Papers of John Adams, volume 16
I have the Honour to inclose in Confidence Copy of the Resolution of Congress of the 29 Day of October last, which I take it for granted has been communicated by Mr Franklin and Mr Jay.
I am just now informed, that an Express which I lately Sent to Paris, on his Return, has been arrested at Brussells, and is detained there. He has with him, three Trunks containing my Manuscript Books and Papers, Cloaths belonging to my self, son and servants, and Ninety Six Silver Spoons and Forks, made at Paris for the Use 259 of my Family: But no one Paper relative to any affairs but my own, nor the Smallest Article of Merchandise of any Kind.
I know not, whether you can with Propriety write a Line upon the Subject to any one at Brussells, which would no doubt procure the Release of my Express and his effects. if you can, I hereby ask the Favour. if not, it Seems necessary that I Should make this Communication to prevent Reports and Suspicions which may arise from this unlucky Event, With great Respect,
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Baron de Reishach”; APM Reel 107.
Cest bien malgré moi, que je n’ay pu repondre tout de Suitte à Votre lettre de ce matin, mais mon peu de Coñoissance de la langue Angloise m’at obligé d’attendre à cet effet la rentré d’un de mes Secretaires pour en Coñoitre la Substance; et Satisfaire à vos intentions.
Il apert par la traduction qu’on m’a faite que vous Suposés et vous doutés que c’est à Bruxelles, que l’Exprès qui vous aportoit de Paris trois Coffres Contenant vos livres, papiers en Manuscript, de L’argenterie et autres effets pour l’usage de Votre famille, a eté arretté et est detenu la; que Consequenment vous desirés que je m’employe à faire relacher Votre Exprès, et Ses effets, et obvier par la même à tous raports ou Soupcons qui pouroient se former de cet évenement.
Ce que vous me demandés, Monsieur, est trop Comforme à toute Equité et aux principes du Gouvernement General des Païs Bas, ainsi qu’en même tems à mon empressement à vous etre util, pour que dez le depart de la premiere poste pour Bruxelles, je n’en écrive directement à Msr. Le Ministre Plenipotentiaire Cte: de Belgioyoso, et ne puisse vous repondre de Sa Solicitude à aquiescer entierement à votre demande, Le cas étant tel.1
Si vous pouviez cependant m’imformer du nom de l’expres, du jour qu’il a eté arretté et S’il etoit muni de quelques certificats ou passeport, cela abregeroit peut etre une ou autre imformation que les bureaux de Douane de S. M. Imp̃le Sont authorizés a demander.
260Je vous Suis egalement très obligé de la Copie de la Resolution prise par le Congrés le 29. Obre. de 1783. J’en ferai usage; ne Souhaitant qu’acũllies le moment de vous assurer de vive voix la Consideration parfaitte avec laquelle j’ai l’honeur d’etre / Monsieur / votre très humble et tres / Obeissant Serviteur
I was not able to answer your letter of this morning right away in spite of myself, as my limited knowledge of English obliged me to wait for the return of one of my secretaries in order to understand its contents and act to satisfy your wishes.
It appears from the translation that was done for me that you suppose that the express who was bringing from Paris three trunks containing your books, manuscript papers, silverware, and other effects for the use of your family was stopped and detained at Brussels and that consequently you desire my assistance in securing the release of your express and his effects and in obviating thereby any reports or suspicions that might arise from this event.
That which you ask of me, sir, is so much in keeping with all fairness and with the principles of the general government of the Netherlands, as well as with my own eagerness to be useful to you, that I will write directly to Minister Plenipotentiary Comte de Belgiojoso by the first post to Brussels, and I can assure you of his solicitude to comply fully with your request, the case being what it is.1
If you could in the meantime inform me of the name of the express, the day on which he was detained, and whether he was furnished with some certificates or passport, that might forestall one or another demand for information that the customs office of His Imperial Majesty is authorized to make.
I am equally obliged to you for the copy of the resolution of Congress of 29 October 1783. I will make use of it, only wishing for the opportunity to assure you in person of the perfect regard with which I have the honor of being, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC (Adams Papers).
Ludwig Karl, Comte de Barbiano-Belgiojoso (1728–1801), an Austrian general, served as minister plenipotentiary to and vice governor of the Austrian Netherlands from 29 Jan. 1783 to 23 Aug. 1787 (Leopold Kudrna, “Biographical Dictionary of All Austrian Generals during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1792–1815,” www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/Austria/AustrianGenerals/c_AustrianGeneralsB1.html#B13). For Barbiano-Belgiojoso’s reply to the Austrian minister’s inquiry on JA’s behalf, see Reischach’s letter of 6 July 1784, below.