Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-36-02-0026

To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 12 November 1781

From John Adams

LS:3 University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): Masachusetts Historical Society

Amsterdam November 12th. 1781.

Sir,

By the last Post, Letters have been recieved in this Town from Mr. Gillon and from a Passenger, Mr. Le Roy, by which and a note upon one of them by Mr. Lagoanere it appears that the South Carolina sailed from Corunna on the seventeenth of October, and that Captain Jackson and Mr. Trumbull are gone in an American Privateer to Bilbao, in order to take Passage from thence to America:4 so that the proposal I had the honor to make to your Excellency of sending Jackson here cannot take place.5

The Goods remain here for Ord[ers?] and for Cash or Credit, to buy or hire [torn] Ships. If neither can be advanced by your Excellency, there remains only one alternative, vizt. either to sell a part to pay the freight of the rest, or let the whole remain here until Congress can give Orders concerning them. Your Excellency must be very sensible, that nobody on this side the Atlantic, except your Excellency, has Authority to give Orders to sell part of the Goods to pay the freight of the remainder.

These Goods would be such an heartfelt Comfort to our brave Countrymen in the Field the ensuing Winter, that I cannot but most ardently wish they might arrive in the Month of January or sooner, and therefore cannot but advise the sending of them, provided it is possible. The whole however must be submitted to your Excellency.

I have the honor to be, with great Respect, Sir your Excellencys most obedient and most humble Servant

J. Adams

[His Exc]xellency Benjamin Franklin Esq.

Endorsed: answd. 23d.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3In the hand of JA’s secretary, John Thaxter, Jr., except for the last twelve words of the complimentary close and the name of the addressee, which are in JA’s hand. The manuscript is badly discolored and in some places torn.

4For Herman Le Roy, the South Carolina’s return voyage to America, and Jackson and Trumbull’s passage to Bilbao see XXXV, 589n, 590. Among the newly received letters may have been Gillon’s Oct. 14 letter to Jean de Neufville & fils (National Archives). We have not located the letter containing the notation by the American consul at La Coruña, Michel Lagoanere, for whom see XXIV, 541n. See also Neufville & fils to BF of Nov. 12.

5XXXV, 632.

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