Title: From John Adams to the President of Congress, 14 December 1783
From: Adams, John
To: President of Congress

          Sir
            London December 14. 1783.
          Permit me to congratulate you, on your Election to the Chair, and to wish you and the Members of Congress in general much Satisfaction at Anapolis.
          on the Fifth of this Month, Captn Jones arrived at my Lodgings in Piccadilly, with Dispatches from the late President Mr Boudinot.— The Letters addressed to “the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States” I opened, And found a Set of Instructions but no Commission. Probably there is a Commission, under Cover to Dr Franklin.— Captain Jones went on to Paris the Same night.
          on the Eleventh, Mr Boudinot arrived, with other Dispatches of an older date; but these were in the Same Situation with the former. Those Letters addressed to “The Ministers[”] contained nothing but duplicates of Information recd long ago respecting the Mutiny at Philadelphia Wereas a larger Packet addressed to Dr Franklin, leaves room to Suppose that it contains a Commission or other Papers for Us all.— Upon Several former Occasions, Papers of Great Importance, which belonged to all “the Ministers for Peace” have been inclosed to the Address of Dr Franklin alone, and Several Inconveniences have happened in Consequence of this Irregularity, upon former Occasions. Upon this there is reason to fear, that a greater Evil may be caused by it.— I would therefore request that in future, Papers intended for “the Ministers” may be addressed to them, that when they Arrive to the Hands of one, he may open them, peruse the Contents and Send them forward to his Colleagues or go and carry them as the Circumstances may require. I shall Send off, by a private Hand the last Dispatch to Dr Franklin this day.— But must wait the return of Post, or a Courier to know the Contents. Mr Jay is at Bath waiting also returns from Paris. The Anxiety caused by this Suspence is not the worst Thing.— much prescious Time in very critical moments is lost by it.
          I rejoice that I ventured over to this Island, for many Reasons— I have recovered my Health, gratified my Curiosity, and resolved Several Doubts.— I wish I could give an Account, of what I see, and hear, which would be more pleasing to my own Feelings, and more Satisfactory to Congress.— But I can find no Traces, of that Principle which was professed by Mr Oswald very Sincerely I beleive, and by the Ministry who imployed him in making Peace.— the Principle I allude to was to cede to America every Thing she could reasonably wish, in order to obliterate past Unkindnesses, and restore mutual Friendship.— Mr Fox and Mr Burke have quite as little good will to America as my Lord North or my Lord Mansfield.— And all Parties still listen to the Same kind of Councillers which has misled this deluded and devoted Kingdom these twenty Years.— A Galloway a Deane an Arnold, are not to this moment without an Influence, and I need not Say to Congress what is the Tendency of their Councils.
          Mr Fox has leave to bring in a Bill, to Support another Proclamation like that which has already done So much Mischief to their own West India Islands, and Things will not be put on a better Footing, uless by Treaty. if a Commission has arrived in either of the Packets to Dr Franklin We shall soon see. But if not, and it is expected that We treat by Virtue of the Instructions We shall be disappointed, for that will not be received as a Commission, not having any seal.
          There are Rumours of a Change of Ministry. The K. is Said to be dissatisfied with the East India Bills. Tomorrow, when one of the Bills is to have a Second Reading in the House of Peers, the matter will he decided. if it fails, there will be a Change of Ministry and a dissolution perhaps of Parliament. But I think the Ministry So Strong, that unless the King is determined against it they will carry it by a great Majority.— In this Case, I look upon the Rubicon to be past against the East Indies as much as it ever was against America: and France & Spain have nothing to do but whet their Scissars for the favourable Moment to clip the other Wing.— if Oppression and Extorsion, Rapacity and Violence are lessened, by taking that immense Country into the Hands of Ministers, I am much mistaken. it is natural, that the King Should be allarmed. his Ministers for twenty Years, have proved So unsuccessfull and therefore so unskillfull, in conducting the Administration of his Dominions abroad, that it is no Wonder he should be afraid of this new Experiment.


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 14 December 1783
From: Adams, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

          Sir
            London Decr: 14th: 1783.
          The Day before Yesterday, Mr: Boudinot called upon me, with Dispatches from the President of Congress, his Brother. There were two Letters addressed to the “Ministers” and these I opened but found little or Nothing but Duplicates of Dispatches, receiv’d by you before I left Auteuil.
          There are two letters, and one large Packet addressed to you, which I have the Honour to transmit by Mr: Little page.
          Mr: Jay and I are waiting, for Advices from your Excellency. if this Packet or that by Captn: Jones contains a Commission to treat with Great Britain, it will be necessary that we should return, to Paris, or that you should come to London very soon— I am also very anxious to hear whether it is possible for you to Save Mr: Morris’s Bills at Amsterdam from a Protest for Non payment. If it is not, many Individuals will be disappointed, and the Catastrophe to American Credit must come on.
          With the greatest Respect, I have the Honour to be, Sir, your / Most obedt:


Title: From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 14 December 1783
From: Adams, John
To: Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business),Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business),La Lande & Fynje, de (business)

          Gentlemen
            London December 14. 1783
          I have received your Letter of the Second of December and am extreamly Sorry to learn, that a Number of Mr Morris’s Bills have been protested.
          You did very prudently in writing immediately to Mr Franklin, to enquire if Mr Grand could afford you, any Assistance. I hope you have received a favourable Answer.
          I am waiting for Answers from Mr Franklin to Letters written to him, to determine whether I am to return to Paris or the Hague. But I dont know that I could be of any Service to you, if I were in Holland.
          With much Esteem &c


Title: To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 23 December 1783
From: Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business),Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business),La Lande & Fynje, de (business)
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            Amsterdam 23 dec̃ 1783
          We do ourselves the honour in answer to your Excellency’s esteemed favour of 14 dec̃:, to hand you inclosed Copy of the Letters both of Doctor Franklin Esqr and mr. Grand, by whch. you’ll be pleased to observe that the Contents are by no means favourable to our purpose.
          By the Washington Packet, we have again been favoured with His Excellency’s Mr. Robt. Morris Eqr.’s letters, with advice of new drafts to the Amount of 750.000 f whch: is nothing Less than an augmentation of the difficulties, we Labour with, to dispose the undertakers, and money Lenders to take obligations, whch. all to no purpose, Since they Seem informed, that the Emperor and Russia to the Example of Sweden, will augment the intrest, whch: expedient France actually Sets on foot with their Loan to open in Jany of 100 millions of Livres.
          This has already induced us to offer them some higher premium, to whch. we thought ourselves fully authorised by the Circomstances, and drafts of Mr. Morris to prevent their being protested (when due) of nonpayment, whch. his Excellency writes us to prevent at all events, we have taken in consideration if it was not proper to apply to the Regency of our City, to obtain for the undertakers some facilities. by whch. means we might permove them to take Somuch Obligations, that we were able to do due honour to all the drafts of the Super Intendant of Finance; we are therefore Sorry to See your Excellency is uncertain, whether he is to Come in Holland. Since We Suppose, that a proper application made in your respective Quality to our Regencÿ, might not prove unsuccessfull, however as no time can be lost, to Leave Space to our Regency for deliberating on this Subject to have their resolution before the bills become due. we take the liberty to pray your Excellency, in Case you are not to Come here very Soon, to favour us, with a letter in your Quality for our Minister Pensionaire Van Berckel Esqr. by whch. you pray him, to dispose favourably on the request, we present to the Regencÿ to promote the Course of the loan, whch. condescention will be looked upon by Congress, as a real proof of our City of their Friendship to the United States, who’ll not fail to put the right value on the Same.
          if this expedient may not yet prove Successfull in this application to the Magistrate, there remains one Way left, and the only one, that Your Excellency is pleased to authorize us, to make a new Loan of 4 millions of f, of whch. the intrest comes out against 6 % P An, when we Should not be destitute of hopes of Succeeding, but Without doubts we fear to be obliged to allow to the undertakers Some more premium, which we Shall not do, but in the greatest necessitÿ, & with particular economy. And, as His Excellency Robt. Morris Esqr mentions us, he pays Said intrest in America, we Venture to Suppose, that he Can have no objection to allow the Same here, the more, as not only All his drafts Should be honoured by it, and yet a considerable Sum become to his disposal, whilst their is no prejudice to Credit in augmenting the intrest, and only following the Example other powers have given, and to whch. our State admiralties, East Ind Comp: Shall be obliged to Come, to find money for the large loans, they Stand in need to make; by whch. we conclude, that those powers, who resolve the first to augment the intrest, will succeed, and leave it very uncertain for them, who afterwards follow, to be equal happy, in Case your Excellency approves of our ideas, and might judge proper to Send us at all events an authorisation, we pray to add an assurance to it, that the Loan done in Consequence Shall be duely approved and ratifyed by Congress.
          We shall inform his Excellency Robt Morris Esqr: of this our application to your Excellency, and hope to convince here by both you and him of our uninterrupted endeavours for the intrest of Congress.

