John Adams to Richard Cranch, December 18, 1781
Amsterdam Decr. 18 1781
My dear Brother
I send you a Volume of Politics. A Second Volume will be ready in 6 or 7 Weeks.—You will
hear more about this Paper, in time. 1
I have received several kind Letters from you. Pray continue to write me, altho you should
be disappointed of my Answers. I have noted your Desire, in one of them and have taken such
measures as I could, but fear you have received nothing as yet, although some have been
sent. 2 Little can be done in this Way. This
Country begins to think seriously of Us but they must think a long time, you know.
There is no Prospect of Peace. Let our Country men look to their Trade and Privateers, for I
suspect the English will strain every Nerve, to hurt them in this Way finding so many Caudine
Forks in the Land War. The English are amuzing the Dutch
with insidious Proposals of a seperate Peace. But I am perswaded no such Thing can take Place.
A Quadruple Alliance would be much more for the Honour and Interest of this
Rep [ublic] but whether they will think so time must discover.
The Emperor has acceeded to the armed Neutrality: so that all the Powers of the World, are
either at War with England or pledged to be Neutral. The King of Prussia acceeded sometime
ago.
The Brit [ish] Ministry seem to give over the Ideas of Conquest. By their
Speeches in Parliament, their Hopes are extinct. Yet perhaps this may be a feint. It is
impossible however, that they should do much. The People are meeting and making a Bustle, but
all will evaperate in a few frothy Speeches, and fruitless Remonstrances.
Our Allies have at last found the true Method of obtaining Tryumphs. If they pursue the Plan
the War will be easy.
The British Navy will be much weaker next year than this. Their Army is not proposed to be
stronger, and they will not find it in fact, near so strong.
Let Dr. Cooper read the Politique Hollandais, and tell him that I will send him his sermon
and the Governors Speech and the Massachusetts Constitution, translated into Dutch, as soon as
I can. The Translation is published with an elegant Comparison between the
Mass [achusetts] Constitution and that of this
Rep [ublic] . 3
Remember me to every Body.
Your affectionate Brother