From Wilhem & Jan Willink to John Adams, 24 May 1792
From Wilhem & Jan Willink
Amsterdam 24 May 1792
Sir
Without any of your excellency’s esteemed favors, we wish to give you in consideration whether it would not be convenient & proper to appoint a Consul here, as we are assured is in Hambg.1 as your Capns. may have frequent occasions for legal assistance, as Likewise germans to Settle in your Country, if your Government may find it usefull, we Should be happy if one of us was appointed thereto as we should consider it, as a flattering proof of confidence.—
We need not especially expose to your Excellency our manifested Zeal for the intrest of the U S, whch. our vigilant exertions will always promote to the Utmost of our power.
We Leave entirely to your Excellency to Judge abt. the conveniency of this Subject & to act accordingly, and we have written to nobody on the matter, Since we Should be too Sensible to an unsuccesfull sollicitation.
We beg Leave to pay our best Respects to your Lady, and have the honor to be with great esteem. / Sir / Your most obed. Humble servant
Wilhem & Jan Willink
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excelly: / John Adams Esqr / Phila:.” Dupl (Adams Papers).
1. The consortium had not yet received JA’s 30 April letter, above. George Washington nominated British-born merchant John Parish (1742–1829) to act as U.S. vice consul at Hamburg in 1790, but Parish declined to serve until he received the powers of a full post in 1793. James Greenleaf served as the first U.S. consul at Amsterdam, from 1793 to 1795 (vols. 14:429, 20:448; , 12:189, 16:588–589).