Papers of John Adams, volume 17
J’espere, qúe ma lettre, qúe j’ai eú l’honneúr de Voús ecrire mardi passé, voús Sera bien parvenúe.2 Voús ÿ aures Vú, Monsieúr, qu’en consequence des eclaircissements, qúe Monsieúr Dú Mas m’a donné, des raisons, qúi Voús ont empesché de remettre Votre Lettre de Rappel, avant qúe de remettre Votre Lettre de Creance aú Roi d’Angleterre, leúrs Haútes Púissances Se trouvoient Satisfaites, et qu’il ne Seroit plús question de cette affaire. Je Viens de recevoir ce matin úne nouvelle Lettre, dont Voús m’avés honoré avec ún Memoire addressé aúx Etats generaúx, dont je pourrois faire úsage en cas de besoin. Comme je regarde cette affaire finie, sans qu’il en reste la moindre trace dans nos Registres, je Súis convenú avec Monsieúr le Conseiller Pensionaire, de ne montrer ce Memoire a personne.3 Il estoit natúrel, qúe d’abord on fit quelqúe reflexion, súr Votre reception en Angleterre, avant qúe de remettre ici úne lettre de Rappel, mais comme on a bien Voúlú deferer a mon avis, et a mes assurances, qu’il n’ÿ a pas eú la moindre manqúe de Votre part, il faút considerer tout ceci, comme n’etant pas arrivé. J’ose en meme temps Voús assúrer des egards et de la Consideration, qúe leúrs Hautes Puissances ont poúr les Etats Unis de l’Ameriqúe, et de l’estime particúliere, avec laquelle j’ai l’honneur d’etre / Monsieúr / Votre tres humble et / tres obeissant Serviteúr
I hope that the letter which I had the honor to write to you last Tuesday has reached you.2 You will see in it, sir, that due to the clarifications which Mr. Dumas has given me pertaining to the reasons that prevented you from presenting your letter of recall before presenting your letter of credence to the king of Great Britain, Their High Mightinesses were satisfied and that there are no further questions regarding the affair. I have just received a new letter this morning in which you have honored me with a memorial addressed to the States General, of which I can make use if the need arises. As I consider this affair concluded, without having left the least trace in our register, I have agreed with the grand pensionary to show this memorial to no one.3 It was natural that some observations were made initially upon your reception in England before having presented a letter of recall here, but as my opinion and assurances were considered worthy of deferring to, namely that there was not the least default on your part, all 192of this is to be considered as having never happened. Let me be bold enough to assure you of the high regard and consideration in which Their High Mightinesses hold the United States of America, and of the special esteem with which I have the honor to be, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers).
This letter was enclosed with C. W. F. Dumas’ letter of 17 June, above.
Of 14 June, above.
Pieter van Bleiswyck, Grand Pensionary of Holland.
La lettre dont Vous m’avés honoré, Monsieur, en date du 11. du mois dernier ne m’a été rendue que le 24. Je ne puis que Vous remercier de tout ce que Vous daignes me dire d’obligeant a l’égard des nouvelles liaisons, qui vont étre etablies entre Vôtre Patrie, et la mienne. C’est le 4. du mois courant que j’ai recû de la part de Messieurs Francklin et Jefferson le Traité méme dont j’ai transmis une Traduction Francaise au Roi par le Courier d’aujourdhui. Comme sa teneur correspond parfaitement a ce qu’il me paroit a mes Instructions, j’envisage actuellement la Negociation confiée a nos soins Communs, comme terminée, et il s’agit uniquement de fixer la durée préalable du Traité, que j’ai proposée a Sa Majesté, d’aprés les Ouvertures de Messieurs Vos Collègues.1 Quant a l’échange du Traité transcrit dans la forme usitée, et révétû de nos signatures, elle pourra se faire si Vous le trouvés bon, Monsieur, par Monsieur Dumas Chargé d’Affaires des Etats Unis d’Amérique auprès des Etats Généraux. Il me semble que cette voie est la plûs courte, et que Vous envisagerés peutétre comme la plûs convenable.2 C’est avec beaucoup de regret que je Vous ai vu traverser le detroit de Calais, pour Vous rendre a Vôtre nouveau poste, sans songer a Vos anciens amis en Hollande. Je Vous supplie de me compter au nombre de ces derniers, d’étre persuadé que j’apprecierai tousjours infiniment Vôtre Amitié, et que je ne cesserai jamais d’étre avec la plus haute Consideration / Monsieur, / Vôtre trés humble et trés obéissant Serviteur
The letter with which you honored me, sir, on the 11th of this past month was only given to me on the 24th. I can but thank you for the 193obliging words you deem worthy to write regarding the new liaisons that will be established between your country and mine. It was on the 4th of the current month that I received the treaty itself from Mr. Franklin and Mr. Jefferson, of which I transmitted a French translation to the king by today’s post. As its tenor corresponds, to my mind, perfectly to my instructions, I anticipate that the negotiation confided to our common care is complete, and it remains at present simply to fix the preliminary duration of the treaty, which I proposed to His Majesty following the propositions of your esteemed colleagues.1 As for the exchange of the treaty transcribed into the proper form and bearing our signatures, it may be taken care of, if you see fit, sir, by Mr. Dumas, chargé d’affaires of the United States of America to the States General. It seems to me that this path is the shortest, and that you will perhaps consider it as the most suitable.2 It is with much regret that I saw you cross the straits of Calais to make your way to your new position without thinking of your old friends in Holland. I pray you to count me among the number of the latter, and to be persuaded that I shall always infinitely appreciate your friendship, and that I will never cease to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Monsieur Adams, Ministre Plenipoten- / tiaire des Etats Unis d’Amérique a la Cour de / S. M. Britannique”; endorsed: “De Thulemeyer / June 17. 1785.”
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson wrote to Thulemeier enclosing a copy of the Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce “as we understand it to be settled.” They also proposed that the term of the treaty, established in Art. 27, the final article, be ten years. The Prussians accepted the proposal and it appears in the final treaty (Jefferson, Papers
, 8:165; Miller, Treaties
, 2:182).
JA replied to this letter on 16 July (LbC, APM Reel 111). There he indicated that he was glad that the treaty was settled, awaited a copy for his signature, and approved of Thulemeier’s suggestion that C. W. F. Dumas be the means by which copies of the treaty were exchanged at The Hague.