Papers of John Adams, volume 16
I had Scarcely finished my Dispatches, to go by Mr Thaxter with the definitive Treaty, when I was taken down with a Fever at Paris, and reduced so low as to be totally unable to attend to any Business for a long time. When I grew so much better, as to be able to ride, I was advised to go to England.— As I had nothing to do at Paris, and an Attempt to reside in Holland, would probably have thrown me into a relapse, I took the Advice and after a few Weeks of gentle Exercise and relaxation of Care, with a Change of Air and of Diet I found myself so much better as to venture over, to Holland tho in a very rigorous season to see if I could do any thing to Save the
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publick Credit. I have done my Utmost, to no Purpose. Mr Vanberckel & Mr Vischer, who are very well disposd to serve Us have frankly told me, that there was no hope of obtaining the least assistance from the Regency. I went to Amsterdam and Spent Eight or ten days there, but could do nothing. The Bills of Exchange must, for any Thing I see, go back And the Credit of the United States will never revive, untill they shall have established a certain Revenue for the Payment of Interest.
A long Course of Journeys and Voyages, a Variety of Climates and continual Application of Mind, have So wrecked my Constitution, which was never very firm, and produced these repeated Attacks of the Fever, that It is high time for me, to take a little repose, and as Mr Jay will be with Dr Franklin, at Paris, it will be unnecessary for me to go thither, to execute the last Instructions of Congress, and I shall accordingly remain here, untill further orders.
Peace is made between Russia and the Porte, and the definitive Treaty between England and Holland, is expected to be soon signed. May the World continue at Peace.— But if it should not, I hope We shall have Wisdom enough to keep ourselves out of any Broil. as I am quite in Sentiment with the Baron de Nolken, the Swedish Ambassador at st James’s, who did me the Honour to visit me, although I had not visited him.— “sir Says he I take it for granted that you will have Sense enough, to see Us in Europe cut each others Throats with a philosophical Tranquility?”
This Minister requested Governer Pownal to introduce him to me. He did So. The Ambassador told me, he had been twenty Years, at that Court, and had seen the Rise, Progress and End of the dispute with America. That he had lived much with the British Ministers, and had often ventured to give them his Sentiments.— that he had constantly fortold the Issue, but Says he “Altho I was upon good Terms with them they had no Confidence in me. and in this they were right for no Court ought ever to have Confidence in a foreign Minister.”— I mention this, because it is a Maxim, with all old Nations, and I think it high time it should become the Maxim of our young one.2
Governer Pownal, told me, that he meditated a Voyage to America, but was afraid of Jealousies and suspicions, and asked if I thought he might be well recd..— I told him I did not doubt he would be received, respectfully in every Part, of America. That he had been always considered, as far as I know as friendly to America, and that his Writings had been usefull to our Cause.3
With great Respect I have the Honour to be sir / Your most obedient and most humble / Servant
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Thomas Mifflin Esq / President of Congress.”; APM Reel 107.
This letter is not in the PCC nor is its arrival indicated in Congress’ dispatch books (PCC, No. 185, III). This indicates that JA may not have sent it, perhaps because of the very pessimistic view of American credit that he offers in the first paragraph. Indeed it seems at variance with his comments on the loan in his 5 Feb. letter to the consortium, above.
Gustaf Adam, Baron von Nolcken, had been the Swedish envoy to Great Britain since 1764 and would serve until 1793 (
Repertorium
, 3:409). As JA indicates in the letter, Nolcken was introduced to him by Thomas Pownall, for which see vol. 15:382. JA put considerable store in Nolcken’s comments, employing the phrase “philosophical Tranquility” in his 10 Feb. 1784 letter to Edmund Jenings, below, and referring to the Swede’s advice regarding the confidence that governments should place in foreign ministers in his 20 April letter to James Sullivan, below. JA’s purpose in referring to Nolcken’s comments, particularly the second, in this letter likely was to combat, in his mind at least, the baneful influence on Congress of the Chevalier de La Luzerne, the French minister at Philadelphia.
JA and JQA visited Pownall, former governor of Massachusetts, at his home in Richmond outside London on 29 Nov. 1783 (vol. 15:381–382). Pownall never returned to America.
Two Days to Harwich, 2 or 3 days there, 3 or 4 at Sea, and 5 or 6. more walking, riding in Boors Waggons and pulling and Hawling in Iceboats, brought me to the Hague, better off too, than to have gone by Calais, Antwerp and Breda. Here I shall stay till further orders.
A gentle Fermentation continues here, but the Republicans gain more than the Patriots do in England. You’l not forget me in my Solitude I hope, but tell me the News and Speculate as you used to do.
The News of the Ratification of the definitive Treaty, will reach you Sooner than me. I’l thank you for the first Intimation of it.1
Peace is made in the North, and now Nations have nothing to do but to dispute at home.2 Let them enjoy their Amusement. it is not to my Taste: So I wont take any Part, but enjoy a philosophical Tranquilty.3 Absit Invidia Verbis.4
I believe it is no longer problematical, whether there is more discord in England or America. I Suppose all Thoughts of any Treaty of Commerce are laid aside. So be it, if both Parties are agreed in the sentiment that it is unnecessary. Time however I am apprehensive, 23 will convince both, when it is too late, that they have been mistaken. America, however Stands upon high Ground, much higher than she herself Seems aware of. Who pray will choose to molest her? and what will any Power get by disturbing her repose.
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr Jennings.”; APM Reel 107.
Congress approved the definitive treaty on 14 Jan. and dispatched the ratified copy to Europe in the care of Col. Josiah Harmar. Jenings wrote JA on 6 April that news of Congress’ ratification had reached London, but JA first learned of Harmar’s arrival with the ratified treaty from Benjamin Franklin’s letter of 31 March, both below. Britain ratified the treaty on 9 April, and the ratifications were exchanged by Franklin and John Jay with their British counterpart, David Hartley, on 12 May (Miller, Treaties
, 2:151).
The dispute between Russia, supported by Austria, and the Ottoman Empire over the Crimea and, more generally, the Austro-Russian desire to expand eastward threatened to embroil Europe in war and posed serious problems for the traditional alliance system. JA presumably had seen reports, such as those in the Gazette d’Amsterdam of 6 Feb., that the Ottoman Empire had agreed to cede the Crimea and the Kuban, an adjacent area in the Caucasus. The agreement was formalized in the Treaty of Constantinople signed by the Russians and Ottomans in early 1784 (vol. 15:80, 198–199;
Cambridge Modern Hist.
, 8:311).
For the likely origin of this phrase, see JA’s 10 Feb. letter to the president of Congress, and note 2, above.
That is, without expressing any criticism or ill will.