Papers of John Adams, volume 14
thFeb
y.1783.
We refer to what we had the Honour to write yoúr Excellency the 24th. of this month.1 Since we received your much esteemed favoúr of the 19th. Instt: whereby yoú Excellency was pleased to sent ús half a dozen Passports to be used by ús. we are much obliged for yoúr Excellency's attention, & Shall make the needfull use of ’em, if it happen we want any more we Shall be free with the permission your Excellency is pleased to grant us—.2
Messrs. van den Ýver freres & Co. have mark'd ús to have paid by yoúr order to Mr. Taxter the Sum of £100—stg. for accoúnt of Congress, and as they have Sent us a Receipt of it, we Shall in Consequence charge the States of America for it—3
The Pacquet your Excellency has Sent ús for Mr. Ingraham has been deliver'd to said gentle4
We have the honoúr to Remain with due Consideration— / Sir / Yoúr Excellency's most obed / most humb Servants.
o.& Jacob van Staphorst.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr. / at Paris—.”
Not found.
In his letter of the 19th (LbC, APM Reel 108), JA noted that the effective dates for the cessation of hostilities in various parts of the world were to be computed from 3 Feb., the date on which the Anglo-French preliminary treaty was ratified, and advised them to consult Duncan Ingraham should they need assistance in filling in the blanks in the passports.
On 17 Feb. JA requested Van den Yver Frères & Co. to pay Thaxter £100 for his salary, for which the firm was to draw on the consortium (LbC, APM Reel 108).
Presumably JA's letter to Ingraham of 19 Feb., above.