Papers of John Adams, volume 17

From Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 29 July 1785 Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business) Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business) Adams, John
From Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst
Sir Amsterdam 29 July 1785

We refer to what we had the Honor to write you last post, and now send you inclosed a Copy of the Articles of Partnerschip between Geyer and De la Lande & Fynje.1 We don’t believe you’ll find it a fraudulent Contract, at least on the part of De la Lande & fynje, who certainly are not benefited by it, on the contrary it appears to us, that they rather acted imprudently, and depended too much upon casualities, and a flattering Picture, which had been made to them of the Success of the undertakings. As to the Arrangement which is now made at London, we don’t believe that De La Lande & fynje can be blamed for it, as it was made by Mr. Geyer in virtue of the Power, which he thinks to posses as active Partner. The House in London being kept up by the Assistance of some People, the English Creditors, to the Amount of about £40,000. Sterlg., consented to wait for the payment till remittances are made, provided they shall be paid out of the first returns, before the Partners in the House can get any Part of their Stock or Advances, and in consequence of this, Powers were Sent out to attack the Property in Ameria. This whole arrangement was made without the knowledge of De la Lande & Fynje, and consequently without their consent. Notwithstanding this we don’t see any possibility to alter it, and we fear that any Step taken to this Purpose would involve the Estate into extensive Lawsuits, which would certainly injure the Interest of the Concern’d. We think your Excellency being fully acquainted with the Brittish and American Laws, and in the Situation to take every Information on the matter, is a competent Judge, and we will thank you for your Advice, how to conduct ourselves, assuring that you’ll find us disposed to do every thing for the benefit of our Principals, which is consistent with Honour and the Laws of this Country; And it is with this Intention, and in order to have at all times Inspection into the Business, that we consented to accept, jointly with two Gentlemen out of the Number of the other Creditors, to be appointed Trustees of the Estate, which we certainly would have 287declined, in consideration of the great Trouble it will cause us, unless we had immagined that we were obliged to it by our relation to Congress.— For the remainder in case it should prove that Congres, and the Creditors in Holland were prejudiced by Mr. Geyer’s arrangement, we think it proves at the same Time the inconveniency of the Priviledge of private Attatchments, which we learn is established by the American Laws, and it may afford an Inducement to the Legislatures of the different States to make more equitable Institutions, which we think, Independent of this Instance, is highly necessary to estab[lish] American Credit in Europe.

We remain most respectfull, and with Esteem / Sir / Your most humb. Obedt. Servts.

Wilhem & Jan Willink Nics. & Jacob van Staphorst.

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); endorsed: “M M. Willinks and / Vanstaphorsts. 29. July / ansd 5. Aug. 1785.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

1.

With this letter, the remaining members of the loan consortium enclosed a notarized copy, translated from the Dutch, of the 30 Aug. 1783 contract that created the partnership between Frederick Geyer and De la Lande & Fynje, for which see JA’s 2 July 1785 letter to the Board of Treasury, and note 4, above. In his 5 Aug. reply (LbC, APM Reel 111), JA indicated that he was happy to learn from his examination of the contract that there was no fraud on De la Lande & Fynje’s part. Regarding the consortium’s 26 July letter, above, he advised caution in any negotiations with Daniel Parker and that no action should be taken without instructions from the Board of Treasury, which the consortium should keep fully informed.

To the Count Frederik von Reventlow, 30 July 1785 Adams, John Reventlow, Frederik, Count von
To the Count Frederik von Reventlow
Sir Grosvenor Square Westminster July 30. 1785 1

I have the Honour of transmitting to you, herewith enclosed a certified Copy of an Act of Congress of the 21. of March last, instructing me to communicate to Mr St. Saphorin, the high Sense, the United States of America in Congress assembled, entertain of the liberal Decision made by his Danish Majesty, on the Question proposed to his Minister by me, respecting the ordination of American Candidates for holy orders in the Episcopal Church commonly called the Church of England. I am informed by Mr Jay our Minister of foreign Affairs, that Congress has been pleased to order him to transmit Copies of my Letter and the other Papers on this subject to the Executives of the different States, And he is perswaded they will receive with Pleasure this Mark of his Danish Majestys Friendly Disposition.2

At the Time when these Resolutions passed, it was Supposed in 288Congress that Mr St. Saphorin, continued at the Hague, but as he is removed from thence, I presume it will equally fullfill the Intentions of Congress in expressing their Respects and Acknowledgments to his Danish Majesty, if they are communicated by a nearer Channel.3 Permit me then the Honour of requesting of you Sir, that you would transmit the Inclosed certified Copy to your Court.

With great Respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir your / most obedient and must humble servant

LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Comte de Reventlow Envoy / Extraordinary from the King of / Denmark to the Court of Great Britain. / Charge des Affaires of Denmark.”; APM Reel 111.

1.

Frederik, the Count von Reventlow, who would present his credentials on 3 Aug., would serve as the Danish envoy to Great Britain until 1788 ( Repertorium , 3:46).

2.

For JA’s role in Mason Locke Weems’ quest for Episcopal ordination and the part played in the effort by Armand François Louis de Mestral de Saint Saphorin, Danish minister to the Netherlands, see vol. 16:index. To this point, JA quotes more or less verba tim from John Jay’s 31 March 1785 letter enclosing Congress’ resolution (16:583–584). For TBA’s 1792 attempt to publish in Mathew Carey’s American Museum this letter and Reventlow’s reply of 22 Aug. 1785, below, see AFC , 9:284, 286, 287.

3.

Saint Saphorin presented his recall as minister to the Netherlands in June 1784 and since Nov. 1784 had served as Danish minister to Russia ( Repertorium , 3:49, 52).