Papers of John Adams, volume 16
Soon after the Signature of the Preliminary Articles of Peace, I requested, of Congress, their Permission to return to America. This Request they did not at that time judge proper to grant, me, but on the contrary resolved that a Commission should be sent to me, Mr: Franklin & Mr: Jay, to make a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain. But as no such Commission has arrived in Europe, the Sentiments of Congress are probably changed.2
It is not my Desire to remain long in Europe, nor ever has been, and it is now my Intention, to return to America as soon as I can with Decency. It would be not so respectfull as I wish to be, either to Congress or to the States General, if I were to return without a Letter of Recall; and as Congress are said to be adjourned to October, such a Letter cannot be dispatched before that Time, so that I must either undergo another Winter Voyage, or wait here untill the Spring.
I now however renew my Request for a Letter of Recall, to their High Mightinesses, as it is my Design to return home as soon as I may decently and conveniently, and as it is my unalterable Resolution, not to remain in Europe, consuming in vain but unavoidable Ostentation, the Labour of my fellow Citizens, any longer than I can see a Probability of being of some use to them.
With great & sincere Esteem &c.
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “President of Congress.”; APM Reel 107.
This letter may not have been sent. The RC is not in the PCC, and there is no evidence that it was received or acted upon. Compare this letter with that of 5 July to the president of Congress, below, in which JA touches upon some of the same subjects but does not mention his 1782 resignation or desire to be recalled. But that letter exists only as a MS in the Adams Papers and may not have been sent either.
For JA’s resignation of his commissions to the Netherlands and to jointly negotiate the Anglo-American peace, and for Congress’ failure to act on them, see his 4 Dec. 1782 letter to Robert R. Livingston, vol. 14:112–113. And for his initial enthusiasm over Congress’ 1 May 1783 resolution establishing a joint commission to negotiate an Anglo-American commercial treaty, which determined him to remain in Europe, see his two 8 Sept. letters to the president of Congress, vol. 15:265–268.
I have received the Letter your Excelly. did me the Honour of writing to me the 29th past.
The Annunciation directed by the Instruction you mention has not yet been made; some Circumstances and Considerations, not necessary to particularize at present, occasioned the Delay here; but it may now be done immediately by your Excellency, if you think proper, to the Imperial Minister at the Hague; or I will do it to Count Mercy, by presenting him a Copy of the Instruction itself.—1
I hope the Report that Mr Jay is appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs will prove true.— Such an Officer has long been wanted, and he will make a good one. It is said here that Mr Jefferson was talk’d
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of to succeed me, of which I shall be glad on all Accounts; but I have no Letter, nor the least Hint from any one of the Congress relating to these Matters. I wrote to you a few Days since, and sent you Copy of the last Dispatch, and the only one I have received since January.— Mr Hartley who has been here more than two Months, is in a similar Situation. He has expected Instructions by every late Courier to treat with us on commercial Points; but they do not arrive. He thinks the Delay occasion’d by the Report of the Committee of Council on the Subject not having been ready to lay before Parliament. The Moment he is ready to treat, I shall acquaint your Excellency with it; for I make no doubt of its being “the Design and Expectation of Congress that we should join” in that Transaction.
Montgomery of Alicant appears to have acted very imprudently in writing to Morocco without the least Authority from Congress or any of their Ministers.— It might be well however to treat with that Prince if we were provided with the proper & necessary Presents;—in which Case this Court would assist our Negociations, agreable to their Treaty with Congress.—2
I have the honour to be, very respectfully, / Sir, / Your most obedient / & most humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr”; endorsed: “Dr Franklin / 4. July. 1784. / ansd. 19. July.”
See JA’s first letter of 30 June to the Baron von Reischach, the Austrian minister to the Netherlands, and the minister’s reply of the same date, both above. For Franklin’s 30 July representation to the Austrian ambassador, the Comte Mercy d’Argenteau, see William Temple Franklin’s 1 Aug. letter, and note 1, below.
For the unauthorized efforts of Robert Montgomery, a merchant at Alicante, Spain, to open negotiations for a Moroccan-American treaty and Congress’ ultimate decision regarding the conclusion of treaties with Morocco and the other Barbary States, see John Jay’s 11 March 1785 letter to the commissioners, and notes 1, 7, and 8, below. With regard to France, Franklin refers to Art. 8 of the 6 Feb. 1778 Franco-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce wherein it was promised that “the most Christian King will employ his good Offices and Interposition” with the Barbary States “in order to provide as fully and efficaciously as possible for the Benefit, Conveniency and Safety of the said United States” (Miller, Treaties
, 2:8–9).