Papers of John Adams, volume 14
In Consequence of yoúr Excellency's Esteemed Letter of the 13th. Instt. a Credit of £2500—Sterl Will be given in favoúr of Mr. Francis Dana at Petersbourg for accóunt of Congress. not doubting of their Approbation on yoúr Excellency's proceedings.1
We Should be glad to Know if your Excells. intentions are to be Shortly here again, than if yoúr Excellencys Occupations Shall make your Stay any Longer at Paris, if So, you'll oblige ús Very much in telling ús if it Should be Convenient that we dispatch to yoúr Excellency a Pack of thousand Obligations to Claim his Signature on ’em.
We have the Honour to Remain Very Respectfully. / Sir / Yoúr Excellency's most obedt. / most humb Servants
s.& Jacob van Staphorst.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr. / at Paris.”
The credit that JA sought for Francis Dana in his letter of 13 May (LbC, APM Reel 108) was in response to Dana's request in his letter of 25 Nov. 1782, above, for funds to defray the costs of negotiating a treaty with Russia. By 22 May Russia's refusal to recognize the United States made the funds unnecessary, but the final word came in Dana's letter of [29 July], in which he informed JA that Congress refused the expenditure and authorized his return from Russia: “they will not buy a Treaty at this day” (Adams Papers, filmed at 18 July).