To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 22 May 1782
From Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst
Amsterdam the 22th. May 1782
Sir
Since we doubt whether they have Sent your Excellency already Some Prospectus of the Loan, we take the liberty of inclosing you Some herewith.1 We flatter ourselves that it will Succeed now to your wishes.
Mr. Le Poole has brought us your Excellency’s answer to our last letter.2 Notwithstanding we flatter ourselves, that if we could have had the Satisfaction to converse with your Excellency, we should have persuaded you to the proposed alteration, which we think in different respects would have been an Improvement, we could not therefore tarry the matter, and left it therefore upon the old footing.
We are in hopes of sending your Excellency in a few days a copy of the Bond, which will require Some haste, Since many People wish to furnish the money with the beginning of next month.
We shall be very glad to hear that Mr. Thaxter is recovering,3 and in the meantime we are with assurances of our Respect, as also of Messrs. Willink and Mess. De la Lande & fynje with the greatest Esteem Sir! Your Excellency’s most obedt. & hble. Servants.
Nichs. & Jacob van Staphorst
RC (Adams Papers).
1. No copies of the printed prospectuses are in the Adams Papers.
2. “Mr. Le Poole” has not been identified, but he apparently carried JA’s reply, not found, to the second letter of 17 May from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, above.
3. This is the first mention of John Thaxter’s illness, probably malaria, from which he was still recovering in late June. Thaxter wrote to AA on 23 June that he was recovering from “the vile Fever and Ague” (, 4:333), and on the 25th he informed Francis Dana that “I have had the Tertian Fever for four or five Weeks rather severely and have been so reduced and weak as to be unable to write” (MHi: Dana Family Papers). For the effect of Thaxter’s condition on JA’s negotiations with the Dutch bankers, see his letter of 24 May to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, below.