1471The Commissioners to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 28 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of acquainting your Excellency, that the United States of North America, being now an Independant Power, and acknowledged as such by this Court, a Treaty of Amity and Commerce is compleated between France and the Said States, of which we shall speedily send your Excellency a Copy, to be communicated if you think proper to their High Mightinesses, for whom, the United States,...
1472From John Adams to Pieter van Bleiswyck, 31 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter, which you did me the honour to write me, on the thirtyeth, inclosing the Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland, of the twenty eighth of this month, upon the subject of my admission to the audience demanded on the fourth of May, and the ninth of January last. I am very sensible of the honour that is done me by this Instance of personal attention to...
1473From John Adams to the Baron Lynden van Blitterswyck, 8 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
I take this Opportunity by M r Bingham whom you once Saw at my House at the Hague to congratulate you on your agreable Situation in England as I entertain a pleasing Remembrance of those Social Hours We have heretofore passed together in Paris and the Hague, I cannot but cherrish a Hope of meeting you again in some Part of the World. Two months ago I thought it possible it might be in London...
1474From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 26 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your Directions, I do myself the honor to inclose to you, a List of all the Draughts of money, which have been made by me, whether on a public or private account since the first day of August 1785. Sometime ago, I transmitted to M r. Barclay according to the Resolutions of Congress, all my Accounts up to that Day, —after the Examination he made a settlement of them and...
1475From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 2 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
By Letter I received yesterday fm—Mess rs: Willinks & Van Staphorsts of Amsterdam, I learn with much Concern the misfortune of their associates De la Lande & Fynje, who have stopped payment, indebted to the United States to the amount of one Hundred and twelve Thousand Florins— This House was recommended to me by the best and most judicious Friends of America in Amsterdam, and altho’ my...
1476From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 8 March [i.e. May 1787] (Adams Papers)
on Fryday last I had the Honour of your Letter of the fourth of April with two Bills of Exchange inclosed for Seventy five thousand Florins. rejoiced, at the Prospect of Supporting the Credit of the United States, I went immediately, to M r Ruckers House in Hatton Gardens, in order to present them for Acceptance. But nobody was at home, but a Footman, who told me his Master and the Family were...
1477From John Adams to the Board of Treasury, 19 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the Letter, you did me the honor to write on the 6 th. of April, and to day, your Letter to mess rs. Willinks & C o. inclosing a Bill of exchange was forwarded by Post— As m r. Barclay and M r. Lamb are sett out upon their travels, and we know that the former is arrived at algiers, and the Latter has passed Madrid on his Way to Morocco it is not in my Power to withhold the...
1478The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 11 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, September 11, 1778: We have received yours of the 5th and wish better health to Captain Ayres. His ship should sail forthwith if it has not already done so. We will honor the draft for the account you enclosed, but you must distinguish the sums advanced to Mr. Adams in a private capacity as well as those...
1479The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 30 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives We have the Honour of your Letter of the twenty third of this Month,— We are not able to inform you with Precision concerning the Convoy having not received an Answer to our last application to the Ministry on that Subject. Yet We hope that a Convoy will be appointed to Sail forthwith from Nantes. We...
1480The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 25 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 25 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:116 . Replying to Bondfield’s letters of 12 (above) and 17 May (not found), the Commissioners’ letter, drafted by Adams, commended Bondfield for his efforts to keep them informed and asked him to send an account of his disbursements and...
1481The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 4 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 4, 1778: We have received your accounts for supplying the Boston ; some of the articles are dear, but we trust you to obtain everything as cheaply as possible. Your bills will be paid, and we hope the ship has left by now. You tell us of a plot against her, and we have forwarded the affidavit to the ministry;...
1482The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 27 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have before us yours of the 23d Inst. and are very sorry that Capt. Ayres is so indisposed as to prevent his return to America in the General Arnold. We wholly refer the appointmt. of a Master for this Vessel to you and Capt. Ayres and doubt not you will find a good Seaman and a person in whom you can confide. We...
1483From John Adams to John Bondfield, 30 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 13 is duely recd: I congratulate you, on Gillons Success and hope that his Prizes, and those he may make hereafter will defray the enormous Expence of that outfit. All his Patience Activity and Perseverance, were necessary, to carry that affair through: and the Cost was immense. I am not able to answer your Question, concerning the fate of a Vessell of yours, which should be carried...
1484From John Adams to John Bondfield, 25 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged by your kind Attention, in your Letter of 22d. April. Clinton has then arrived at Georgia, where he is destined to be as well watched and guarded and finally as compleatly ruined as Burgoyne was at Saratoga or Preston at Rhode Island, and that favorite Child of Fortune Gates is to have the Glory of it all. I am quite easy since I know, he commands. There is an Affection...
1485From John Adams to John Bondfield, 18 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of August 7. with much pleasure, and thank you for the agreable News it contains. The Dutch have at last, Sent off Parker with a Flea in his Ear —pardon a very homely Expression. There is an End, sir, from this Moment of British Tyranny upon the Sea. The Heart and Spirit of the English Navy is certainly broke, and their Skill and Courage gone. They have lost their...
