Adams, John, 1735-1826 to John Jay

GLC01538

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GLC#
GLC01538
Type
Letters
Date
June 2, 1785
Author/Creator
Adams, John, 1735-1826
Title
to John Jay
Place Written
London, England
Pagination
8 p. : address ; Height: 23 cm, Width: 19 cm
Language
English
Primary time period
The New Nation, 1783-1815
Sub-Era
Creating a New Government

Marked "Duplicate" by Adams, and possibly used for en-cyphering because of the marks and lines above letters, words and sentences. Describes in great detail Adams's reception by King George III as America's first ambassador to Great Britain. He quotes his speech to the king, and the king's response. He also describes an awkward moment when the king tactlessly remarked "There is an opinion, among some People, that you are not the most attracted of all your Countrymen, to the manners of France." Adams writes "I was a little embarassed, but determined not to deny the Truth on one hand, nor leave him to infer from it, any attachment to England on the other, I threw off as much Gravity as I could... and said 'That opinion Sir, is not mistaken, ... I have no Attachment but to my own country.['] The King replied, as quick as lightening 'An honest Man will never have any other.'" Adams notes that his experience in the audience might prove useful to later diplomats.

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