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C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation

Docno: PJA11d274

Author: Dumas, Charles William Frederic
Recipient: JA
Date: 1781-05-13

[dateline] The Hague, 13 May 1781

[salute] Sir

After the letter that I had the honor to send to you yesterday, my intention was not to write again until next week since there is no news to relay. This {p. 316  | view } exercise of personal reserve, a consequence of what you had the honor to tell me the last time this was a cause for concern, is an arrangement that I hope will please you, and will smooth out the difficulties which could oppose your good intentions for me.1 What has made me take up my pen today is the attached enclosure from his excellency the French ambassador just sent to me by his secretary, with the request that I send it to you at once.2 The name of the minister on the cover makes me believe that it is of interest and I hope it will be only good news for you. I remain, with as much attachment as respect, hastily, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
[signed] Dumas
Please have the kindness, sir, to acknowledge the receipt of the enclosure.3
RC Adams Papers ; endorsed by John Thaxter: “Mr. Dumas 13th. May 1781.”
 
1. JA had last commented on Dumas' status as American agent at The Hague in his letter of 27 March, above. Dumas raised the subject again in his letter of 23 May, below.
 
2. Laurent Bérenger, La Vauguyon's secretary, delivered Philip Mazzei's letter of 28 March, above, the receipt of which JA acknowledged in his reply to Dumas of 19 May, below.
 
3. This sentence is written in the left margin.

From Henry Grand

Docno: PJA11d275

Author: Grand, Henry
Recipient: JA
Date: 1781-05-14

[dateline] Paris May 14th. 1781

[salute] Sir

I herewith take the Liberty to send you the State of your Account currt. by which you owe me 24742. 2.11.1 After you have examined it and found it right I shall be obliged to you to remitt me your draft on Dr. Franklin for the amount that we may be ballanced.
I have wrote twice to Mr. Williams at Nantz but to no Effect to Know his disbursments to the 6 Cases of Wine you have in my cellar, in order to repay them to him, and to be able to give you credit for one of the 6 Cases that I have taken for my own use.2
Constantly devoted to your service I remain with great Regard Sir Your most obt. hble. servt.
[signed] Grand
RC Adams Papers .
 
1. The enclosed account has not been found. See JA's reply to Ferdinand Grand, 19 May, below.
 
2. For the wine sent by Jonathan Williams, see vol. 10:323, 369–370, 414–415.

To the President of Congress

Docno: PJA11d276

Author: JA
Recipient: President of Congress
Recipient: Huntington, Samuel
Date: 1781-05-16

[dateline] Amsterdam May 16th. 1781

[salute] Sir

I have the honor to inclose Copies of the Memorials, which I had the honor to present on the fourth instant to the President of their High Mightinesses, and to the Secretary of his most Serene High• {p. 317} ness.1 The former has been published in English, French and Dutch; and has been favourably recieved by the Public: but the public Voice has not that Influence upon Government in any part of Europe, that it has in every part of America, and therefore I cannot expect that any immediate effect will be produced upon the States General. They will probably wait, until they can sound the disposition of the Northern Powers, Russia particularly, and if they should not join in the War, their High Mightinesses will probably be willing to be admitted to accede to the Treaty of Alliance between France and America.
The Dutch Fleet of about ten Sail of Vessels from the Texel and the Maese has sailed. The News from the southern States of America of continual fighting, in which our Countrymen have done themselves great Honour, the Capture of half the Convoy under Hotham by de la Motte Piquet, and the destruction made at Gibralter by the Spaniards, have raised the Spirits of this Nation from that unmanly Gloom and Despondency, into which they were thrown by the Capture of St. Eustatia, Demorara and Essequibe.2 But after all, this Country at present is divided in Sentiments: it is an Alexandrine that like a wounded Snake drags its slow length along.3

[salute] I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant.

[signed] John Adams
RC and enclosures in John Thaxter's hand PCC, No. 84, III, f. 141–142. For the enclosures, see note 1.
 
1. In the PCC the copies of JA's memorials of 19 April to the States General and William V, both above, likely inclosed with this letter are separated, perhaps because the memorial to the States General is undated. In the PCC this letter accompanies JA's memorials to the States General of 8 March and to William V of 19 April (No. 84, III, f. 97–110, 147–148, 143– 144). JA also sent the Duc de La Vauguyon copies of his memorials under cover of a note dated 14 May (LbC, Adams Papers); the ambassador acknowledged it on the 16th (Adams Papers).
 
2. The encouraging news reports JA refers to all appeared in the Gazette de Leyde of 15 May. British privateers had taken the Dutch settlements on the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers in Guiana in late Feb. and early March. Reports of their capture appeared in the London Gazette of 23 April and were reprinted in Dutch newspapers, including the Gazette de Leyde of 4 May.
 
3. Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Criticism,” lines 356–357.
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/