Adams Family Correspondence, volume 8

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 March 1788 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
Amsterdam March 11. 1788. My dearest Friend

I have past through the Ceremonies of taking Leave of the States General, the Prince and Princess &c to the Satisfaction of all Parties—and have been feasted at Court, and all that.— made my Compliments to the Prince on the 8. of March his Birth Day, and to the Princess at her Drawing Room &c &c &c. and should have been in 244London at this hour if you had not have laid a Plott, which has brought me to this Town.— Mr Jefferson at the Receipt of your Letter, came post to meet me, and he cutts out So Much Business for me, to put the Money Matters of the United States upon a Sure footing, that I certainly Shall not be able to get into the Packet at Helvoet before Saturday; and I much fear not before Wednesday the Nineteenth. This delay is very painful to me, and you must blame your self for it, altogether.

I thought myself dead, and that it most well with me, as a Public Man: but I think I shall be forced, after my decease, to open an additional Loan. at least this is Mr Jeffersons opinion and that of Mr Vanstaphorst.

I hope you will have every Thing ready that by the twenty first or second of March We may sett off together for falmouth from London.

My Love to Mr & Mrs Smith, and kiss my dear Boy.— Compliments to all Friends.— I am very impatient under this unforeseen delay, but our Bankers as well as Mr Jefferson think it absolutely necessary for the Public. I must therefore submit, but, if in Consequence of it you should meet South Westers on the Coast of America, and have your Voyage prolonged three Weeks by it, remember it is all your own Intrigue, which has forced me to open this Loan. I suppose you will boast of it, as a great Public Service.

Yours forever

John Adams.

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mrs Adams.”; docketed by JA: “J A to A A / March 11 1788.”

John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 March 1788 Adams, John Adams, Abigail
John Adams to Abigail Adams
Amsterdam March 14. 1788. Fryday My dear

I have recd yours of the 7.th— I have written you on every Post day.

Mr Jefferson is so anxious to obtain Money here to enable him to discharge some of the Most urgent demands upon the United States and preserve their Credit from Bankruptcy for two Years longer after which he thinks the new Gov't will have Money in their Treasury from Taxes; that he has prevailed upon me to open a new Loan, by Virtue of my old Power.— I was very much averse to this but he would take no denial. I shall therefore be detained here till Monday. But if my Health continues I shall cross over in the Packett of next 245Wednesday.— I hope every Thing will be ready for Us to take Post for Falmouth.

The Rich complain, at present in Holland that the Poor are set over them in the Regencies and the old Families that they are set aside by new ones.— Discontent rankles deep in Some Places, and among some Sorts of Men: but the Common People appear to be much pleased.

The Patriots in this Country, were little read in History less in Government: know little of the human heart and still less of the World. They have therefore been the Dupes of foreign Politicks, and their own indigested systems.

Changes may happen and disorders may break out, tho at present there is no apparent Probability, of either.— But as there is no sense of the Necessity of uniting and combining the great divisions of society in one system, no Changes can happen for the better.

My Love to the Children, and believe me very anxious to see you.

John Adams

RC (Adams Papers); docketed by JA: “J. A to J Q. A.”