Thomas Barclay to John Adams, 18 April 1784
From Thomas Barclay
Auteuil 18th. April 1784—
Dear Sir
As we hear that you are soon Expected at Paris, I Beg leave to mention to you that the Bills which were paid by your orders in Holland are All in the hands of Fizeau & Grand of Amsterdam, and that when your Accounts are arranging it will be necessary to have them here, to Compare them with the sums Charged— you will therefore please to take up those Bills and bring them with you—1 I have had a late encrease of Family, and Mrs. Barclay and the little Girls are pritty well,2 Indeed we are All so Except myself, who Can only be Cured by the arrival of the Heer Adams who was loading Tobacco at Philadelphia, and who I hope will Enable me to pay some of my Just debts—3 I have taken a House on the Boulvarde, and I beleive if you wanted this one it might be got pretty reasonably,4 It is a good Summer House, but a Bad winter one— Let me know your Mind on this subject— Be so good to present My respects to Mr. and Madam Dumass, as well as to Madamoisselle, I shall be much obliged to Mr. Dumass for his account with the united States— He stands Charged with various sums of Money, which I suppose were paid on account of his Salary— My Best Compliments Attend your son, and I am Very much / Dear Sir, / Your Affect Humb Sert.
Thos Barclay
RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency / John Adams Esqre— / Hague—”; endorsed: “Mr Barclay / 18. Ap. ansd 23. 1784.”
1. For the bills of exchange, see JA’s reply of 23 April, below.
2. Mary Hoops Barclay gave birth to a daughter, Maria Isabella, on 17 March. She joined two sisters, Ann and Elizabeth, and a brother, Robert (, p. 47, 55, 65, 138).
3. The Heer Adams, with its cargo of tobacco, arrived at Lorient in July (same, p. 144).
4. This is the Comte de Rouault’s house at Auteuil. JA and JQA had lived there in Sept. and Oct. 1783 while JA recovered from a serious illness, leaving only upon their departure for London. JA, AA, AA2, and JQA took up residence there on 17 Aug. 1784 (vol. 15:294, 352–353; to C. W. F. Dumas, 25 Aug., below). For JA’s on-and-off requests for Barclay to rent the house, see their ongoing correspondence through Barclay’s letter of 9 Aug., below.