To John Adams from John Thaxter, 30 June 1782
From John Thaxter
Amsterdam 30th June 1782
Sir
Between 6 and 7 this morning Capt. Trowbridge came and delivered me the five Letters and News Papers inclosed.1
Every thing in a quiet state on the other side the Water—Provissions plenty and cheap—hard Money not scarce. He has brought Tobacco, and Sugar and Coffee from Boston. Sugar and Coffee from Boston to Amsterdam, is a Phenomenon in the mercantile World, and ought not to be forgotten.
If there are any Letters for me, please to inclose them to Messs. Ingraham and Bromfield, they may come by the Chariot de Poste at six o. Clock tomorrow Morning.
I have the Honor to be &ca.
J. T.
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency Mr. Adams”; endorsed: “Thaxter 30. June 1782”; notation by JA: “Pestel de Republica batavar Janiçon. chez de tune libraire pres le marechal de turenne.” JA’s notation has nothing to do with Thaxter’s letter but presumably is an instance where JA used an available piece of paper to jot down a note to himself. The note indicates that Frederik Willem von Pestel’s Commentarii de Republica Batava (Leyden, 1782) and François Michel Janiçon’s Etat présent de la république des Provinces-Unies, et des païs qui en dépendent (4th ed., 2 vols., The Hague, 1755) were at the bookseller near the Mareschall de Turenne, an inn at The Hague. The indicates that he acquired both volumes.
1. JA wrote to AA on 1 July and indicated that two of the letters were hers of 10 and 22 April, with a third likely being Isaac Smith Sr.’s of 6 May (, 4:337, 305–308, 313–317). A fourth letter may have been Richard Cranch’s of 31 Jan. (same, 4:281–282), for which see the letter of 1 July from Jan van Heukelom & Zoon, below.