Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol to John Adams: A Translation, 5 April 1782

Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol to John Adams: A Translation

Zwolle, 5 April 1782

Sir

I wrote to Burgomaster Hooft,1 fully explaining the situation here in this province, and asked him to write to you. The cities made good resolutions. But I am still uncertain about the nobility. Wednesday, by all appearances and some information, they were hardly disposed to recognize independence. But some believed that they received orders from The Hague on Wednesday evening, and at the very least it was said that yesterday there was some change in their rhetoric. I expect the matter will be decided today, at least the great work will happen this morning. But there are still ways to deliberate and postpone.2 I received a letter from my friend Valk. Although I make it a habit not to bother anyone with solicitations, I do not know how I could refuse a request from my deserving friend. He had the misfortune to be completely ruined by this unexpected war. He resolved to go to America. But his worthy wife hoped very much to remain in her native city of Rotterdam. Couldn’t there be some way that Congress could employ this courageous man in some capacity? For example, as an agent he could have the chance to earn an honest living and could start some new business. I ask your Excellency to think about it. I recommend my friend as a zealous and enlightened patriot and as a merchant who has studied his craft. I can also assure your Excellency that both countries are obliged to him. I cannot say more about him.3 I have the honor to be, in great haste, your Excellency, your very humble and very obedient servant

Capellen de Poll

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “The Baron de Poll. 5. April. ansd. 6. 1782.”

1. JA met Henrik Hooft, a pro-Patriot burgomaster of Amsterdam and ally of van der Capellen, in 1780, soon after his arrival at Amsterdam (JA, Diary and Autobiography description begins Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. description ends , 2:445–446, 448–449; Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic and Amer. Independence description begins Jan Willem Schulte Nordholt, The Dutch Republic and American Independence, transl. Herbert H. Rowen, Chapel Hill, 1982. description ends , p. 107, 113–114, 207, 210).

2. In fact, the States of Overijssel voted on 5 April to admit JA as minister plenipotentiary and recognize U.S. independence, for which see van der Capellen’s letter of 6 April and JA’s of 19 April to Robert R. Livingston, both below.

3. In 1783, Adriaan Valck emigrated to the United States where, in 1784, the States General appointed him Dutch consul for Maryland and Virginia (Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic and Amer. Independence description begins Jan Willem Schulte Nordholt, The Dutch Republic and American Independence, transl. Herbert H. Rowen, Chapel Hill, 1982. description ends , p. 255–256; PCC, No. 128, f. 75).

Index Entries

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Adams Papers
Title: Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol to John Adams: A Translation, 5 April 1782
Author: Capellen tot den Pol, Joan Derk, Baron van der
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 5 April 1782

Reference

Cite as: “Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol to John Adams: A Translation, 5 April 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-12-02-0241-0002. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 12, October 1781 – April 1782, ed. Gregg L. Lint, Richard Alan Ryerson, Anne Decker Cecere, C. James Taylor, Jennifer Shea, Celeste Walker, and Margaret A. Hogan. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004, pp. 384–385.]

More between these correspondents