In April of the following year, he was again elected a member of the senate of Massachusetts, and in June was re-appointed a delegate in congress for the year beginning in November.

Notwithstanding the pertinacity with which these high and honourable offices were pressed upon him, he does not appear during that year to have much concerned himself with public duty. His seat in the senate he never assumed, nor did he accept immediately the more desirable situation in the national councils. Private affairs to which the decease of a relative called his particular attention, afforded him an excuse for intermitting his public labours; and his constant devotion for many years preceding to the service of his country, was accepted by his fellow-citizens as an apology for not repairing to those posts of honour and confidence, which their partiality continued to assign to him.

But in addition to the reasons above alluded to, some dissatisfaction was felt by Mr. Gerry that at this time the cause of his leaving congress had not been settled, and some displeasure was entertained towards the existing government of the state. Feeling that under these circumstances the usefulness of his exertions might be limited, and little desirous of public office for personal gratification, he was inclined to consider that for him, at that moment," the post of honour was a private station."

MR. JOHN ADAMS TO MR. GERRY.

DEAR SIR,

THE HAGUE, JULY 2, 1782.

Well! how do you find yourself after a little repose? Are you married? Or making fortune in trade? Or still busied in politics and public good? I am in a longing condition for your letters, because they used to give me the most comprehensive ideas of affairs. You ought to remember me, for it was you who sent me abroad in quest of adventures which have ruined me, de fond en comble. I am worn out and broken to pieces; but can still laugh at the folly and ill-nature of the world.

I can tell you no news. The Mynheers have received us with open arms at last. If they should not do much for us they have increased our reputation, and they have bound themselves to do nothing against us, which is a great point gained. The open, public manner in which all has been conducted, redounds much to our honour.

The news must be divided into that which respects war, and that which respects peace. The war in Europe is wholly maritime. The combined fleet sailed from Cadiz the 4th June, and has not been heard of since. It is expected in the channel to be joined by the Dutch and by other French ships from Brest. But some begin to suspect, that Cordova is gone to Jamaica or New-York.

If they come to the channel, the English cannot meet them; they must skulk into Torbay, &c. Certain little intrigues, from certain individuals in Russia and Denmark, make some suspect that these powers wish to favour England, but they can do nothing. They all agree that the American question is decided; but say there are so many pretensions against England, that she should be favoured a little. Ireland has carried points for the present, which will be the foundation of a war between them and England hereafter,

Mr. Grenville is at Paris, and after a long time has obtained power to treat with all the belligerent powers; but as the English don't allow us to be a power, they mean to chicane, to raise the stocks, to get money and to lull the sailors into tranquillity, that they may press them without suspicion. I have no faith in the success of this negotiation for peace, but wish I may be deceived.

What is become of the American navy? Is it the system to let it die? This is not prudent. How does your constitution work and your governours, &c. behave? Does all play well like a good instrument of music?

I hope you go to congress again. Jackson and Lovell I find are going. These are good hands; but there is a Parsons that I want to go. If you and Sullivan, Jackson and Lovell, &c. go, Massachusetts will be highly represented. We must send our best men there. That is the great

wheel. The governour himself, councillors, senators, judges, all ought to consider it as honourable to go to congress. We should be very careful to send no mean men there.

I fancy that in America the task will not be difficult. There are three subjects, which ought to be attended to above all things; finance, a navy, and foreign affairs. These subjects are not yet generally well understood, and their immense importance is not discerned. If we do not maintain an independence in our foreign politics, if we do not avoid frivolity, intrigue and chicane, and rest upon our proper basis, reason and right, our posterity will have reason to regret it for ages, and forever. We shall be made the sport. We are not and never shall be a match for them in pomp and magnificence, intrigues of pleasure, bribes and corruption, and the moment we tolerate this method in our ministers, we are hurried down a torrent. Whereas it is the easiest thing in the world to make ourselves respected, by standing upon national interests.

In time we shall have courage equal to our strength. It is worth while to go abroad, to see by what men this world is governed, and by what women!

Adieu, my dear friend, remember me.

JOHN ADAMS.

MR. JOHN ADAMS TO MR. GERRY.

PARIS, DEC. 14, 1782.

Thanks be to God, my dear Gerry, that our Tom Cod are safe in spite of the malice of enemies, the finesse of allies, and the mistakes of congress.

The fisheries were attacked through my sides, but they have not been wounded. We have obtained an explicit acknowledgment of our right to all the fisheries, and the most unlimited liberty to catch fish, and liberty to dry them on Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador. We are only restrained from drying on Newfoundland. This article cost us all the industry, all the skill and address that we were masters of. We omitted no argument to convince the English ministry, that it was their interest to secure it to us. But the ar

gument that depriving us of it would be a certain source of another war, was strengthened a great deal by the evidence there is, that the French minister was very willing that this bone of contention should be left.

Sagadahock is safe too as far as St. Croix. The navigation of the Mississippi and the western lands as far as the great lakes is ours too, unless Spain should defeat us, which I hope will not be. Was it perceived in America that I was attacked as standing in the way of certain views upon