1. JQA’s nomination as U.S. minister resident to the Netherlands had long been under discussion, and JA said as much in a letter of the same day to his eldest son: “The President desired to know if I thought you would accept. I answered that I had no Authority from you— But it was my Opinion that you would And that it would be my Advice to you, that you should.” JA informed him of the $4,500 annual salary, instructed his son to exercise prudence, and, above all, to maintain discretion until the Senate confirmed his appointment: “Be Secret. Dont open your Mouth to any human Being on the Subject except your Mother. Go and see with how little Wisdom this World is governed.” George Washington nominated JQA on 29 May, and he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate the next day. JQA’s commission, dated 30 May, and signed by Washington and Randolph, is in the Adams Papers. JQA hastened to Philadelphia to receive his official instructions, for which see Randolph’s 8 Aug. letter, and note 1, below (AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara Martin, Hobson Woodward, and others, Cambridge, 1963– . description ends , 10:192, 199, 200).