1From John Adams to C. W. F. Dumas, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 30th., I had the honor to recieve yesterday, with Mr. Nolet’s Letter and your Answer. What shall I say to this affectionate as well as polite Invitation to dine at Schiedam? I am now and shall be a long time exceedingly engaged fatigued with the Affair of a Loan, which takes up my Attention and Time, in the greater part. The Treaty of Commerce is also You know under...
2From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am honoured with your Favour of the 20 of April, and Mr. Lawrens’s Son proposes to carry the Letter to his father, forth with. The Instructions by the Courier from Versailles came Safe, as all other Dispatches by that Channell, no doubt will do. The Correspondence by Mr Hartly I recd by Capt Smedley, and will take the first good opportunity by a private Hand, to return it, as well as that...
J’ai recu votre honorée du 6 Avril. Les raisons alleguées par votre Excell: me convainquent de l’impossibilité d’emploier mon Ami Valk, dans ce Païs, au Service du Congress. Il a resolu en consequence de transmigrer, et je puis assurer Votre Excell: que nous perdons en Lui un tres digne et tres éclairé Citoien. Je le regrette beaucoup. Monsr. Jan Hendr: Ch: Heineken, fils d’un brave...
I received your letter of the 6th of April. The reasons cited by your excellency have convinced me that it would be impossible toemploy, in this country, my friend Valck in the service of Congress. Because of this, he decided to emigrate, and I can assure your excellency that we are losing an enlightened and worthy citizen. I will greatly miss him. Mr. Jan Hendrick Christiaan Heineken, son of...
5To John Adams from C. Mends, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
In Feby last, my Son B. Mends took the liberty of sending yr Excellency a few Lines, with a Petition from the poor American prisoners, in which yr Excellency was inform’d of the good intentions of Coll. Richardson to apply to Docr Franklin in Paris, which he did, as I was inform’d by a Letter from him just as he was going to America: in which he inform’d me his Excellency seem’d rather Cool ,...
6To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Je travaille à vous dégager du dîner, selon vos desirs, au moins pour quelque temps, et sans fixer rien de positif pour l’avenir. Mais vous ne pouvez pas vous dispenser d’assister au Déjeuner du 6 ici chez M et Me. Boreel, où toute la Cour et les Min. Etr. se trouveront à ce qu’on m’assure. Ce n’est pas mon sentiment seul. Je n’ai que cet instant pour ne pas manquer le chariot de poste. Je...
7C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 2 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am working on excusing you from the dinner engagement, according to your wishes, at least for a little while and without fixing any future date. But you cannot avoid attending the dinner on the 6th at Mr. and Mrs. Boreel’s. I was told that the entire court and all the foreign ministers will be there. This is not just my sentiment. I have only a moment before missing the post-wagon. I will...
8From John Adams to Herman van Bracht, 3 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. the Letter which You did me the honor to write me the 30th. of April, with the Volume of American Constitutions. I agree with You, that a Treaty of Commerce between the two Republicks would be a very proper Addition to your Volume, but when such a Treaty shall be made it will not be published perhaps until it is ratified. In all Events it will be but decent for me to wait the...
9To John Adams from Samuel Saportas, 5 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
The departure of your Excellencÿ was unknown to me having heard it from Mr. Texter I take the Liberty to put your Excellency in mind of the inclosed note regarding the Sale here to morrow of 4 Obligation at the charge of the Province of South Carolina and the Purchase of which Shall be Expecting your Excellency’s order under Cover of Mr. Texter with the night post of with the Postwaggon which...
10To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 6 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have receivd your Excellencys Letter of the 28th of April, informing me of the Receipt of mine of the 18th and 24th of the same Month. Your Excellency will give me leave to thank you for Accepting my Congratulations on your being acknowledged minister of the United States which I Know you would not have done, if you had not Thought, they were sincere. I am pleased with the Compliment paid by...
