Papers of John Adams, volume 20
thJuly 1790
There are so many rumours concerning the present state of the dispute between Spain and Britain and so many individuals interested to misrepresent it that it is with much diffidence that I venture to offer you any opinion on that subject.
The british parliament the members of which are now chiefly elected will not be assembled before the middle of august.1 Till then very little that can be depended on relative to the spanish rupture will be known—unless some unforseen event shou’d precipitate hostilities.
Mr Fitzherbert the british ambassadour
is now at Madrid—negociating.2 I believe
it may be relied on that he is instructed to demand 1s.
Satisfaction for the seisure of the british ships in Nootka Sound—and for the
destruction of the factory establish’d on the coast. 2. An acknowledgment of a right in
great Britain to navigate the South Seas and carry on fisheries and commerce throughout
those seas and coasts. 3dly Payment of a million sterling
the computed cost of the present armaments here. The second of these points is that
which Spain is most loth to give up—and from which the minister of this country is
determin’d not to recede.
Both nations however are willing to negotiate—Britain because she is not ready to begin maritime hostilities with vigour till her west india merchantmen come in with seamen to mann the fleet—which at present is very thinly mann’d: Spain because tho’ ready herself—388her new ally Portugal is not—and because she is desirous to ascertain what reliance may be had on her old ally France for aid in the war.
Meanwhile both parties to this dispute must be desirous of the friendship of the United States. I hope our country without embroiling herself will obtain considerable points of both.3 The court of Lisbon have already appointed M. Friere their late resident at this court—to be minister, resident with Congress.4 And I understand from good authority that the navigation of the Missisippi is already tacitly ceded to the United States—by orders issued to the Vice Roy of Mexico. Be this so or not the present period seems a most auspicious one to gain whatever points the United States are most desirous of gaining either of Spain or Britain.
Shou’d the latter be disposed to treat—I hope the moment will not be neglected to agree upon some criterion whereby the american seamen may be properly discriminated from the british and consequently protected from the insults of their press gangs and the management that is now practiced to get them on board their ships of war. For two months past I have diligently discharged the duty which I think incumbent upon a republican citizen—in contributing to rescue our seamen from an abhorred servitude in the british fleet Altho’ I have succeeded in most instances—in some I have wholly failed. Whatever of industry or ability I possess has been on this occasion exerted and for the present this exerition is likely to continue because it is likely to be needed.
But as I have repeatedly written both to yourself and to Mr Jefferson on this subject—I shall not trouble You with a
fresh repetition of what I considered it my duty at the time zealously to represent.5
I send you a parcel of newspapers— The Editor is violently ministerial; but is reputed to possess better sources of foreign intelligence than most of his co-temporaries.6
Mrs Adams and the rest of your family
will please to accept the best compliments of / Your respectful affectionate / and most
obedt sert
RC (Adams Papers).
Originally slated to reconvene on 10 Aug., Parliament was twice
prorogued in order to accommodate George III’s call for a general election, a move
largely engineered by William Pitt. Great Britain’s surge in prosperity and talk of a
war with Spain shaped the poll results, which enlarged the ranks of Pitt’s supporters
in the House of Commons and burnished his popularity. In his 26 Nov. opening speech,
the king proclaimed an “amicable termination” of the Nootka Sound crisis, for which
see note 2, below (from Cutting, 14
June, and note 1, above; Hague, Pitt
, p. 238; London Chronicle, 3 Aug., 27 Nov.; London Diary,
13 Oct.).
For the origins of the Nootka Sound conflict, see Cutting’s letter of 3 June, and note 1,
above. The first real breakthrough in 389 negotiations came
on 24 July, when British diplomat Alleyne Fitzherbert exchanged a key set of
declarations with the Spanish foreign minister, José de Moñino y Redondo, Conde de
Floridablanca. As talks continued for the next few months, the British kept their
fleet at the ready, rebuffing Spanish proposals for mutual disarmament. The diplomatic
process was extended repeatedly, by the late promise, on 28 Aug., of French ships to
aid Spain and by the debate over the terms of the preliminary armistice. Ultimately,
in November, Spain agreed to pay reparations as stipulated by Britain, but the larger
question of upholding sovereignty without settlement remained (Black, British Foreign
Policy
, 246–256).
JA and others in the federal government grew concerned that an Anglo-Spanish war on the Pacific coast would incur foreign requests to march troops across the neutral nation, for which see George Washington’s letter of 27 Aug., and note 1, below.
Like JA and others, Cutting mistakenly anticipated
the imminent finalization of the proposed Portuguese-American Treaty of Amity and
Commerce, for which see vol. 18:256–271. Ciprião Ribeiro, Chevalier de Freire, who served as Portugal’s
minister to the United States until 1799, presented his credentials to Congress in
Oct. 1794. Cutting’s information regarding other developments, however, was less
accurate. Spain did not concede free navigation of the Mississippi River to the United
States until 1795, as part of Pinckney’s Treaty (vol. 17:19;
AFC
, 6:474; Washington, Papers, Presidential
Series
, 16:101).
Emphasizing his efforts to counter British impressment of
American seamen, Cutting wrote to JA on 31 May 1790 (Adams Papers) and 3 June, above. He provided similar reports to
Thomas Jefferson, who forwarded a selection of Cutting’s letters to Washington. To
Cutting, the secretary of state expressed thanks for “the fatiguing exertions which
your humanity and patriotism have led you to make for the relief of so many of our
countrymen.” Cutting’s work failed to secure him the U.S. consulship at London, but
Jefferson enclosed £50 as compensation (Jefferson, Papers
,
16:415; 18:330).
Cutting sent several issues of the London Diary, edited by journalist William Woodfall (1745–1803), who was known for
his highly detailed parliamentary coverage (
DNB
).
1790]
I have the honor to inform the Vice President of the United States
and to request him to inform cause an intimation to
be given to the Honoble The Members of the Senate that at one oClock to day, an oration
will be delivered at St Pauls Church in commemoration of the
declaration of Independence by a Member of the Society of the Cincannati and that seats
are provided for his and their accommodation. Peculiar circumstances prevented an
earlier communication. The Requisite number of tickets accompany this have been sent to the Secretary of the Senate.1
I have the honor to be with the / most perfect respect Sir / Your Obed Hum st
Vice President of the NY Society of the Cin:
RC (DSI:Adams-Clement Coll.); addressed: “The Vice President of the United States”; internal address: “Vice President of the United States”; endorsed: “Col. Hamilton / 5. July 1790.”
The Fourth of July fell on a Sunday in 1790, shifting national
celebrations to the next day. In New York City and across the country, Americans
marked the anniversary with military parades, cannon salutes, and public readings of
the Declaration of Independence. 390
JA evidently made use of the tickets, and Hamilton’s itinerary was
accurate. Adjourning for one afternoon, a large contingent of senators and
representatives joined JA and George Washington at the president’s house
for wine, punch, and cake. They proceeded to St. Paul’s Chapel on Wall Street, where
New York lawyer Henry Brockholst Livingston gave a “well adapted” oration that was
“received with great applause.” In Boston, the church bells rang at daybreak, and
government officials gathered at the Old South Meeting House for festivities.
Philadelphia residents set off fireworks that evening at the statehouse (Maclay, Journal
, p. 315–316; Washington, Diaries
,
6:85–86; New-York Journal, 9 July; Boston Columbian Centinel, 7 July; Pennsylvania Mercury, 8 July).