Papers of John Adams, volume 16
van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
My Colleague Mr Jefferson, has orders from Congress to receive a sum of Money in Europe for his necessary accommodation, and not readily finding it, I have ventured to draw upon you in his favour for Six Thousand Florins which I request you to honour.1
I am requested also to draw upon you for about a Thousand Pounds sterling in favour of Coll Humphreys Secretary of our
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Legation to enable him to execute Some orders of Congress and of Mr Morris.2 I have not ventured to draw for this, but desire to be informed whether you are in Cash to enable you to accept Such a Bill if I should draw it.
With great Esteem
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs Wilhem and Jan Willink / Nicholas & Jacob Van Staphorst / & De la Lande & Fynje”; APM Reel 107.
On 11 May, four days after it had chosen Thomas Jefferson as one of the joint commissioners to negotiate commercial treaties with European and North African nations, Congress directed Robert Morris to advance Jefferson a quarter of his salary immediately and to provide for the advance of a second quarter in Europe (
JCC
, 26:356, 27:365).
For the orders of Congress, which Morris relayed to David Humphreys in a 15 June letter, see Humphreys’ 20 Nov. letter to JA , and note 1, below.