printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:149–150. Adams discussed Great Britain's shortsighted and self-defeating policy in refusing a just treaty and, as an example of Britain's self-deception and misunderstanding of America, pointed to a peace proposal, rejected out of hand, that sought to bribe American leaders by offering them peerages.

printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:153–154. Adams stated that Lee had attended to Henry's requests contained in a letter of 5 March (above). He wrote that the ratified Franco-American treaties had been received, approved the actions of the congress, reported the outbreak of war between France and Britain at sea, speculated on the prospect of a battle between the fleets of Estaing and Byron in American waters, questioned reports of the evacuation of Philadelphia, and commented on the reception of the Carlisle Commission and the attitude of the French toward the Commissioners and the American cause.

printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:148–149. Adams announced the arrival of dispatches from the congress, including the ratified Franco-American treaties and letters from Lovell. He commented on the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and France and the relative naval strength of each, the conflict between Prussia and Austria over Bavaria and its implications for the American cause, his progress in learning to speak French, and the large number of bills drawn on the Commissioners and his resulting anxiety over American finances.

He may have been troubled by the Accounts for 30 March–30 June (above), which showed that bills amounting to 257, 323.18.4 livres and signed by either John Hancock or Henry Laurens as president of the congress had been received by the Commissioners and ordered paid.