From John Adams to Hendrik Bicker, 6 November 1780
To Hendrik Bicker
Amsterdam Novr. 6. 1780
Sir
Mr. Blomberg is so ill, that he cannot Speak, upon Business,1 which obliges me, to beg the Favour of your Advise, whether I ought to give more than according to the following Plan.
| A | Interest | 5 Pr. Cent Pr. Annum for 10 years. | |
| To the House for negotiating the Capital | 1 Pr. Cent. | ||
| To the Undertakers to furnish the Capital | 1 Pr. Cent | ||
| Brokerage | ½ Pr. Cent. | ||
| And for the Yearly paying off of 10 Pr Cent. | |||
| To the House, of the Loan | 1 Pr. Cent | ||
| B |  |
To the Undertakers | 1 Pr. Cent |
| C | Brokerage | ¼ Pr. Cent |
I had the Pleasure of half an Hours Conversation with Mr. Bowens, who desired me to consult with M. Blomberg and Send him my Conditions.
A Gentleman of great Worth and Skill, advised me, not to give more than four Per Cent Interest. America, is willing, however, to give a just Interest, and all other reasonable Terms but She would not, like a young Spendthrift Heir, give any Thing, to get Money.
I am Sorry to give you, So much Trouble, amidst the Sickness in your Family. But the Sickness of Several Persons, upon whom I depended, obliges me to do it, and to request your answer as Soon as convenient. With great Respect, your humble Servant
John Adams
RC (Adams Papers).
1. This letter resulted from JA’s visit earlier in the day to Hendrik van Blomberg, who had been acting as his broker in obtaining an agent, Daniël Jan Bouwens, to undertake an American loan. Van Blomberg’s illness made it imperative that JA consult with Bicker. For JA’s correspondence with van Blomberg that led to a meeting with Bouwens on the afternoon of 4 Nov., and the subsequent formulation of the plan contained in this letter, see JA’s brief letter of 3 Nov. to van Blomberg (LbC, Adams Papers), and van Blomberg’s equally brief reply of the 4th (Adams Papers). For the plan as altered by Bicker’s advice in his letter of 7 Nov., see JA’s letter to Bouwens, also of the 7th (both below).