the season, and the tender state of his health, been opposed to his wishes.

The magnanimity and wisdom with which your High Mightinesses, in 1782, manifested your friendship to the United States of America, contributed to accelerate the general peace of the world, which has lasted so long; and the candor and goodness of your High Mightinesses, and of the whole Republic, to the subscriber, as well as to his country, have made impressions on his mind which neither time, place, nor circumstance can ever efface.

In finishing his course in Europe, and in taking a respectful leave of your High Mightinesses, he begs leave to express his ardent wishes for the happiness and prosperity of your High Mightinesses and your families, and his sincere assurances that in whatever country he may be, he shall never cease to pray for the liberty, the independence, and the universal happiness and prosperity of the whole Republic of the United Netherlands.

Done at London, this twenty-fifth day of January, A. D. 1788. JOHN ADAMS.

By the United States in Congress assembled, October 5, 1787.

On a report of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, to whom were referred two letters from the Honorable John Adams, of the 24th and 27th of January last:

Resolved, That the Honorable John Adams, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of London, be permitted, agreeably to his request, to return to America at any time after the 24th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1788, and that his commission of Minister Plenipotentiary to their High Mightinesses do also then determine.

Resolved, That Congress entertain a high sense of the services which Mr. Adams has rendered to the United States, in the execution of the various important trusts which they have from time to time committed to him; and that the thanks of Congress be presented to him for the patriotism, perseverance, integrity, and diligence with which he hath ably and faithfully served his country.

CHAS. THOMSON, Secretary.

FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY.

Dear Sir,

Grosvenor Square, February 21, 1788.

Yesterday I had my audience of leave to his Majesty. I shall not trouble you with any particulars of the previous steps to obtain this audience, (which you know are always troublesome enough,) nor with any detail of the conversation, farther than the public is immediately interested in it. The substance of my address to his Majesty was no more than a renewal of assurances, in behalf of the United States, of their friendly dispositions, and of their continued desire to cultivate a liberal intercourse of commerce and good offices with his Majesty's subjects and States; thanks for the protection and civilities of his Court; and good wishes of prosperity to his Majesty, his royal family, his subjects, and dominions. The King's answer to me was in these words: "Mr. Adams, you may, with 'great truth, assure the United States that whenever they shall fulfil 'the treaty on their part, I, on my part, will fulfil it in all its 'particulars. As to yourself, I am sure I wish you a safe and 'pleasant voyage, and much comfort with your family and friends."

This was the answer in ceremony. His Majesty was then pleased to ask me many questions about myself and my family; how long I had been absent from them, &c.; which were intended, I suppose, to be very gracious and flattering, but were of no consequence to the public, and therefore will be here omitted. It now remains to take leave of the Queen and the Princess, the Cabinet Ministers, and corps diplomatique-a species of slavery, more of which, I believe, has fallen to my share than ever happened before to a son of liberty; and I much fear that the omission of a letter of recall, and the offence taken at it in Holland, will oblige me to go over to the Hague, to repeat the same tedious ceremonies there. At this season of the year, so near the equinox, to have the passage from Harwich to Helvoet to cross twice, is a punishment for sins to me unknown.

I am extremely afflicted, my dear sir, at the news of your ill health; but I hope you will be soon restored, for the public at this moment has great need of your experience and abilities.

With much affection, &c.,

JOHN ADAMS.

Dear Sir,

FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY.

Bath Hotel, London, March 26, 1788.

I have only time to introduce to you Colonel Smith, and to request in his behalf the honor of your friendship. His conduct in every part of Europe where he has been, I have good reason to believe, has done honor to himself, and given a favorable idea of his country.

His honor and interest, as well as those of his family, are very dear to me, and I wish he may be employed in some station or other in which his talents and address may be useful to his country. As I have so many reasons to value your friendship to me, I naturally wish you to extend it to him and his. He is able to give you a very intelligent account of affairs in this country, and the rest of Europe; and to him I must refer, having only time to subscribe, with much affection, your friend,

JOHN ADAMS.

FROM JOHN JAY TO JOHN ADAMS.

Dear Sir,

New York, February 14, 1788.

As this letter will go by the way of Ireland, and may be exposed. to accidents in the course of its route, I decline entering into particulars; but as the long recess of Congress, who are now again convened, makes it necessary that the enclosed letters of recall should be transmitted without delay, I think it best to send one set by this conveyance, and to forward duplicates by another vessel, which will sail about the last of the month for Bristol. Your letters by the packet are come to hand, and shall be particularly noticed in my next, which will go under cover to a friend, with directions to him what to do with it in case you should have left England before its arrival.

Massachusetts has adopted the proposed constitution by a majority of nineteen.

I am, dear sir, &c.,

VOL. II.-53

JOHN JAY.

FROM JOHN ADAMS TO JOHN JAY.

Braintree, October 11, 1788.

Dear Sir,

The multiplied cares attending the removal of a family from one country to another, and beginning a new course of life, or resuming an old one after an interruption of fourteen years, must be my apology (if any apology is necessary) for having omitted, till this time, to solicit the final settlement of my accounts with the United States.

As Mr. Barclay has, for many years, had the examination of the accounts of all the Ministers abroad, and of mine in particular, until my removal to England, I wish to be informed whether it is the intention of Congress that I should transmit the remainder of my accounts to that gentleman, or any other, for a similar examination, or to the Board of Treasury, or to Congress immediately.

Let me request of you, sir, to lay this letter before that honorable Assembly, and to transmit me their commands, which shall be obeyed as soon as possible.