          We have the honour to be with respectfull / Regard / Sir / Your Excellency’s Most Humble / and Obedient Servants
          Wilhem & Jan Willink
            Nics. & Jacob van Staphorst.
            de la Lande & fÿnje


Title: To John Adams from Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, 26 December 1783
From: Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business)
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            Amsterdam 26 Decr. 1783.
          At the beginning of this Week having many Letters to dispatch relating to the Business of the United States, we agreed together upon their Contents, and every one of us charged himself with part of the Work. Mr. Willink promised to write a Letter to your Excellency, and a short Time before the departure of the Mail, he Sent it to the other Houses for Signing. We observed he had not been very fortunate in the Expression of our common Ideas, however there being no Time for composing another Letter, we put our Names under his composition.
          But being in doubt wether your Excellency will sufficiently understand the meaning, and the Matter being very interesting for the United States, we hope your Excellency will excuse us if we endeavour to Supply the Defect of that Letter. If the Matter was of less importance, we would not do it for Reasons, which will be very appearent to your Excellency; but we presume that those Reasons ought to be postponed, when there is Danger, that, by too much Delicacy, the Intrests of the United States might Suffer. We venture this Step without the knowledge of our Compagnons, in the Intention only to Serve your Excellency; we depend therefore upon your Friendship, that you’ll do us the Favour not to mention any Thing about this addres in your Letters to the three Houses.
          Your Excellency is informed, that by the present Situation concerning the Loan, and the Dispositions of the Treasurer, we have been in the very disagreable necessity to decline the acceptance of half a million Guilders, and again of Seven hundred and fifty thousand Guilds. We are informed that if the last mentioned Sum should return thro’ want of Payment, Congres is not to pay any Charges upon their return, in consequence of an agreement made with the Houses, who took the Bills. But we presume that notwithstanding this, it will be a great advantage to the States, if we are able to pay them; and we know that the Expences, attending the Return of the half Million and the disappointment resulting from it, will be of such Consequences, that we don’t doubt but we are not only authorised to exert our utmost endeavours to dispose of a Quantity of Bonds, but even to allow some more Remedium to the Undertakers, than we stipulated at the beginning with your Excellency. It is allmost impossible at this Time to obtain an Engagement with these Gentlemen, unless we should make Such Stipulations, which however we look upon as very prejudicial.
          Considering this, and besides that the not paying of the Drafts would occasion a Stagnation of Commerce in the Spring, because Several Bills are remitted to Such People, who are to send out Goods to their Amount; we thought it merited the Attention of our Government, and we have therefore mentioned the Matter to a couple of very Patriotic Members of our Magistracy, and desired their Assistance for Such Encouragements as may facilitate the Business. We had the Satisfaction that they were fully convinced of the fatal Consequences of the Return of the Bills, and that they promised to assist us in a further Application, which, on this Assurance we have determined to make. We are in hopes it will be effectual, but we believe at the Same Time, that your Excellency being present, and aproving of our Idea, would give a great weight to our adres: and therefore, we should wish, that in case your other important Business would permit that Step, your Excellency would make a trip to this Country. However considering the present Season, and that perhaps other important Things, concerning the United States, may make it impossible for your Exce. to comply with our desire, we request you’ll write a Letter to Mr. Van Berckel, Pensionary of this City to recommend the Business, and we have Reason to think this will do very well.
          Mr. Willink has added another Scheme of a new Loan for four Mills. at 6 pco. It is true that the Interests of Loans are rather augmented Since the Time you opened the Loan for the United States, and we don’t decline that plan, in case we should have the misfortune of a disappointment from the Magistracy, however we for our private opinion should prefer first to compleat the former Loan at 5 pco. Besides this we think it is necessary to inform your Excellency, that whenever you should give the preference to this Scheme, and authorise us to put it in Execution, it will not be done without granting a Remedium to the undertakers.
          We have the Honour to remain very respectfully / Sir / of your Excellency / the most humb. and Obed. Servts.
          Nics. & Jacob van Staphorst.


Title: To John Adams from Matthew Ridley, 27 December 1783
From: Ridley, Matthew
To: Adams, John

          Dear Sir
            Auteiul Decemr. 27t. 1783
          I was honored with your two esteem’d Favors of the 18t. & 21st. Ulto.— I should have been a better Correspondent to you since your departure had I not been & still continue to be, under the greatest distress of a kind for Mrs Ridley’s health. I fear she will not recover.
          I am happy to hear that you have profited so well by your Journey— May you continue to reap every advantage from it, you can wish—
          If we may believe Reports from England, those People are at this time in great confusion— The most of them may mean well, but they have not the understanding to execute; and as to those who take the lead, I believe they may know how to do right, but as you observe their oppositions Parties & Passions prevent them—
          You may remember I told you that there would be a change in the Comptroller-ship— do you recollect that I told you one was a half-commonsense, another an Honest Man & the third a Knave? I lay my Life you are at no loss to guess which prevailed.— A New Loan is opened for 100 Millions & I am told it fills pretty fast—
          The King has given permission for the French Officers who served in America to wear the Badge of the Cincinati— Major L’Enfant is come over with Barney & was charged with the application for the permission & also to get the several emblematical Medals struck.— As there is no doubt the Heirs will be as good Men as the Fathers, the Order I am told is to be Hereditary; but this is confined to the Military only— a few Honorary Members are to be admitted; but their Medals, after their Deaths, are to grace the Cabinets of the Curious.—
          You will have no doubt heard that Mr Morris’s Bills on Holland are noted. It makes great noise & particularly in Holland— I wish you may be able to do something effectual in this Business, otherways I fear the effect of it—
          Congress I learn are a moving Body— By the last Accounts they were going to Annapolis— I wish you were in America— Without flattery I think you might be of essential service—
          The Alliance after having taken onboard her Carg[o for Vir]ginia was obliged to put into Phila where she has [been u]nloaded—
          The Affairs of the Caisse-Descompte seem to be arranged.—
          I beg to be kindly remembered to your son & remain with esteem & Respect / Dear Sir / Your most Obedt servt
          Matt: Ridley


Title: From John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 29 December 1783
From: Adams, John
To: Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business),Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business),La Lande & Fynje, de (business)

          Gentlemen.
            London Decr: 29th. 1783.
          I have just received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me on the 23d: instt: and approve very much of your proposed application to the Regency of Amsterdam. But I hope to consult with you, more particularly very soon.— I shall sett off as soon as possible, but as I must go round by Calais and Antwerp. and the Season is extremely rigorous, and travelling very bad, I fear it will be ten Days before I can pay my Respects to you at Amsterdam. I will however lose as little Time as possible.
          With great Regards I have the Honour to be, Gentlemen, your most Obedient, Humble Servant.


Title: To John Adams from John Dudley, 30 December 1783
From: Dudley, John
To: Adams, John

            Honble. sir
              Decr. 30th 1783 No. 15 Fleet prison
            Inclosed I send you the two certificates you advised me to right for as vouchers to the Truth of what I represented relative to my being a prisnor of war— Likewise I have taken great pains to find out Capt. James Commins Commander of the Confederate which Ship I was Illegally Sent from my native Country in— I have had the good fortune to find he is now at home reseding at grenwich— the Cruel treatment I Recd. from him I did not Care to mention till I found him in being—which I now Likewise Inclose a Coppy of the reception I have met with and the Cause and manner of my being Sent to England—which I am ready to take my oath to the truth of it in presense of Capt. Commins—which he cannot Deny if he Should offer to do it I can prove it by one of his officers belonging to the Same Ship, now in London— I have Shown those certificates to Colonel Harrison and the other Long Detail of my Sufferings which he has been So kind as to go round and Shew them to Colonel Forrest Mr. Watson Mr. West Mr. Eliott &c whom is all well Satisfyed to the truth of my representation and ready and willing to assist me in geting my Liberty and only waits to hear you are Satisfied of the truth when I shall in a few Days have my Liberty— one of those gentlemen was with me this Day in prison returned those Vouchers and Desired I would without Loss of time Send them to recieve your Approbation that you are Satisfyed and if So a Line returned by post togather with thse two certificates to Shew them— I shall Soon be out of my troubles and Able to Efect that much wished for object of returning to my native Country—when I Shall Ever after pray and Dare vouch for my friend and relations on my arrival to Joyn me in that acknowledgment for your friendly Interest in Extricating me from ruin and Missery, and will on geting my Liberty think it a Duty Incumbant on me to give Every further Satisfaction that may be required and to return thanks to all my Countrymen for once more Seting me at Liberty— I most Humbly pray you may parden the Language of this, and admit that my present unhappy Situation render me Incapable of Expresing my Self—as I could wish—if I am So happy as for these vouchers to meet your Approbation and Induce you to Send a Line in answer to Shew my friends if Directed to No 78 Lombard Street it will be sent Immediately to me I am / Honble. sir / your Most Devoted / and Much obliged / Most Hble Servt.
            John Dudley


Title: Enclosure
From:
To:

