From John Adams to Matthew Ridley, 8 October 1782
To Matthew Ridley
The Hague Oct. 8. 1782
Sir
I recd your favor of 29 Ult, with its Inclosure, last night. Great News indeed. Inclosed is an answer.1 This Day at Noon, I Am to meet the Lords the Deputies of their High Mightinesses, to Sign the Treaty.2 It has been delayed Sometime, in order to have the Silver Boxes for the Seals made with Suitable Elegance and Dignity for the Taste of these magnificent Republicans, too much of the Dignity of this Country consists you know in Silver and Gold and Diamonds.3 As there will be five or Six of these Boxes, I hope Congress will coin them Up to carry on the War.
LbC (Adams Papers).
1. The enclosure to Ridley’s letter of 29 Sept., above, was John Jay’s letter of 28 Sept. (Adams Papers), for which see note 2 to Ridley’s letter. In his reply to Jay of 7 Oct., above, the enclosed “answer” referred to here, JA indicated that Jay’s letter, and thus Ridley’s letter of the 29th, had arrived on the 6th, rather than on the 7th as he indicates in this letter to Ridley.
2. For JA’s account of the signing of the treaty, see his letter of 8 Oct. to Robert R. Livingston (The Negotiation of the Dutch-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 22 Aug. – 8 Oct., No. XI, above).
3. No indication as to the fate of the silver boxes has been found.