m’écrire de Petersb. en date du [8 Août] il me dit

“I expect to [ta]ke my departure in about 12 days by a convenient opportunity now offering directly from this port for Boston— I pray you to present my regards to Mr. J. Q. Adams, and to acquaint him, that I shall take his Books, &c. with me to America.— Mr. Allen returns by this opportunity also.”3

Je pense com̃e vous, Monsieur, sur l’amélioration des affaires de la Rep. par la derniere guerre: & une preuve de cela, c’est que le parti rep., par-tout, & notam̃ent en Frise & à Utrecht, loin de se rallentir, vires acquirit eundo.4 J’entrerai une autre fois dans un plus grand détail là-dessus.

Mr. De Linde, par une Résolution de Zélande du 15e., est sûr à présent d’être proposé, & par conséqt. nécessairement nom̃é, Envoyé de la rep. en Angle., dès que les ratifications du Traité entre les 2 puissces. seront échangées, & il m’a permis de vous l’apprendre, en vous présentant ses complimens, avec l’espoir dont il se flatte de vous revoir à Londres.5

Aujourd’hui la jurisdiction Militaire & l’abolition du Haut Conseil de Guerre se décide à la pluralité des 6 Villes en Zélande, contre le Pce. qui y a la 7e. voix.6 C’est singulier de voir com̃e la révolution Américaine a exalté les têtes phlegmatiques de ce pays. Je pourrois vous en citer une anecdote curieuse & interessante en preuve: mais il n’est pas temps encore de la prone[r.] Je ne veux pas avoir à me reprocher d’avoir eventé leurs mines.

Je suis avec grand respect, de Votre Exce. / le très-humble & très-humble / serviteur

C.w.f. Dumas

Translation

Sir The Hague, 22 September 1783

My letter will not leave until tomorrow, but I am writing it this morning in order to have it taken to the post office, because I am offering my services, before I go to Amsterdam, to go to Dordrecht to have a discussion with our friend not only on the subject of the loan but also about commerce between the two republics, concerning the perfection of which, in the grand scheme of things, I recently gathered important ideas that I will communicate to him as well as to Mr. Van Berckel.1

Here is a letter just this minute received from England. The paper on 304both sides of the seal was torn. I closed it again with doubled strands, and you will see from the grain of the paper, which is still whole under the seal, that there is at least the appearance that the letter was not opened.2

I forgot, sir, to tell you about a letter that Mr. Dana did me the honor of writing from St. Petersburg, dated 8 August. He tells me:

I agree with you, sir, about the improvement of the affairs of the republic by means of the last war, and one proof of that is that the republican party, notably in Friesland and Utrecht, far from slowing down, vires aquirit eundo.4 I will give more details on this at another time.

Mr. De Linde, by a resolution of Zeeland on the 15th, is certain to be nominated and consequently definitely named the republic’s envoy to England as soon as the treaty ratifications are exchanged between the two powers, and he has permitted me to notify you, while sending his compliments, with the hope that he will be fortunate enough to see you at London.5

Today the military jurisdiction and the abolition of the High Council of War was decided by the plurality of the six towns of Zeeland against the prince, who had the seventh vote.6 It is remarkable to see how the American revolution has stirred up the phlegmatic leaders of this country. I could cite for you a curious and interesting anecdote as proof, but this is not yet the time to trumpet it. I do not want to have to rebuke myself for having laid bare their veins of ore.

With great respect, I am your excellency’s very humble and very humble servant

C.w.f. Dumas

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à S. Exce. Mr. Adams Mine. Plenipo:.” Text lost where the seal was removed has been supplied from the letterbook copy of Francis Dana’s [19 Aug.] letter to Dumas (MHi:Francis Dana Letterbooks, Private, 1782–1784).

In a 23 Sept. letter to Sir James Jay, Dumas indicated that he planned to meet with Cornelis de Gyselaar at Dordrecht and perhaps with Engelbert François van Berckel at Amsterdam. They would discuss Jay’s ideas about Dutch-American commerce that he had shared with Dumas in a letter of the 14th (not found). An abstract of that letter by Dumas shows that Jay credited the success of British merchants in America to their large capital, which allowed them to finance substantial stocks of goods, far-flung retail networks, and long-term credit. He suggested that Dutch merchants take the same approach and expand their presence in the United States by combining their resources in companies or societies. Dumas wrote again to Jay on 3 Oct. to report that Gyselaar had taken up Jay’s proposal with a member of the Dutch mercantile community, but the response afforded little prospect that Dutch merchants would heed Jay’s advice (Nationaal Archief:Dumas Papers, Microfilm, Reel 2, f. 585–586, 588–589; Reel 4, f. 209–212).

This letter has not been identified.

In addition to the portions from the letter of [19 Aug.] related by Dumas, Dana indicated that he had received permission 305from Congress to return to America and was availing himself of the opportunity to return rather than “waiting for the conclusion of the definitive Treaties of Peace, and taking an Audience of Her Imp: Majesty.” He also indicated to Dumas that “if I mistake not, busy & calamitous scenes are about to open upon this Continent. May the New-World be long preserved in Peace, and in the uninterrupted enjoyment of all the blessings of Liberty” (MHi:Francis Dana Letterbooks, Private, 1782–1784). For what Dana left unsaid with regard to his departure, see his letters to JA of [6 June], and note 4, and [29 July], both above.

It acquires strength by going (Virgil, Aeneid, Book IV, line 175).

Britain and the Netherlands had signed a preliminary peace treaty on 2 Sept. but would not conclude the definitive treaty until 20 May 1784. The two nations ratified the peace on 10 and 15 June, respectively, and exchanged the ratifications on the 19th (Edler, Dutch Republic and Amer. Rev., p. 244; London Gazette, 26–29 June). Baron Dirk Wolter Lynden van Blitterswyck did not present his credentials as Dutch minister until 10 Nov. ( Repertorium , 3:264).

On 22 Sept. 1783 the States of Zeeland, citing breaches of ordinary justice under the fundamental laws of the province, resolved to limit military jurisdiction to purely military offenses. On the same day the States instructed its deputies to the States General to pursue the abolition of the High Council of War and the creation of a committee to report on the proper exercise of military jurisdiction under the fundamental laws of the Netherlands (Gazette d’Amsterdam, 10, 14 Oct.).