Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1781

Page 1

Amsterdam May 16. 1781

My dearest Friend

I am now settled at Amsterdam on the Keysers Gragt near the Spiegel Straat. Charles is with me to recover his Health after his fever. John is at Leyden. Mr. Thaxter with me.

De la Motte Piquet has taken half Rodneys Plunder. I know not what other News to write. We hope, that Vessels will soon arrive from Boston. Hope you have received your Boxes by Sampson and Jones. I shall send you, as I can, but you must draw upon me, if you find it necessary.

I am more busy than ever, but to no Effect, at least no immediate Effect.

Oh! Oh! Oh! that you were here, to do the Honours of the United States, and to make the beautifull Sc nes with which this Country and Season abounds, agreable to yours forever.

Page 2

[No transcription available -- see page image]

[This letter was written on the verso of a cancelled "Copy" (in John Thaxter's hand) of a note from JA to Hendrik Fagel, 19 April 1781.]

Cite web page as: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1781 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/

Original manuscript: Adams, John. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 May 1781. 1 page. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Source of transcription: Butterfield, L.H., and Marc Friedlaender, eds. Adams Family Correspondence. Vol. 4. Cambridge, Mass. : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1973.