Papers of John Adams, volume 16
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.
I am honored with yours of the 25th: Ulto. You will perhaps have heard by other hands the heavey loss I have met with— Mrs. Ridley died the 21st. Ulto. I am highly sensible of your kind wishes— If the kind concern of Friends & the sincere Prayers of an Affectionate Husband could have averted the Event I had still been bless’d with her! Itis a Subject I must drop.— Thank God! my Son Essex is in good Health.1
What the Roman in Heaven may think of the use made of his Name & plough I know not? But certain itis that many on Earth who may not possess all the stiff Virtue of a Cincinnatus think that both his Name & plough are strangely abused. Officers, serving under an Absolute Monarch & whose elevations depend on Wars and Broils, arranging themselves under the revered Name of Cincinnatus!—preposterous Idea!; And is I think only to be equalled by the permission given to them to carry at the Same Button Hole, with the Decoration of a King the Golden trinket of a set of Individuals assuming to themselves the power of creating dinctinctions hitherto unknown to themselves or Fellow Citizens— I cannot say who was the Inventor, but that the Idea is French I have no doubt, none but 24 such could have imagined a Bit of Ribon with a Trinket at the End of it to make one Citizen contemn the other.2
I hope & believe our Officers have not weighd the tendency of this Business— Pity itis that some one of Influence had not stopd it in time—After decorating the French Officers with it by Permission of the King I fear every Chevalier will be too tenacious of the distinction to relinquish it— The only mode I know to succeed in this would be Ridicule & that of the most pointed kind both here and in America— The difficulty will be how to convey the Ridicule properly into this Country. Otherwise one might say to a Chevalier of the Royal Order. “Le Ruban que vous portez n’est pas grande chose Aujourdhui Celui d’une societé des Individus est attaché a la meme Boutonniere par parmission de Votre Roi et consequemment les Particuliers sont en Etat de confuer de distinctions aufin eclatantes & honorables que votre Saint Roi Louis. Nous avons plusieurs Ordres en Amerique— Les Francs Maçons, Les fils de St. Patrick Les fils de St. Andrew et Les fils de St. Tamminy (Roi Indien) On dit que tous ces Ordres ont intention d’envoyer un de Leur societé en France pour solicite la permission du Roi que tous les Officiers Francois sans distinction puissent porter L’Embleme de leur Ordre. Quel Bonheur pour ceux qui ont si long temps soupiré pour un Morceau de Ruban. Allors mon Ami, Courage vous ne serez pas oublié, et j’espere qu’on ne tardera pas d’y adjouter un Collet—de Chervre.— pour ceux qui ont le Manie des Rubans.[”]3
I am sorry indeed for what you tell me about Mr. Morris’s Bills— Still I hope something will be done about them for I dread the Event of their going back.—
The late Loan here for 100 Millions is quite filled & upon the same terms they might I believe have had as much more. Every thing seems quiet—& it is said the differences between Russia & the Porte are settled.— Confusion I hear prevails in England & indeed it appears they take great pains there to create disorder.
The Doctors complaint continues much the same—not very troublesome.—4 Mr Grand & Family well as are all your Friends— Mr Jay has been returned about a Fortnight—
With the Money you left I paid your Appartments. ₶744.— Letters received at sundry times ₶78.15 & the remainder I have paid to Mr Barclay whom you will please to call upon for it amounting ₶377.15—
The packet that carried out Mr. Thaxter is returned but has brought very few Letters.5 A Vessel is arrived in London left
25
Annapolis the 6th. of January. The Members of Congress excepting the President were there. As the Captain got under sail he heard the Guns fire & therefore supposes he was arrived & that a House was made up—
Remember me kindly to your Son— Mrs. Barclay & Family are well & join in best wishes— I am with Respect Dr Sir / Yr. mo Obedt Servt
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excy: J. Adams.”; endorsed: “Mr Ridley Feb. 10 / 1784.”
In his letter of 25 Jan., JA wrote, “I still hope, Mrs Ridley will recover,” and closed with a request to be remembered to “Mrs Ridley and the Children.” Adding to Ridley’s grief was the death on 8 Jan. of his four-month-old son, Lucius Lloyd. Ann Richardson Ridley had been ill since giving birth to Lucius in Sept. 1783 (vol. 15:206, 468–469).
For Ridley’s earlier comments about the Society of the Cincinnati and its activities in France, see his letter of 27 Dec., vol. 15:436–438. The society’s French branch held its first meeting at Paris on 7 Jan. 1784. JA had been equally critical of the society in his reply of 25 Jan., but see also the 8 March letter from the Marquis de Lafayette and JA’s reply of the 28th, both below.
The ribbon you wear is no great thing these days. That from a society of individuals is fixed to the same buttonhole with the permission of your king, and consequently private individuals are able to confer distinctions as dazzling and as honorable as your holy King Louis. We have several orders in America: the Freemasons, the Sons of St. Patrick, the Sons of St. Andrew, and the Sons of St. Tammany (Indian king). They say that each of these orders intends to send one of its members to France to ask the king for permission to have all French officers regardless of their rank be able to wear its emblem. What happiness for those who have sighed for so long to have a bit of ribbon! So, my friend, courage. You will not be forgotten, and I hope they will not be long in adding a collar of chevrons for those with a mania for ribbons.
In his 27 Jan. letter, JA had inquired about Benjamin Franklin’s “Complaint of the Stone, Gravel &c” (vol. 15:469).
The Courier de l’Europe (vol. 15:306).