From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1783
To Benjamin Franklin
London Decr: 14th: 1783.
Sir
The Day before Yesterday, Mr: Boudinot called upon me, with Dispatches from the President of Congress, his Brother. There were two Letters addressed to the “Ministers” and these I opened but found little or Nothing but Duplicates of Dispatches, receiv’d by you before I left Auteuil.
There are two letters, and one large Packet addressed to you, which I have the Honour to transmit by Mr: Little page.
Mr: Jay and I are waiting, for Advices from your Excellency. if this Packet or that by Captn: Jones contains a Commission to treat with Great Britain, it will be necessary that we should return, to Paris, or that you should come to London very soon— I am also very anxious to hear whether it is possible for you to Save Mr: Morris’s Bills at Amsterdam from a Protest for Non payment.1 If it is not, many Individuals will be disappointed, and the Catastrophe to American Credit must come on.
With the greatest Respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir, your / Most obedt:
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Benjn: Franklin Esqr:”; APM Reel 107.
1. Franklin replied to this letter on 3 Jan. 1784, below, but by then JA was on his way to the Netherlands. For the arrival of that letter at The Hague and an account of JA’s effort to resolve the crisis over Robert Morris’ bills, see his letter to Franklin of 24 Jan., below.