            The following is a True State of the Treatment of John Dudley—to Shew how Illegual he was sent from his native country—how he came to fall into the hands of the British and where his station was at that time—
            J— D, is a native of N Carolina Late belonging to the 2nd. Regt. of said State—which Regt. he Left on thier March from west point to Joyn the Southeron Army—in order to Join Colonel Henry Lees Legen. which he did—and after being some time with the Colonel— was appointed to the Rant of Lieutt, in a company of Jersey troops commd. by John Outwater Esqr. ordered to be Stationed at hackinsack for the protection of that quarter, it being near the Lines of new york—and by the resignation, of the above named commander, the said D—— had, for some Short time the comd. of the company— till on the night of the 30th of May 1781—he marched from his post— towards new york—with a Small party of men, with Intent to Storm a house belonging to Mr. Wm. Byard on Howbuck Island, which was, a harbour for those Refugeas that yoused to plunder the Inhabitants and on the 31 at Day Light he Arrived on the Island— where his retreat was cut of by a Supirior numer of refugeas under the command of a Mr. Blawvelt when a Scirmage Ensued and he Recd. a wound in his Left Leg that caused him to fall into the hands of Mr. B’s party, who took him to newyork, where he was Detained till the 4 of June, 81, when through the Interest of some american friends then residing in new york that formerly knew him—he obtained a parole from Major Duleney—then Adgt. Genl. of the British foreces—to go out in the Jerseys and to Return in Six Days— it being late in the afternoon he proposed to Leave newyork yearly the next morning at which time—he went Down to the water Side—in order to cross the Northriver— but finding no boat ready and not wishing to be Ditained—he hired a barg for two Dollors—to Set him a cross to wehock— but had not Long Left the Shoar befor he saw a boat push of and come after him—and when coming up with him—a man, on board the name of Mc.michal a refugea officer—Said these words, Mr. Dudley, you must return to New york— D—— made this reply, by whose orders— I have a parole from Majr. Duleney—and should be glad to know what athority you have to remand me back again— on which Mc.michal said Let me see it— D—— refused to give it in his hands—but held it open before him— after reading it—he said it is of no concequence— you must return with me—and do not make any words but git into this Boat— on which—D—— obayed his orders—and after Seting Down in his Boat Insisted to know of him what was the cause of his calling him back, and that he thought he Did it on his own account—and could not answer for his conduct— he said he Could and would do it—but contrary to the Expectation of D—— Instead of being carried back to New york—Mcmichal ordered the Boat to pull Down the river—and run a Long side of the confederate, then Droping Down to the hook to convoey the cork fleet home—where he ordered D—— on board—and reported to the commander of said Ship—Mr. James Commins that he had brough him one of those rebels that had so Long been troublesome on the Lines—and one that had some time before been a Spy and caused a Number of British to be cut of and that he beged particular care might be taken that he Did not make his Escape before they got to Sea as he would be further troublesome if he was not sent out of the country— with that Mcmichal took his Leave of Commins, and went on Shoar— D—— used Every Endeavour to make his Escape togather with the officers that had been taken in the Genl. Washington from Virginia, whom was confind—on Board the Confederate— but finding it could not be Done—and seeing the Ship was puting to sea—he went on the quarter deck intending to know why he was to be taken to England—as being a prisnor of war from the Land Service—but on his approaching near the Commander he was stoped by a Leiut. Gray—who says where are you going Sir— D—— I want to speak to the commander— Gray—go back you rascal—you have been a rebel Long Enough and been very troublesome— D—— then Endeavoured to reason with gray—but to no purpose— gray repeted again—go Down you rascal and Do your Duty, when I get you in the Blew water I will punish you—you now Deserve hanging—and further Says—go you up and Clear the pendant—which was then tangled—which D—— refused—and sayed I am a prisnor of war and can See no reason why I should be on board this Ship— gray—then took up the one End of a roope and struck him—and further Said pull of your hat you rascal or I will have you tied to the gangway and whiped— D—— then see what he had to Depend on—submited—to his hard fate—went Down betwen Decks—and in a few Days was throne into a violent fever—with the trouble it was to him of Leaving his native country and not having but small hopes of Ever returning— the fever togather with the hard fare he met with caused the wound in his Leg to Mortify and in a very short time after rendered him Incapible of siting up and to all appearance was past recovery not withstanding his Illness he had no place to Ley Down but on the coald and naked Decks—and repetedly trod on by the Seamen at work because he could not get out of the way— he seeing himself in such a Dismal situation—he got a half sheet of paper of one John Saint a prisnor and as well as he could Lay on his belley and rote a petition to capt. Commins to see if he could not move him to pity— which was Delivered to him—but to no purpose. he never saw proper to take any notice of it, but Let him remain in that situation near ten Days without any nourishment at Length the quarter master and a young Mitshipman passing by saw him and Spoke—and after hearing his Distress seemed to take some pity on him—gave him a Hamock and had it slung in the sick bay—for him and he carried and put into it— they Likewise gave him a small quantity of shugar and tea—which the prisnr. used to prepare for him— this small assistance renderd. his Distressed Situation some more comfortable— he remained in this situation without any other assistance and having gone through various seens of Ill treatment tow teadeous to mention—till the Ship arrived in the Downs where he was Lifted out in a hamock past all hopes of recovery—and sent on shoar at Deal—where he Lay till crismus Day when his Leg was amputated and—the 24 of May 1782 was Dismised from that place to come to London—and arrived as far as chatham where he was taken sick and Lay three weeks and on his recovery had not one farthing of money—but was in that week condition obliged to take his time and walked on his Crutches to gravesend which took him three Days, where he told his situation and got his pasage to London in one of the Boats— and on his arrival in London he got into St. Thomases Hospital till he got able to go about when he made publick to this governmt the reception he had met with but all to Little purpose further particulars would be two teadeous to mention


Title: To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 3 January 1784
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            Passy, Jan. 3. 1784.
          I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me by Capt. Jones, and immediately answer’d it, acquainting you that my Packets contain’d no Commission, nor any Mention of one. I have just receiv’d another Letter from you, dated the 14th past, with a Number of Dispatches, but they are Duplicates only and as old as July; they contain nothing of the Commission neither, except the Vote that directs the making it out, which is dated in May. It seems to be forgotten. It was by no means possible for me to save Mr Morris’s Bills. I was in hopes that if you had gone to Amsterdam you might have done something towards it. With great Respect, I have the Honour to be, / Sir, / Your Excellency’s most obedt / & most humble Servant
          B Franklin


Title: To John Adams from William Gordon, 7 January 1784
From: Gordon, William
To: Adams, John

          My dear Sir
            Jamaica Plain Jany 7. 1784
          You have very fairly & fully discharged your epistolary account of the preceeding year; which is an encouragement for me to begin anew. There is both pleasure & profit in corresponding with You; & notwithstanding some desponding expressions, I trust your strength & spirits will not be exhausted, till the business is completed. Finesse & subtilty are ministerial qualifications; & the only effectual way to outwit court-politicians is by being honest, for of that they have no idea. A propos, learnt while upon my southern tour, that Marbois denies his having written such a letter as has been pretended. He says, that the British might intercept a letter of his, but that they have deciphered it wrong, & charge him with expressions that are not in it (This from one who had been of Congress) in order to exculpate himself. But when Marbois had his first interview with friend Gerry, he lookt so queerly as seemed to imply that he felt guilty, & almost disconcerted our steady Patriot. I could wish with You, that the Americans would never practise the sublimated refinements of European Politicks; but, from what I have observed, imagine that human nature will act alike in all quarters of the world. Should the Millenium commence on this side the Atlantic, as some divines conjecture, you may then have a greater share of virtue, than an equal quantity of mankind in any other part of the globe at the same period. But commence where it will, I should be glad to have it commence, that so the inhabitants of these lower regions might have a stronger resemblance to those of the upper. Pray let me have the History of the shrew’d Dutchmen’s being taken in. You have raised my curiosity, & me thinks you ought to gratify it. I am so pleased with the character you have given me of Mr Jay, & his conduct has so effectually removed the suspicions I had entertained, that I must pray you to present my most cordial respects to him. They are of little intrinsic value, & yet may please him more than the most fulsome adulation. Thus much as to yours of Apr 15th, excepting that I have endeavoured to use it for public benefit in a discretional way. I should have gone on further by daylight; but have been called off by an account of Callahan’s vessel & cargo being lost off Cape Cod. Am a sufferer to a small amount, but am easy upon hearing that the Capt Passengers, 13 or more, & men are all safe. Must finish by candle, that it may go tomorrow. Should not the following scrip be equally good, it may be legible, & perhaps sensible tho’ inferior to Youngs Night Thoughts.
          Your device is admirable—thirteen stars guarding, a fish, a deer, & an oak with a new star sprouting from the top of it. Lest You should not have written to Mr Gerry I copied yours of Sept 10th & forwarded it by post to Annapolis; You will have heard of Congress’s having removed to that spot, & all about it, through Mr Thaxter, as I suppose, therefore shall be silent upon that. The paragraph respecting moderation &c with your opinion of Mr Jay is upon the road to Govr Clinton at New York, with a request to keep it out of print for the present: but I thought it might strengthen his hands, & tend to cool down the madness of some violent partizans, who while they claim the character of whigs are practising the absurdities of toryism, like your divines who are fire-hot for moderation.
          I say with You treat every public man with as much candour & indulgence as possible; but then I add, let it be such public men as are worthy & deserving, & not such as have forfeited all indulgence & whose behaviour entitles them to no candour, & who by being public men are a detriment to the public & will make the public contemptible. I refer to those who mean well for themselves only & are not well-meaning in any other sense. Let them meet with obstacles & smart under them till they retire into obscurity, & leave the stage for actors who are well principled. I am fully in the opinion of its being of indespensible importance to keep the Union. But I am not for being betrayed under that plea, into a violation of the Confederation & the great fundamentals upon which it was established, & into a mode of congressional government, that, by not suiting the northern climate however well adapted for the southern, will after a time bring on fresh wars & fightings among ourselves, & make the whole one great empire, or break us into smaller ones, instead of remaining separate states, united by confederation, under a Congress freely chosen by the powers of each state. Your words to Congress, I suppose upon the importance of the Union, have been swelled & played off to answer the purpose of getting the Impost in[to] the hands of Congress for a long run of years & to be collected by their own servants. What is your real opinion upon the subject I know not: but I remember what Burgh says, all government is arbitrary, that is, tends to it. Sure I am, from the good information recd when I was about Congress at Princeton last fall, that there are individuals in that body of tyrannical principles, or they would never have talk’t as they did against calling the Financier to an account because they had left it with him to manage—& that Congress had a right to keep up a standing army in a time of peace. I doubt not but that your Machiavelians can turn themselves into all shapes & can play upon any string whether aristocratic, democratic, civil or military or even a shoe-string. You have my assent & consent to execrate in the strongest terms low cunning & mean craft. Your declaration, “but treaties are solemn things, in which there should be no mental reservations” deserves to be written in characters of gold; but there are few courts whether Protestant or Popish, that will adhere to it at heart. Last monday sennight died Dr Cooper in the 59th year of his age, after a six weeks illness. He was buried the friday following. The weather was bad, but the funeral very large. What the Governor will do, now he has lost his prime minister remains to be known. A few weeks back, he would resign; yes he would, & swore to it. The Council was summoned, to be eye & ear witnesses of the extraordinary event. The day came, when lo! the mouse appeared upon the green cloth—his friends alias enemies had advised him to the contrary. Risum teneatis. Should he not obtain the vote of the people the next year, & the election lie between him Bowdoin & Lincoln & the house be of the same complexion, I am told he will not have the chair. But my paper informs me it is high time to subscribe Your sincere friend & very huml Servant
          William Gordon


