Papers of John Adams, volume 15
1783]
The letter with which you honoured me gave me singular pleasure, as a mark of the justice you do to my sentiments with respect to you, and to my sincere zeal for every cause in which humanity and religion are concerned.1 I certainly, Sir, would have paid the warmest regard to your recommendation, had the merit of its object been only known to me by your opinion;—but, indeed, the cause speaks for itself to a feeling heart.— I would never harbour the doubts, which have sometimes arisen in my mind about the success of such laudable projects,— I have, on the contrary, always chased them away, like ominous birds that trouble the sacrifice, and are often suggested by that indolent apprehension of difficulties, which is an obstacle to every generous undertaking. Besides—virtues may be displayed in the Experiment, that are worth the labour and expences, that attend it, tho’ the end should not be obtained in such an extensive degree as benevolence would wish. All rational attempts to do good, will certainly do good, one way or another.
Mr. Wheelock, for the favour of whose acquaintance I am much obliged to you, seems to be a very amiable and knowing man, and 46very proper for the commission he is charged with. He will let you know, sir, his success, such as it has been. At Amsterdam, where I thought they would have cast their bread abundantly upon the Waters &c the project has met with no encouragement, which, to me, appears unaccountable on whatever rule I calculate the matter. I was not surprized to see it succeed at Harlem: There is no town in the Republick, where there is more liberality both of purse and spirit, without any ostentation.—
I wish I could have been more usefull to this good undertaking at the Hague: But the monied Interest are at their Country-Seats, where it is not easy to follow them, nor sure to find them; nor, indeed, do they like to be followed there on such errands, (tho’ they would not turn their back to them in town)—perhaps it is, because they don’t enter in to the Summer-plan.
The News Papers have flattered us with the hopes of your return to the Hague, but as they seldom tell truth, especially when they announce good things, I don’t believe them.2 Here or there, Sir, I shall always be happy to hear of your welfare, would be peculiarly so could I renew the agreeable moments of conversation with which you honoured me during your residence here, and am with the most sincere and respectfull sentiments of esteem and veneration, Sir, / Your most obedient & / most humble servant
P.S: The very day Mr. Weeloch came to the Hague I was unluckily seized with a fit of the gout, which confined my to my chamber five weeks, and I am not yet got firmly upon my legs, so that I have been able to help him but lamely.
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed by John Thaxter: “Dr. Maclane / 22. June 1783.”
For MacLaine, Presbyterian pastor of the English Church at The Hague and friend of JA, see vol. 12:248. JA’s 18 Feb. letter introducing John Wheelock was similar to other letters written on that date for the same purpose, for which see JA’s letter to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, vol. 14:271, and note 2.
There are no references in the Gazette d’Amsterdam during this period concerning JA’s possible return to the Netherlands. MacLaine is probably referring to an earlier report that JA planned to return to The Hague and then sail for America with the newly appointed Dutch minister to the United States, Pieter Johan van Berckel (vol. 14:306).
Your favor of April. 14th. No: 16, acknowledged the receipt of mine of the 21st. & 22d. January,2 but took no notice of any letters which 47went by Capn: Barney: Neither Dr: Franklin, Mr: Jay, nor myself, have any answer to the Dispatches, which went by that Express, altho’ yours to me, No: 16, gave cause to expect Letters to us all, with Instructions concerning the Definitive Treaty—3 This profound silence of Congress, & the total Darkness, in which we are left, concerning their Sentiments, is very distressing to us, and very dangerous & injurious to the Public.—
I see no prospect of agreeing upon any regulation of Commerce here. The present Ministry are afraid of every Knot of Merchants: A Clamor of an interested party, more than an evil to their Country, is their dread. A few West-India Merchants, in opposition to the Sense & Interest of the West-India Planters, are endeavoring to excite an opposition to our carrying the produce of the West-India Islands, from those Islands, to Europe even to Great-Britain. There are also secret Schemes to exclude us, if they can, from the Trade of Ireland—to possess themselves of the carrying Trade of the United-States, by prohibiting any American Vessell to bring to Great-Britain any Commodity, but those of the State to which it belongs: Thus a Philadelphia Vessell can carry no Tobacco, Rice or Indigo, nor a Carolina Vessell, Wheat or Flour, nor a Boston Vessell either, unless grown in its own State. In this way a superficial party4 think they can possess themselves of the Carriage of almost all the productions of the United-States; annihilate our Navigation & nurseries of Seamen, and keep all to themselves more effectually than ever. They talk too of discouraging the people of the United-States, and encouraging those of Canada & Nova-Scotia, in such a manner as to encrease the population of those two Provinces, even by migrations from the United-States—
These are Dreams, to be sure; but the Dreamers are so many as to intimidate the present Ministry who dare venture upon nothing, which will make a Clamour—
I have lately heard that the Merchants in America are waiting to hear of the Regulations of Trade made here.— They will wait, I don’t know how long. There is no present prospect of our agreing, at all, upon any regulation of Trade—
I have the honor to be, Sir, / Your humle: servt:
RC in Charles Storer’s hand (PCC, No. 84, IV, f. 415–418); addressed: “His Excellency. / Robert. R. Livingston Esqr: / Secretary of State. / Philadelphia.”; internal address: “R. R. Livingston Esqr:”; notation: “2d.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108.
In the Letterbook is the notation “Delivered to Mr. Mazzei same day—” It is unlikely that the copy entrusted to Philip Mazzei (PCC, No. 84, IV, f. 411–414) was the first to be received by Congress, and thus it is not the copy printed here. This is because Mazzei wrote to JA on 4 Aug. from Bordeaux (Adams Papers) offering to carry additional letters, but Congress on 12 Sept. received this letter and eighteen others written by JA between 14 April and 18 July (PCC, No. 185, III, f. 78–79).
Livingston’s letter of 14 April actually acknowledged JA’s letters of 22 and 23 Jan., which had reached Congress on 10 April (vol. 14:201–205, 407–410; PCC, No. 185, III, f. 61). That letter was also the last that JA received from Livingston as secretary for foreign affairs.
JA was disturbed because Livingston mentioned Congress’ ratification of the Anglo-American preliminary peace treaty carried by Capt. Joshua Barney but not the numerous letters from the commissioners as a group and as individuals, including accounts of the negotiations, also entrusted to Barney. In fact, Livingston wrote to the commissioners on 25 March and 21 April, relating in the former letter his own and Congress’ reservations about the treaty and their negotiation of it and enclosing with the latter the ratified preliminary treaty (vol. 14:361–364, 435–438). The commissioners did not receive the two letters and the ratified treaty until 2 July (to Livingston, 3 July, and note 8, below). They did not notify David Hartley of the ratification’s arrival until their letter of 17 July and did not respond to Livingston’s comments regarding the treaty until 18 July, both below.
In the Letterbook JA wrote and then canceled “Silly Party.”
In JA’s hand.