Papers of John Adams, volume 21
un francois qui projete de devenir Américain, vous prie d’agréer L’homage de ses foibles productions. Les ouvrages cy joints, dont il est l’auteur, vous intéresseront, non par le maniere dont ils Sont traités, Mais par leur Sujets.1 c’est l’humanité qui en a déterminé Le choix.
Le premier est le plan d’un établissement, que La convention nationale est au moment de decreter. Le second est une notice qui avoit ete condamnée à ne jamais voir le jour, et que la loi des 194 circonstances a voulu que je fisse Paroitre; La convention elle même demandoit la manifestation de toutes les opinions cette notice lui a ete envoyée. le troisieme est un travail Sur la libération de la france, en adoptant l’evaluation que L’assemblée constituante avoit faite de sa dette. Le quatrieme enfin est des considérations sur L’amérique septentrionale, que je ne connois pas; mais, cela me paroit commun avec presque tous ceux qui en ont écrit dans Ma Langue, ou qui ont été traduits. J’en differe en un point, c’est que je Je declare au Public mon ignorance.
une Particularité poura vous étonner sur l’auteur de ces
differens ouvrages. je Suis, avec feu M Adhenet, auquel vous accordiez votre
amitié, et mon ami intime, le traducteur de votre Essai Sur le droit canon et Sur le droit féodal, ainsi que du
Mémoire par lequel les Etats unis ont demandé au cabinet de Versailles l
alliance de la france contre L’Angleterre. Je ne Sais point L’Anglois;
Adhenet dégrossissoit; faisoit un mot à mot; me remettoit Son travail; et,
en le lui dictant, je le Recomposois. j’ai encore en mon pouvoir Les deux
Brouillons. Les traductions, que lui demandoit M Genet, Pere de notre envoyé
aupres des Etats unis, etoient exécutées de La Même maniere. Mais, je dois
observer que de La part d’Adenet, c’etoit défaut de confiance dans ses
propres moyens; il pouvoit se passer d’un tel secours. Cependant, puis que
j’ai eu L’avantage de Concourir à ces deux traductions; je mestimerai
heureux, si, content de vos traducteurs, vous voulez bien m’accorder
quelqu’interet, quand, arrivé dans votre Patrie, j’aurai à mériter quelle
devienne La mienne.
Je Suis avec Respect / Monsieur.
1
ercommis de la comptabilité nationale.
TRANSLATION
A Frenchman who plans to become an American prays you to accept the tribute of his feeble ouput. The works enclosed herein, of which he is the author, will interest you, not for the way in which they are treated, but for their subjects.1 It is a sense of humanity that guided their choice.
The first is the plan of an establishment, which the National Convention is on the verge of decreeing. The second is a brief which had been condemned never to see the light of day, and which the forces of circumstance desired I publish. The convention itself demanded the manifestation of all opinions: this brief was sent to it. The third is a work on the liberation of France, adopting the evaluation which the constitutional assembly had made of its debt. The fourth, finally, is considerations on North America, which I 195 am not familiar with, but that seems to be common with almost all those who have written on the subject in my language, or who have been translated. I differ on one point, which is that I make my ignorance known to the public.
One particular fact may surprise you about the author of
these different works. I am, along with the late Mr. Adhenet, to whom you
granted your friendship and an intimate friend of mine, the translator of
your Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal
Law, and of the petition in which the United States requested of
the cabinet of Versailles an alliance with France against England. I do not
know English. Adhenet made a rough go of it, tendered me his work, and by
dictating it to him, I rearranged it. I still have the two drafts in my
possession. The translations requested of him by Mr. Genet, father of our
envoy to the United States, were carried out in the same way. But I must say
that as for Adhenet, it was for want of trust in his own abilities: he could
have done without such assistance. For the while, as I had the good fortune
to have lent a hand in these two translations, I would deem myself happy if,
satisfied with your translators, you would willingly grant me some interest
when, having arrived in your country, I will have deserved it to be
mine.
I am respectfully, sir
First Clerk of National Accounts
RC (Adams Papers).
The enclosures have not been found.
a.
I had lately the honor to write you a letter on a point, which continues to be interesting.1
We are now certainly to expect the Arrival of the New
french Minister in a very short time, and it is a matter of consequence to
our peace, that we should get thro the business
which he may bring up in consequence of the present State of things in
Europe without differences. It would oblige me very much and could not but
serve the United States, if you would be so kind as to communicate to me
your general ideas on the present State of things, and your cautionary ideas
on particular points, which appear to you of more or less danger. The Spirit
of the Treaties with the French, the
circumstances under which they were made, any cotemporary important facts,
the manner in which any point or points have been subsequently explained,
viewd or acted upon by France, the effect of their
revolutional measures upon the Treaties according to the established law
of Nations & the authorities on which opinions on this last point are 196 grounded—particularly the french
Writers, are matters on which it would highly oblige me, Sir, if you would
favor me with your Sentiments. They shall be either confidential or
otherwise as you shall be pleased to desire. It is of great importance that
they should be possessed by the time of Mr.
Genests arrival—
We have not any further intelligence in relation to
matters in Europe except that the State of Ireland is explained by some late
arrivals here. The Catholics, it is said, are much composed by the
resolutions of Mr. Hobart, but the other
dissenters, those in the North, are yet warm for a reform of the commons so
as to let them in completely, for an abolition of the Corporation & Test
acts, and for admission to the Judiciary—2
Produce, ships, and freights are much advanced by the War in Europe, and there are great appearances of valuable emigrants with money and arts—
Mrs. Adams will do me an
honor in accepting my most Respectful Compliments.
I have the Honor to be, Sir, / Your most obedient / & most humble Servant
A letter from Canada mentions, that Lord Dorchester is3
RC (Adams Papers).
See Coxe’s 5 April letter, above.
John Hobart, 2d Earl of Buckinghamshire (1723–1793),
served as the lord lieutenant of Ireland from 1776 to 1780. He
strenuously objected to ongoing efforts to broaden Roman Catholics’
civil liberties, for which see Thomas Brand Hollis’ 3 March [1791] letter, and note 3, above
(
DNB
).
The remainder of the letter is missing.