Papers of John Adams, volume 18
An Agent from South America, was not long Since arrested, at Rouen in France, and has not Since been heard of.— another Agent, who was his Associate, as I have been told is here, and has applied to Government, for Aid. Government, not in a condition to go to War with Spain declines having any Thing to do with the Business. but if Application Should be made to rich Individuals, and profitable Prices offered, for twenty or thirty Thousand Stands of Arms, a Number of Field Pieces, a few battering Cannon, Some Mortars, a good deal of Ammunition Cloathing &c. do you think that in this Capital of Mammon they might not be obtained?— I might mention Names and Facts, which have been communicated to me. but my Information is not official, nor authentic enough for this. It is Sufficient to Say that an Office, like that once undertaken by Mr Beaumarchais, would not probably be refused by all Men here.1
You are probably better informed, than I can pretend to be of the Disturbances which took Place in the Spanish Provinces of South America, during the late War: of the Pacification of them; and of the Complaints and Discontents which now prevail. it is a fixed
320
Opinion in many minds here, that a Revolution in South America, would be agreable to the United States, and it is depended on that We shall do nothing to prevent it, if We do not exert ourselves to promote it. I Shall decline entering far into this Speculation, which is out of my depth.— but I must venture to Say, that Portugal is bound by a Treaty of 1778 to assist Spain in Such a Case. France must assist her, from the Family Compact, and for a Still more weighty Reason, vizt to prevent England from getting too rich & powerfull by it. and Holland is now bound by Treaty to France & perhaps to Spain.— We Should be very cautious, what We do. for England will certainly reap the greatest Advantage, as she will Supply with her Manufactures, all South America, which will give her a Sudden Wealth and Power, that will be very dangerous to Us.
That British Ambassadors will very soon endeavour, to excite the two Empires, & Denmark, to an Alliance, for the Purpose of Setting the Spanish and Portuguese Colonies free, is very probable. as an Inducement they may agree to assist in opening the Danube and the Navigation by the Dardanells. The Object of the next War, I think will be the Liberty of Commerce in South America, & the East Indies. We Shall be puzzled to keep out of it. but I think We ought if We can. England would gain the most, by Such a Turn in Affairs, by the Advantages she has over other nations in the improvements of her Manufactures Commerce and Marine, and England unfortunately We cannot trust.
Such Speculations as these are not new. a Pamphlet was written in 1783, under the Title of La Crise de L’Europe, by a learned British Knight, and circulated upon the Continent. as I cannot Send you the whole you may possess yourself of the Spirit of it, by a few Extracts.2
Such are the Secret Thoughts of many in this Country but not a Word or hint Escapes in Conversation. They are Sent to you, because, they afford a Clue, for the whole political Conduct of G. Britain in future. and for the present too, for it is impossible Otherwise to account for the Inattention of this Country to the Commerce and Friendship of the United states of America. They are keeping up their Navy, and Sacrificing every Thing to Seamen, in Order to be able to Strike a sudden and Awful Blow to the House of Bourbon, by setting south America free, and they rely upon it the United states will not oppose them.
With great and Sincere Esteem, I have the Honour to [be] / Sir your most obedient and most / humble servant
RC (PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 193–204); internal address: “His Excellency John Jay. / Secretary of State for / foreign Affairs.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 112. Some loss of text due to a tight binding.
The information provided by JA in this paragraph is essentially the same as that in WSS’s 10 May letter to Jay (
Dipl. Corr., 1783–1789
, 3:27–29). There WSS wrote that William Pitt rejected any official aid from the British government because of the treaties guaranteeing Spain’s American colonies. However, negotiations led by George Nugent-Temple Grenville, 3d Earl Temple and 1st Marquis of Buckingham, to provide clandestine aid through a private individual, much as the French had done for the Americans through Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, were under way. On 14 June WSS informed Jay that Buckingham’s effort had proceeded no further (same, 3:30–31).
From this point, at the bottom of page 3 of this letter through the middle of page 11, JA included a series of lengthy extracts from Sir John Sinclair’s anonymously published La crise de l’Europe, ou pensées sur le système que les différentes puissances de l’Europe et, en particulier, la neutralité armée devroient suivre dans la conjoncture présente, [London?, 1783], p. 19–24, 25–27, 28–29, 29–30, 31–33, 34, 35, 39–42, 43, 44, 46–47. For John Pintard’s English translation of the French passages, see PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 205–210.