11To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 7 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Heartily Give You joy, My dear Sir, Upon the Happy Conclusion of Your dutch Negotiations. Every Body Here Congratulates me not only As a Zealous American, But Also as Your long Professed friend and Admirer. And tho’ the Court Air Has not So Much Altered My Republican Principles as to Make me Believe the Opinion of a King is Every thing, I was the other day pleased to Hear the King of france...
12To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr Oswald, whom I mention’d in a former letter which I find you have received, is returned and brought me another Letter from Lord Shelburne of which the above is a Copy. It says Mr Oswald is instructed to communicate to me his Lordships Thoughts. He is however very sparing of such Communication. All I have got from him, is that “the Ministry have in Contemplation, the allowing Independence to...
13C. W. F. Dumas’ Address to the City of Schiedam, 8 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Message verbal, fait de la part de Mr. Adams au Secretaire de la Ville de Schiedam, le 8 May 1782, par Mr. Dumas. La diversité de sentimens qui a lieu dans cette république, par rapport aux circonstances où elle se trouve relativement aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique, ayant paru à Mr. Adams pouvoir facilement attirer quelque embarras à Mrs. les Négociants de Schiedam, s’il faisoit usage de leur...
14C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 8 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Dumas’ verbal message on behalf of Mr. Adams to the secretary of the town of Schiedam on 8 May 1782. The diversity of sentiments existing in this republic regarding the circumstances in which it stands relative to the United States of America, having appeared to Mr. Adams capable of causing some embarrassment to the merchants of Schiedam if he accepted their polite invitation, he has...
15To John Adams from Francis Dana, 10 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I cannot suffer this post to go off without conveying to you my most hearty congratulations for the great event, of the States General acknowledging our Independence, and upon the famous anniversary of the conception day of our Empire. Your patriotism, your zeal, and your inflexible perseverance, will now have their reward when you see the great end of your Mission so happily executed. Never...
16To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 11 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Fynje having communicated us his conversation with your Excellency last evening, we beg leave to assure you, that we’ll gladly do all what lays in our power to give you Satisfaction; We therefore to convince you of our inclination in this respect do without any hesitation Accept of the terms you proposed of 4 1/4 pct. for the Remedium and other Charges. The other point we’ve proposed to...
17To John Adams from Jacob Roorda, 12 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Selon votre desir je prens la Liberté de vous Envoÿer celle ci en François, mais comme cette Langue ne m’est pas Si familliere, de pouvoir vous marquer tout ce que j’ai dit dans ma precedente et comme je ne doute pas ou vous aurez bien la bonté de m’excuser, quand j’ÿ commets tant et plus des Fautes, La Semaine passée j’ai pris la Liberté de vous marquer mes Vrais Sentiments à L’Egard de...
18Jacob Roorda to John Adams: A Translation, 12 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
According to your wish, I take the liberty of writing this in French, but as this language is not so familiar to me, I will not include everything that I wrote in my preceding letter and have no doubt that you will be so kind as to excuse my many errors. Last week, I took the liberty of writing to you with my true feelings regarding the independence of the thirteen American states and also as...
19From John Adams to Francis Dana, 13 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of April 12/23 is just come to hand: Last night, for the first time, I Slept in this House, and I hope that the Air of the Hague will have a good Effect upon my Health, otherwise I must embark for the blue Hills. The Independance of America, has been acknowledged by this Republick, with a Solemnity and Unanimity, which has made it, in a peculiar Sense the National Act. The Publication of...
20From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 13 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved the Letter which You did me the honor to write me on the 11th, of this Month in which You agree to accept the Terms of four and one quarter per Cent for the Remedium and other Charges. To this I answer, that I understand your meaning to be, to accept of 4 1/4 per Cent for recieving and paying the Money at first, for re cieving and paying off the annual Interest, and for...
