Papers of John Adams, volume 16

Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 13 May 1784 Barclay, Thomas Adams, John

From Thomas Barclay

Dear Sir Paris 13th. May 1784—

I am favor’d, with your letter of the 4th. and thank you for the Trouble you took with the letters for Amsterdam— I am about half Converted to your opinion on the subject of the Vouchers, and will try to get them by other means than your Interposition— I have made a Memorandum of the Repairs which will be Necessary at Auteuil, and will finish the affair Tomorrow. I left it unclosed untill I shou’d hear again from you; but I secured the preferance and you will Certainly have the place and may take possession as soon as you please, I Beg you will beleive me to be Ever most sincerely Your Aff.

Thos Barclay

Mr. Jay intends setting out for Calais on Saturday, and I think he will probably remain at the Hotel D’angletterre a week— Perhaps you Cou’d take that place in your way to Paris to take leave of him— I write in great haste, but Cou’d not avoid throwing out the sentiment that the advantages which our Country might reap from such an Interview are Obvious.—

214

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr / at the / Hague”; internal address: “Mr. Adams”; endorsed: “Mr Barclay / 13 May. 1784” and “recd 21. May. one o Clock.”

John Adams to the president of Congress, 14 May 1784 Adams, John President of Congress

To the President of Congress

Sir The Hague May 14. 1784

As I had the Honour to observe in a former Letter there is a Fermentation in the Courts of the two Empires and those of Bourbon, which appears in Several Particulars which may be explained hereafter.1

A Question of Etiquette, which amounts to no more, than which of two Persons Shall enter or leave a Room the first may Set all Europe in a Flame. The Prince de Gallitzin, the Russian Ambassador, at Vienna, has informed the Court that he could not, any longer, give Place to the Ambassadors of the Courts of Bourbon. The Chancellor De Kaunitz communicated this Information to the Ambassadors of France and Spain, who answered that they would not appear at Court untill they should receive the Instructions of their Masters.— So necessary it is for Governments to fix the Eyes of their Own Subjects upon Some Objects which will keep up in their own Minds a sense of their Importance. The Step of an Ambassador or the hoisting of a Flagg is enough to raise or Sink the Pride & Spirit of a mighty Nation. This affair however may be accommodated.2

The Death of the Bishop of Liege, will occasion another Contest. The Emperor will endeavour that his Brother Maximilian, Should be chosen. France will oppose this, and will set up others. This will try their Talents at Electioneering, and occasion a Heat, but not probably a War.3

With great Respect I have the Honour to be / Sir, your most obedient & humble Sert

John Adams

RC (PCC, No. 84, V, f. 324); internal address: “His Excellency Thomas Mifflin Esq / President of Congress.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 107.

Of 13 May, above.

Dmitri Mikhailovich Gallitzin had been the Russian minister plenipotentiary to Austria since 1762, but on 5 April 1784 he was raised to the rank of ambassador extraordinary ( Repertorium , 3:351). As a minister he had been outranked by the ambassadors of France and Spain. However, as an ambassador from an empire—Russia—he claimed precedence over the ambassadors of kingdoms—France and Spain. For the progress of the controversy, see the reports in the Gazette d’Amsterdam of 30 April, 14, 21, 25 May.

The Gazette d’Amsterdam of 7 May announced the death of François Charles de Velbrück, the prince-bishop of Liège, from apoplexy and noted that his passing gave rise to many conjectures and probably would be 215 the cause of much secret maneuvering. But within the month, on 28 May, the Gazette reported that a new prince-bishop, César Constantin François de Hoensbroeck, had been elected.