Title: To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 14 January 1784
From: Gerry, Elbridge
To: Adams, John

          My dear Friend
            Annapolis 14th Jany 84
          The definitive Treaty is this Day ratified by Congress, & I have but a few Moments, by Colonel Hermer, who is charged with the Delivery thereof, to inform You that Mr Dana is arrived &  requested to attend Congress. I have suggested to some of my Friends the good policy of appointing him to a Seat in Congress, & to him the Advantages to be at this Time expected from the Measure; & I flatter myself, it will be adopted.
          The Dispatches by Mr Thaxter have been committed, & a Report is made for authorizing Yourself, Doctor Franklin & Mr Jay to negotiate Treaties with every power mentioned in your Letters. the general principles of the Treaties are stated in the report, conformable to which You are to be authorized to enter into them, without first reporting to Congress, as was proposed by the Resolutions of October last, past at princeton. those proceedings appeared to me calculated to defeat every Treaty & confine our Commerce to France & Holland, for after You had formed the projects, as they are called, & sent them to America, projects of another Nature would have been contrived here to have made Alterations which would have in Effect rendered null your proceedings. I hope the report will pass as it now stands & that You will be expeditious in the Business—
          I observe by your Letters that according to your Orders, You have reported your conferences to the Secretary of foreign affairs. your Information is useful, exceedingly so, but as the other Commissioners have not adopted the same Mode, I suspect they have not received similar Instructions, & that the original plan on this Side was, to discover to the other, your Communications; to prevent or destroy this Confidence You have there established, & to make this appear as an unfortunate Accident, which nevertheless ought to be attended with your recall. be this as it may, I think the Interest of yourself & Mr Jay is at this Time well supported in Congress— I have not Time to revise, much less to correct, & therefore must bid You adieu, after requesting my best Respects to Mr Jay his Lady & Mr Carmichael, if in paris— your Family was in Health by the last Letters from Home, but Doctor Cooper was given over by his Physicians— be assured my dear sir I am on every Occasion Yours / sincerely
          E. G.

            I shall propose to Congress a Resolution for approving in proper & honorable Terms the Negotiations of their plenipoes who negotiated the peace, but cannot say whether the Measure will be successful


Title: To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, [14 January 1784]
From: Osgood, Samuel
To: Adams, John

          Sir.—
            Annapolis Decr 7 14th. 1783 [14 January 1784]
          I had the Pleasure of seeing Mr. Thaxter your late Private Secretary at Philadelphia.— Congress were then on their Way to this Place— He being anxious to return to Masstts. it was not tho’t expedient for him to come on here, as he delivered his Dispatches to the President of Congress in Philadela. & as it did not seem probable that Congress would be soon assembled at this Place.— This is the first Day we have had nine States assembled.— About fifteen Days since, having then no Prospect of nine States, it was moved that seven States should proceed to ratify the Definitive Treaty— The Competency of seven States, was urged upon these Grounds, that Nine States had ratified the Provisional Treaty, the Articles of which constituted the definitive. That Nine States did in October last instruct our Ministers commissioned to make Peace to adopt the Provisional Articles as a definitive Treaty unless farther Advantages for the United States could be obtain’d.— That the Ratification had become mere Matter of Form— That seven States might expedite it & the United States would be bound thereby.— That the Time for exchanging Ratifications would expire on the 3d of March That if not exchanged on or before that Time, the Provisional Treaty would be at an End, & it would be in the Option of G. B.n after that Time to accept it, or not as she should think proper. These Assertions, excepting the Matters of Fact, were very warmly opposed—& Congress being pretty equally divided—the Matter was of Course delayed till this Day— I hope Colo. Hermer who is entrusted with the Ratification will arrive before the Time expires for exhanging it.—
          In some of your Letters you seem to be in Opinion that there is an absolute Necessity of braceing up the Confederation That Funds are necessary for supporting the Credit of the United States— I cannot collect your Ideas precisely— But I am apprehensive that if you were here, you would find it very difficult to establish Funds that would not have a Tendency to destroy the Liberties of this Country.— Our Embarassments are very great— Our Danger lies in this— That if permanent Funds are given to Congress, the aristocratical Influence, which predominates in more than a Major Part of the United States will finally establish an arbitrary Government in the United States— I do most heartily wish there was no continental Treasury & that our Debt was equitably divided among the several States.— In the Way of this, lays our foreign Debt—perhaps it would be better to establish Funds for this alone.— But it is impossible to say what the States will do as to Funds— Congress have none as yet & I am apprehensive they will not have any permanent ones— many of the States are very Jealous.— Every State imagines or pretends to imagine that they have very large Demands against the United States— The Accounts are unadjusted & I fear it is the Policy of some States to keep them forever in that Situation.— This becomes every Day more & more serious— Our State is very deeply interested in it.— She is now uneasy about it & that Uneasiness must encrease—for her Delegates however powerful & Eloquent will never be able, to argue the Money out of the Pockets of the Citizens of another State into those of our own—At least appearances are against it at present Time will discover whether our Union is natural; or rather whether the Dispositions & Views of the several Parts of the Continent are so similar as that they can & will be happy under the same Form of Government.— There is too much Reason to beleive they are not—
          I have been in Congress sometime & intend to leave it forever in four or five Weeks— I have not done myself the Honor to write you from Time to Time; for which Omission I hold myself inexcuseable— Tho I don’t know of any Information I could have communicated, which would have essentially altered any Thing— I have seen the Days of Servility, if not of Corruption & I weep over them.—
          Congress, I think will certainly adjourn the Beginning of May next to the first Monday in November following The Business has greatly diminished since Peace took Place There are a few Objects of great Magnitude which require the Assent of Nine States.— Our Army is dismissed saving about five hundred Men— It now remains with Congress to determine whether they will maintain any Men at the Expence of the United States— The Question has been warmly debated in Congress—but no Decision— The Opponents say that the Confederation gives Congress no Power to keep up Troops in a Time of Peace— There is an inconquerable Aversion in many to any Thing that looks like a standing Army in Time of Peace— They will therefore have no Nest Egg. & why may not every State provide for its own Garrisons— The Confederation speaks this Language.— The Question will not obtain in the present Congress.— The Civil List must be put upon a new footing before Congress Adjourn— A very important Report respecting the future Negociations with the Indians is now before Congress & will require very close Attention This is a very delicate Business as it respects the several States I expect N—— Y——k will purchase all our western Territory of the Indians, before we know it— They are really to cunning for M——tts in Matters of Land.—
          A general Plan for entering into Commercial Treaties must be matured & adopted before the Recess.— And I think by the present Appearance in Congress the Interest of the United States will be the governing Principle Last November bro’t about a capital Revolution in Congress the Limitation of three Years, struck off a Number indeed all the prime Actors in the late strange & unnatural System of our foreign Affairs.— Our State have instructed us to urge a new Arrangement of the Office of Finance— They seem to apprehend that such an Office in the Hands of one Person is incompatible with the Liberties of this Country— A Board in Commission is their Object.— The one & the other have very weighty Objections— I wish there was no Occasion for either. I understand the united Netherlands have no public Chest.—
          Our late Officers having formed themselves into a Society by the Name of the Cincinnati— The Institution begins to be attended to & by many judicious Persons it is thot that in Time it will be very dangerous— It is suggested that the Idea did not originate on this Side the Atlantic—Latet Anguis in Herba.— surely this Country will not consent to a Race of Hereditary Patricians.— There are many others besides the Officers whose Names ought & will be immortalized for their Conduct during the late War.—
          If you should receive a long Letter, the Writer desires you to consider that the first Sheet was not intended for you— The short Notice he had of this Opportunity did not permit him to Copy it— He was obliged to send it in the present Form or not at all— The Beginning of it will be unintelligible With very great Respect / I am Sir Your most humble Servt.
          Samuel Osgood