Sinclair (1754–1835) was an M.P. for Lostwithiel, Cornwall, a sometime supporter of Pitt, a prolific writer, and a founder of the short-lived “armed neutrality” party. It was presumably from the last that the pamphlet arose (
DNB
). JA and Thomas Jefferson dined with Sinclair on 18 April and may have discussed Spain’s American colonies, for on [24 April] Sinclair wrote to Jefferson enclosing several copies of a pamphlet “the first that ever was published asserting the propriety of a general colonial emancipation.” Presumably Jefferson gave one of the copies to JA (JA, D&A
, 3:188; Jefferson, Papers
, 9:405–406).
The portions of the pamphlet extracted by JA make it clear that Sinclair’s purpose was to contain “l’ambition des Bourbons,” that is, France and Spain. He wanted to open the resources monopolized by them in the Americas to the world and thus advance the cause of humanity. To accomplish this, he proposed reestablishing the 1780 League of Armed Neutrality—then composed of Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Prussia, and Portugal—and to add to it Great Britain (vol. 10:index). The British and Dutch fleets would be combined and take the French and Spanish possessions, distributing them to the members of the new armed neutrality: Cuba would be given to Russia, Martinique to Denmark, Guadeloupe to Sweden, Puerto Rico to Prussia, Spanish Hispaniola to the Netherlands, French Hispaniola to Austria, and the remaining islands would be awarded to Britain.
Il faut donc vous Ecrire Clairement et Sans Enigmes. on m’avoit dit que Mademoiselle Adams alloit Se marier, mais que cela n’etoit pas assez avancé pour que Je pusse Vous En faire mon Compliment.1 dans ces cas là, parmi les peuples civilisés on Se garde bien de parler Clairement; mais on dit quelque Chose d’entortillé qui Se devine toujours et on Se trouve avoir fait Son compliment avec Grace. Puisque l’on n’en Sait pas tant en amerique, Je vous dirai donc brutalement que Je Souhoute infiniment que la nouvelle Soit vraie, Et que Mademoiselle Adams soit heureuse, parce que Je m’interesse infiniment a elle. Je Vous prie de l’en avertir, En l’assurant en meme tems de mon respect, ainsy que Madame Adams 322 a la Satisfaction de qui Je prends beaucoup de part. quant a vous my dear Sir, Il faut vous habituer aux enigmes; Je vous laisse a deviner ce que Je pense par rapport a vous.
Il Semble que vous ne fassiez que Sortir De vos forets du nouveau monde: vous ignorez donc que dans notre Charmante ville de Paris un homme raisonnable passe Son tems du matin au soir a ne rien faire. qu’a peine peut Il en trouver assez pour Ecrire quelques miserables lettres; Il fait des Visites, Il dîne, Il Soupe ou voit souper Et court toute la Journée.
Sans plaisanterie. c’est une dissipation Et une oisivetè d’Esprit qui est insupportable mais a laquelle on ne peut Se Soustraire parce que lon ne peut faire la moindre Affaire autrement. Je pars dans le mois prochain pour la Bretagne ou Je respirerai un peu. Je n’ay point oublié Ce que Je vous ai promis; mais tout ce que J’ay pu faire a Etè de rassembler des materiaux. Je ne Scay pas trop ce que Je pourrai faire car J’y crains un Procez, dans cette Bretagne, ou mon Hobby Horse n’a Jamais eté de me trouver, comme le votre Est de vous trouver a Penn’s Hill. Je Serois bien faché de penser que Je ne puis Esperer le plaisir de vous voir avant que vous y retourniez Je n’y irai Jamais a ce Penn’s Hill. my time is bien plus past que le votre. Si Jetois plus Jeune, J’aurois un grand plaisir a faire ce voyage Et Je donnerois Au Public mon itineraire Comme le Chevalier de Chatelux.2
on dit votre traité de Commerce presque fini avec langleterre. on dit que le notre S’avance. tout cela promet une paix et une Concorde universelle pendt. que d’un autre coté la Guerre du turc menace d’un Embrasement general.
Adieu, My dear friend, l’ouvrage que vous m’avez Entendu Comparer aux lettres de Stewart to Mansfield Sont celles de Junicus dont l’auteur Est inconnu Et que Votre libraire vous fera trouver facilement.3 yours forever
mes complimens au comte de Linden quand vous le Verrez.4 Il m’avoit promis des Corrections qu’il ne m’envoie pas. mon adresse toujours a Paris
Le cardinal dechargé d’Accusation puremt et Simplemt5
Me Le Motte fouettée la corde au col, marquée Sur les deux epaules, enfermée pour la vie
Villette Banni a perpetuité
323Cagliestro dechargé d’Accusation
Mle Oliva hors de cour
Le Memoire de Me De la Motte supprimé comme Injurieux et calomnieux
la piece du faux (le marché avec les Jouailliers) supprimée comme frauduleuse, apposée et faussement attribuée a la Reine
Voilà de quoy vous faire honneur dans le Corps diplomatique.
