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From Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje
Docno: PJA13d039
Recipient: JA
Date: 1782-05-17
[dateline] Amsterdam the 17th. May 1782
[salute] Sir
After the letter we had the honour of writing to your Excellency1 having got a Conversation about the Prospectus of the Loan, we think it would be more easy and convenient for yr. Excellency, to pass five Bonds, each of one Million of Guilders in our favour,
{p. 61}
authorising and empowering us to divide them in Bonds of thousand Guilders each, under our hands, which Should be Saving a good deal of trouble to yr. Excellency in Signing, and at the Same time be much Safer by Sending over the Ratification of Congress, Since in case those five Bonds in our favor and on our names happened to fall into the hands of the Ennemy, can be of no use whatsoever, and being in blanc there remains always some Risk.
By this we take a greater charge upon us, as we'll then also take care for the Coupons being Signed, to which however we'll make no objection.
Inclosed we take the liberty of accompanying to your Excellency a Copy of the Prospectus, which we beg the favor of yr. Excellency to examine and to return us with your Approbation as Soon as possible, as they ought to be printed and distributed next Tuesday.2
[salute] We have the honour to be most respectfully Sir! Your most obedt. & hble. Servts.
[signed] Wilhem & Jan Willink
[signed] Nichs. & Jacob van Staphorst
[signed] de la Lande & Fynje
RC
and enclosure
Adams Papers
.
1. See Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and De la Lande & Fynje to JA, 17 May (1st letter), above.
2. JA replied to the bankers' first letter of this date on 18 May, below, but no reply to this second letter has been found. However, on 22 May, below, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst responded on behalf of the two other firms to JA's reply to their “last letter,” presumably the second letter of 17 May. In his reply JA apparently approved, but did not return, the prospectus. More importantly, however, he likely refused the proposal to issue five bonds of one million guilders each instead of one bond of five million guilders. If that is so, then at some point he reconsidered, for JA signed and sent to the Congress for ratification five contracts for one million guilders each, for which see the loan contract,
[11 June]
, and JA's second letter of 5 July to Robert R. Livingston, both below.
Enclosure: A Prospectus for the Dutch Loan
Docno: PJA13d040
Recipient: JA
Date: 1782-05-17
Bericht
Van eene Negotiatie ten behoeve der Vereenigde Staaten van America, groot drie Millioenen Guldens,1 Hollands Courant geld, tegens 5 pCto. Intrest in t Jaar, roor den tyd van tien Jaaren vast, te betalen op Coupons van f 50—'s Jaarlyks.
Zyn Excellentie John Adams, Schildknaap Minister Plenipotentiarie van gemelde Vereenigde Staaten van America &c. &c. speciaal door het Congres geauthoriseerd tot het doen eener Negotiatie; zal passeeren drie Obligatien La. A, B, C, in dato primo Juny 1782, ieder groot een Millioen Guldens, en dus te zamen de bovengemelde Som van drie Millioenen Guldens, ten behoeven van de Heeren Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob Van Staphorst, en De La Lande & Fynje, met authorisatie om daar van onder hunne handtekeningen uittegeven van ieder Obligatie 1000, en dus te zamen 3000 aandeelen No. 1 á 3000 ieder van f 1000—, welke door de Notarissen Van Kleef en Van Hole zullen geprothoeolleerd worden.
De aflossing zal geschieden by Loting, ten overstaan van Notaris en getuigen, in de Jaaren 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796 en 1797 ieder Jaar een vyfde gedeelte.
{p. 62}
De Intekening zal van nu af aan openstaan aan de comptoiren van de steeren Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst en de La Lande & Fynje, te fourneeren primo Juny, primo July, primo Augustus, primo September, of primo October aanstaande, ten keuze van de Geldgeevers.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2007.
http://www.masshist.org/ff/
http://www.masshist.org/ff/