John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams, 9 May 1797
John Quincy Adams to Thomas Boylston Adams
The Hague 9 May 1797.
My dear Brother.
Messrs: Moliere, will this day extend your credit with their correspondent at Paris, to the amount of 4000 livres more. This I presume will amply suffice for your occasions.
I requested you by my last letter, to be here not later than the 25th: of this month. There is to be a Ball on that day at the Hotel de Suéde. The Count desires me to tell you, that you will be very much wanted as a danser; that he cannot excuse you, and what is more, that if you do not come to attend it, Mlle N— will never forgive you.1
General Pinckney and his family are gone to Rotterdam.2 The Fair is not remarkably brilliant.3 I do not hear as yet of any fête for the peace. I have this day your letter of 15. Floréal.4
Mr: König went from this, three or four days after you.5 If you see him, remember me kindly to him, and to all my other friends at Paris.
Your affectionate brother.
LbC in TBA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr: T. B. Adams.”; APM Reel 130.
1. Count Fredrik Adolf Löwenhielm’s ball was held instead on 23 May in honor of François Noël and his new wife. JQA, who had been asked to “do the honours” by sitting at the head of one of the four supper tables, described the company as “numerous and agreeable.” “Mlle N——” was Miss Nahuys, a sister of Catharina Nahuys Schimmelpennick whom TBA had socialized with and described as handsome (D/JQA/24, APM Reel 27; M/TBA/2, 21 Jan. 1795, APM Reel 282).
2. The Pinckney family visited Rotterdam from 8 to 11 May 1797 (D/JQA/24, APM Reel 27).
3. A fair was held at The Hague between 8 and 17 May. JQA attended several times and saw various performances, including juggling and glassblowing (same).
4. Not found.
5. Likely Carl Gustaf König (1764–1852), the former Swedish chargé d’affaires to the Netherlands and Portugal, who served as chargé d’affaires to France from Nov. 1796 to May 1797 (O. Schutte, comp., Repertorium Der Buitenlandse Vertegenwoordigers, Residerende in Nederland 1584–1810, The Hague, 1983, p. 525–526).