Title: The President of Congress to the American Peace Commissioners, 14 January 1784
From: President of Congress,Mifflin, Thomas
To: American Peace Commissioners

          Gentlemen,
            Annapolis 14th. Jany. 1784.
          This Day, nine States being represented in Congress, Vizt: Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina & South Carolina, together with one Member from New Hampshire and one Member from New-Jersey, The Treaty of Peace was ratified by the Unanimous Vote of the Members; This being done, the Congress by an unanimous Vote, ordered a Proclamation to be issued, enjoyning the strict and faithful Observance thereof; and published an earnest Recommendation to the several States in the very Words of the 5th Article— They have likewise resolved, that the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States & Great Britain be transmitted, with all possible Dispatch, under the Care of a faithful Person, to our Ministers in France, who have negotiated the Treaty; to be exchanged; & have appointed Colonel Josiah Harmar to that Service. He will have the Honor of delivering to you the Ratification; together with Copies of the Proclamation of Congress and of their Recommendation to the States conformably to the 5th. Article.
          I take the Liberty of recommending Colonel Harmar to you as a brave and deserving officer, and am, with the highest Respect and Esteem, / Gentlemen, / Your obedient, and / most humble Servant
          (signed) Thomas Mifflin.


Title: To John Adams from Nicolaas van Staphorst, 16 January 1784
From: Staphorst, Nicolaas van
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            16 Jan 1784.
          I take the liberty in consequence of our conversation of yesterday evening with two Gentlement of the Council, commissaries in the Business of our claim to the Regency, to request your Excellency that you’ll be so kind to come at my house this morning at eleven o Clock, where you’ll also find Mr. Willink, and when we’ll communicate to your Excellency the proposals of said two members of the council, and perhaps be desired to have an enterview with them at the Stadhouse. I beg to let me know in answer wether I shall have the honour to receive your Exce. at the stipulated hour, at my house, near the Beulingstraat, and am with much respect / Sir / Your most obedt. Servt
          Nics. van Staphorst.


Title: To John Adams from Herman Heyman, 17 January 1784
From: Heyman, Herman
To: Adams, John

          Sir.
            Bremen the 17 Januari 1784
          I had the satisfaction to lay before Your Exellency by the Letter, I took the Liberty to address your Exellency the 31 July last, a Plan of a Glass Manufactory which I intended to Establish in one of the United Provinces of Nord America for your Consideration and beg’d most Humbly from Your Exellency the favor to grant me your Skilful Advise on that head, but am hetherto deprived of the honour to receive any Reply from Your Exellency, but this does not prevent me to venture again to address of Your Exellency a second Letter, flattering myself that what ever concerns the Prosperity and Extension of Your good Country will be agreabel received from Your Exellency and there fore have the honour to inform you that three other Gentlemen with me Considered most Earnestly on that Plan all the time since and taking every things back and forwards find that it can’t but be very avantageous as well to Your good Country, as likewise to the Concerners to Errect a Glass Manufactory in some part of the United States, and we chased Maryland to be the properest Country for it, beeing a spot of Land where by all the Discription we Read it groes the most plenty of Wood, one of my three friends Mr. John fried: Amelong who had the Manage of a Glass manufactory here in Germany will go himself in the spring by the first Vessell over to Baltimore and take the Direction of the intended Establishing Glass-Manufactory, he Carries besides him 80 more families all Experiented to our purpose in the Vessell for Baltimore,
          I can’t but Expect that our Ardent wishes to encrease our Connection with the United States can’t but be satisfactory to Your Exellency, and this gives me the agreabel Aspects that you’ll grant us Your Kind Assistance and Protection in our Undertaking, and inform us to who our friend Mr. Amelong must make his first Aplication at Baltimore or in the State of Maryland, to Errect the Manufactory and to receive some part of Land fit for the Establishment directed and Your Exellence Opinion would be the best Guide for us if we may Expect that Government will grant us every Assistance and give certain Priviledges, and a part of Land at rent to it, or if we must purchase the latter and perhaps not find the Reception to full fill our wishes, and according as such Considerabel Undertaking merits, I can’t but expect it by what I Know that the Congress wishes are to enlarge, and Populate the United States and I am assured Our small transport or may I call it establishing Colonie will give both Pleasure to the Congress and Honnor to us, as they are all People of the best Conduct Virtue, and understanding, and not like many others which [. . .] in America, beeing Rejected in Germany, I shall there[fore] most Humbly beg from Your Exellency the favor to grant our Mr. Amelong some of the best Letters of Introduction & Recommandation for the states of Maryland that he may meet a agreabel Reception, and not be detained at his arrival to bring our Speculation to an Accomplishment and Perfection, and through this exposed to a very Considerabel loss by mentaining the many families with out Emploiing them to our Intention
          Give me leave to assure your Exellency of my most devoted Respects and of my sincere Regard with I have the honnour to Remain / Sir / Your most Obedt humbl Servt.—
          Herman Heyman


Title: To John Adams from John Thaxter, 19 January 1784
From: Thaxter, John
To: Adams, John

          Dear Sir,
            Hingham 19th. Jany. 1784.
          ’Tis two Months this day since I arrived at New York— I delivered the Treaty & Dispatches on the 22d. Novr. to General Mifflin, the President of Congress, then at Philadelphia— One delay & another prevented my reaching home ’till the middle of December— I am ashamed that I have omitted writing so long—but Visits & Sickness have prevented.—
          Mr. Gerry wrote you so largely upon the general state of Affairs & the projects of Parties that I could have nothing to add— He wrote in November by Mr. Reed of Philadelphia—since which time I have not heard a syllable from Congress or any of its Members.—
          The Impost recommended by Congress & the Commutation with the Officers of the Army have not as yet met with the Approbation of the States of Connecticut & Rhode Island— ’Tis very probable however that Connecticut will soon consent to the Impost & make Provision for the Officers— I was told so at least— Rhode Island must then fall in— ’Tis rather unfortunate, that these Matters have been so long delayed,—or that some new plan has not been adopted— Because it renders very precarious the punctual payment of the Interest of our foreign Debts, & keeps in an unhappy Suspence a Class of Men to whom the different States are indebted— I mean our Officers— But all will go right in time— Our Countrymen commonly feel right—& will act right; but chuse to take their own time.
          Various Opinions are entertained respecting the Cincinnati—Some think it will tumble of itself—others the reverse—some suppose it the Child of Resentment—the fruit of a supposed Neglect of the Army.— ’Tis most certainly an Institution without the Sanction of the Confederacy or any particular State— Whether it is a domestic or foreign Plant I know not—but it may become a very rank & poisonous Weed in the state Garden. ’Tis planned upon a great Scale—its honors are hereditary; but only in the Families of the Officers— Foreigners may be admitted as honorary Members. I don’t see either its Necessity or Utility— One of its Objects is the support of the exalted Rights of human Nature— It is very melancholy indeed, if, just after a Revolution, one of whose professed Objects was the Recovery and Establishment of the Rights of America, a Society, consisting of Military Characters & subjects of an absolute Monarchy, should become necessary for the further support & Maintenance of those Rights.— I wish well to our officers, believe them very deserving— I am confident they spurn the Idea of an Injury to America— But what their successors may be, ought not to be trusted to Chance, nor should they have it in their Power by any Institution to become dangerous to Society.— If my Ideas are wrong, I wish to be corrected & set right— I speak but for myself.— I think I have seen enough of hereditary honors & distinctions to convince me they are hereditary Poisons.—
          The Judges of our supreme Court put on their Robes next Term— and the Barristers their Gowns— The Court have lately made some new Barristers—Mr. Morton, I think, is the youngest. I mean to attend the next Session, which will be in February—& in the Spring to quit this County. The Bar is now crouded, & more are coming on— I am fortunate in being single, & hope to scrabble at least as a Batchelor— A single Man, if industrious, need not starve in our Country.—
          I forwarded your Letter to our Governor, & have since had the honor of paying my Respects to him— He recieved & treated me politely—mentioned the Contents of your Letter & wished to render me every Service in his Power.— You will permit me here, Sir, to express again my sincere thanks to you for the friendly Letters you have written in my behalf— I wish my Merit was equal to your favorable Opinion. Whatever it may be in a political view is the fruit of your excellent Example & Instruction— Your different Negotiations were admirable Lessons in Politicks to me. I shall ever consider myself as having been highly benefited in falling under your Tuition both in Law & Politicks— My Improvements were not equal to my Advantages— I am not blind to my Infirmities— I boast only of my Fidelity while connected with you & employed in the Service.
          I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. A. & Daughter very well last Evening on my Return from Boston— They propose to join you in the Spring. I wish you that Happiness most sincerely— They have acted very wisely in putting off their Embarkation ’till the Spring— Winter Passages are commonly rough & unpleasant.—
          You will hear of the Death of Dr. Cooper before this reaches you— ’Tis a great loss to the Parish & Town— I found that I brôt a Letter for him from Dr. F—but it was inclosed to a Gentleman in Philadelphia, ’tho I was bound directly to Boston— Dr. F derived his Information, I fancy, respecting the Reports that prevailed about him in the Negotiation for Peace, from Coll: Q— I am told he wrote the Dr. about them, & enquired if they were true?— He wrote the Dr. fully, what was said about him here— It was very natural for one so anxiously concerned for the Reputation of his Friend—
          I hope something considerable will be done in the Fisheries this year— Ship building is carried on briskly— Three Vessells are fitting out for China— This discovers an enterprizing Spirit—but will carry off too many hard Dollars.—
          I am very happy to hear that you have so well recovered of your Fever— Accept, Sir, my best Wishes for a Continuation of your Health— Please to present my most respectful Compliments to Mr. Jay & Lady—& affectionate Regards to Master John.
          With the greatest Respect, Sir, / your most humble Servant.
          J. T.


