John Quincy Adams to John Adams, April 25, 1801

25. April 1801.

My dear Sir.

As I am informed there is a vessel soon to sail from Amsterdam for
Boston, I now forward to M r. Bourne to go by her, this
letter enclosing copies of my numbers 2 and 3. upon the Etat de
la France &c. The book itself will go with the copy of my first letter
concerning it, from Hamburg— Hauterive has generally been given out as its author; but
Talleyrand himself is now understood to have had the principal hand in writing it— I
think you will perceive in it the discovery of a system pursued by the present french government, of most imminent danger to the
political liberties of all Europe, and even of the United States— 1 It is high time for us to be aware that mere resolves of Congress , or proclamations of the Executive, not to engage in the quarrels and dissensions of
Europe, will not alone suffice to keep us out of them— Here is a french minister of
foreign affairs, who tells the world that Europe must have a new Law of Nations; that
France must make it; and that in the system of Europe, France includes the United States — 2 At
the same time a report is circulating all over Europe, that Spain has ceded the
Florida’s and Louisiana to France— At least in the peace of Luneville they have realized
in favour of the duke of Parma, the plan which Carnot has publicly declared he urged for
the peace of Campo Formio, as the price of Louisiana, in order
to obtain a powerful influence over the United States. — 3 We must be upon our guard.

My box of books, which I mentioned in a former letter, sailed from
Holland the 15 th: inst t: in a
vessel of M r: Smith’s—Captain Atkins— and address’d to him— I have already requested you would permit them to be lodg’d
with the rest of my books. 4

My wife continues to be recovering.— Ever faithfully.

A.