Volume 20 of the Papers of John Adams is the product of the dedicated members of Adams Papers staff, past and present. We recognize the contributions of assistant editor Christopher F. Minty and editorial assistant Tess Renault during our production process. We are grateful for the support of interns Margot Rashba and L. J. Woolcock, as well as the many transcribers who labored to prepare transcripts for this and future Adams Papers volumes. Once again, we would like to thank Ann-Marie Imbornoni, who copyedited the volume and added immensely to its accuracy and style.

Over time, a project such as the Adams Papers builds a store of old and new friends whose assistance is vital to the editorial process. Jeremie Korta translated the French documents. James P. McClure of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson kindly consulted on special research topics. Robb K. Haberman of the Selected Papers of John Jay clarified details regarding Jay’s labors in the U.S. judiciary. Jayne F. Carbone of the Boston Marine Society aided with queries about John Adams’ membership and the contents of their institutional archives. We are grateful to the reference librarians of Harvard University’s Houghton, Lamont, and Widener libraries as well as Boston University’s Fineman and Pappas law libraries. At the Boston Public Library, Kimberly Reynolds, Curator of Manuscripts, and Sean P. Casey of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department assisted with research related to John Adams’ Library.

Adams Papers editors are especially indebted to the efficiency of Kenneth and Kevin Krugh of Technologies ’N Typography in Merrimac, Massachusetts, who skillfully managed the typesetting of the volume. Greek characters were set using Zeph Text, courtesy of the Loeb Classical Library. At Harvard University Press, we acknowledge the unflagging efforts of Andrew Kinney, General Editor; Tim Jones, Director of Design and Production; Christine Thorsteinsson, xxxviii Managing Editor; Abigail Mumford, Assistant Director of Production; Olivia Woods, Editorial Assistant; and Eric Mulder, Design Assistant.

We thank the Massachusetts Historical Society, which has served as a home for both the Adams Papers editorial project and Adams-related scholarship for over sixty years. In particular, we thank President Catherine Allgor; Peter Drummey, Stephen T. Riley Librarian; Carol Knauff, Vice President of Communications & Marketing; Brenda M. Lawson, Vice President for Collections; Maureen Nguyen, Vice President of Development; Will Tsoules, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer; Anne E. Bentley, Curator of Art & Artifacts; Elaine Heavey, Director of the Library; Nancy Heywood, Senior Archivist for Digital Initiatives; Ondine E. Le Blanc, Worthington C. Ford Editor of Publications; Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, Director of Research; Conrad Edick Wright, Sibley Editor; Laura Wulf, Photographic and Digital Imaging Specialist; Mary E. Yacovone, Senior Cataloger; and all of the members of the Library-Reader Services department. As ever, the Society’s Adams Papers Committee provides steadfast support for the project’s success.