Papers of John Adams, volume 21

John Singleton Copley to John Adams, 20 April 1792 Copley, John Singleton Adams, John

From John Singleton Copley

Dear Sir April 20. 1792.

By this conveyance I send a case directed for You, containing two prints of the Death of Lord Chatham framed and glaized; one of which you will find marked with your name; the other with General Washingtons name; the first, I beg you will do me the honor to accept; The other, I take the liberty to request You will present, in my name to General Washington; As the painting from which the print has been taken, has been a very popular work, in this Country and the production of an American; I trust it will not be, an unacceptable, though a small tribute, and expressive in a very feeble degree, of the respect I feel for such distinguished merit as General Washington possesses.1

119

Mrs Copley and family unite in best regards to Mrs Adams, and Yourself, with Your Most Obt. and faithful / Humble Sert

J. S. Copley

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Honble John Adams Esqr.”

At Copley’s request, London-based merchant Henry Bromfield Jr. sent two engravings of the artist’s 1781 oil painting “The Death of the Earl of Chatham,” which were produced by Francesco Bartolozzi in 1791. Bromfield shipped the artworks via the Polly, Capt. Reed. JA presented George Washington with his copy when he returned to Philadelphia in late November. Washington’s print hung at Mount Vernon until 1799, while the Adamses’ copy remains on display in the dining room at MQA (from Bromfield, 13 April 1792, Adams Papers; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series , 11:501–502; to Copley, 16 Nov., below; AFC , 9:324–325).

John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 April 1792 Adams, John Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business)

To Wilhem and Jan Willink

My Dear Friends Philadelphia April 30. 1792

I have duely received your Letter of the 5th. of July1 and thank you for your Care of my little Interest recommended to you in my Letter of the 30th of April last.

I have Since received your friendly favour of the 29th. of December last and thank you for your Information concerning our American affairs in holland. For my own Part, I wish that our money Negotiations might be continued in your hands and confined to Holland, as much as possible, but the Management of them is now in other Departments.

I now inclose you, my Coupons for this year, payable in February and June, and request you to purchase other Obligations, with them, and hold them in your own hands, Subject to my orders, as you do those you purchased last year. There are 22. of 50.f. and 20 of 40.f. each.

If I Should have occasion for the Value of all or any Part of my obligations, what would be the best Way for me to obtain it? Could you, order any of your Correspondents in New York, Boston or Philadelphia to pay me the amount of them and receive them of me? or could you remit the money to me, in cash or Bullion, in Spanish or Portugal Dollars or Gold Coins? or, if I should purchase a Farm near me and have Occasion Suddenly to draw Upon you for the amount of Twenty or Thirty thousand florins would you honour my Bills? or would you make me or procure me a Loan of Twenty or thirty thousand florins at four Per Cent or less or more? Your Answers to these questions will much oblige me.

120

A few of our wild Speculators at New York &c have burst their Bubbles, but our Country in General is prosperous and happy.2 With my best regards to your agreable Families, I have the honour to be, Gentlemen / your Sincere Friend and very humble / servant

John Adams

FC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs Wilhem and Jan. Willink.”

For the consortium’s 5 July 1791 letter, see its 29 Dec. letter, and note 1, above.

For the Panic of 1792, see Henry Marchant’s 20 Feb. letter, and note 2, above.