Title: To John Adams from John Stockdale, 20 January 1784
From: Stockdale, John
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            London January 20th: 1784
          (domestic News)
          I have received by the packet some Medals inclosed in a Letter directed for You for which I paid 16/8 & shall not open it til I receive Your instructions
          I this day received a Basket sealed up & directed for You, as I suspected it was some sort of Game I resolved in the presence of Dr. John Jebb to commit an act of felony & break the Seals, with an intent for Dr. Jebb to seal it up again with his seal, should it prove to be any thing else,— but as it appear’d to be two fine Hares unaccompanyed with any Letter, I took the liberty to offer one to Dr Jebb in Your name which he very politely refused, desiring me at the same time to remember him to You in the Strongest terms, I am now left in the distrest situation of being oblig’d to eat (with the assistance of my little family) both the Hares we shall do ourselves the pleasure after dinner of Drinking, Yours, Your Sons. & familys Good Health in a glass of fine old Madeira, which I had from a friend.—
          (Political News)
          Mr. Wm. Pitt rises every day higher in the estimation of the People & no doubt will be minister many Years, this night four of Mr. Fox’s friends in the House of Commons got up & begd. for a Coalition of Parties, which in fact is nothing less than Mr. Fox’s coming on his Knees to Mr Pitt, but you may rely upon it that Mr Pitt will never Join Lord North.—
          (Accident)
          A very full Court at the Queens Birth Day Yesterday the Portuguese Ambassador was over turn’d in St. James’s St. in his Carriage but not hurt, but a Gentlemans Servt. who was near had both his legs broke by the accident.—
          I am Sir Your much obligd / & very Humble Servant
          J. Stockdale


Title: From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 24 January 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

          Sir
            The Hague Jan. 24. 1784.
          Desirous of doing all in my Power, to Save Mr Morriss Bills, I determined to go to Amsterdam, and accordingly, Sett off, the Beginning of this Month from London, in a Season too rigorous for Pleasure.— At Harwich we were obliged to wait Several Days for fair Weather, which when it arrived brought us little Comfort as it was very cold And the Wind exactly against Us. The Packetts were obliged to put to Sea and I embarked in one of them. We were more than Three Days in advancing Thirty three Leagues with, So unsteady a Course, and Such a tossing Vessell that We could not keep a fire, the Weather very cold and the Passengers all very Seasick. As We could not, on Account of the great Quantities of Ice upon the Coast, reach Helvoet, We were put on Shore on the Island of Goree, where We got a Boors Wagon to carry our Baggage and We walked about Six Miles to the Town of Goree. not finding Iceboats here We were obliged to go in open Boors Waggons across the Island to Middle Harness. Here We were detained Several Days in very bad Lodgings unable to find Boats to carry Us over the Arm of the Sea to Helvoet. at Length Iceboats appeared, and We embarked amidst a Waste of Ice which passed in and out evey day with the Tide, and by the Force of Oars, & Boathooks Sometimes rowing, in the Water, and sometimes dragging on the Ice, which would now & then break & let us down, in the Course of the Day We got over, and thought ourselves lucky, as the last Boat which passed got stuck in the Ice and was carried out with the tide and brought in again, So that they were out from 9 in the Morning to one O Clock the next night before they reached the opposite Shore. We could not reach Helvoet, but landed on the Dyke about two Miles from it, and took Boors Waggons again for the Brille, which We reached at Night. Next Morning We took Ice Boats again to cross another Water obstructed with Ice as before, and then a Third the Maese, which We found Sufficiently frozen to walk over on the Ice. another Boors Waggon carried Us to Delft, and from thence a Coach to the Hague. after the Rest of a day or two I went to Amsterdam. Our Bankers had applied to the Regency, and I offered to enter into any reasonable Contract, and to pledge the Faith of the United States for the Performance of it. but all in vain, The Gentlemen of the Regency, Seemed very desirous of doing something for Us, if they could. But as usual, they are so afraid of making a Precedent, and that other Powers, as much distressed for money as We, would take Advantage and demand the Same favour, that they dare not, and our Bankers were advised to take back their Application, to avoid a certain decision against Us.— Yesterday I returnd to the Hague.
          I Should look back with Pleasure, upon the less Chagrin, upon the disagreable Passage from London, if We had Succeeded, in obtaining the Object of it, but I find I am here only to be a Witness that American Credit in this Republick is dead, never to rise again, at least untill the United States Shall all agree upon Some Plan of Revenue, and make it certain that Interest and Principal will be paid. There has Scarcely an Obligation been Sold Since the News of the Mutiny of Soldiers in Philadelphia and the diversity of Sentiments among the States about the Plan of Impost.
          I have no Information from Congress or Mr Morris, but am told by our Bankers there are Bills to the Amount of Thirteen hundred Thousand Guilders which must be sent back, a terrible disappointment to great Numbers of People! Some of the Bills become payable, the Beginning of March, and the Rest being much the greatest Part in May.
          At Amsterdam I recd the Honour of yours of the 3 of this Month.


Title: From John Adams to Matthew Ridley, 25 January 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Ridley, Matthew

          Dear Sir
            The Hague Jan. 25. 1784
          I recd, last Week, at Amsterdam, your Favour of Decr. 27. and Sympathize, most Sincerely with you, in your Affliction but I Still hope, Mrs Ridley will recover.
          As an Article in our Confederation, Stipulates, that “no State Shall confer any Title of Nobility” and as the Genius of our Governments is averse to all Such Distinctions, I am no Friend to the Errand of Major L’Enfant. I wonder, what the Roman, in Heaven, thinks, of the Use We are making of his Name and his Plough! I wonder, whence our Officers derived their Authority, to assume Such Honnours, and to institute Such decorations, without Leave of Congress or the States. if Congress had ordered a Medal to be Struck, and presented to every officer, no Objection would have been made: but the present mode, will, I fear give rise to very disagreable Debates and Dissentions. I have been informed that this whole Scheme, was first concerted, in France and transmitted, from thence, by the Marquis? Is this true or not? It is with Congress and the States to determine, whether it Shall be permitted. to me, it Seems an Inroad upon our Liberties. I dare Say the officers do not consider it, in that Light.
          To my mortification I must inform you, that I despair of doing any Thing to prevent the Bills from going back. I have made a painful Journey to Holland, in Packet Boats, Iceboats and Boors Waggons, in a very Severe Season to do all I could, but I find nothing can be done. I made a Journey last Summer in extream Heat, and another this Winter in extream Cold, both to no Purpose. The Heat cost me a Fever, and the Cold has hurt, my Health, but the greatest Chagrin of all is to find that I wear out, the feeble Remains of me, for nothing. I have but one comforable Reflection, which is, that when the States find their Credit compleatly and certainly undone, they will take effectual Measures to recover it, by establishing a Revenue for the Payment of Interest.
          Remember me, respectfully and affectionately to Mrs Barclay, Mrs Ridley and the Children.
          How is the Drs Complaint of the Stone, Gravel &c


Title: From John Adams to Herman Heyman, 30 January 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Heyman, Herman

          Sir
            The Hague January 30. 1784
          I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 17. of this Month.
          I wish Sincerely well to your Plans of Connection with America, but as they are of a private Nature I have no more Authority to give you Advice or Assistance, than any private Citizen.
          I cannot give you any Encouragement, that Congress or the State of Maryland, or any other of the United States, will give you any publick Aid.— The Country is all open to the Enterprizing who, if they can find their Interest in Emigration have full Scope to exert their Skill, Talents & Industry: But the publick will be cautious of interfering.
          I would not, on the one hand, discourage your Attempt nor on the other inspire you will false hopes. Your Plan is vast, and the Expence must be very great, So that if you Should not meet with Success the Disappointment might be Serious.— Wood it is true is plenty, but Labour is very dear. There have been Several Attempts to introduce the Manufactory of Glass into America. One at Braintree near Boston, my native Place, and one or more, at Philadelphia. These Succeeded to a certain degree, but I believe never made any great Fortune.
          If your Friend Mr John Fried. Amelong goes to Maryland I would recommend him to the Civilities of his Excellency the Governor of that State, and any of the Members of their Legislature, and any of the Members of Congress now Sitting at Anapolis. Any of these Personages would have the Goodness to give thier Advice to Mr Amelong, and he may take this Letter with him if you please, as an Introduction. But he must not from thence expect any publick Assistance.
          With great Esteem and Respect &c


