From John Adams to John Stockdale, 31 January 1784
To John Stockdale
The Hague January 31. 1784
Sir
Your Favour of the 20th. was Sent me last night, and put me into a Fit of good Humour which continues to this moment.
The Letter containing the Medals, I beg you to open and deliver one set to Mr West and another to Mr Whiteford, in my Name.—1 You will please to make a Minute of the Postage you pay for me, which I will remit you.
The Hares were well disposed of, and I hope gave Pleasure to the little Family.— You could not have offerd one of them more properly than to Dr Jebb, for whom I have the highest Esteem, as one of the best Citizens of the little Commonwealth of the just upon Earth.
If I did not know that the Burthen of the State lies So heavily upon your shoulders I would invite you, to take a Trip to the Hague. and drink a Glass of finer old Madeira than that you had from your Friend I would not advise you to come in this Season to travel in Iceboats and Boors Waggons as I did.
It gives me Pleasure to hear that Mr Pitt rises in the Esteem of the People, because he has a fair Character and promisses great Things: nevertheless a Friend to Old England would wish for a Coalition, But Mr Fox is of So peremptery a Cast, and not always in the right, that I fancy it will be difficult, to form any Coalition in which he is not the Essence.
it will ever give me Pleasure to hear of your Welfare and to receive a Spice of the Politicks of the day, / with much Esteem, Sir your very humble / srt.
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr. John Stockdale Piccadilly.”; APM Reel 107.
1. The medals were to go to Benjamin West, the artist, and Caleb Whitefoord, secretary to Richard Oswald during the 1782 Anglo-American peace negotiations.