John Adams to Thomas Barclay, 28 May 1784
To Thomas Barclay
The Hague May 28. 1784
Dear Sir
I have this moment your Favour of 22. last night I returned from Amsterdam, where I have collected the Bills and left them with Mr Willink to be Sent to you, by an Express, who will sett off, next Wednesday, and bring you a Letter containing all Particulars.1 By him, you will please to Send all my Things, except the Filtrating Machine, which is at your Service.—2 As soon as my Express returns I will examine my Books and settle every Thing with you, by Letter. You need not return the Copies I gave you, of my Accounts and Minutes. You will Soon have the original Bills to compare with my Minutes. I Shall wish to Settle my Account current. I left you, my Vouchers, and if any further are wanting for any Article, I beg you to mention it, by Letter. As Soon as my Express returns I will transmit you my Account of the Sums I have received, Since my last Account rendered you and will charge my Salary which has become due Since, which will enable you to finish the whole.
Mr Jay is embarked, I Suppose, and I am informed Mr Laurens is about embarking, So that there will remain only the Dr and me. This I expect will occasion new Plans which I shall wait for here, and think no more, of going any where, but to America from hence. if my Family arrives however, I may remain here another Year, provided a good Saddle horse and the Smell of the Hague Grove, Should preserve me my present health so long.
I thank you for your offer of Charles, but the Express I have engaged will do all the Business for you and for me. I am glad you are released from the Engagement for the House at Auteuil
With &c
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Hon. Thomas Barclay.”; APM Reel 107.
1. Wednesday was 2 June, but the express actually set off on Thursday the 3d, for which see Jan Willink’s 10 June letter and JA’s letter to Barclay of the 11th, both below.
2. This is JA’s only mention of such a machine, which is likely a device to filter wine. JA usually received wine in casks and then bottled it and, in the process, clarified, filtered, and did whatever was necessary to make the wine drinkable. See, for example, the recipe for clarifying wine that he received from the Comte de Sarsfield in June 1783, vol. 15:18, 19.