21To John Adams from John Bondfield, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
By an Express which past this City on Sunday and by all the Letters by yesterdays post from Spain we are informd America has declared War against Portugal and Hostilities are commenct by the Capture of Six rich Brazil Ships which they name—Captain Paul Jones is said to be the Hero. The Portuguese Consul at Bayonne has sent orders to all Captains at this Port sailing under portuguese Colours to...
22To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Vous savez à quel point les interêts de l’Amerique me sont chers. Un enthousiasme fanatique ne m’a pas guidé; j’ai regardé sa cause comme celle de l’humanité; et j’y suis d’autant plus attaché que j’ai cru suivre les vrais principes. Ainsi vous ne serez pas étonné Si je n’ai pas été indifférent sur ce qui pouvait affecter son crédit. Vous sentez déjà que je veux parler du mauvais succés du...
23Antoine Marie Cerisier to John Adams: A Translation, 14 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
You know how important American interests are to me. Fanatical enthusiasm has not guided me. I regard America’s cause as a cause for all humanity. And I am all the more attached since I am faithful to the true principles. So, you will not be surprised if I was not indifferent about that which would effect its credit. You already know that I want to talk about the failure of Mr. Hodshon’s loan...
24Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
On 14 May 1782, two days after John Adams moved into the new American legation, John Thaxter inventoried the household furnishings. On 16 Oct., the day before Adams left The Hague for Paris and the peace negotiations, Thaxter likely reviewed his inventory, focusing on the glass- and dinnerware, to determine what had been added since 14 May or was missing or broken (see No. I, note 1 , below)....
this received in good order (was signed) Lotter. this Articles received in good order (Was signed) Lotter. received this above Articles in good Order (Was Signed) Lotter. the full content of this received in good order (Was Signed) F. Lotter. this I have received in good order (was signed) Lotter. this Articles received in good order. this 5 articles received in good order (was signed) Lotter...
26II. Marie Dumas’ Inventory of Household Furnishings, 22 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inventaires, de tout ce qui appartient a son Excellence Monsieur Adams Ecuÿer &c &c. tant, ce que j’ai recu D’amsterdam, que ce que j’ai achetté par ordre de son Excellence monsieur adams, come aussi ce que j’ai achetté, qui ettoit absolument necessaire dans son Hotel, plusieurs articles qui ne se trouveront point sur les inventaires de Monsieur Thaxter, come, chaises, tables, tapis de toute...
Inventories of everything belonging to his Excellency Mr. Adams, esquire, as well as what I received from Amsterdam that I purchased per order of his Excellency Mr. Adams, and also items that I purchased that were absolutely necessary for his home. Several articles will not be found on Mr. Thaxter’s inventory, such as chairs, tables, carpets of all sorts, mirrors, beds, and several articles of...
28III. Marie Dumas’ Inventory of Household Furnishings, 24 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Inventaires de la Batterie de cuisine, selon que je l’ai recue de Monsieur John Thaxter, et come Son Excellence Monsieur Adams, pourra toujours voir Sur le compte du ferblantier, qui a tout Etainne la dite Batterie de cuisine Selon L’accord que l’on avoit fait avec lui, Les comptes ont Eté Livrés à Son Excellence Monsieur Adams dans L’année 1782. all this articles found in good order. (Was...
Inventory of the kitchen, according to the one I received from Mr. John Thaxter. Mr. Adams is always able to see the account at the tinsmith, who made all the pots, pans, and utensils for the kitchen according to their agreement. The accounts were delivered to his Excellency Mr. Adams in 1782. all this articles found in good order. (Was signed) F: Lotter I Marie Dumas certify that what Mr....
30From John Adams to Robert R. Livingston, 16 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
On the twelfth of this month, I removed into the Hôtel des Etats Unies de l’Amerique, situated upon the Canal called the Fleweele Burgwal at the Hague, where I hope the Air will relieve my Health in some degree from that weak state to which the tainted atmosphere of Amsterdam has reduced it. The American Cause has gained a signal Triumph in this Country. It has not persuaded an ancient Rival...