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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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO SECRETARY JAY.

London, 3 February, 1787.

Sir,—

I wrote a few days since, by Colonel Franks, who embarks in the French packet from Havre de Grace with the Morocco treaty. There is no further intelligence of the Portugal business, nor any better prospect or more agreeable disposition in this country, whatever artifices may be employed in America to keep up delusive hopes.

Parliament opened with an uncommon gloom, and has been sitting in a mournful silence. Nobody dares oppose the French treaty, yet nobody seems to have any confidence in it. It seems truly a forced plant; something to appease France and amuse the people. The revenue is found to be greatly deficient. A new loan and fresh taxes are expected. A dead taciturnity prevails about America.

The gazettes are employed, and every coffee-house and bookseller’s shop filled with talkers, to keep up the spirits of the people, at any expense of truth. The holding of our frontier posts is found to cost government more money annually than the whole trade is worth, nay, than the whole capital employed in it.

Mr. Pitt’s plan for the session is not yet developed. They are skirmishing about Hastings and Rodney, who, I suppose, have nearly all the scribblers enlisting for or against them; yet Hastings must be acquitted, and I suppose Rodney remunerated, right or wrong; such is the state of this nation.

Inclosed is a copy of the convention between France and England, which was sent me yesterday by Lord Carmarthen, and a letter from Mr. Hales relative to the East India ship which it is supposed was made an American bottom, a practice which congress will, no doubt, judge proper to discountenance. As the politics of parliament shall open to view, I shall do myself the honor to transmit you still further accounts of them.

By Colonel Franks I had the honor to convey to congress my intention to return home at the expiration of my commission to this Court. A duplicate will go by this opportunity; a life so useless to the public, and so insipid to myself, as mine is in Europe, has become a burden to me, as well as to my countrymen. By the first packet or convenient merchant-ship in the spring of 1788, I shall embark with my family, if my life and health, enough to make the voyage, remain to me, unless congress should see fit to recall me sooner, which would be so much the more agreeable. It will be necessary that arrangements should be made as early as possible, and the pleasure of congress signified, whether the secretary of legation is to return with me, or remain longer here.

With great respect and esteem, &c.

John Adams.