Papers of John Adams, volume 16
van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
My Colleague Mr Jefferson, has orders from Congress to receive a sum of Money in Europe for his necessary accommodation, and not readily finding it, I have ventured to draw upon you in his favour for Six Thousand Florins which I request you to honour.1
I am requested also to draw upon you for about a Thousand Pounds sterling in favour of Coll Humphreys Secretary of our
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Legation to enable him to execute Some orders of Congress and of Mr Morris.2 I have not ventured to draw for this, but desire to be informed whether you are in Cash to enable you to accept Such a Bill if I should draw it.
With great Esteem
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs Wilhem and Jan Willink / Nicholas & Jacob Van Staphorst / & De la Lande & Fynje”; APM Reel 107.
On 11 May, four days after it had chosen Thomas Jefferson as one of the joint commissioners to negotiate commercial treaties with European and North African nations, Congress directed Robert Morris to advance Jefferson a quarter of his salary immediately and to provide for the advance of a second quarter in Europe (
JCC
, 26:356, 27:365).
For the orders of Congress, which Morris relayed to David Humphreys in a 15 June letter, see Humphreys’ 20 Nov. letter to JA , and note 1, below.
e.Oct. 1784.
En adressant la présente à Votre Excellence, je dois vous prévenir, qu’il ne me sera ni permis, ni par conséquent possible de vous faire parvenir des Dépeches par la voie usitée. Cependant, com̃e je crois qu’il importe & convient à la Com̃ission autant qu’au Congrèsmême de voir le contenu de la plupart de ces Dépeches, je continuerai volontiers, si V. E. veut avoir la bonté de m’indiquer d’abord une Maison sûre à Londres, par qui je puisse à l’avenir faire passer à Paris celles de mes Lettres, au moins, où il s’agira de parler à coeur ouvert, & sans gêne, des affaires de la republique, c’est-à-dire, de la paix ou guerre future de l’Europe.
Cette nation n’est ni effrayée, ni abattue, com̃e vous paroissez le croire dans votre derne.
1 On s’arme unanimement pour la défense de la patrie; & l’on s’occupe tout de bon d’une coalition, plus naturelle & plus solide que celle des Nth. & des Fx.
Mes respects, s. v. p., à LL. EE. Mess. vos Collegues, ainsi qu’à Made. Adams de ma famille & de moi / De Votre Excellence / Le très-humble & très- / obéissant serviteur
Je jugerai à la prompte réponse de V. E. sur l’adresse demandée à Londres, que la présente vous est bien parvenue.
In addressing this letter to your excellency, I must warn you that I will not be permitted and consequently will not be able to send dispatches to 341 you by the usual route. Nevertheless, as I believe the commission as much as Congress itself ought to see the contents of the greater part of these dispatches, I will willingly continue if your excellency will be so good as to first suggest to me a safe house in London through which I could in the future pass to Paris those of my letters at least where I must speak with an open heart and without constraint about the affairs of the republic, that is to say, on future peace or war in Europe.
This nation is neither anxious nor dejected, as you appear in your last letter to believe.1 They are arming with one accord for the defense of the fatherland, and they are employed in earnest in forming a coalition more natural and more solid than that of the Northites and Foxites.
My respects, please, to their excellencies your colleagues as well as to Mrs. Adams from my family and from me, your excellency’s very humble and very obedient servant
I will judge by your excellency’s prompt response regarding the requested address in London whether this letter really reached you.
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Paris à S. Exc1. M. Adams, M. P.”
Of 18 Sept., above.