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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO SECRETARY JAY. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

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TO SECRETARY JAY.

Grosvenor Square, Westminster, 9 December, 1785.

Dear Sir,—

I went to Court yesterday morning, if not in despair, with very faint hopes of ever receiving an answer to any letter or memorial of mine to the British ministry. I went early, but found three of the foreign ministers before me. The rule is to admit them to his Lordship in the order in which they arrive. In my turn I was shown into his Lordship’s apartment, received very politely, as usual, and very much surprised to be accosted by him with “Mr. Adams, I am about to write to you officially. I have received a letter from Lord Howe relative to your communication concerning the behavior of a captain of a man of war at Boston. The admiralty letter is very long, and I shall send you a copy of it. I am also to answer your memorial concerning the seamen. The ship is ordered and expected home from the East Indies, and when she arrives, the man you applied for will be discharged; and orders are gone to Portsmouth to discharge the other sailor whom you mentioned.” This last requires some explanation, as I have not mentioned it before to you. Some time ago, I received a letter from a man at Portsmouth who called himself an American, and desiring me to apply for his discharge. But, as I had no orders from congress concerning him, nor any other information than his own letter, I thought it not safe to apply officially in his behalf. When I delivered my memorial demanding the discharge of the sailors in general, I showed this man’s letter to his Lordship, and left it with him; and it has had, it seems, a better fortune than I expected.

I replied to his Lordship that I was very happy to hear that I was soon to have an official answer; for that, whenever we could come to communicate officially and freely, I hoped we might gradually remove all difficulties. We fell, then, into some conversation upon another point. But, as nothing new was said on either side, and I could learn nothing new from him, it would be fatiguing you to no purpose to repeat it. One thing, however, his Lordship said, in the course of conversation, namely,—“That he could not yet give me any satisfaction upon any other point, because nothing was yet determined. Mr. Pitt had all my papers under consideration, and had not yet determined any thing.”

At length I presented to his Lordship the memorial of the 30th November, a copy of which is here inclosed. I do not expect an answer till next summer. But I thought it safest for the United States to have it presented, because, without it, some excuses or pretences might have been set up, that the evacuations had not yet been formally demanded.

With great esteem, &c.

John Adams.

TO SECRETARY JAY.

Grosvenor Square, 4 January, 1786.

Dear Sir,—

I have only time to acquaint you that, since my last, there have been some appearances of an intention in ministry to take up American affairs. Lord Carmarthen and Mr. Pitt have certainly had conferences with committees of merchants, who have represented to them the necessity of arrangements with the United States upon terms which will give satisfaction. Nevertheless, I have no confidence in this at all; and I think that congress and the States should not relax in any measure in consequence of it.

Mr. Pitt did say to Mr. Campbell, the principal man among them, that Mr. Adams, the American minister, was well disposed to a friendly settlement, and had made some propositions to the King’s ministers, who were also well disposed. He was very inquisitive whether they had seen Mr. Adams. They answered they had not, and that they were not known to him in the business. This was true, in a literal sense; but, in fact, they had taken pains to give me circuitous information that they had been consulted by Lord Carmarthen, and to desire of me such information as I could give them; and I had, by means of Colonel Smith, conveyed to the sight of a person in their confidence some papers, containing such matter as I thought might be trusted to them in such a mysterious way. The representation they have made is very strong, as they say; but I cannot yet obtain a copy of it. They pretend to say that Mr. Pitt assured them their report had given him new light, and they think America may have whatever she desires, except a free trade with the West India Islands. This will prove only a delusion, for, if the ministry really are desirous of an equitable settlement, I am well persuaded they cannot yet carry it in parliament; so that I hope the States will persevere in their own measures, and that even all the Southern States will, at least, lay heavy duties upon the tonnage of such nations as have not treaties with us, and prohibit the importation, in their bottoms, of any merchandises, except the produce of the country to which they belong. Even the importation of Irish linens in British bottoms should be forbidden, as well as Silesia linens, hemp and duck from Russia, and iron from Sweden, wines from Portugal, goods from the East Indies, &c.

With great regard, &c.

John Adams.