Papers of John Adams, volume 6

From John Bondfield, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John JA

1778-04-28

From John Bondfield, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John Adams, John

From John Bondfield

Sir Bordeaux 28 Apl 1778

I am honord with your favor of the 12 Instant.1

I shall pay perticular attention to see every article you have mention'd in your memorandum compleated and Shipt with care on board Captain Tucker directed as you have laid down. I hope you enjoy your health in the Air of Paris and that every thing around you contributes to your Satisfaction. Wherever my Services can be to you perticularly useful at all times permit me to assure you that I shall ever esteem the honor both from principal and personal attatchment to convince you that I am with great Respect Sr. Your most Obedient Humble Servant

John Bondfield

Permit me to introduce to your regard M. Diodati son in Law to Mons. Trenchard Phycician to his Majesty and Interested in 63 the House of Mess. Germani brother to M. Necker.2 His acquaintance may occationally be to you useful. Mr. John Texier of Amsterdam a Man of considerable Consideration at that City Brother to your Female friend the Adamite who put to your Solution certain philosophical querries at Supper left this on his return to Amsterdam to Day proposes to himself the Honor to pay his respects to you as he pass's.3

RC (Adams Papers).

Neither a letter to Bondfield of 12 April nor a list of the goods JA wished sent to America has been found, but see JA to Samuel Tucker, 29 April, and Tucker's reply of 9 May (both below). AA noted both the return of the Boston to America and “the articles sent by Capt. Tucker” in letters to JA on 21 and 25 Oct. ( Adams Family Correspondence , 3:108, 111).

Presumably Jacques Necker, who, though denied the title of Controller of the Treasury because he was a Swiss and a Protestant, served from 1776 through 1781 as Director General, first of the treasury and then of finances, and was an opponent, for financial reasons, of French intervention in the American Revolution (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale ).

John Texier was probably the brother of Pierre Texier, who, according to JA, was an Amsterdam merchant long resident in Bordeaux and with whom JA had a lengthy conversation on 3 April ( Diary and Autobiography , 4:38–39). For Mme. Pierre Texier's conversation with JA, which left him with some sense of shock with regard to French women, see Diary and Autobiography , 4:36–37.

John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John First Joint Commission at Paris JA

1778-04-28

John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 28 April 1778 Bondfield, John First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

John Bondfield to the Commissioners

Hond Sirs Bordeaux 28 April 1778

Messrs. Palmes Livingston and Heywood1 arrived here the 25th by whom I was favor'd with the Letter you honor'd me with under date 15th Instant.

In consiquence of your Instructions I have received from Captain Tucker an Indent for the provission the respective officers will attend the examination tomorrow to inspect the quality which with the other articles required I shall endeavour to expedite in the course of this week. The Mast has thrown the work much Back. We have received no inteligence from the Out Ports having no Arrivals since my last. I have the honor to be with due Respect Your honors Most Obedient Humble Servant

John Bondfield

RC (Adams Papers).

Probably William Haywood, who, with John Bondfield and Muscoe Livingston, posted bond for the privateer Governor Livingston on 26 Oct. ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 3:432).