Beschreibung:

ADAMS, John (1735-1826), President . Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH ("My Dear Friend"), Paris, 14 September 1783. 1 full page, 4to, integral blank with recipient's docket . In exceptionally fine condition. ADAMS ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF THE DEFINITIVE TREATY, ENDING THE REVOLUTION AND RECOGNIZING AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE An important early letter between two patriots famous for their frank and thoughtful correspondence later in life. Adams had been in France since late 1779, laboring with Franklin, Henry Laurens, and John Jay on delicate peace negotiations with English agents. Little progress was made, though, until drastic changes in the British ministry took place in early 1782. The American delegates, contrary to instructions from Congress, kept their parley secret from their counterparts in the French ministry. Preliminary articles of peace were agreed on 30 November 1782, to go into effect when Britain and France had settled on their own terms. By 2 January 1783 both Spain and France had signed articles and a general armistice was proclaimed, pending the signing of the definitive treaty. In the interim, the American delegates continued to seek additional concessions from their British counterparts, particularly in regard to pre-war debts owed by Americans to British creditors, and the status and property rights of Loyalists (here termed by Adams "refugees"). But no further concessions were forthcoming, so the definitive articles were signed by Adams, Franklin, Jay and British representatives in Paris on 3 September 1783, only 11 days before this letter. Adams takes a regretful tone, and apologizes that better terms could not be wrested from the British. The individual he recommends to Rush, John Thaxter, Jr., was Adams's private secretary, who physically carried the signed Treaty back to Philadelphia (quite possibly in the same portfolio as this letter), presenting it on 22 November to the President of Congress, Thomas Mifflin. Adams writes: "Give me leave to introduce to your acquaintance and Friendship, Mr. Thaxter, who goes home with the definitive Treaty. This Treaty which is but a Repetition of the Provisional Articles was all we could obtain, a poor Compensation for nine Months Negotiation, but I assure you we were very glad to get the Hand [signature] put to this." Then, Adams hints at his impending diplomatic appointment as the first American minister plenipotentiary to the Court of St. James, a posting not confirmed until April 1785: "I was in hopes to have soon seen you in Philadelphia, but Congress have had the goodness to resolve upon a Commission, very Honourable to me, which will detain me, I know not how long. I hope the States are settling fast into Order, and that all will go well. There will be no disputes for Sometime about the Refugees [American Loyalists] but I hope they will have no serious ill Effect -- it would have been better for them to have had no Article [in the treaty], but the Reputation of national Faith and Royal honour, induced the English to insist on this. We could obtain no Peace without it, and therefore we could not hesitate. The Interest upon Debt I hope will be made easy, but we could obtain no prohibition for it...." Despite Adams's regrets over certain articles of the Treaty, the peace they negoitiated was a remarkable success: "where they compromised it was on inessentials and where they conceded it was to yield the trivial. From beginning to end they remained unswerving on the score of obtaining both absolute independence and a continental domain...On the main objectives of national survival they proved uncompromising" (Richard B. Morris, The Peacemakers: The Great Powers and American Independence , p.459).