John Adams to Charles William Frederick Dumas, February 5, 1783

Paris Feb. 5 1783 1

Sir

I rec d last night your Favour of 30 of January, with the Copies of Letters inclosed.— 2 I am not at all Surprized at the Sentiments expressed in those Copies, nor am I able to give any Satisfactory Answer to the pungent Questions, which I read there.— I feel very Sincerely afflicted for our Friends without being now able, and without having ever been able to do them any Service.— I could tell you a very true Story, which would convince you, that the United States run a great Risque of as bad a Peace, as that of Holland, and that there is no Thanks to the Minister that your Correspondent thinks hard of, that We had not a worse.— 3 Unsuspecting Confidence is ever dangerous in Negotiations. The States General Should have had a Minister in London as soon as M r Rayneval went there, and instead of being instructed to trust so much to another, they should have been instructed to have conducted their Affairs wholly themselves.— You knew the Situation I am in and therefore I rely upon your honour to communicate nothing of this to the Duke de la Vauguion. You knew I never liked the French Minister of foreign affairs. I had great Reasons to distrust him. which you knew not, but the World may one day see.

As to the proposed Negotiation, for the Freedom of Navigation, M r Dana has full Power to treat.— And if France and Spain will come into a Treaty with Holland upon the Subject, M r Franklin M r Jay M r Laurens and myself will treat, En Attendant M r Dana. But between You and me I doubt whether, the French Minister, will be for Such a Treaty. This is merely from Conjecture not Knowledge, so that no dependence can be placed upon it. 4 if the English are cunning they will make a Merit with Holland of agreeing to the Liberty of Navigation. and I suspect this is their Instruction if they get Negapatnam.

with great Esteem &c