Papers of John Adams, volume 16
We receive Notice of th’ Express, that a friend of his in Brussel, known by the Gouvernor remained Caution2 for him, that the trunks and Goods belonged to your Excellency; whereupon it has been released under payment of the charges, and duties.
it is owing all to the Carelessness of Mr. Barclay, who had promised to hand him a certificate, that it is your property, and the Clercq of him, who had packed up with our man the goods refused him to get a Costumer to plumb the truncks, when he had been with the certificate provided against all difficulties and those charges avoided, we can not applaud this behaviour! when arrived here we Shall advice your Excellency and pray to mention, if we Shall get the Same directly forwarded to you.
We remain with great esteem. / Sir / Your most Humb Servants
We receive this mail the inclosed of Mr. Barclay, whch. we think sufficient if your excellency thinks so too, whch. please to mention and return the Letter to us.3
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr / Hague.”
JA wrote to the Willinks on 3 July enclosing the passport from the States General to admit the goods, then at Brussels, into the Netherlands (LbC, APM Reel 107), for which see JA’s second letter to the States General of 2 July, above.
That is, the friend stood as security for Egberts, the express.
The postscript is written vertically in the left margin. Presumably Thomas Barclay’s letter concerned JA’s effects and their dispatch from Paris. JA returned it enclosed in his 4 July letter to the Willinks (LbC, APM Reel 107). For Barclay’s comments on the detention of JA’s effects at Brussels, which he blamed wholly on Egberts, the express, see his letter of 9 July, below.
Soon after the Signature of the Preliminary Articles of Peace, I requested, of Congress, their Permission to return to America. This Request they did not at that time judge proper to grant, me, but on the contrary resolved that a Commission should be sent to me, Mr: Franklin & Mr: Jay, to make a Treaty of Commerce with Great Britain. But as no such Commission has arrived in Europe, the Sentiments of Congress are probably changed.2
It is not my Desire to remain long in Europe, nor ever has been, and it is now my Intention, to return to America as soon as I can with Decency. It would be not so respectfull as I wish to be, either to Congress or to the States General, if I were to return without a Letter of Recall; and as Congress are said to be adjourned to October, such a Letter cannot be dispatched before that Time, so that I must either undergo another Winter Voyage, or wait here untill the Spring.
I now however renew my Request for a Letter of Recall, to their High Mightinesses, as it is my Design to return home as soon as I may decently and conveniently, and as it is my unalterable Resolution, not to remain in Europe, consuming in vain but unavoidable Ostentation, the Labour of my fellow Citizens, any longer than I can see a Probability of being of some use to them.
With great & sincere Esteem &c.
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “President of Congress.”; APM Reel 107.
This letter may not have been sent. The RC is not in the PCC, and there is no evidence that it was received or acted upon. Compare this letter with that of 5 July to the president of Congress, below, in which JA touches upon some of the same subjects but does not mention his 1782 resignation or desire to be recalled. But that letter exists only as a MS in the Adams Papers and may not have been sent either.
For JA’s resignation of his commissions to the Netherlands and to jointly negotiate the Anglo-American peace, and for Congress’ failure to act on them, see his 4 Dec. 1782 letter to Robert R. Livingston, vol. 14:112–113. And for his initial enthusiasm over Congress’ 1 May 1783 resolution establishing a joint commission to negotiate an Anglo-American commercial treaty, which determined him to remain in Europe, see his two 8 Sept. letters to the president of Congress, vol. 15:265–268.