Papers of John Adams, volume 10

From Hendrik Bicker, 1 October 1780 Bicker, Hendrik JA

1780-10-01

From Hendrik Bicker, 1 October 1780 Bicker, Hendrik Adams, John
From Hendrik Bicker
Monsieur Vellerhoost Le 1re. d'octobre 1780

Je suis bien mortifié de voir que la Visitte que vous avés été faire a mon insinúation n'a pas eú un meilleur succes. Les Expressions significantes, positives, et reiterées dont cette Maison a fait usage, me font croire qui vous devés abandonner l'idée de vous Lier avec Elle pour ne entamer l'affaire en question. Il ne m'etonne pas que vous n'aies pas trouvé chez Elle, autant de confiance dans la solliditté de vos Etats unis, que vous voudries bien nous endosser, j'ai eú deja l'honneur Monsieur de vous le dire cela ne peut naitre qu'avec 190beaucoup de patience et apres avoir vu paroitre une Personne accredittée comme il le faut. Je voudrais pouvoir vous addresser ailleurs, mais decouvrir trop des Refus gatte souvant une Affaire exellante par soi meme. Le Courier Blomberg y est, on pourroit Lui dire s'il ne sçauroit trouver peut etre une Autre que celle Nommée (J.D.B.)1qui voudroit epoúser une pareille Affaire avec challeur, et avant que vous vous y appliqueés, je vous offre mon avis desinterressé sur Sa solliditté et sa façon de panser, entretemps j'ai l'honneur d'etre avec la plús parfaitte consideration Monsieur Votre tres humble & tres obeissant Serviteur,

H. Bicker

Sous le sceaú du Secret je dois vous dire que la Maison de Staphorst2 m'a honorée d'une Visitte pour me solliciter de vous la recommender.

Hendrik Bicker to John Adams: A Translation, 1 October 1780 Bicker, Hendrik JA

1780-10-01

Hendrik Bicker to John Adams: A Translation, 1 October 1780 Bicker, Hendrik Adams, John
Hendrik Bicker to John Adams: A Translation
Sir Vellerhoost, 1 October 1780

I am much chagrined to hear that the visit you made at my suggestion was not more successful. The significant utterances, made in no uncertain terms and often repeated by this House, lead me to believe that you should give up the idea of an alliance before you start the matter at hand. I am not too surprised you did not find there as much confidence in the solidity of your United States as you would like us to have. I already had the honor to tell you that this feeling can only arise after much patience and after seeing a properly accredited person. I could tell you to go elsewhere, but encountering too many rejections can ruin an undertaking which otherwise would have excellent prospects on its own merit. The Blomberg messenger is there and we could perhaps ask him to find another party than the aforementioned (J.D.B.)1 who might gladly join such an undertaking, but before you address yourself to this task, I would like to offer you my candid opinion on his dependability and his way of thinking. In the meantime, I have the honor to be, with utmost consideration, your very humble and very obedient servant,

H. Bicker

Under the oath of secrecy, I must tell you that the House of Staphorst2 has honored me with a visit to ask that I recommend it to you.

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

This was almost certainly Daniël Jan Bouwens, relative of Bicker and member of the Amsterdam firm of Bouwens & Van der Hoop (Pieter J. Van Winter, American Finance and Dutch Investment 1780–1805, transl. James C. Riley, N.Y., 1977, 2 vols., 1:76; JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot , p. 264). In a letter of 7 Nov. (below), JA made a proposal to Bouwens and his firm for a loan.

2.

The financial house of Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst was one of the three firms through which JA negotiated the first Dutch 191loan in 1782 (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:444–445; 3:9). JA was already acquainted with the Staphorsts, having dined with one or the other of them on 14 and 28 Aug., but there is no evidence that he entered into substantive negotiations with the firm in 1780 (JQA, Diary , 1:54, 61).