Papers of John Adams, Volume 18: Volume 18

Volume 18 is the final volume of The Papers of John Adams devoted to Adams' diplomatic career. It chronicles fourteen months of his tenure as minister to Great Britain and his joint commission, with Thomas Jefferson, to negotiate treaties with Europe and North Africa. With respect to Britain, Adams found it impossible to do "any Thing Satisfactory, with this Nation," and the volume ends with his decision to resign his posts. Other aspects of Adams' life were not disappointing. Through agent Thomas Barclay, he and Jefferson concluded a treaty with Morocco. Barclay's letters are the earliest and most evocative American accounts of that region. Adams witnessed the marriage of his daughter, Abigail 2d, to William Stephens Smith, promoted the ordination of American Episcopal bishops, and toured the English countryside. Most significant perhaps was the publication of the first volume of Adams' Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America. This work is often attributed to concern over Shays' Rebellion, of which Adams knew little. In fact, it was Adams' 1786 visit to the Netherlands that provoked his work. Dutch Patriot friends, involved in their own revolution, expressed interest in seeing "upon paper" his remarks "respecting Government."