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John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr.
Docno: AFC04d016
Recipient: Smith, Isaac Sr.
Date: 1780-12-06
[dateline] Amsterdam Decr. 6. 1780
[salute] Sir
Your Favours of August 21. and Sept. 9. I have received and am much obliged to you for them.1 I hope you will be so good as to write me, by every Vessell.
From the great Number of American Vessells which have arrived, in Europe in the Course of the past summer, I think our Commerce as well as Privateering is on the rising hand, and I hope that next year, it will increase considerably, and that We shall hear oftener from home.
I shall probably reside hereabouts for sometime, nevertheless I hope my friends will not fail to write me by the Way of France and Spain.
Mr. Laurens is in Strict Confinement, and so are Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler, who imprudently went over to England.2 I believe, that in Time Americans will realize that the English are their Ennemies.
Nobody need be afraid of Privateering, from Apprehensions of Peace. There is no Peace to be had. My affectionate Respects to all the Family.
[signed] John Adams
1. That of 21 Aug. is printed in vol. 3 above; that of 9 Sept. has not been found.
2.
“Govr. Trumbulls Son and Mr. Tyler, are taken up in England and committed for high Treason.—This will cure the Silly Itch of running over to England”
(JA to Arthur Lee, 6 Dec., LbC, Adams Papers).On the recent adventures of John Steele Tyler and his companion, John Trumbull the painter, in London, see note on Richard Cranch to JA, 26 April, vol. 3 above, and references there.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2007.
http://www.masshist.org/ff/
http://www.masshist.org/ff/