To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, 30 April 1789
From Wilhem & Jan Willink
Amsterdam 30 April 1789
Sir
We had the pleasure of waiting on you in may & in Octr. Ao.Do: in forming you by the latter of your good luck of your number 995. of the Obligats. of 4 per Ct. whch. had a price drawn of f1000:— one thousand Guilds. among those drawn Last Year conform the agreemt. whch. Should be at your disposal by Sending us a Receipt for the Same.1
tho’ We Continue Without any of your esteemed favors, we embrace this Opportunity to Congratulate You on your Election whch. we are persuaded will prove to the benifit & dignity of the United States & hope it will likewise be to your satisfaction after all the trouble you take on you
We always flattered ourselves we Long ago should have heard from you, and we hope not by the distance you now are at, to be entirely out of your Remembrance, we beg Leave to pay Our Respectfull Compliments to Mrs. Adams & have the honor to Remain with great esteem / Sir / Your most obedient servants
Wilhem & Jan Willink
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Honl John Adams Esqr. / Newyork.”
1. For the loan consortium’s letter of 26 May 1788, when it informed JA that it had distributed copies of JA’s , see JA’s letter to the consortium of 2 Dec., and note 1, above. No October letter from the consortium has been found.
JA’s obligations not only earned 4 percent interest but were eligible for a private lottery, according to the terms of the fourth Dutch loan of [13 March], above. His number, 995, was drawn, entitling him to a prize of 1,000 florins. Writing to JA on 1 Feb. 1790, and again on 2 Dec., the consortium asked JA what he wished to do with his prize (both Adams Papers). JA, in a letter of 30 April 1791 to the consortium (private owner, 2017), directed it to use the money to buy another obligation. Writing to JA on 5 July 1791 (Adams Papers), the consortium included an account that showed it had done so, for which JA thanked the consortium in his letter of 30 April 1792 (FC, APM Reel 375).