To John Adams from Hendrik van Blomberg, 25 September 1780
From Hendrik van Blomberg
Amstm. 25 Sept. 1780
Sir
Messrs. van Vollenhoven, not with standing all the credit they have for the United States of North America Cannot accept of the Commission, Which You have done them the honour to propose, for Reason that their Branch of Comerce being fixt to the Baltick, they Cannot Wel extend it so far as North America.1 I have the honour to be with great Your most h: Servt.
H V Blomberg
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “M. Van Blombergs Billet Septr. 25. 1780.”
1. Writing in 1809, JA ascribed the rejection of his proposal to the van Vollenhovens to their being “too rich to hazard so dangerous an experiment” ( , p. 171). For the reaction of Hendrik Bicker, who had recommended the van Vollenhovens, see his letter of 1 Oct. (below). For JA’s apparent refusal to see the van Vollenhoven’s initial rejection as final, see van Blomberg’s note of 26 Sept. (below).