Adams Papers

To John Adams from Eliphalet Brush, 19 November 1782

From Eliphalet Brush

Bordeaux 19th Novr: 1782

Sir

An apology, I think, wou’d be Unnessary for addressing you; and I shall make no other than the regard I have for you. The time since I left America put’s it out of my power to give You any late inteligence from that Country.— I left Boston last May, & have been approaching Europe by degrees ever since, by the way of the west Indies & Spain.— I took the Earliest Oppy: on my Arrival in Ameracca, Last year, to send your despatches to Congress, which (was done thro’ the Medium of Gov Hancock) and to call Mrs. Adams; I had the pleasure of seeing her frequently at your friend Genl Warren’s.1

I most sincerely Congratulate you on your Successful Negociations at the Dutch Court; it Affords me sensible pleasure, not only for the Advantage it may be to our Country, but particularly for your Sake, as I know your Efforts were great, & am happy they are crown’d with Sucess.—

I have here the Minerva Capt. Hallet, Movg 16 Six pounders & 40 men, will Sail in the Course of 4 or 5 weeks for Boston.2 In Case I can Oblige you by forwdg: your letters, or any Matters to your family or friends, by the above Vessel, you have only to Command me. my address is to the Care of Mess. V. P. French & Nephew Merchts. here.

I have forwd: by this post, to the Marquis De Castries at Versailles, a pacquet from Mr. LEscallier the Kings Intendent & ordonnateur at Demerary, with whom I have had Considerable business, & have Contracted to build a Ship & load with provisions for the kings Garrison at that place &c in a manner there made it necessary to write him on the Subject; & shou’d he Enquire of you Respg. me You’l oblige me much to tell him simply What you know of me; being from America, on business of our house there, that is I’m in Compy with Mr Saml Broome, who your are Acquainted with.3 I shall be very happy in hearing from you at any time it may Suit your Conveniance.—

I am with Real Esteem & Attachment / Sir / Your Most. Obt. Humb Set

Eliphalet Brush

RC (Adams Papers).

1. Eliphalet Brush, a New York merchant, was an acquaintance from JA’s residence in Amsterdam. Brush arrived in Massachusetts in Sept. 1781 and brought news to AA and others that JQA had gone to Russia with Francis Dana and that CA was returning to America on the frigate South Carolina (AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 4:218, 219, 229).

2. The ship Minerva, Capt. John Allen Hallet, was a Massachusetts privateer, probably the same vessel that carried goods to AA in 1781, under Capt. Moses Brown (Allen, Mass. Privateers description begins Gardner Weld Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution (Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, vol. 77), Boston, 1927. description ends , p. 222; vol. 13:123; AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 4:239).

3. Samuel Broome was a merchant in New York before moving to New Haven in 1775. Broome and his brother-in-law Jeremiah Platt continued to operate the firm of Samuel Broome & Co. in New Haven, there joined by Eliphalet Brush, until the original partners resumed operations on their own in 1785 (JQA, Diary description begins Diary of John Quincy Adams, ed. David Grayson Allen, Robert J. Taylor, and others, Cambridge, 1981–. description ends , 1:307; AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 6:256; Connecticut Journal, 14 Sept. 1785).

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from Eliphalet Brush, 19 November 1782
    Author
    Brush, Eliphalet
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    19 November 1782

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from Eliphalet Brush, 19 November 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-14-02-0039. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 14, October 1782–May 1783, ed. Gregg L. Lint, C. James Taylor, Hobson Woodward, Margaret A. Hogan, Mary T. Claffey, Sara B. Sikes, and Judith S. Graham. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008, pp. 72–73.]

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