Papers of John Adams, volume 16

David Hartley’s Memorandum to the American Commissioners, 16 September 1784 Hartley, David American Commissioners

David Hartley’s Memorandum to the American Commissioners

[Passy, 16 September 1784]1

You may with great Truth assure the American Ministers of our ready and friendly disposition to receive any proposals from the United States for the forming such regulations as may tend to the mutual and reciprocal advantage of both Countries.—

That his Majesty’s governt wd at all times be ready to concur in the forming such a System as may fully answer every purpose of commercial as well as political advantage to the two Countries & fix and establish a permanent and beneficial intercourse between them

RC (PCC, No. 86, f. 21–22); endorsed by David Humphreys: “Passy Septr. 16. 1784 / Memoire from / Mr Hartley Minister / Plenipory from His B. Majesty.”

This document stemmed from a meeting between Hartley and the commissioners on 31 Aug., at which time the Americans notified the British minister of their new commission empowering them to negotiate an Anglo-American commercial treaty. Hartley responded “that he did not doubt his Court would at all times be ready to concur in forming such a system as might fully answer every purpose of commercial as well as political advantage to the two Countries, and fix & establish a permanent & benificial intercourse between them” (PCC, No. 116, f. 28). This assurance was given, however, without Hartley’s having any specific instructions to do so.

Hartley wrote to London to inform the ministry of the commissioners’ changed circumstances, and upon receiving new instructions he contacted the commissioners on 16 Sept. to request a meeting. In doing so Hartley indicated that he had been recalled to 328 London but also presented this memorandum relating extracts from his instructions that he had been authorized to share with the commissioners (same, f. 33–34). With Hartley’s return to England, any Anglo-American negotiations at Paris would be with John Frederick Sackville, the Duke of Dorset, British ambassador to France since January ( Repertorium , 3:162). This led to the commissioners’ two 28 Oct. letters to Dorset [(1), (2)], both below, in which they sought to initiate new talks and referred to Hartley’s assurances that Britain was open to renewed negotiations.

John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 18 September 1784 Adams, John Dumas, C. W. F.

To C. W. F. Dumas

Sir Auteuil near Paris Sep. 18. 1784

I have received your Favour of the 10th. as well as the two former, with their Inclosures.1 The first I Sent by Mr Tracy a Sure hand, by the Way of London, and the two Latter, I shall Send the Same Way by another private Hand, so that all three will go safe and as soon or sooner than by the Way of L’orient

The two Abbys who continue their freindly and brotherly Course of Life, very often enquire after your Welfare and desire me to present you their regards, and so do my Family to yours and Mrs Platt.2

your Dispatches look Warlike. I apprehend that our good Friends must be anxious. Bid them be of good Cheer. a War with them must become general, and therefore it is to be hoped the Emperor will not proceed to Extremities. it is the common Talk here, that France cannot See the Aggrandisment of the Emperor with Indifferance indeed both England and France have cause of Jealousy and Alarm at the Enterprise of opening the scheld and the Commerce of the Indies. I crossed from Dover to Calais, with an old Officer of a British Man of War, who Said to me, without knowing me, that he Saw by the Papers, the Dutch had agreed to open the Scheld. It is, Says he, a damned Stroke to England, for all the American Vessells will go there. He was mistaken in the Fact but judged rightly of the Consequence. indeed there is no nation more essentially interested in this than the English and therefore I conclude they will neither cooperate, aid, nor abet, the Emperor in the Design, and without their assistance in Cash, it will be difficult for him to enter into an extensive War. all this you See, goes upon the Supposition that England is not out of her Head, which is by no means certain.

With great Regard, I have the Honour / to be &c

John Adams.

RC (DLC:William Vans Murray Papers); internal address: “Mr Dumas.”; endorsed: “Auteuil près Paris 18e. 7be 1784 / Mr. J. Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 107.

329 1.

Prior to his 10 Sept. letter, above, Dumas had written to JA on 31 Aug. (for which see note 2 to JA’s letter to Dumas of the 25th, above) and 3 Sept., above.

The Abbés Arnoux and Chalut befriended JA soon after he first arrived in France in 1778 and subsequently became familiar with JQA, AA, and AA2 (JA, D&A , 2:317; 4:59).

JA unexpectedly encountered Abigail Pyncheon Platt, wife of New York and New Haven merchant Jeremiah Platt, during a visit to Amsterdam in May 1784. Writing to JQA on 28 May, JA recalled knowing her in Boston before her marriage in 1780 and remarked that in meeting her, “I thought I met one of my family” ( AFC , 5:334–335, 6:394; JQA, Diary , 1:307).