Beschreibung:

ADAMS, JOHN, 1735-1826, President . Letter signed ("J. Adams") as U.S. Minister to the Netherlands, TO HIS WIFE, ABIGAIL ADAMS, Paris, 4 December 1782. 1 page, 4to, 210 x 183mm. (8 1/4 x 7 1/4 in.), tipped to another sheet. WHILE NEGOTIATING THE TREATY OF PARIS, ADAMS DECLARES: "I HAVE...WRITTEN TO CONGRESS A RESIGNATION" A warm, personal letter in which Adams announces plans to return from his diplomatic mission abroad and gives news of their son, John Quincy Adams: "Your proposal of coming to Europe has long & tenderly affected me. The dangers & Inconveniences are such & an European life would be so disagreable to you that I have suffered a great deal of anxiety in reflecting upon it. But, upon the whole, I think it most for the happiness of my family & for the honor of our Country, that I should come home. I have accordingly written this day to Congress a Resignation of all my employments & as soon as I receive their acceptance of it, I will embark for America, which will be in the Spring or the beginning of next Summer. Our Son [John Quincy Adams, later President] is now on his journey for Petersbourg thro' Sweden, Denmark & Germany, and, if it please God he come safe, he shall come with me, and I pray we will all meet once more, you & I, never to Seperate again..." Adams had been in Europe since December 1779. In June 1781 he was appointed by Congress to a committee (including Benjamin Franklin John Jay, Thomas Jefferson and Henry Laurens) to negotiate the treaty with Britain which would end the Revolutionary War and grant recognition of American independence. Adams reached Paris on October 26. Preliminary articles were signed in January 1783, a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed by Britain on 4 February and the final treaty was signed in Paris on 3 September. Abigail Adams had expressed a willingness to join her husband in Europe, but did not have the opportunity to do so until the summer of 1784, when Adams was named envoy to the Court of St. James.