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Adam to John Adams: A Translation
Docno: PJA06d074
Recipient: JA
Date: 1778-05-05
[dateline] Charlieu, near Roanne, road of Moulins, 5 May 1778
[salute] Sir
Please allow me to tell you how honored I am to bear your name, and how much more so I would be, had I the honor of being descended from your family. All that one reads or hears about the sublimity of your enlightenment leads one to form such wishes.
How happy I would be, sir, if the similarity of our names could make you take an interest in me! I dare flatter myself that under your protection, I would be assured of success in whatever you would have me undertake.
But I think it necessary to introduce myself a little further lest you think I am an adventurer. My name is Adam. I practice, in a small town in the province of Lyonnais, the profession of law to which was joined the function of contrôleur des actes in the same town of Charlieu, but these two offices added to my fortune are of no great consequence. I feel that if I was lucky enough to be destined for something better I would fulfill it with as much enthusiasm as diligence.
I am only 36 years old and therefore still quite capable of enterprise, especially if guided by you, sir, how could one fail? What joy it would be for me—I repeat it—if the similarity of name, for which I am already so grateful, made you cast a favorable eye on me. I would be eternally grateful for your kindness, and would endeavor to show my gratitude by my diligence and zeal in accomplishing whatever you would have me do.
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Forgive me the liberty I have taken, sir, in view of the pleasure that I take in bearing your name, and my desire to make myself known to you in an effort to stimulate your interest. I hope, at least, that I will be fortunate enough not to have offended you by writing, and that I will have the honor of receiving a favorable reply. I await it and would consider it one of the greatest blessings that I can hope for at this time.1
[salute] I have the honor to be, with a most profound respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant.
[signed] Adam
Nathaniel Dowse to the Commissioners
Docno: PJA06d075
Recipient: First Joint Commission at Paris
Recipient: JA
Date: 1778-05-05
[dateline] Bordeaux 5th May 1778
[salute] Gentlemen
On the 14th April 1777 I sailed from Virginia Commander of the Ship Mercer belonging to Messrs. Mercer and Schenck of Boston, with a Cargo of 450 Hogsheads Tobacco for Account of the Honorable Continental Congress, to the Address of Messrs. S. and J. H. Delap of Bordeaux. On the fourth of May following I had the Misfortune of being risen upon by my Crew and carried with my Vessel into Whitehaven,1 where I remained Prisoner 'till I found the opportunity of escaping on board a Hamburgh Vessel bound from New Castle to this Port, which arrived yesterday. I think it my Duty to inform you thereof, and if you judge I can be of any use to my Country either in a Publick or private Station, I most heartily make you a tender of my best Services. I have had proposals from several Merchants at this place, but have deferred treating with any 'till I know if you have Employ for me. I have the Honor of being personally known to the Honorable John Adams Esqr. who will be able to give you Satisfaction to any Enquiries you may think it necessary to make about me, and begging the favor of your reply as speedily as possible, I have the Honor of being with utmost respect Gentlemen, Your most obed. hble Servant
[signed] Nathl Dowse2
1. According to a report in the Liverpool General Advertiser of 30 May (reprinted in
Naval Docs. Amer. Rev.
, 8:878), the Mercer sailed from Cape Henry on 14 April 1777. Sixteen members of its crew of 18 were reportedly English, Scotch, or Irish, former prisoners in America. Taking advantage of the situation, that group rose against Dowse on 5 May and took the vessel into Whitehaven on the 21st. Whitehaven is on
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the west coast of England and was raided by John Paul Jones on 23 April 1778 (Jones to the Commissioners, 27 May, below).
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/