George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-21-02-0143

To George Washington from John Quincy Adams, 9 December 1796

From John Quincy Adams

The Hague December 9. 1796.

Sir.

I received at Amsterdam on the 5th instt the Letter which you did me the honour to write me on the 12th of September, and immediately made enquiries to ascertain whether there was at Amsterdam a person by the name of Sollingen.1 I could trace no such person, but am informed that Sollingen near Dusseldorf in Germany is a place where there are noted manufactures of arms and sword-cutlery. I have therefore written to an eminent manufacturer of that place in order to discover the maker of the sword concerning which you are pleased to favour me with your commands.2 I shall take the earliest possible opportunity to write you, Sir, the result of my enquiries.3 I have the honour to be with every Sentiment of veneration and attachment Sir, your very humble & obedient Servant

John Q. Adams

ALS, NjP: Straus Autograph Collection; LB, MHi: Adams Papers; Sprague transcript, with docket in GW’s writing, DLC:GW. In his docket, GW misdated the letter as 9 Dec. 1797.

1For this letter, explaining the curious manner in which the sword, meant as a gift and inscribed in part “a Sollingen,” came into GW’s possession, see GW to Adams, 25 June 1797, n.1, in Papers, Retirement Series description begins W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series. 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. description ends 1:210–14. The sword is now (2019) in the collections of ViMtvL.

2On 8 Dec., Adams wrote Pieter A. Mumm regarding the sword. The letter reads in part: “I wish to know whether you have any knowledge of a certain long sword or horseman’s Sabre of elegant workmanship, with the name of G. Washington engraved upon the blade, and an inscription of the following import in the Dutch Language. ‘Condemner of Despotism, Preserver of Liberty, glorious man, take from my Son’s hands, this Sword, I beg you’ a Sollingen. If you can inform me, who was the maker of this Sword, and will have the goodness to address your answer to John Q. Adams, Minister Resident of the United States of America at the Hague (in Holland) you will much oblige” (MHi: Adams Papers). The letter is addressed to Mumm at Solingen in the Palatine (now Germany).

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