Title: To John Adams from Joseph Reed, 30 January 1784
From: Reed, Joseph
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            London Jany. 30. 1784.
          Considerations purely of a private Nature having brought me to this Kingdom I take the very first Moments to present your Excelly. my most respectful Regards & to regret that the Length of my Voyage has deprivd me of the Oppy. of doing it personally as I am inform’d you have left this City very lately. I also take this Occasion through our respectable Friend Mr. Laurens to forward a Packet which our Friend Gerry with whom I spent the last Day in America intrusted to my Care in so special a Manner that I feel myself particularly happy in forwarding so as to ensure its safe Arrival (very uncommon Accidents excepted). As I doubt not he has communicated more perfectly than I can pretend to do the Occurrences of America deserving your Notice, it would be superfluous to repeat what he has said so much better. But as even a Repetition of pleasing Circumstances is not wholly ungrateful to those who feel for the Publick as you do, I think I may venture to assure you that the American Union has been strengthened rather than weakned by the Events of the last Summer. The Removal from Philada. & the prohibitory Restrictions pass’d here have contributed to this, in an eminent Degree & substituted a new Bond of Union to that which the Peace & a Cessation of the Influence of common Danger had in some Measure dissolved. Its Operation in America has very much alarm’d those who though their Bodies are there have Hearts yet in Great Brittain. They have through our publick Papers treated Congress with some indecent Abuse, but it is rather the Ebulletion of disappointed local Party, than the sense of the People. The Operation of these Events is also perceptible on the State of our Funds & we had when I left America more favourable Prospects of their Establishment than at any Period for 12 Months past.— Genl. Washington pass’d thro Philadelphia about the 15 December on his Way to Annapolis where (to use his own Expression) he intended to leave his Coat & Cockade—
          Dr. Witherspoon also arrived in the same Ship but not on any publick political Business he prays me to present his particular Respects. And if we can supply any Information or in any Respect be useful to you, you will please to command us without Reserve pointing out the Channel of Connyance which your own Discernment & better Acquaintance with the Country will suggest.—

          With every Sentiment of Respect & Esteem which I may with the utmost Justice assure you America feels for your Person & Services permit me to add my own in a particular Manner & believe me / with very great Truth & Regard / Dr. Sir / Your Excelly. most Obedt & / very Hbble Servt.
          Jos: Reed


Title: From John Adams to John Cranch, 31 January 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Cranch, John

          Sir
            The Hague January 31. 1784
          Your Favour of the Seventeenth of this Month, was delivered to me, last night.— I left London on the third of this Month So that your kind Present of Game, afforded a Regall, to Mr Stockdale in Piccadilly, but I am not less obliged to you for it, than if I had been so fortunate as to receive it myself.— I beg you sir to accept my Sincere Thanks for it.
          As the Nephew of my most valuable Brother Cranch I should have been happy to have met you in England. if the Time would have permitted, I should have wished to have made an Excursion to that Part of England where the Relations of my Friend Mr Palmer and those of my Brother reside. and if you sir, or any of your Friends should travail in Holland, I should be very glad to see them at the Hague.
          I Should esteem it, as a favour if you would Send me a Copy of the Letter you allude to from Casco Bay. You may Address your Letter to me, at the Hague, by the Post.
          I am, with great Regard for yourself and / your Connections, Sir your most obedient / and obliged humble servant


Title: From John Adams to John Stockdale, 31 January 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Stockdale, John

          Sir
            The Hague January 31. 1784
          Your Favour of the 20th. was Sent me last night, and put me into a Fit of good Humour which continues to this moment.
          The Letter containing the Medals, I beg you to open and deliver one set to Mr West and another to Mr Whiteford, in my Name.— You will please to make a Minute of the Postage you pay for me, which I will remit you.
          The Hares were well disposed of, and I hope gave Pleasure to the little Family.— You could not have offerd one of them more properly than to Dr Jebb, for whom I have the highest Esteem, as one of the best Citizens of the little Commonwealth of the just upon Earth.
          If I did not know that the Burthen of the State lies So heavily upon your shoulders I would invite you, to take a Trip to the Hague. and drink a Glass of finer old Madeira than that you had from your Friend I would not advise you to come in this Season to travel in Iceboats and Boors Waggons as I did.
          It gives me Pleasure to hear that Mr Pitt rises in the Esteem of the People, because he has a fair Character and promisses great Things: nevertheless a Friend to Old England would wish for a Coalition, But Mr Fox is of So peremptery a Cast, and not always in the right, that I fancy it will be difficult, to form any Coalition in which he is not the Essence.
          it will ever give me Pleasure to hear of your Welfare and to receive a Spice of the Politicks of the day, / with much Esteem, Sir your very humble / srt.


Title: To John Adams from Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 31 January 1784
From: Staphorst, Nicolaas & Jacob van (business),Willink, Wilhem & Jan (business),La Lande & Fynje, de (business)
To: Adams, John

          Sir
            Amsterdam 31 Jany 1784
          We are favoured with the honour of your Excellency’s letter of 29 of this month, whch. should have compiared Yesterday With us.
          Mr. Wm Willink did himself the honour to wait on your Excellency the night before your departure, to inform you of the unsuccessfullness of all our repeated endeavours, and notwithstanding the favourable dispositions of our Regency, Considerations of so much importance with them opposed their good intentions, that they Could not be prevailed upon disposing favourable on our request.
          We have however since not been quiet, but daily occupied we are in conference with the undertakers, by offering them an extraordinary premium on the remainder of the 2 Millions, and as they’ll meet Monday morning with us to make some demands, we Should wish to receive in answer to this your Excellencies order, if we Should conclude with them, in case we could Succeed with a sacrifice of 4 to 5 Per C: on that amount, for all the extraordinary gratifications and allowances, whch. we Suppose preferable in this Juncture above a tentamen of negotiating a new Loan against Six Per C: intrest, whch. however your Excellency Seems to consider, (So as we Surely have always done) preferable to the return of the bills, if however receiving your Excellency’s authorisation to the mentioned proposals. we could not succeed, it is very well you consent to our consulting with the undertakers. abt. a new Loan, with whom we Should by no means do any thing but on Security of getting the money.
          but we want to observe to your Excellency, that the intrest of 6 Per C: is in favour of the money Lenders, and can by no means bear the charges on the Loan, So the charges must not only be payed besides the intrest, but we are in real apprehension, that instead of having been 4 1/2 Per C. in all, would amount by the Juncture of the time to 6 Per C: all together, to whch. it Should be necessary to submit, and therefore we Should be of opinion to allow rather the extraord: premium of 4 to 5 Per C. on the remainder obligations in our hands; but we Submit with respect our Judgment to your Excellencies more enlightened understanding.

          moreover we press the undertakers Seriously because we got information that the bank of philada. Stops payment, on acct. of false banknotes brought in circulation, whch. circumstance how prudent occasioned confusion there, and if it becomes publick, before we are able to conclude the matter, we are really fearfull, all our endeavours shall entierly miscarry, Some consider that for this fatal event, we must conclude the Sooner the better if possible, and not Stand on a triffle of a Percent more or less, whch. we Submit all to your Excelly’s. consideration, and beg the favour of your advice, if any thing of this Circumstance is known to you, as we should yet doubt of the veracity of this advice dated 9 dec:
          We have the honour to remain with great esteem / Sir / Your most Humb & Most / Obedient servants
          Wilhem & Jan Willink
            Nichs. & Jacob van Staphorst
            de la Lande & fynje


Title: John Adams to Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje, 1 February 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje

          Gentlemen
          The Hague February 1. 1784

        I have just received your Favour of Yesterday and thank you for the Promptitude with which you answered mine of the 29. Ult.
        I have been informed particularly by the two worthy Pensionaries, Vanberckel and Vischer, as well as by your Letter, of the Difficulties of Succeeding with your venerable Regency, and therefore See no hopes of Saving the Bills but in the Plan of a new Loan, or in that which you propose, which I fully agree with you is much better for many Reasons.
        Your Judgment in these Things, is much better than mine, and therefore, if We cannot do better, in your opinion, I will agree with you to the Sacrifice of 4 to 5 Per Cent, for all the Extraordinary Gratifications and Allowances
        I have not received from any Quarter, before I received your Letter, the least Intimation, that the Bank of Philadelphia had Stopped Payment, on Account of false Notes in Circulation. And I cannot credit Such a Report because, if it were true, it would have been most industriously Spread in Europe, with all its Details and Evidence, by the many Ennemies We have among the Stock jobbers in England and Elsewhere.
        With &c


Title: John Adams to George Clinton, 1 February 1784
From: Adams, John
To: Clinton, George

          Sir
          The Hague February 2. 1784.

