Adams, John Quincy, as Minister to Great Britain

Autograph letter signed ("John Quincy Adams"), 2 pages on one leaf (8 3/4 x 6 3/4 in.; 220 x 170 mm), Paris, 2 March 1815, to Levett Harris, Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburg, together with envelope, discussing the Treaty of Ghent and its ramifications for Anglo-American relations; light browning. Matted wtih a portrait of Adams, double-glazed, and framed.

Ford, Writings 5: 285–286

Adams on the ramifications of the Treaty of Ghent for the United States and Great Britain. Immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on 24 December 1814, Adams was transferred from his post of minister to Russia to that of minister to Great Britain. In the meanwhile the American mission to St. Petersburg was in the hands of Levett Harris, as chargé d'affaires. Adams observes: "There is no doubt, as Count Romanzoff remarked to you that the British were closely pressed at Vienna at the moment we signed the peace, and that their difficulties at that Congress together with their disappointments in America presented as a favorable occasion for terminating our war." The treaty released all prisoners and restored all war lands and boats. Returned to the United States were approximately 10,000,000 acres of territory near Lakes Superior and Michigan, in Maine, and on the Pacific coast. American held areas of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) were returned to British control.

Hopes for worldwide peace. Adams speculates that "The great objects at the Congress of Vienna are now settled entirely to the satisfaction of Great Britain. What the desire of our government has been upon the treaty we sent them I will not anticipate, but if I would have doubted of the policy on our part of signing as we did and when we did, all such doubts would at this instant be removed.  I have invariably believed that the issue of the Congress at Vienna would be pacific, and that the peace in Europe would continue to be general for at least a few years. It is probably that the state of peace itself will bring upon the British government some embarrassments which may operate to our advantage. And I confess I should just now have felt very awkwardly if by refusing peace upon the terms which we did accept because the English were closely pressed at Vienna, we should now see them as we do completely released from that pressure, and with carte blanche from all Europe against America."  After ratification papers were exchanged in Washington on 17 February  and only a day before Adams wrote this letter, Napoleon had escaped from Elba, starting the war in Europe again, and forcing the British to concentrate on the threat he posed.