Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8
th1788
Not a word have I heard of, or from you Since you left me this day week. I am anxious to know how you got over & how you do. I am so unfortunate as to be confined for several days past with an inflamation in my Throat attended with canker, & some fever. it is rather abated to day, and I hope is going of. we go on packing, but it is a much more labourious peice of buisness than I imagind and takes much more time, I hope we shall finish in a few day's The New dutch minister was presented at court this week & makes a splendid appearence with his footmen in scarelet & silver, & a gay page or Running footman was vastly well Received at Court &c &c1
Nothing from America since you left us.
Master Billy is sitting upon the table whilst I write and send his duty to Grandpappa. the Weather is such that I cannot but rejoice we are not at sea. Scott has been beating in the Channel these ten days, but every day brings us a prospect of better weather. adieu I shall be very uneasy if I do not hear from you by this Days post. I know not where to direct to you so shall cover to Willinks. ever yours
RC (Adams Papers); addressed by WSS: “To— / His Excellency / John Adams / Minister Plenipotentiary / &c. &c. &c / Hague.”
Anne Willem Carel, Baron van Nagell van Ampsen (1756–1851), was named the new Dutch ambassador to Great Britain in February and served until 1795 (
Nieuw Ned. Biog. Woordenboek
, 2:977–978;
Repertorium
, 3:264).
th1788
The Mail is this day arrived, but not a Line have I got from you, nor have I heard a word from you since you left me. I hope you are well. I am anxious to learn when you expect to get back. I find by Letters received yesterday from France1 that mr Jefferson is gone to meet, you, which will render your visit in Holland much pleasenter to you. Callihan does not appear in any great Hurry, and I am full in the Mind that he had rather make it the middle of April before he sails than go sooner. he will not however have to wait for our things, as I hope they will all be on Board this week. I shall stay in the 243House as long as I possibly can, but if you do not get back before the 20th imagine I shall be in some Hotell.
We have had more Winter since you left London than the whole season before, and Terible Soar throats have been the concequence of the harsh March winds I have had my share of it I hope, which proved very obstinate for several days, & yesterday was the first of my getting out. Mr & Mrs Smith will leave London the 20th
I wrote you by last frydays Mail under cover to messiurs Willinks. my most Respectfull compliments to mr Jefferson. I rejoice in the Idea of your having met again before you leave Europe. the papers give us a magnificent account of preperations in Holland for celebrating the Birth day of the Stadtholder2
Nothing from America Since you left me; I find it very lonesome here & Should be more so if I was not so buisily employd in preperations for our departure—
adieu most affectionately / yours
after closing my Letter, yours of March the fourth is just brought me. I rejoice to hear you are well. compliments to mr d. & family if you had named the Hotell you were at, I Should not be obliged to Send my Letters to Amsterdam
RC (Adams Papers); addressed by AA2: “To / His Excellency John Adam's / &Cc&c &c / att the Hague / Bath Hotel / Piccadilly”; endorsed: “My dearest Friend / March 11 1788.”
Thomas Jefferson to JA, 2 March (Jefferson, Papers
, 12:637–638).
The Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, 11 March, reprinted a letter from The Hague, dated 6 March, that stated, “The preparations making here for celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Stadtholder surpasses every thing seen in this Republick on a like occasion; not only the greatest part of the houses, but all the principal streets, will be illuminated in a new taste, and the latter with pyramids and other ornaments.” The city also planned to build 100 arches, all “magnificently illuminated,” and a 100-foot obelisk facing the stadholder's palace. The celebration itself, with “eleven pieces of superb fireworks,” would take place on 8 March.
AA wrote the postscript on a separate sheet of paper.