Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 11

Contract for a Loan with Jean de Neufville & Fils

To C. W. F. Dumas
To Hendrik Bicker, 1 March 1781 JA Bicker, Hendrik To Hendrik Bicker, 1 March 1781 Adams, John Bicker, Hendrik
To Hendrik Bicker
Sir Arms of Amsterdam March 1. 1781

I received your Letter at Leyden,1 inclosing the Copy I had the Honour to Send you, and thank you, for your candid Judgment of its Extent and Import.

I have now the Honour to inform you, that on my Return to Amsterdam the 25 of Feb. I received a Letter from Congress inclosing another Commission in proper Form, containing full Powers to treat with their High Mightinesses, and to conclude and Sign a Treaty. I received also Authority to acceed to the Principles of the Armed Neutrality.2

I should now be Still more obliged by your candid Opinion what is the best Course for me to take.3 I have the Honour to be with great Esteam, sir &c.

LbC (Adams Papers).

1.

Of 21 Feb., above.

 2.

Although JA indicates here that he received Congress' letter of 1 Jan., above, on 25 Feb. at Amsterdam, in 1809, when his letters appeared in the Boston Patriot, JA wrote, following his letter of ca. 19 Feb. to Bicker, above, that “At this time I gave up my lodgings at Amsterdam, and removed to Leyden, where on the 25th of February, 1781, I received from the president of congress the following letter.” JA then inserted the letter of 1 Jan. and indicated that its enclosures had included his commission as minister to the Netherlands and the resolution of 5 Oct. permitting the U.S. to accede to the armed neutrality. He then declared that “Soon after the receipt of them, I returned to Amsterdam, and took lodgings again in the city tavern,” or Arms of Amsterdam (JA, Corr. in the Boston Patriot , p. 390–391).

 3.

No reply from Bicker has been found.