the matter as it then stood was not of such importance but he could save himself the trouble of the explanation; and that as he recommended any future questions or applications to be made directly to you, your situation making it more convenient sooner to inform the French court thereof, he thought my letter had better be postponed, and the substance of it given in person as soon as I could possibly get from London to Paris. I acquiesced, though reluctantly, and having thought much on the matter on my journey hither, I have at length determined to forward the foregoing letter with this postscript, and at the same time to inform Mr. Adams of my exact feelings on the matter, viz. that my wishes and intentions when I left England were to see, and make known the matter to you; that through Mr. Hartley or some other channel you must hear that I had been at Amsterdam, and my seemingly turning my back upon you might be thought oddly of; and finally that I could not answer for carrying the inclosure from Mr. Hartley back to England, not knowing the consequence it might be of. I hope and think I have done right in this matter. The purpose for my moving in the business I went to Mr. A. upon, has, I own, been with a double view of serving myself in a matter of much consequence to me, for after delivering the explanations I carry, I can with some degree of right and a very great probability of success, claim as 'a gratuity for the trouble and expence I have been at, the restoration of my papers; the situation of which I have already explained to Lord Beauchamp, in order to get him to be a mover for them, and I have very little doubt that a few days will restore them to me, and give me an opportunity to speedily speak to you on a matter which gives me much uneasiness, vexation, and pain. Excuse the hurry in which I write, for I am very near the

4

period of embarkation. Paul Wentworth embarked this day for England: I trod on his heels chief of the way from the Hague which he left suddenly. General Faucit is on his road hence to Hanover.

,

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY J. ADAMS, ESQ.

TO DR. FRANKLIN.

"

SIR, 307 1.132 bino The Hague, March 26, 1782. it and raw One day last week, I received at Amster dam a card from Digges, inclosing two letters, to me, from Mr. David Hartley. The card desired to see me, upon business of importance; and the letters from Mr. Hartley contained an assurance, that to his knowledge, the bearer came from the highest authority. I answered the card, that in the present situation of affairs here and elsewhere, it was impossible for me to see any one from England without witness; but if he were willing to see me in presence of Mr. Thaxter, my Secretary, and that I should communicate whatever he should say to me to Dr. Franklin, and the Comte de Vergenues, I would wait for him at home at ten o'clock; but that I had rather he should go to Paris without seeing me, and communicate what he had to say to Dr. Franklin, whose situation enabled him to consult the Court without loss of time. At ten however he came, and told me a long story about consultations with Mr. Penn, Mr. Hartley, Lord Beauchamp, and at last Lord North, by whom he was finally sent, to enquire of me, if I or any other had authority to treat with Great Britain of a truce. I answered, that " I came to Europe with full powers to make peace, that those powers had been announced to the public upon my arri

val, and continued in force until last summer, when Congress sent a new commission, containing the same powers to four persons, whom I named: that if the King of England were my father, and I the heir apparent to his throne, I could not advise him ever to think of a truce, because it would be but a real war, under a simulated appearance of tranquillity, and would end in another open and bloody war, without doing any real good to any of the parties."

IN

He said that "the ministry would send some person of consequence sover, perhaps General Conway, but they were apprehensive, that he would be ill-treated or exposed." I said," that if they resolved upon such a measure, I had rather they would send immediately to Dr. Franklin because of his situation, near the French court. But there was no doubt, if they sent any respectable personage properly authorized, who should come to treat honourably, he would be treated with great respect. But that if he came to me, I could give him no opinion upon any thing without consulting my colleagues, and should reserve a right of communicating every thing to them, and to our allies." I 69 ab at 400 sit b. f

He then said that "his mission was, finished. That the fact to be ascertained was simply, that there was a commission in Europe to treat and conclude; but that there. was not one person in Great Britain who could affirm or prove that there was such a commission, although it had been announced in the gazettes."

I desired him, and he promised me, not to mention Mr. Laurens to the ministry without his consent (and without informing him that it was impossible he should say any thing in the business, because he knew nothing of our instructions) because, although it was possible that his

being in such a commission might induce them to release him, yet it was also possible it might render them more difficult, concerning his exchange.

The picture he gives of the situation of things in England is gloomy enough for them. The distresses of the people, and the distractions in administration and parlia ment, are such as may produce any effect almost that can be imagined.

"

The only use of all this I think is to strike decisive strokes at New York and Charlestown. There is no po sition so advantageous for negociation, as when we have all an enemy's army prisoners. I must beg the favour of you, Sir, to send me, by one of the Count de Vergennes's couriers to the Duc de la Vauguion, a copy in letters of your peace instructions. I have not been able to decypher one quarter part of mine. Some mistake has certainly been made. 3

Ten or eleven cities of Holland have declared themselves in favour of American Independence, and it is expected that to-day or to-morrow this province will take the decisive resolution of admitting me to my audience. Perhaps some of the other provinces may delay it for three or four weeks. But the Prince has declared, that he has no hopes of resisting the torrent, and therefore that he shall not attempt it. The Duc de la Vauguion has acted a very friendly and honourable part in this business, without, however, doing any ministerial act in it. With great respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, J. ADAMS.

1

3102 To ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, ESQ.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Passy, March 30, 1782.

The newspapers which I send you by this conveyance, will acquaint you, with what has since my last passed in parliament. You will there see a copy of the Bill brought in by the Attorney-General, for empowering the King to make peace with the Colonies. They still seem to flatter themselves with the idea of dividing us; and rather than name the Congress they empower him generally to treat with any body or bodies of men, or any person or persons, &c. They are here likewise endeavouring to get us to treat separately from France, at the same time they are tempting France to treat separately from us, equally without the least chance of success. have been drawn into a correspondence on this subject, which you shall have with my next. I send you a letter of Mr. Adams's just received, which shows also that they are weary of the war, and would get out of it if they knew how. They had not then received certain news of the loss of St. Christopher's, which will probably render them still more disposed to peace. I see that a bill is also passing through the House of Commons for the exchange of American prisoners, the purport of which I do not yet know.

I

In my last I promised to be more particular with respect to the points you mentioned as proper to be insisted on in the treaty of peace. My ideas on those points, I assure you, are full as strong as yours. I did intend to have given you my reasons for some addition, and if the