Papers of John Adams, volume 11

To the President of Congress

To the President of Congress

To Silas Talbot, 26 June 1781 JA Talbot, Silas

1781-06-26

To Silas Talbot, 26 June 1781 Adams, John Talbot, Silas
To Silas Talbot
Sir Amsterdam June 26. 17811

I have received your Letter of the fifth instant, and am very Sorry, to hear of your Misfortune. I wish it were in my Power, to comply with your Request: but it is not. I have no publick Money in my Hands and therefore cannot furnish you with any on account, of Pay, due to you. I have, however Sent you, ten Guineas Pounds sterling, which I can only lend you out of my own Pocket, untill you may be in a Situation to repay me. Mr. F. at Passy, is the only one in Europe, who has Power to afford you relief, on publick Account, if, indeed he has, which I cannot positively Say, but should advise you to write to him, without mentioning me however, to him. I remember very well, and with great Pleasure your name, Person and Character. I must beg you, for your own Sake as well as for other reasons to keep this Letter wholly to yourself.

LbC (Adams Papers).

1.

On this date JA wrote a similar letter to John Manley (LbC, Adams Papers). JA omitted only his advice to write to Benjamin Franklin and the comment regarding his knowledge of Talbot. Both Talbot and Manley wrote to Franklin on 4 June (Franklin, Papers , 35:121–123). For Franklin's assistance to the two prisoners, see Franklin, Papers , 36:61–64.