I have the pleasure of noting, from your esteemed letter of 28 November, that we thought of and wrote to each other on the same day. We feel and sincerely share the joy that you will experience in embracing Mrs. Adams and your dear children, who we suppose are also coming. My wife and 394my daughter look forward to paying their respects to her, and the former will hurry to give to her all that you deposited here in her hands.

As I cannot tell from your letter, sir, if you are planning to reside with madame right here at The Hague, nor consequently if you want the whole house at your disposal and hers this coming May, and as it is important meanwhile that I make the least ruinous arrangements to find another dwelling for us, I ask you please, sir, to let me know clearly all your intentions in this matter as soon as possible, so that I can make my decision in this regard in a way that meets your needs, and without too much loss and inconvenience for us, because it is around New Year’s, as I had the honor of informing you in another letter, that houses are rented here for occupancy in the month of May. Then one can choose something serviceable. Otherwise you have to pay twice the price, only to be very uncomfortable.

Everyone is indignant here, as they must also be in France, at the pitiful reason put forward by the Duke of Manchester at Versailles for why the peace has not yet been concluded at Paris. They call this reason an impudent falsehood, and they are going to make resolutions here as a consequence.1

If you intend, sir, to spend the winter here with Mrs. Adams, would you like my wife to acquire the peat for you while the canals are still open, because after that you have to pay a high price for poor quality. In that case please let us know how many hundreds of barrels you want of it.

Mr. Fagel, whom I saw on my rounds, asked me to send his compliments to you. Mr. de Gyselaar, while sending his own, begged me to inform you of his upcoming union, in two or three months, with a fine young lady.2

My family sends you their respects as well as their compliments to your esteemed son, and please add my own.

I am with great respect, your excellency’s very humble and very obedient servant