Papers of John Adams, volume 16

Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 2 June 1784 Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Adams, John

From the Marquis de Lafayette

Dear Sir Paris June the 2d 1784

Altho’ I Have not Been Honoured with an Answer to My last letter,1 I will not lose time in Acquainting You that My departure from l’orient is fixed on the 22d insant— Any letter from You that Reaches 227 Paris Before the 17th will Be Carefully forwarded By me, and in Case You Had Any to send Clear of post offices, their Being put into My Hands will insure their Being Safely delivered to the persons to whom they are directed

We Have letters from America as late as the 20th April— Nothing Had Been as Yet Settled By Congress Respecting their political Arrangements—Unless Some passenger is on the Road with More particular dispatches than those which Have Been Received By post— But I Rather think Nothing Had Been done in that Respect

With an affectionate Regard I Have the Honour / to Be / Dear Sir / Your obedient Humble / Servant

Lafayette

As I intend landing in Newyork, your letters to your family will not Have a long way to go—

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams esq. The Hague”; endorsed: “Recd & ansd 11. June. / 1784”; docketed: “La Fayette.”

Lafayette’s last letter was of 9 April, above, but see JA’s reply of 11 June, below.

John Adams to the president of Congress, 7 June 1784 Adams, John President of Congress

To the President of Congress

Sir The Hague June 7. 1784

Some Weeks ago the Baron de Thulemeier called upon me and delivered me the Paper, copy of which is inclosed marked 1. It is a Letter written by the Envoy to the King.

Last Evening the Baron called upon me again and delivered me the Answer of the King contained in the Paper Copy of which is inclosed, marked 21

I have heretofore transmitted to Congress, by different opportunities, Copies of the Project of a Treaty, and the Papers herein transmitted, compleat the Negotiation, and the Treaty is ready for Signature, unless Congress have other Alterations to propose.

As his Majesty Seems to choose that this Business Should be conducted, by his Envoy here, who is also desirous of finishing it, perhaps Congress may not judge it too much Complaisance, in framing their Commission, to give Authority to any one, to conclude this Treaty, in case they Should name more than one, as it would be impossible for Mr Thulemeier to go to Paris. It is not every Ambassador, however high his Rank or numerous his Titles, or magnificent his Appointments, who arrives at the Honour of concluding any 228 Treaty. It is a Distinction, which is made an Object of Ambition and is much desired So that the Barons inclination I Suppose will not be thought inexcuseable.

I Should hope that Congress might dispatch their Instructions and Authority, to Some one or more, to conclude this Affair, with as little Delay as possible

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

John Adams

RC and enclosures (PCC, No. 84, V, f. 328–338); internal address: “His Excellency Thomas Mifflin Esqr / President of Congress.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 107.

For the enclosures, see Proposed Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, [9 April – post 5 May], Nos. I and II, above. In the LbC JA included the text of the enclosures in the body of the letter following the paragraph in which each was mentioned.