Papers of John Adams, volume 16
Is there no News from Egberts our Express? What can have happened to him? or become of him? Is he dead, or Sick? I Sent you a Passport for him a Week ago, I hope you recd it.1
I am really very anxious about my Papers. To have Papers of Such 280 Importance to the Publick and to myself, So long in coming, and no News or Account about them, is very distressing. I beg you Gentlemen to let me know what is become of him.
your Fried & sert
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs. Wilhem and Jan Willink.”; APM Reel 107.
For JA’s 3 July letter enclosing the passport, see the Willinks’ letter of 2 July, note 1, above.
th:1784.
I have just received your Letter of Yesterday with seven Copies of the English Translation of the Abby de Mably’s Letters.1 I have read part of the Translation and it seems to be well done: But I have read the whole of the Translator’s preface, and can find no other fault in it, than that it is not so long as I wish it. His observations are so good, that I wish he had treated more at large a Subject, on which he appears to have reflected much, and judged with great Exactness. Please to draw upon me, the sooner the better, for your Pay, for the Copies you have sent me both in French and English
As I have not the Pleasure to know the Translator I should be obliged to you for his Name and Quality:2 and further that you would present to him the Compliments and Thanks of, Sir, / Your most obedient and &c
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs: J. F. Rosart & Co.”; APM Reel 107.
The letter from Rosart & Co. has not been found. The enclosed copies were of Observations on the Government and Laws of the United States of America, Amsterdam, 1784. No copy of the Amsterdam translation of the Abbé de Mably’s work is in JA’s library at MB, but it does contain the London edition, Remarks Concerning the Government and the Laws of the United States of America, published later in the year (
Catalogue of JA’s Library
).
For the identity of the translator, probably the Rev. Benjamin Choyce Sowden, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 6, above, and JA’s 27 July letter to Benjamin Franklin and Franklin’s reply of 6 Aug., both below.
I have rec’d your Letters of the fifth and ninth, and at last my Trunks are arrived, so that I am now collected into one Spot. I shall. be much obliged to you, to settle my Account, according to your own Judgment as soon as possible. I would not charge any Thing 281 wrong, nor willingly any thing that shall appear to be so. Yet I ought in Justice to charge what is right.
As to my coming to Paris, it is uncertain, and will be determined upon Mr: Jefferson’s arrival; If, as M: de la Fayette writes me, Mr: Jefferson is united with Dr: Franklin and me, in a Commission to treat with the maritime Powers, I shall be obliged to come.1 But all is uncertain, and indeed I doubt, whether Mr: Jefferson will embark before Congress have an opportunity to consult Mr: Jay. The Dr. writes me, that Mr: Jefferson is talked of to succeed him. Is he to die? or to resign? or be displaced.
Your’s &c.
Will you let me know whether Com: Jones is gone? I owe him a Letter and if he is in Paris I will pay it.2
LbC in JQA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Thos: Barclay Esqr: Consul General”; APM Reel 107.
See the Marquis de Lafayette’s letter of 25 June, above.
John Paul Jones, who had delivered dispatches from Congress to JA at London in Dec. 1783, was then at Paris, but there is no indication that JA wrote to him (vol. 15:387–388). JA’s last letter to Jones was of 12 Aug. 1782 (vol. 13:233), and the two would not exchange letters again until Jones’ letter of 7 Jan. 1786 (Adams Papers) and JA’s reply of the 21st (LbC, APM Reel 113).