Wilhem & Jan Willink to John Adams, 2 July 1784
From Wilhem & Jan Willink
Amst 2 July 17841
Sir
We receive Notice of th’ Express, that a friend of his in Brussel, known by the Gouvernor remained Caution2 for him, that the trunks and Goods belonged to your Excellency; whereupon it has been released under payment of the charges, and duties.
it is owing all to the Carelessness of Mr. Barclay, who had promised to hand him a certificate, that it is your property, and the Clercq of him, who had packed up with our man the goods refused him to get a Costumer to plumb the truncks, when he had been with the certificate provided against all difficulties and those charges avoided, we can not applaud this behaviour! when arrived here we Shall advice your Excellency and pray to mention, if we Shall get the Same directly forwarded to you.
We remain with great esteem. / Sir / Your most Humb Servants
Wilhem & Jan Willink
We receive this mail the inclosed of Mr. Barclay, whch. we think sufficient if your excellency thinks so too, whch. please to mention and return the Letter to us.3
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excelly. John Adams Esqr / Hague.”
1. JA wrote to the Willinks on 3 July enclosing the passport from the States General to admit the goods, then at Brussels, into the Netherlands (LbC, APM Reel 107), for which see JA’s second letter to the States General of 2 July, above.
2. That is, the friend stood as security for Egberts, the express.
3. The postscript is written vertically in the left margin. Presumably Thomas Barclay’s letter concerned JA’s effects and their dispatch from Paris. JA returned it enclosed in his 4 July letter to the Willinks (LbC, APM Reel 107). For Barclay’s comments on the detention of JA’s effects at Brussels, which he blamed wholly on Egberts, the express, see his letter of 9 July, below.