CHAPTER XX.

Appointment of a Minister to treat for Peace.........Conflicting Claims of Candidates.........Letter of John Adams........ Francis Dana.

THE instructions to the intended minister being completed, the next step was to make an appointment. There were two parties in congress, one of which nominated Mr. Jay and the other Mr. John Adams, who was then in the United States. At the first and second ballot twelve states were represented. Six voted for Mr. Adams, five for Mr. Jay, the other by division among its delegates counted for neither. Further proceedings were then postponed. On the next day a nomination was opened for a minister to Spain. The party, who had supported Mr. Adams for the former place, were desirous of sending Dr. Arthur Lee to the court of his catholic majesty, and the three gentlemen were severally placed before the house as candidates for this latter appointment.

In conducting the affairs of the United States in Europe, the usual consequences of a joint commission had been painfully experienced, and collision, controversy and reproach had extended from the bureaus of the ministers into the hall of the American government.

The New-England delegation were firmly attached to Mr. Adams, whose conduct had not only met their entire approbation, but could not be censured by the friends of the other ministers, and it was their immovable determination to preserve for him the confidence of the country, which he had eminently deserved. The balloting ended in superseding Mr. Lee, and the appointing first Mr. Jay to Spain by the votes of eight states, and Mr. Adams to negotiate a treaty of peace and commerce with Great Britain by the votes of eleven states. Mr. Jay subsequently received other honours in this connexion, which by his fidelity and talents he had richly deserved.

Colonel Lawrence, nominated by Mr. Gerry, was appointed secretary to the embassy at the court of Versailles, and Mr. Dana secretary to the embassy for peace. In the latter appointment Mr. Gerry was peculiarly gratified, as it gave him an opportunity of indulging the feelings of private friendship in the performance of public duty, towards a college class-mate, an intimate companion, a tried and faithful public servant, and a learned

*The journals of congress call these appointments secretaries to the ministers. They were not so. They were secretaries to the embassy and provisionally chargé d'affaires. The secretaries received one thousand pounds sterling per annum, commencing at the time of their leaving their place of abode, and continuing for three months after receiving notice of their recall.

It may be interesting to know how the minister of peace and the secretary to the embassy addressed their former colleague, who was still toiling in the great council of state.

MR. ADAMS TO MR. GERRY.

MY DEAR SIR,

FERROL, DEC. 11, 1779.

I have escaped the rage of the sea and the vigilance of British men-of-war, and the treachery of a leaky ship, but have got the mountains of Asturias and the Pyrenees to pass, with all the snows. It is a monstrous journey to Paris, at least three hundred and twenty leagues. The roads, taverns, mules and every thing inconvenient, as we are told, and the expense great enough.

This part of the world is filled with rumours as well as your's. They talk much of commotions in Ireland, &c. &c., but I can get nothing certain here. The removal of D'Orvillier occasions much speculation, but Duchauffaud is universally allowed to be an excellent officer.

I can't see a ray of hope of being much employed until after another campaign in negotiations for peace, but I see that some seeds may be advantageously sown wherever I go. There are many mistaken notions concerning our affairs, which

are easily rectified, and much information given and received.

may be

Nothing is of more importance than to give the French and Spaniards just ideas of the resources they may draw from the United States, by carrying on the war with vigour in the American seas. They have as yet no adequate conception of the advantages they have of the English in that quarter, in the facility of procuring supplies of materials, artisans and provisions, at a time when the English must draw all from Europe.

It now appears to me very easy to reduce the English in New-York. A superiour fleet, stationed at Rhode-Island or cruising on the coast of America, or plying between the continent and the islands, would cut off their supplies so as to ruin them.

This port of Ferrol is a grand thing. I had no idea of it. The works are astonishing. I find much civility here, and many professions of good will to the states. Some of the Spaniards have not yet got out of their heads the idea of mauvaise exemple, but when they are led to consider the difference between their colonies and the English, that there is no probability or possibility of their ever undertaking, as the English did, to subvert the fundamentals of an established government, and the nature of their governments, which can

suppress in an instant the first symptom of discontent, they easily give it up.*

I am in great haste, your's,

Hon. Mr. Gerry.

JOHN ADAMS.

MR. DANA TO MR. GERRY.

PARIS, FEB. 26, 1780.

DEAR SIR,

Here we are, after many toils and perils, both by sea and by land, where I hope we shall for a while find a resting place, of which we have indeed much occasion. The day after our arrival at Paris we went over to Passy to visit the doctor, who the next day went to Versailles with us to pay our respects to the comte Vergennes, monsieur Sartine and comte Maurepas; what has since passed of a public nature, you will be fully informed of by the despatches forwarded to congress. Our mission seems a little to have puzzled comte Vergennes, as will appear by the change of opinion respecting the publication of it. The last determination I believe is much the wisest. Why attempt to make a secret of a matter, which has been published in the Gazettes of every state in the

* Fortunately for mankind and the cause of civil liberty this opinion of the great statesman had not the accuracy of his general predictions.