Papers of John Adams, volume 19

To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 12 December 1787 Jefferson, Thomas Adams, John

From Thomas Jefferson

Dear Sir Paris Dec. 12. 1787.

In the month of July I received from Fiseaux & Co. of Amsterdam a letter notifying me that the principal of their loan to the United states would become due the first day of January.1 I answered them that I had neither powers nor information on the subject, but would transmit their letter to the Board of treasury. I did so by the packet which sailed from Havre Aug. 10.2 the earliest answer possible would have been by the packet which arrived at Havre three or four days ago. but by her I do not receive the scrip of a pen from any body. this makes me suppose that my letters are committed to Paul Jones3 who was to sail a week after the departure of the packet: & that possibly he may be the bearer of orders from the treasury to repay Fiseaux’ loan with the money you borrowed. but it is also possible he may bring no order on the subject. the slowness with which measures are adopted on our side the water, does not permit us to count on punctual answers: but on the contrary renders it necessary for us to suppose in the present case that no orders will arrive in time, and to consider whether any thing, and what should be done? as it may 233 be found expedient to transfer all our foreign debts to Holland by borrowing there, & as it may always be prudent to preserve a good credit in that country because we may forced into wars whether we will or no, I should suppose it very imprudent to suffer our credit to be annihilated by so small a sum as 51,000 guilders. the injury will be greater too in proportion to the smallness of the sum: for they will ask “How can a people be trusted for large sums who break their faith for such small ones?” you know best what effect it will have on the minds of the moneylenders of that country should we fail in this payment. you know best also whether it is practicable and prudent for us to have this debt paid without orders. I refer the matter therefore wholly to your consideration, willing to participate with you in any risk, & any responsability which may arise. I think it one of those cases where it is a duty to risk one’s self. you will perceive, by the inclosed, the necessity of an immediate answer, and that if you think any thing can & should be done all the necessary authorities from you should accompany your letter. in the mean time should I receive any orders from the Treasury by P. Jones, I will pursue them, and consider whatever you shall have proposed or done, as non avenue.

I am with much affection Dear Sir / your most obedient / & most humble servt

Th: Jefferson

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); internal address: “H.E. mr̃ Adams”; endorsed: “Mr Jefferson / Decr 12. Ansd. 18 / 1787”; notation by CFA: “published in his Writings / Vol 2d. p 271.” That is, Jefferson, Correspondence, ed. Randolph, 1:272–273.

This was the 1778 loan initially arranged by the firm of Horneca, Fizeaux & Co., which attempted to raise a loan of £205,000 but raised only f51,000. When Jean Jacques Horneca died in 1779, Henri Fizeaux and Georges Grand formed a new firm of Fizeaux, Grand & Co. (vols. 6:60, 327; 7:315; 16:187).

Jefferson referred to a letter, not found, of 16 July 1787 that he received from Henri Fizeaux & Co. He wrote a reply on 23 July and a letter of 5 Aug. to the Board of Treasury, in which he enclosed the 16 July letter from Henri Fizeaux & Co. (Jefferson, Papers , 11:613, 690–691).

On 25 Oct. Congress authorized Jefferson to settle with Denmark for John Paul Jones’ prize claims, directing Jones to negotiate in Copenhagen. Jones sailed from New York City to Dover, England, on 11 Nov., and after a brief visit with JA, he arrived in Paris on 19 Dec. (vol. 18:396; Morison, John Paul Jones , p. 354).

To John Adams from Henry Remsen Jr., 14 December 1787 Remsen, Henry Jr. Adams, John

From Henry Remsen Jr.

Sir New York 14th. Decemr. 1787 1

Mr. Jay having been, and still continuing too much indisposed to attend to Business, has directed me to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letters of 10th. 22d. & 23d. September last, together with the Papers mentioned in them; which I have now the Honor of doing; and of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, the printed Journals of 234 Congress from 26th. September to 30th. Octr. 1787, and a Packet of the latest Newspapers.—2

I have the Honor to be with great Respect / Sir / Your most obt. and hblẽ. Servt.

Henry Remsen Junr.

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Honorable— / John Adams Esqr. / &c.— &c.—”

Henry Remsen Jr. (1762–1843), of New York City, had acted as the undersecretary for foreign affairs since 1784 and became chief clerk of the State Department five years later. In 1792 he joined the New York branch of the Bank of the United States as a teller, eventually rising to serve as president from 1808 to 1826 (Walter Barrett, The Old Merchants of New York City, 5 vols., N.Y., 1885, 5:69–70, 75; Jay, Selected Papers , 3:619; Jefferson, Papers , 17:358; Millard F. Roberts, A Narrative History of Remsen, New York, Syracuse, N.Y., 1914, p. 235).

Congress last met on 27 Oct. 1787 but accomplished little as the states began to debate ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and it did not reconvene until 21 Jan. 1788. A copy of Congress’ Journals for the period from 6 Nov. 1786 to 30 Oct. 1787 are in JA’s library at MB ( JCC , 32:vii, 34:v; Catalogue of JA’s Library ).