Papers of John Adams, volume 15
th.1783.
I have signed & Mr Grand will this day forward, the two thousand & three Obligations you sent me, which compleats the 5003.
Inclosed is a Copy of Mr. Morris’s Letter to you of 30. of April 1783, & Mr. Grand’s original Letter to me of this day’s date. The 84Circumstances are such as to make it necessary you should comply with Mr. Morris’s Orders as soon as possible by furnishing to Mr. Grand all the Succour in your Power,1 having Attention to the Credit you have given to Mr. Dana & the other Expences incurred already, which I mentioned in a former Letter.2
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen / your humble Servt.
LbC in John Thaxter’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messs. Willinks, / Van Staphorsts / & / De La Lande & Fynjé”; APM Reel 108.
Although JA does not mention receiving it, the paragraph to this point is likely a response to the consortium’s letter of [ca. 1 July], above, asking for JA’s guidance regarding remittances to Ferdinand Grand. JA here provides that guidance, but no copy of Grand’s letter to him has been found. The enclosed letter from Robert Morris to the consortium, however, may be that dated 29 April. There Morris wrote that “Mr. Grand will I beleive stand in Need of funds and therefore I am to request that you make Remittances to him as great as your Funds will admit.” For their information he indicated that he had drawn on them bills totaling f300,706 (Morris, Papers
, 7:758–760). See also the consortium’s reply of 7 July, below.
JA had requested the credit for Francis Dana in his letter to the consortium of 13 May (LbC, APM Reel 108). For that letter and the consortium’s assurance that they would provide the needed funds, see their letter of 22 May, vol. 14:486–487.
Yesterday Our Independance was celebrated in a decent yet joyful Manner—a solid Joy possessed every Heart, none of those Wildnesses which are often seen even in high Life and too often mark the Rabble on such occasions were any where seen on this Day— The Genl Court had previously agreed to meet and render publick Thanks to the supreme Disposer of all Events, not only for the Blessing of Independance but for the Cessation of Hostilities & the Advantageous Peace held out in the Prelimy Articles and a definitive Treaty of which we have Reason shortly to expect—. Dr. Cooper our present Chaplain was requested to lead in the Devotions of the Day, We repaired to his Church preceded by the Artillery Company of this Town with a Band of Musick the Genl Court followed in procession to the Church where seats were assigned the Members— The Meeting was opened by a Short Address from the Doctor., a Psalm was sung after which he made an Excellent Prayer An Anthem closed the Solemnity—after which1 an Oration was delivered by Dr. Warren on the Principles of our Revolution and of Commonwealths the of Republics—shewing that Virtue is the actuating Spirit—that must move & animate the whole and without wch.
85Republics must fall— After the Performancs were ended The Genl Court were escorted by the Artillery Co. to the Senate Chamber, where a Cold Collation was provided, where the Citizen & the Legislator mixed, regaled themselves Drank their Toasts and so Retired— The Senate returned to their Deliberations at 4°C PM— And the Day ended with Peace & Joy2
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency John Adams / Minister for the / United States of America.”
An asterisk at this point directs the reader to the following note at the bottom of the page: “This oration would have done Honour to any of the greatest orators of Antiquity.” For the oration by Dr. John Warren, younger brother of Dr. Joseph Warren who had died at Bunker Hill, see An Oration, Delivered July 4th, 1783, at the Request of the Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, Boston, 1783, Evans, No. 18292.
Tufts’ account of the festivities on 4 July is similar to those published in the Boston newspapers, but included less detail. The Independent Chronicle of 10 July, for example, indicated that upon the General Court’s return to the senate chamber thirteen toasts were offered, the sixth of which was to “the American Ministers at the Courts of Europe,” while the seventh expressed the hope that it would be “a long and happy peace.”