        Mr C. W. Schubert, de Rawitz, in Poland, proposes to embark in march for New York, and there to establish himself, in Trade, chiefly in German Linnens He proposes to remove with him his Wife & Child. I have been desired to give him a Letter of Introduction, a favour which is very often asked and I dont know how to refuse. Upon these occasions however I only mean to request ordinary Civilities to Strangers, Advice upon Occasion and the Protection of the Laws.
        I beg Leave, now I am writing, to mention to your Excellency a Report, which has given me some Concern vizt that Sir James Jay was So much Suspected in the State of New York as to have Occasioned the Confiscation of his Land there.— I Sincerely hope the Report is not true, and I interest myself in it, the more because I am under a Personal Obligation to him for his masterly skill and faithful Attendence, as a Physician, in a dangerous Sickness I had last Fall at Paris and Auteuil. No Feelings of my own, however, of Personal Gratitude, ought to influence me to write a Word in his favour, if I thought him, unfaithfull to the Publick, but from all the Knowledge I have had of him, and from all his Conversation with the People in France and in Holland, he has invariably maintained

the Character of a zealous American. It is true, there is not a perfect Understanding between him and his Brother, who is one of the best of Men as well as one of the best Americans. The Grounds of this Coolness, I never understood from either Side but I am perswaded, nevertheless that his Brother thinks him an honest American. You will pardon the Liberty I take, sir / and believe me to be with great Respect & Esteem, your / Excellencies most obedient sert


Title: Henry Laurens to John Adams, 3 February 1784
From: Laurens, Henry
To: Adams, John

          Sir.
          No 18 Fludyer Street Westminster 3d Febry 1784.

        The Packet accompanying this, was put into my hands by Mr. Reid formerly President of Pennsylvania, with a request that it might be forwarded by my Son who is going to France.
        After you had left Bath, two or three Letters or small Packets under your direction were presented to me by the Post Man, these I advised should be sent to you at Mr. Stockdale’s, to one of them I added the necessary address, in every case disdaining a Reprisal which your example would have warranted.
        Upon this occasion I cannot forbear, & if an apology is necessary, I must appeal to your own feelings, once more demanding those two Letters of mine, which you thought proper to open. I have already received three promises from you to put them into my possession, but hitherto without effect. the first Act was in every view indelicate & unjustifiable, in one, unmanly & cruel; but the long neglect, amounting to a refusal, to deliver them, is a high aggravation

containing an insufferable degree of contempt. Possibly Sir, the patience extended on my part under this & other injurios treatment on yours, may have led you to mistake forbearance for tameness which you might play with; nor can I in any other manner reconcile your conduct with the hazard attending it.
        It is long since I declared to a friend, I will submit to this behavior of Mr. Adams, in preference to a resentment which, tho’ strongly provoked, might interrupt public business, but our connexion as Servants to the United States of America being now at an end, ’tis incumbent upon me to do myself Justice, at least to attempt it, trusting that upon recollection your own good sense & knowledge of propriety will save further trouble to / Sir / Your humble servant

          Henry Laurens,


Title: Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to John Adams, 4 February 1784
From: Willink, Van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
To: Adams, John

          Sir
          Amsterdam 4 febr 1784

        We have received your Excellency’s esteemed favour of 1 febr, by whch. we See you are pleased to consent of an extraordinary Sacrifice, whch. we pleaded by the undertakers, but could by no means prevail on them, and enfin declined it finally: thise displeasing

circumstances brought us in the necessity to take their opinion on a New Loan against 6 Per C: intrest, as your Excellency judged perfectly right, that it was much more preferable to do it, than to get the bills protested, we in consequence have proposed to them the inclosed Sheme, on whch. Sunday or monday next they jointly have promised the answer; that in case we can offer to them a reasonable premium & gratification some of them seemed inclined to hearken to it and we stipulated the ready payment of so many hunderd thousand Guilders this month that the bills falling due at the end to such amount will all be payed, we want therefore to pray Your Excellency to authorise us to Conclude it on this footing with 6 Per Ct. allowance for all the premiums brokeridges, gratifications Notary Seals obligations commn. &c & every expence besides. in case we can be happy enough to bring it to consistance, when we Shall directly draw up the Obligation to Sign for your Excellency and direct further matter in the most regular Way and order, desiring your answer here on for our government.
        We remain With great esteem / Sir / Your Excellency’s most / Humbl & Obedient Servants

          Wilhem & Jan WillinkNics. & Jacob van Staphorst.de la Lande & fynje

          We shall forward the packets received of Mr Dumas for Congress by first opportunity, whch. please to communicate to him With our Compliments.

        ENCLOSURES

          Sheme of a Loan of Two Millions of Guilders, against 4 Pr. Ct. Pr. Annum dated 1 Feby.
          In favour of the Money Lenders Shall be distributed a Set of obligations bearing also intrest of 4 Pr. Ct. Pr an: to those Numeros drawn in presence of a Notary & Witnesses, in the manner as specifyed here under.

              Pmo: Feby. 1785
              fiftÿ obligations to gether . . . . .
              ƒ 50.000.–.–

              —————1787
              Sixty . . . ″ . . . . . . . . . . ″ . . . . .
              ″ 60.000.–.–

              —————1789
              Seventy. ″ . . . . . . . . . . ″ . . . . .
              ″ 70.000.–.–

              —————1791
              Ninéty . . ″ . . . . . . . . . . ″ . . . . .
              ″ 90.000.–.–

              —————1793
              One Hundred . . . . . . . ″ . . . . .
              ″ 100.000.–.–

              —————1795
              One Hundred Twenty. ″ . . . . .
              ″ 120.000.–.–

              —————1797
              Two Hundred . . . . . . . ″ . . . . .
              ″ 200.000.–.–

               The Redeeming shall be–

               Pmo: Feby. 1800. With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1785 . . .
              ″ 50.000.–.–

              ƒ300.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 5 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1801 With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1787 . . .
              ″ 60.000.–.–

              ƒ310.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 6 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1802 With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1789 . . .
              ″ 70.000.–.–

              ƒ320.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 7 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1803 With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1791 . . .
              ″ 90.000.–.–

              ƒ340.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 8 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1804. With . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1793 . . .
              ″ 100.000.–.–

              ƒ350.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 9 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1805 With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 250.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1795 . . .
              ″ 120.000.–.–

              ƒ370.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 10 PCt.

               Pmo: Feby. 1806 With . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ 500.000.–.–

              & the obligations distributed 1797 . . .
              ″ 200.000.–.–

              ƒ700.000.–.–

              With a Gratification of 15 PCt.

          Repartition of the Obligations

              Ao: 1785.

               1 No: 6 oblig̃:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ   6 000.–.–

               1 ″  4 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   4.000.–.–

               4 ″  2 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   8.000.–.–

              30 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  30.000.–.–

              ƒ  48.000.–.–

              the Last No: 2 oblign:
              . . . . . . .
              ″   2 000.–.–

              ƒ  50.000.–.–

              Ao: 1787.

               1 No: 8 obl:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ   8 000.–.–

               1 ″  5 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   5.000.–.–

               2 ″  3 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   6.000.–.–

               4 ″  2 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   8.000.–.–

              30 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  30.000.–.–

              ƒ  57 000.–.–

              the Last No: 3 obl:
              . . . . . . . . .
              ″   3 000.–.–

              ƒ  60.000.–.–

              Ao: 1789

               1 No: 10 oblin:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ  10 000.–.–

               1 ″  6 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   6.000.–.–

               3 ″  4 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  12.000.–.–

               4 ″  2 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   8.000.–.–

              30 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  30.000.–.–

              ƒ  66.000.–.–

              the Last No: 4 obl:
              . . . . . . . . .
              ″   4 000.–.–

              ƒ  70.000.–.–

              Ao: 1791.

               1 No: 12 obln:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ  12 000.–.–

               1 ″  7 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   7.000.–.–

               3 ″  5 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  15.000.–.–

               6 ″  3 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  18.000.–.–

              33 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  33.000.–.–

              ƒ  85 000.–.–

              the Last No: obl: 5
              . . . . . . . . .
              ″   5 000.–.–

              ƒ  90.000.–.–

              Ao: 1793.

               1 No: 15 obl:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ  15 000.–.–

               1 ″  8 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   8.000.–.–

               4 ″  4 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  16.000.–.–

               8 ″  2 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  16.000.–.–

              39 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  39.000.–.–

              ƒ  94.000.–.–

              the Last No: 6 obl:
              . . . . . . . . .
              ″   6.000.–.–

              ƒ 100.000.–.–

              Ao: 1795.

               1 No: 20 obln:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ  20.000.–.–

               1 ″  10 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  10.000.–.–

               2 ″  6 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  12.000.–.–

               8 ″  3 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  24.000.–.–

              46 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  46.000.–.–

              ƒ 112.000.–.–

              the Last obl: 8
              . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″   8 000.–.–

              ƒ 120.000.–.–

              1797.

               1 No: 30 obln:
              . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ƒ  30.000.–.–

               1 ″  15 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  15.000.–.–

               2 ″  8 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  16.000.–.–

               5 ″  5 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  25.000.–.–

              22 ″  2 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  44.000.–.–

              60 ″  1 ″
              . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
              ″  60.000.–.–

              ƒ 190.000.–.–

              the Last No: 10 obln:
              . . . . . . . .
              ″  10.000.–.–

              ƒ 200.000.–.–