Adams Papers
Documents filtered by: Period="Confederation Period"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-16-02-0163

John Adams to Hendrik Fagel, 1 July 1784

To Hendrik Fagel

The Hague July 1. 1784

Sir

When I was in London last November & December I amused myself often, by running into Booksellers Shops, and purchasing now and then a Book, which I had occasion for. My Son who was lately in London had them embarked for Rotterdam, where, I was last night informed they are arrived.1

It was said that they must be entered at the Custom House, and that a Value must be set upon them by the owner, and that five Per Cent must be paid, upon their Value: But I Suppose it was not known that they belonged to me.

I dont imagine, that Books thus imported by a foreign Minister, for his own use, and by no means with any View to Sell again, are liable to any Duty or Impost for Entry, or any other Cause, but as I may be mistaken in this, I beg the Favour of your Advice. I am very willing to pay, if the Laws require it, and other foreign Ministers pay the Same: But if they have a Preregative in Such Case, or an Indulgence to be exempted from Payment, I Should wish for the Same. If the Duties must be paid, I know not how to Sett a Value upon them, because as they were purchased in Small Parcells and at many different times and paid for at the time, in haste, I kept no Account of them, and I absolutely dont know whether they cost me fifty Guineas or an hundred. There are two Chests and one Caise of them, marked I. A.—

With very great Respect I have the Honour / to be, Sir your most obedient and most humble / Servant

John Adams.

ENCLOSURE

Copy of the Receipt.

Received 19. June 1784 on board the Prince William Henry. Woodward. Pr Rotterdam.

IA. No. 1. & 2. 2 Trunks
3 1 Case.

Pr Jno. Reid Mate.

RC and enclosure (Nationaal Archief:Fagel Archive, Letters from Foreign Ministers); internal address: “Mr Secretary Fagel.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 107.

1When they visited England from Oct. 1783 through early Jan. 1784, JA and JQA lodged in apartments maintained by John Stockdale, a London printer and bookseller. When they hurriedly departed for the Netherlands on 2 Jan., they apparently left their book purchases at Stockdale’s establishment (vol. 15:313). For the correspondence between JA and JQA concerning the books and their dispatch to the Netherlands, see AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 5:329–330, 332, 338, 341, 343, 350–351.

Index Entries