It seems one needs to write to you clearly and without riddles. I had been told that Miss Adams was getting married, but that the affair was not settled enough so that I could congratulate you on it.1 In such a situation, among civilized peoples one makes sure to refrain from speaking openly; one says instead something convoluted, that is always understood, and one is considered to have gracefully extended one’s compliments. Since such is not the case in America, I will tell you then roughly that I very much hope that the news is true and that Miss Adams is happy, because I am exceedingly concerned for her. I pray you tell her as much, assuring her at the same time of my respect, and Mrs. Adams in whose satisfaction I also have an interest. As for you, my dear sir, you must accustom yourself to riddles; I shall let you guess what I think in regard to you.
It seems as though you are only now emerging from your forests of the New World, so you fail to realize that in our charming city of Paris a reasonable man whiles away his hours from morning till evening doing nothing, to such a point that he cannot find the time to write a few miserable letters. He pays visits, he dines, he sups or watches suppers and runs around all day.
No joke. It is an insufferable dissipation and idleness of mind from which one cannot escape because without it one cannot even accomplish the most trivial task. I am leaving for Brittany next month where I shall breathe a little. I did not forget what I promised you; but all I was able to do was to gather some materials. I do not really know what I will be able to do because I fear a lawsuit here in Brittany, where my hobby horse was never able to find me like yours is able to find you at Penn’s Hill. I should be rather upset to think that I cannot expect the pleasure of seeing you before you return there, and I shall never go to this Penn’s Hill. My time has passed rather more than yours. If I were younger I would take great pleasure in undertaking the voyage and would publish my itinerary for the public, like the Chevalier de Chastellux.2
It is said that your commercial treaty with England is nearly concluded. It is also said that ours is making headway. All of this promises a universal peace and concord while on the other hand the Barbary war threatens a general conflagration.
324Adieu, my dear friend. The work you heard me compare to the letters of Stuart to Mansfield are the letters of Junius, the author of which is unknown, and which your librarian will easily help you find.3 yours forever.
My regards to the Baron Lynden when you see him.4 He had promised me some corrections that he still has not sent me. My address is still in Paris.
The cardinal is plainly and simply acquitted on all counts.5
Mrs. La Motte whipped with the rope around her neck, branded on both shoulders, imprisoned for life.
Villette banished in perpetuity.
Cagliostro acquitted of all charges.
Miss Oliva expelled from the court.
Miss La Motte’s report, considered injurious and slanderous, suppressed.
The forgery (the players’ contract) suppressed as fraudulent, apposed, and falsely attributed to the queen.
Here is enough material to bring you honor in the diplomatic corps.
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To / His Excellency John Adams Esq: / Minister Plenipotentiary of the / United States of America / London”; endorsed: “Le Cte Sarsefield / 29. May. 1786.”
Sarsfield may be referring to the final paragraph of his 13 May letter (Adams Papers) wherein he wrote that there might be “quelque compliment a vous faire” (some congratulations to offer you) but did not indicate the reason. His comment regarding the need to write clearly implies that JA had replied to the 13 May letter, but if so, it has not been found. For the wedding of AA2 and WSS, see JA’s second 14 June letter to Rufus King, and note 1, below.
In his 13 May letter, Sarsfield also commented on Congress’ need to recognize more adequately C. W. F. Dumas’ service to the United States, and he indicated that he was lending Philip Mazzei his copy of Thomas Hutchinson’s History of the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, but see also
JA’s 20 May letter to Mazzei, above.
A reference to the Chevalier de Chastellux’s Voyages de M. le Marquis de Chastellux dans l’Amérique septentrionale, dans les années 1780, 1781 et 1782, 2 vols., Paris, 1786.
See Sarsfield’s 6 March letter, and note 2, above.
That is, the Baron Lynden van Blitterswyck, Dutch minister to Great Britain.
Sarsfield recounts the final resolution of the Diamond Necklace Affair, for which see vol. 17:341. Thomas Jefferson provided much the same information in his 4 June letter to WSS (Jefferson, Papers
, 9:605–606). The cast of characters listed by Sarsfield includes Louis René Edouard, Cardinal de Rohan; his mistress, Jeanne de La Motte; the forger Armand Gabriel Rétaux de Villette; the charlatan Joseph Balsamo Cagliostro, and Marie Nicole Le Guay or “Baronne d’Oliva,” the impersonator of Marie Antoinette (Schama, Citizens
, 203–210).