1486From John Adams to John Bondfield, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the Cloathing, is a great Disappointment and Misfortune in America. The British Ministry are never at a Loss. You see they were very ready to discover how Mr. Laurens was to be treated. They will easily know how to treat Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler. If Americans had understood...
1487From John Adams to John Bondfield, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 3 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:126 . Adams acknowledged Bondfield’s letter of 26 May (not found), enclosing an account for expenses of JA ’s party in Bordeaux and the trip to Paris, and approved one for goods shipped to AA . printed: ( JA, Diary and Autobiography...
1488From John Adams to John Bondfield, 31 January 1780 (Adams Papers)
At Bayonne, I had the Honour of yours of the 25. Decr. last, which was delivered me by Mr. Dufour, whom you desired to assist me with whatever I should want particularly with Money. Mr. Dufour politely offered me, Supplies of Cash, and services of any sort in which he could be usefull to me, and I was very sorry that I could not have the Opportunity of forming an Acquaintance with him: but my...
1489From John Adams to John Bondfield, 24 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
This day I had the Pleasure of yours of the 20th. By the arrival of so many Vessells, at Bilbao, Bourdeaux Nantes, L’orient, and Amsterdam, I think We may fairly conclude that the British Vessells of War have other occupations than cruising, and that the Commerce of our Country is opening and extending in an agreable manner. But as these Vessells bring so few Letters to the Politicians I begin...
1490From John Adams to John Bondfield, 2 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have Occasion for a Cask of Bordeaux Wine, of the very best Quality, such as You sent Us, when I was at Passy. I wish You would be so good, as to send it me, as soon as possible, as I am in great distress for want of it, having none, and being able to get none so good for daily Consumption. Your Bill for the Money shall be paid punctually. Another favor I have to ask of You, and that is a...
1491The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 15 April 1778 (Adams Papers)
We had this Moment the Pleasure of your Letter of the 10. Instant. You will please to furnish Captain Tucker, all such necessary Provisions for his future Voyage, as he shall require, recommending to him at the same Time, as much Frugality as may consist with the public service. We approve of your Proposal of exchanging the Ballast of Pigg Iron for Anchors as these are much wanted in America....
1492From John Adams to John Bondfield, 25 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you once before this day —but it is necessary I should write again. After sending my french servant, a monstrous number of Times, all over the City after my Wine I can learn nothing of it. Upon looking over the Invoice and your Letters, and showing them to the Abbé’s my friends, they say that my Wine, was sent by a private Waggon, and that that Waggon belongs to a private Person in the...
1493The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 4 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 4 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:127 . Replying to letters (not found) from Bondfield of 26 and 30 May, the first enclosing accounts for the purchase of supplies for the Boston , and the second reporting on the conspiracy against the Boston and enclosing an affidavit...
1494From John Adams to John Bondfield, 16 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the 15 of May. and take this opportunity to return you my thanks for your polite congratulations. It is now five months within a few days since I entered on the execution of my office: and although I had many apprehensions from the novelty of it, and from my own long habits formed to different scenes of life, in the course of a ten...
1495From John Adams to John Bondfield, 3 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letters of the 17th. 20th. of June as well as that of 20th of May, are unanswered. I hope Soon to receive the Vin de Boisac —please to draw upon me, as soon as you please for, the whole, your Bills shall be paid upon sight. I am very glad that your Application to the Minister succeeded. Have you transmitted those Papers to Congress? Sending them to me, can only convince me of what, I...
1496From John Adams to John Bondfield, 14 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 6 May, from Bourdeaux, I have received. The Negotiations on foot among the maritime neutral powers, are very favourable to America and her Allies, and they ought to convince England, a Posteriori, of which a very simple Proscess of Reasoning a Priori, might have made clear to them, many years ago, on it, that it is the Interest of all the Maritime Powers, to Secure the Independance of...
1497From John Adams to John Bondfield, 7 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received, yesterday yours of 30 of June. As to taking the ships, for the United States, I have no Commission Instructions or other Authority whatsoever, to do any such Thing: and I presume no other Person in Europe has. I hope in God that no ship will ever be again, built, bought, hired, lent or I had almost Said given to the united states in Europe, nor any ever again put under the Command...
1498The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 15 April 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society <Passy, April 15, 1778: Please provide Capt. Tucker with the needed provisions and ask him to be as frugal as possible. We approve the suggestion in your letter of the 10th that pig iron be exchanged for anchors, which are much needed. Ship a chest of medicines and slops for the crew and make sure that the men are properly charged for what they receive.>...
1499The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 19 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have considered your plan and think it will be proper to send it to Congress for their Approbation. We desire you will purchase and ship on public Account in the best and cheapest Manner 28 Iron Cannon of 24 pound Ball and 28 of 18 lb. You will be so good as to send one set of Bills of Loading to us and another to...
1500The Commissioners to John Bondfield, 11 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the fifth instant We have received. We wish better Health to Captain Ayers, and a safe Passage to his Vessell, which is at sea before now no doubt, if not however she is to sail forthwith, without further orders. Your Draughts for the Account inclosed will be duely honoured. But you must distinguish that Part of it, which belongs to Mr. Adams in his private Capacity from the other...