Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8
We are lodged in our old Chamber at Amsterdam, and Sleep as soundly as if there were not a dozen houses plundered every night. The two nights before the last were very Seditious. last night was quiet, and the Precautions which Secured the Peace then, will be continued, so t[hat] all will be still.— dont be anxious for Us, nor believe half the Reports that will be circulated. Such Events are often exaggerated at first. Mr Cutting and myself are very Safe. The Party for the Prince, appears to be so feeble in Amsterdam, that every thing will be quieted, very soon.1
I cannot Say when We shall return, but I believe We Shall recross from Helvoet to Harwick, by next Wednesdays Packet, so that you may expect Us by Friday or Saturday. Yet We may be detained a Week longer.
I have accomplished the Business I came upon, and have this Day signed the Contract for a Million of Guilders at five Per Cent. so that Congress will be at ease for another year.2 My Love to Mrs Smith, and a Kiss for my Grand Boy.
My Libel is much applauded here. They call it “The Breviary of Liberty, Safety and good order” a Compliment more flattering to me, than all the Ingenuity of my own Self Love & Vanity, could have invented. I am forever yours
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “England / Madame / Madame Adams / chez Le Ministre des / Etats Unis De L'Amerique / Grosvenor Square / London”; internal address: “Portia.”; endorsed: “Mr Adams june / 1 1787—”; docketed by WSS: “JA— to Mrs. A / June 1st 1787.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.
On 21 April throngs of Patriots occupied Amsterdam's Dam Square and ousted regents who supported Stadholder William V. After supporters of the expelled officials 74challenged the validity of these actions, Patriots rampaged on the night of 29 May. The deliberate destruction of bridges to the center of the city made it difficult for troops loyal to the stadholder to reach the affected area, leaving Patriots free to ransack the homes and businesses of their opponents over several days. When a semblance of order was restored through military force, many of Amsterdam's wealthy families fled the city (Schama, Patriots and Liberators
, p. 115–117).
JA signed a contract with the Amsterdam banking firms of Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst and Wilhem & Jan Willink for a loan to the United States of one million guilders, to be paid back over fifteen years at 5 percent interest. This was the third loan JA negotiated on behalf of the United States, the first two of which included the firm of De la Lande & Fynje along with the Staphorsts and Willinks. An initial borrowing of five million guilders was made in 1782, and a second loan of two million guilders was taken out in 1784. JA would negotiate a fourth loan in March 1788, on the eve of the Adamses' departure from Europe, of one million guilders, also with the Staphorsts and Willinks (Winter, Amer. Finance and Dutch Investment
, 2:1086–1089;
JA to AA, 14 March 1788, below). For more on JA's first loan from the Dutch, see JA, Papers
, 13:passim.
I wrote you Yesterday, that I had executed the Contract and should return to England by the Packet of Wednesday the Sixth of June. But as the Money Lenders, whether to make a mere Compliment to me, whether to shew their Patriotism, or whether from simple Caprice, made it an original Condition that my Name should be Subscribed to all the obligations, as it was in the first loan, instead of being Signed only once before the Notary Public, as it was in the last, I shall be detained till tuesday in amsterdam. Two thousand Signatures will take me two Days, for altho I once wrote my name 2500 times in one day, I would not do it again, for more Money than I ever got by all my Loans, that is to say for nothing.—1 I shall not now be able to embark at Helvoet, before Saturday or the following Wednesday.
I am grieved for Mr Barclay and his amiable Family but can give them no relief.
The two last nights have been quiet: but I am told that near thirty houses have been rifled.— Some Persons of note have decamped, and discoveries are Said to have been made, but I give little Credit to what I hear, because Reports at such times are given out, with design: and I am not in any Secret, because I will not be. I am but a Passenger.— it is given out that there will be Seven Executions this Morning. a Scene that my Nerves are not in tune to see.2
one Truth is now manifest to all, namely that the Patriotick Party, is all powerful at Amsterdam, and consequently the Prince must comply, or do worse.
75My Love to Mrs Smith and her dear Boy.— I am very glad You again complyed with Mr Brand Hollis's advice for your health is ever dear to your ever affectionate
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “England / Mrs Adams / at the American Ministers / Grosvenor Square / London”; internal address: “Portia.”; endorsed: “Mr Adams june / 2d 1787.”
JA probably refers to the bonds he was obligated to sign for his 1782 loan; see JA, Papers
, 13:172, 517, 528, 529.
Newspapers reported hangings occurring during and after the riots, both as atrocities in the heat of battle and punishments in its aftermath. The London Gazetteer reported “fourteen of the Stadtholder's adherents were seized in the streets on the second day of the rioting, and hanged by the mob of the opposite party.” Punishments were meted out to rioters beginning on 2 June 1787 as JA anticipated, but the early reports were exaggerated. Rather than seven hangings, “one of the rioters, who was caught pillaging, was hung up with very little ceremony” (London Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser, 8, 11 June).