Papers of John Adams, volume 19
r1
st1787
Col. Forrest, informed me last Night that he delivered you the Letter I wrote by him.1 in which were orders upon the Bankers of Amsterdam to pay you your Salery, till then I was anxous about it, as you make no mention of it in yours of the 25th of Sep r
I am extreamly Sorry to hear of your unfortunate Situation, at the date of that Letter. but hope before this time there is some change for the better
Inclosed is a Letter to Messrs Willink and Vanstaphorsts directing the necessary Repairs of the Hotel des Etats: But While it is my Wish that the House Should be put into tenantable and decent Repair, let me recommend both to you and to them all the Œconomy consistant with that End for the Sake of that Public we have the Honour to serve
I have done myself the Honour to write to the President of their High Mightinesses and to Mr Secretary Fagel upon the Subject and have inclosed the Letters to you for Delivering or at least for Conveyance2
be pleased, Sir to present the Compliments of my family to yours and beleive me to be with much Esteem / yours &c &c—
LbC in AAz’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr Dumas.”; APM Reel 113.
Col. Uriah Forrest delivered JA’s 5 Sept. letter to Dumas, above, in which JA enclosed a separate letter of the same date to the loan consortium, authorizing Dumas’ salary to be paid. JA wrote again to the loan consortium on 1 Oct., outlining Congress’ 24 July resolution permitting Dumas to reside in the Hôtel des États-Unís at The Hague, until a new American minister arrived or Congress sent further instructions. In addition, Dumas was to supervise the derelict building’s repairs, with “all Possible Economy” (LbC’s, APM Reel 113).
JA enclosed a brief note to Hendrik Fagel (Nationaal Archief:Fagel Archive, Letters from Foreign Ministers) with his 1 Oct. memorial to the States General supporting Dumas’ continued residency at the U.S. legation, below. Dumas forwarded both enclosures, but his political affiliation complicated the request, for which see Fagel’s 18 Oct. reply to JA , below.
of the United Provinces of the Low Countries.—
A Memorial—
1 October 1787
The Subscriber Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, has the Honour to acquaint your High Mightinesses that Congress on the twenty fourth Day of July last resolved that Mr: Dumas be permitted to occupy and reside in the House of the United States at the Hague, untill a Minister of the United States shall arrive there, or untill the further order of Congress; And that Mr. Adams (the subscriber) do direct such repairs to be made at the
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expence of the United States, to the said House as may be really necessary to render it tenantable.— That the subscriber has accordingly directed, Messieurs, Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst Bankers of the United States at Amsterdam to[ge]ther with Mr. Dumas to make the necessary [Repara]ions of the House, according to the intentions and order of Congress.— The Subscriber has therefore the honor to request of your High mightinesses, all that friendly countenance and assistance to Messrs: Dumas Willinks and Van Staphorsts, which they may reasonably request; and as Congress in similar cases wou[ld] be always chearfully willing to render, to any Persons in America employed in services for your High Mightinesses.
Done this first Day of october one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Seven.—
RC in WSS’s hand (Nationaal Archief:Staten-Generaal, inv. no. 7461); addressed: “To — / His Excellency / —Fagel— Secretary to Their / High Mightinesses the States General / of the United Provinces of the / Low Countries at the Hague”; endorsed: “Exhibitum 9 Octr 1787.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 113. Text lost due to wear at the edge has been supplied from the LbC.
Signature in JA’s hand.