Papers of John Adams, volume 16
My Express who sett off, on the third from Amsterdam is with you before now, and I hope you have found the Bills of Exchange to your Satisfaction. I am anxious for his Return, that I may have once collected together, under my own Eye, all that belongs to me in Europe, and be able to finish my Accounts. I should be much obliged to you, if you would examine my Accounts and Vouchers and give me your opinion, if any Thing further is necessary for me to do or to furnish you with before you can settle the Account of my Salary and Disbursements up to this day, when I delived it or signed it.— Since that I have only to Send you an Account of the Cash I have recd and of my Salary up to some certain day. I want to have this matter off my Mind, and to clear away all the Rubbish that I may have the Way clear to follow the Example of Mr Jay and Mr Laurens, if there Should be Occasion. I regret now, that I had not set them the Example, which I Should have done, had not a Resolution of Congress of the 1. of May 1783 diverted me.—1 Now I must trust to the Chapter of Accidents.
Inclosed is an Order upon Mr Grand from Captain Jones for Twenty Guineas, which I lent him in London. Please to receive it, and present it to Mrs Barclay, in any Thing She chooses, as a Small Token of my Gratitude for her Hospitality to me in my Distress at Auteuil2
With &c
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hon. Thomas Barclay Esq.”; APM Reel 107.
This is the 1 May 1783 resolution authorizing JA, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay to negotiate an Anglo-American commercial treaty, but which Congress never implemented by issuing a commission or instructions. JA indicates his regret at having not followed through on his intention to return to America in 1783 following the negotiation of the Anglo-American peace treaty rather than remaining in Europe in anticipation of the new commission that never came (vol. 15:40, 265–266).
John Paul Jones brought dispatches to JA in London on or about 5 Dec. 1783. JA was thanking Mary Hoops Barclay for her care during his illness in September and October when he and JQA resided at her home in Auteuil (vol. 15:294, 387–388).