Papers of John Adams, volume 16
The Baron de Reishack, has several times said to me that his Court expected that Congress would announce formally their Independence, and asked me, if any Step of that Sort had been taken. that I may be able to give him an Answer, I must request of your Excellency to inform me whether you have made the Annunciation directed in the first Article of the Instructions of the 29 of October 1783 and what is the answer.1
I have the Pleasure to learn, by report only however that Mr Jay is appointed Minister of foreign Affairs and that Mr Jefferson is appointed to Madrid, and that Mr Johnson has received and transmitted to your Excellency, a Packet which probably contains an authentic Account, as it Seems to be posteriour to the Appointment, by being addressed only to your Excellency and to me.2 I Should be glad to know whether there is any Thing else of Consequence, and whether it appears to be the design and Expectation of Congress that I should join you, where you are.
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Benjamin Franklin”; APM Reel 107.
The first of the 29 Oct. 1783 instructions to the commissioners required them to inform Joseph II or his ministers of “the high Sense which the United States in Congress assembled entertain of his exalted Character and eminent virtues, and their earnest desire to Cultivate his Friendship, and to enter into a Treaty of Amity and Commerce” with Austria (vol. 15:329, 331). See JA’s first letter of 30 June 1784 to the Baron Franz von Reischach, Austrian minister to the Netherlands, and Franklin’s reply to JA of 4 July, both below.
The reports regarding John Jay and 255 Thomas Jefferson probably were derived from William Bingham’s 26 June letter, above. The source of the report indicating that “Mr Johnson”—probably Joshua Johnson of London—had forwarded a packet to Franklin has not been found.
th.1784
Mrs. Adams. & Miss Nabby left us last Sunday1 was a week ago. with a very fine Wind. which has Continued here ever since & promises her a fine passage. if good Wishes in great Abundance Contribute any thing to the shortness or pleasure of the Voyage. it must be propitious. Mr. Jeffeson will I hope hand you this. & be as agreable a Colleague as his Predecessor. you will from him & Mrs. Adams learn every thing that I could tell you, & probably much more. I shall not therefore detain you with a long Letter. on the subject of News. Politics, or Husbandry. & shall only Apologize for the appearance of the Inclosed Letter from our Friend Gerry.2 he sent it to my Care. & unfortunately sealed it in such a manner that the two Seals stuck together & on opening mine broke this. however not a word of the Contents have been read by any Body. or shall be & I hope will reach in as great security as if no such Accident had happened.
I am with great Sincerity / Your Friend &c
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Mr Adams”; endorsed: “General Warren / June 29. 1784 / andd. 27. Aug.”
That is, 27 June.
Of 16 June, above.
We receive this night a letter of the Express with advice of his arrival with 3 truncks in brussel, but to his great Surprise as well as ours the Same are arrested there, and complains much there abt. of Mr. Barclay, whom he had requested several time to enquire if he could take and transport the same with Safety, who assured him not to anxious abt. it, and in consequence he had reposed on Mr. Barclay abt. it, for We had Strongly recommanded to him to enquire of Said Gentleman, if he Should run the least danger, whh. he Should
256
absolutely avoid, he was now going to apply directly to our Ministers for assistance and we Shall write to them on the subject.1
Mr. Barcklay gave him a trunck closed of whch. the Key was lost, to pack up in the Same the goods &c, he got a smit to open it and bought two truncks more, with the Packing of whch. he has been buzy at Mr. Barclay’s from 9 ô clock in the morning till three ô clock in the afternoon and Mr. Barclay gave him a note of the goods packed in them.
We are exceedingly affected of this behaviour whilst Mr. Barclay Should have taken better information and given the required instructions to the man, and not have left your concerns and his person so exposed.
We hope to hear all will be released next mail, and he on the road hither, whilst without this accident he Should already have been arrived
If your excellency might Judge proper to join a letter to ours, it might perhaps be of Service, in the meanwhile We have the honour to remain With esteem. / Sir / Your Excellencies Most Humbl / & Obedient Servants
Messrs. C & R. Puller have pay’d to your Son young Mr. Adams
| in London | £ 52:10 — | and for a bill of My Lady |
| John Adams | ″ 60: — — | making together |
commn. there |
″ 1. 2: 6 | |
| £113: 12. 6 | for whch. the Acct. of your |
|
Excellency is charged at 36/8 SC
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B ƒ 1249: 17: 8 |
||
| Agio 3 1/2 PC— | 43: 15: — | |
Ct. ƒ 1293: 12: 8 |
whch. please to note in Conformity
m& J
nWillink
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “To his Excellency John Adams Esqr / S’ Hage.”
This was the express or messenger sent on 3 June from Amsterdam to Thomas Barclay at Paris with JA’s letter of 28 May and the bills of exchange obtained by JA from Fizeaux, Grand & Co., above. In his letter of 25 June, above, Barclay indicated that the “Express” had left Paris late on the evening of 24 June with JA’s trunks. Unfortunately he was stopped at Brussels for lack of a proper certificate establishing ownership. For the progress of the dispute and its ultimate resolution, see JA’s letters to the Austrian minister, the Baron von Reischach,of 30 June (2), to the Willinks of 30 June, and to the States General of 2 July (2d); and letters from Reischach of 30 June and the Willinks of 1 and 2 July, all below.
The exchange rate was 36 Schelling-Vlaamschs and 8 Groot-Vlaamschs to the pound sterling. For an explanation of the calculations needed to arrive at the equivalent amount in florins, see John J. McCusker, Money and Exchange in Europe and America, 1600–1775, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1978, p. 45.