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From James Warren
Docno: PJA10d303
Recipient: JA
Date: 1780-12-19
[dateline] Plymo: Decr. 19th: 1780
[salute] My dear Sir
Having wrote you so often and so fully1 I presume you would readily Excuse me if I omitted this Opportunity more especially as I am at a distance from the Capital, and have no certain News to hand you, but that Admiral de Ternay died a few days ago of a fever after a few days Illness, which perhaps may have been Occasioned by Chagrin and disappointment.2 It is also reported here that Cornwallis with 4000 Men have been surrounded by our Troops in Carolina and taken Prisoners.3 If this should prove true, it will be a great Stroke, and damp the Joy in England on the Acquisition of Charlestown.
Our New Goverment has been Ushered in with Great Splendor. Balls, Assemblies, Entertainments and Feasts equal to any thing you can tell of in Europe. The silly feelings of Compassion for the distresses of the Country, and the wants and sufferings of the Army have little to do in the Capital. The whirl of pleasure and Amusement has taken into its Vortex the Deacons and the other good People who seldom used to be seen in public but at their Devotions. Whether you will find good Deacon I——rs and good Mr. Scol——y in the dancing or drawing room at a Game of Whist or leading down a Country Dance is uncertain, but if the present G——r is in office on your return you may possibly find them in one or the other.4
We are Trying to get an Army for the war or 3 years.5 I hope to succeed. I shall write you more by the next Conveyance.6 Permit me to trouble you with the Inclosed Letter, and to Ask you to tell me how my Son does, and if his Conduct meets your Approbation. Accept
{p. 425}
Mrs. Warren's regards, & believe me to be Your Sincere Friend & Humbl. Servt.
[signed] J Warren
1. Warren's last letter was of 22 Nov. (above).
2. Ternay had died on 15 Dec. at Newport (Dull, French Navy and Amer. Independence
, p. 222). Warren's comment regarding his death probably refers to the fact that since its arrival at Newport in July, Ternay's fleet had undertaken no offensive action.
4. Warren here continues his criticism of John Hancock's gubernatorial administration and the events surrounding its inauguration. “Deacon I—rs” remains unidentified; “Mr. Scol—y” is presumably John Scollay, Boston merchant and selectman.
5. Warren hoped that Massachusetts would fulfill the General Court's resolve of 2 Dec. to raise 4,240 men to supply the Commonwealth's quota for the Continental Army, each soldier to serve for three years or the duration of the war (Mass., Acts and Laws
, 1:190–201).
6. James Warren apparently did not write again until 4–19 June 1781 (Adams Papers); see JA's letter to Warren of 9 Dec., note 5 (above).
From Joseph Mandrillon
Docno: PJA10d304
Recipient: JA
Date: 1780-12-20
[dateline] ce 20e Xbe.
[salute] Monsieur
Monsieur Le Professeur Henners à Utrecht vient de m'ecrire que Le libraire Wild a fait emprisonner Mr. Cerisier Sous le pretexte qu'il veut qu'il acheve son ouvrage à Utrecht et non à Amsterdam, ce procedé Est indigne comme il est injuste, comme je ne peux sortir avant midi je me hâte de vous en informer J'ecris La même chose à Monsr. de Neufville obligez-moi, Monsieur, d'agir de concert avec ce Monsr. Et par vos crédit auprès des Magistrats d'ici d'obtenir la liberté de Mr. Cerisier.1 J'ai L'honneur dEtre en hâte et avec une Considération distinguèe Votre très humble ob serv
[signed] Jh. Mandrillon
Joseph Mandrillon to John Adams: A Translation
Docno: PJA10d305
Recipient: JA
Date: 1780-12-20
[dateline] 20 December 1780
[salute] Sir
Professor Henners in Utrecht has written to inform me that the bookseller Wild has imprisoned Mr. Cerisier under the pretext that he can only do his work at Utrecht, not at Amsterdam. This proceeding is as undignified as it is unjust. As I cannot leave at mid-day, I have written hastily to inform Mr. de Neufville of the same thing. Oblige me, sir, by acting in concert with him and, through your credence with the magistrate here, obtain Mr. Cerisier's freedom.1 I have the honor to be in haste, with a distinguished consideration, your very humble obedient servant.
[signed] Jh. Mandrillon
{p. 426}
1. The bookseller Bartholomé Wild employed Antoine Marie Cerisier as a writer, principally to work on his as yet uncompleted Tableau de l'histoire générale des Provinces-Unies, 10 vols., Utrecht, 1777–1784. When Cerisier left Utrecht for Amsterdam and thereby threatened the Tableau's completion, Wild took action (Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic and Amer. Independence
, p. 125–126). Whether JA played any part in obtaining Cerisier's release or resolving his dispute with Wild is unknown, but when Cerisier wrote JA on 15 April 1781 (Adams Papers), he was at Amsterdam at work on his periodical, Le politique hollandais.
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/