Papers of John Adams, volume 19
The multiplied Cares attending the Removal of a Family, from one Country to another; and beginning a new Course of Life or resuming an old one, after an interruption of fourteen years; must be my apology, if any apology is neccessary, for having omitted, till this time, to Solicit the final Settlement of my Accounts, with the United States.—1 As Mr Barclay has, for many years, had the examination of the Accounts, of all the Ministers abroad, and of mine in particular, untill my removal to England; I wish to be informed, whether it is the Intention of Congress that I Should transmit the remainder of my Accounts to that Gentleman or any other for a Similar examination, or to the Board of Treasury, or to Congress immediately.— Let me request of you Sir, to lay this Letter before that Honourable assembly, and to transmit me, their Commands, which shall be obeyed as soon as possible.2
With great respect I have [the] / Honour to be, Sir, your most / obedient and most humble / Servant
RC (PCC, No. 84, VI, f. 635–638); addressed: “His Excellency / John Jay Esqr / Secretary of State, for the / Department of foreign Affairs / New York”; internal address: “His Excellency John Jay Esqr / Secretary of State for the / Department of foreign Affairs.”; endorsed: “Recd. 25 Octr. 1788.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 124. Text lost where the seal was removed has been supplied from the LbC.
See John Adams’ Accounts in Europe: 1785–1788 in the appendix to this volume.
Since JA’s salary and expenses were covered by funds from the Dutch loans and dispensed by the loan consortium, there was little need for JA to press for any kind of compensation from an inattentive Congress. On 7 Nov., Jay informed JA that it was unlikely “that a sufficient number will be convened during the Winter, unless some circumstance of Importance should occur to induce their Attendance. If however a House should be formed, I will take the earliest opportunity of laying your Letter before them, & of transmitting to You whatever orders they may think proper to give on the Subject of it.” From 3 Nov. until 2 March 1789, Congress did not transact any business (Adams Papers;
JCC
, 34:604).