Papers of John Adams, volume 16
t:1784
I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a Copy of the Communication made by my Grandfather to the Count de Mercy of that Part of the Instructions of Congress relative to his Imperial Majesty, & also that Ministers answer.1
We are daily in expectation of the Arrival of Mr. Jefferson who was to have sailed from N. York the beginning of last Month. Tho’ several Vessels have arrived lately from America, in the last of which came Passengers, the Chevr de la Luzerne, & Dr Bancroft, we have not received a single Line from Congress. Your Exy is I believe much in the same Situation:— It at least proves the Confidence they have in their Ministers. Mr Hartley is still without Instructions from his Court, tho’ remaining here at 5£ stg: a Day. From what I can learn I hardly think the present Ministry will make him an Instruement in the Business.
A Mr. Crawford is soon expected hither to form a Treaty of Commerce with this Nation, tho’ their Ambassador still continues.2
With great Respect & Esteem, / I have the honor to be, / Dear Sir, / Your Excellency’s, / most obedt & most / humble Servant
PS. I hold in readiness for your Exy. Arrival here, a Copy of the late Negotiations.
RC and enclosures (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Exy. J. Adams Esqr.”; endorsed: “W. T. Franklin / 1. Aug. 1784.”
Benjamin Franklin informed the Austrian ambassador, Comte Mercy d’Argenteau, on 30 July of the first of Congress’ 29 Oct. 1783 instructions to the commissioners (vol. 15:329, 331). He wrote that it was his purpose “to communicate to your Excellency an extract from the instructions of Congress … expressing their desire to cultivate the friendship of his Imperial Majesty, and to enter into a treaty of commerce for the mutual advantage of his subjects and the citizens of the United States, which I request you will be pleased to lay before his Majesty.” The Austrian ambassador replied the same day, promising to communicate, without delay, Congress’ sentiments to his court and indicating the favorable sentiments of Joseph II toward the United States (
Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789
, 1:384–385).
In March 1784 France requested that the Pitt ministry appoint an agent to negotiate a commercial treaty with France
288
pursuant to Art. 18 of the 3 Sept. 1783 Anglo-French Definitive Peace Treaty. George Craufurd was chosen likely because he opposed liberal trade concessions to France, with the result that the negotiations went nowhere. In 1785, after William Pitt became more enthusiastic about a French treaty, Craufurd was replaced by William Eden, who by Sept. 1786 had negotiated the desired agreement (Reginald Earl Rabb, The Role of William Eden, First Baron Auckland, in William Pitt’s Liberal Trade Policy, N.Y., 1942, p. 37–39;
DNB
).
van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
I have accepted two Bills drawn by my Wife to be paid at the House of Messrs Willinks and Shall accept two more to be paid by Messrs Fullers in London.1 Please to charge these and all the Monies I Shall draw in London at the Same House to the United States as part of my Salary
Tomorrow I go to London, and thence directly to Paris with my Family, to meet Mr Jefferson who is joined with Mr Franklin and me in some publick Business.2 Mr Brush [. . . .]3 your Houses, a large [. . . .]4 one. The large one, has nothing in it but Papers, but it is full, and they are of So much Importance to the United States that I thought it Safest to send them to your Custody. I beg you to keep them as a Sacred Deposit, untill further Advice from me. The small one contains a Small quantity of Plate, which I pray you to keep likewise. I should be glad you would write me that you have received them.5
Mr Dumas will draw upon you for about 450 Guilders, a little more, or a little less, to pay a Couple of Debts I owe here. please to charge it to the United States, as part of my Salary.
I wish you and your Families all sorts of Prosperity, untill my Return, and after being, Gentlemen your [. . . .]6
FC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs Wilhem & Jan Willink / Nicholas & Jacob Van Staphorst / and De La Lande & Fynj̈e.” Some loss of text where the signature was cut away.
For the bills obtained by AA in the United States to finance her trip to England, which she mentions in her letter of 23 July, see
AFC
, 5:398, 399. For monies paid to AA upon her arrival in London by the firm of Richard & Charles Puller, which were charged to JA’s account in Amsterdam, see the 5 Aug. letter from Wilhem & Jan Willink (Adams Papers), and the consortium’s letter of 10 Aug., below.
JA wrote to AA and JQA on 1 Aug., announcing his decision to meet them in London. To AA he indicated that his decision was owing to Thomas Jefferson’s arrival in Europe, which made it imperative that he
289
join his colleagues at Paris. He instructed JQA to purchase a coach and make all preparations to leave London in a week. JA set off on the 4th and after a “tedious” two-day voyage from Hellevoetsluis was forced to land at Lowestoft, England, and from there go to London, where he arrived on 7 August. The next day he and his family left London, reaching the Hôtel de York at Paris on 13 Aug., and moving into their new home at Auteuil on the 17th (
AFC
, 5:416; JA, D&A
, 3:170–171). See also JA’s 25 Aug. letter to C. W. F. Dumas, below. For the trip from London to Paris and the move to Auteuil, see also JQA, Diary
, 1:207–209.
Four or five words missing.
Four or five words missing.
See the consortium’s reply of 10 Aug., and for the “Plate,” see Christian Lotter’s inventory of [3 Aug.], both below.
Four or five words and JA’s signature missing.