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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO T. JEFFERSON. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

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TO T. JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,

Last night I received your letter of the 12th. Mr. Jarvis and Commodore Jones are arrived here from New York; both charged with large despatches for you. Mr. Jarvis sent his packet on by Colonel Trumbull, who departed from hence to Paris last Thursday. Commodore Jones went off a day or two ago. But both will arrive to you before this letter. The papers they carry, with a renovation of your commission to the Court of Versailles, contain, I presume, orders and instructions about every thing in Holland.

As my dismission from the service arrived at the same time, not a word has been said to me. Nevertheless, nil Americani alienum; and I have the honor to agree with you in your opinion of the propriety of keeping good our credit in Holland. I should advise, therefore, that the interest on M. Fizeaux’s loan at least should be paid, and the creditors requested to wait for their capital till further orders can be obtained from congress. If they will not consent to that, I would pay them principal and interest, provided there is money enough in the hands of our bankers, and neither you nor they have received contrary orders. No authorities from me will be necessary. Your own letter to Messrs. Willink and Van Staphorst will be sufficient; but if they make any difficulty, which I cannot conceive, for want of any orders from me, I will send them.

You have received authority to negotiate the redemption of our unfortunate countrymen in Algiers. To you, therefore, I send a petition which I received from them a few days ago.

Yours, &c.

John Adams.