Paris, 27 March 1780. RC (PCC, No. 84, I, f. 361–364).

In this letter, received by Congress on 31 July and read on 1 Aug., John Adams wrote that war “is now generally considered as a Contest of Finances; so that the Nation which can the longest find Money to carry on the War, can generally hold out the longest.” Adams believed that Great Britain, because of its 87heavy taxation since 1774, had nearly reached the end of its resources. In support of his claim, Adams included a British newspaper account of the proposals for new taxes that Lord North had presented to Parliament on 15 March. The additional revenue was intended to pay the interest on the twelve million pound loan to support the current budget that had been approved on 6 March ( Parliamentary Hist. , 21:154–171).

Some Villain, has reported, and it is almost universally Creditted by the people of this place, that the Americans, have concluded a peace with Great Britain, and notwithstanding the absurdity of the report, and all the reasons, that I could give them, such as, the impossibillity of concluding peace, in so short a time, and from the disposition of the people when I left America—also that no one, could possibly have powers from Britain to Accede to peace, still they pretend something about the paper money &c. And look on a Virginia Gentleman and myself with as much coldness, as tho it was a fact, and, that we where the persons who had Brought it, about. As I have been treated, with the greatest, poliness heretofore, and the present behavoiur, is Occasiond by this report, which is lilkwise curculated at Bordeaux, I must beg it, as a favour to be Indulged, with a line or two from you, by the next post, to prove the falseness of the report. I sometime ago, wrote Mr. Thaxter, but as I only directed for Paris, I suppose the letter is in the office now, as I had no Answer. Please to present my Regards to the Honorable Mr. Dana, Mr. Thaxter and the Young Gentlemen—if they are with you at Paris. I have to ask pardon, for troubling you, with this letter, when matters of so much more Consequince no doubt, Demand your attention. But that friendship, which you was pleased to Express for me, must be my Excuse.