Papers of John Adams, volume 15

From John Dudley, 19 November 1783 Dudley, John Adams, John

From John Dudley

Honble. sir No. 2 Fleet prison 19 Novr. 1783—1

I have taken frequent Liberties in troubleing you with Letters stating my Distressed Situation and Soliciting your Intrest in my behalf—am Exceeding sorry to think from your not taking any notice of my necessity—and from some small Hints given me—there is a Susspition arose—that I was not in the Service of the united States or if that I was—Since which, I might have been in the British Service—from which, I feal myself much more distressed in mind—than what I have been under all my other Sufferings—as I Can verrally say I have Ever since the commencment of the Late War been an Advocate for America have faught and bleed under there Coulars, though, at Last had the hard Misfortune to fall into the hands of the British which would not have been the case had I not been wounded on Howbuck Island2 New Jersey—which wound has Since caused the amputation of my Left Leg—and that I can make it appear that Every application I have made to British government for any assistence has been under the Charector of a prisnor of war and never was Looked on in any other Light by this government—copies of my Letters to the Secretaries of States office I have now in my own hands and the Origenal Letters may be found or answered for at the office—and to gard against any thing that might Injure my Charector as an American I am Truly Anxious to give Every Satisfaction that may Be Necessary on the Subject—and if agreeable to you to hear the particulars I will on friday or Saterday Morning obtain a Day Rule and call on you—when if any thing of the kind Should be found against me I shall never have the presumption to ask any Assistince or Even Expect it But would think But Just if I was Sent confind to Amireca and there Suffer as a crimenal— I Donot wish to 366take the Liberty of waiting on you without priveous Leave So that a verbal answer By the Barer will Lay an Everlasting obligation on— / Honble. sir / Your Most Devoted / Much Distressed / Very Hble Servt. &

John Dudley

RC (Adams Papers).

Dudley had written to JA on 14 Nov. (Adams Papers) concerning the circumstances of his transfer from Poultry Compter to Fleet Prison, newly rebuilt since its destruction during the 1780 Gordon Riots ( London Past and Present , 2:56). According to him, he was “obliged to . . . Surrender from the compter by heabus corpus to the fleet prison in Discharge of my Bail for an old action.” His distress in the new prison was “greater—as there was one penney Bread given Every Day at the compter—and was a great help would Keep me from Entirely Starving— But when I Left the compter I had not money to pay the feas which was nine and Eight pence was obliged to Leave my hat—for payment and came to the fleet without any where I was an Entire Stranger and no Charity comes to it that I am allmost Starving have not one penny— have been now two Days without food and not a Soul to call and Bring me Even a peace of Bread.” For Dudley’s most detailed account of his travails since his capture, accompanied by certificates testifying to his status as a prisoner of war, see his letter of 30 Dec., below.

Or Hoobock Island (now Hoboken), N.J. See Dudley’s letter of 30 Dec., note 4, below.

From Isaac Smith Jr., 19 November 1783 Smith, Isaac Jr. Adams, John

From Isaac Smith Jr.

Dear sir, Sidmouth Nov. 19. 1783

The papers having announced yr. public appearance in this kingdom, I take the liberty of Congratulating you on yr. arrival in England, & on the success of yr. negociations in behalf of the United states of America.1

After much anxiety & toil, to see yr. wishes realized, to find the uncertainties of war ended, & the great object of it fully established & secured, must give you an high degree of satisfaction. America, I hope, will know how to make a proper improvement of the advantages which her independence is Capable of affording her, & that no Circumstances will arise, which may lead You hereafter to regret the part you have taken in the accomplishment of this important event.

It is an event indeed, which in my own imagination I Confess, I had postponed to a more distant period. Of the probability of success on our part in the late Contest, in the beginning of it at least, I had no idea whatever. For the issue of it however I shall not be sorry, so long as it Conduces to the happiness of America, the Country which I wish still to call my own. In this Country, Tho’ I have lived a considerable time, I Consider myself, as a stranger, & 367should I be doomed to continue in exile here, it would make me extremely unhappy.—

Of public matters at Boston I have heard nothing of late. My brother was with me about two months ago. I had yesterday a letter from him, dated at Brussels, 8th instt, on his way to Paris, where I believe he expects to have the pleasure of seeing you.—2 I condole with You on the death of my Uncle Smith, of which I am just informed, & who Closed I find the scene of life with much serenity & peace.3 I flatterd myself with the thought of seeing him again in this word, tho’ advanced in years, but his lot is happier in being removed from it!—

I am sorry that my distance from town prevents me from paying my personal respects to you at present. Should you remain here thro’ the winter, perhaps I may have the opportunity of doing it. But whether I have the honour in England, or not, you will allow me to subscribe myself, with the greatest respect, dear sir, / yr. most obedt / hble servt

I Smith jr:

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “John Adams Esq. / at Mr: Stockdale’s. Book seller— / Picadilly— / London”; endorsed: “Rev. Is. Smith / ansd Decr. 4.”

Rev. Isaac Smith Jr. (1749–1829), the loyalist son of Boston merchant Isaac Smith Sr., was AA’s first cousin. He had graduated from Harvard in 1767 and later served as a tutor at the college, but he left America for England in May 1775. There he associated with various loyalists, including Thomas Hutchinson, and in 1778 was ordained by and ministered to the congregation of a dissenting church at Sidmouth, England. In 1784 he returned to Massachusetts, apparently suffering no serious consequences from his sojourn in England ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 16:523–530).

William Smith (1755–1816), brother of Isaac, was a 1775 Harvard graduate and Boston merchant who had sailed for Europe in July 1783. JA wrote to him on 12 Nov. that he had received “Two large Packets” for him and was forwarding the notes that had been enclosed with them (MHi:Smith-Carter Family Papers). Smith was at London when AA and AA 2 reached the city in July 1784 and spent time with them before he sailed for Boston ( AFC , 2:359; 5:206, 371, 372, 374, 376–380, 403, 408; JQA, Diary , 1:313).

JA first learned of Rev. William Smith’s death on 7 Nov. 1783, from a letter by Isaac Smith Sr. ( AFC , 5:264) and mentioned it in his letter to William Smith of 12 Nov. (MHi:Smith-Carter Family Papers).