Papers of John Adams, volume 14

To Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 1 December 1782 Adams, John Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business) Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business) La Lande & Fynje, de (business)
To Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
Gentlemen, Paris Decr. 1st. 1782.

The Preliminaries, to be inserted, in the definitive Treaty of Peace, when the other belligerent Powers shall be ready, were yesterday signed & sealed by the Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty on the one part, & the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States on the other.

This Fact I communicate to You in Confidence, that You may make the best Use of it You can, for the Interest and Honor of the United States. I leave You, Gentlemen, to make your own Reflections, and draw your own Inferences, only requesting You to be as secret as the Nature of the Thing requires—

I have the Honor to be, with great Esteem, / Gentlemen &c

LbC in John Thaxter's hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messs. Willinks, / Van Staphorsts & / De la Lande & Fynjé.”; APM Reel 108.