Papers of John Adams, volume 20
r27 1789
When I had my audience of leave of his Britannic Majesty, orders
were given to the master of the ceremonies Sir Clement Cotterell Dormer, to pay me the
sum of money that was customarily given by his Majesty to ministers Plenipotentiaries
from powers in amity with his court, upon like occasions. But as my departure was
earlier than Sir Clement could receive the money from the treasury he desired me to name
my banker that he might know where to pay the money, as soon as he should receive it. I
accordinly named the house of Messrs C and R Puller in
broadstreet buildings; presuming that the money was in your hands I drew a bill for
three hundred pounds about a year ago upon your house, and sent with the first sett a
letter of advice informing you of all these particulars and pointing out another for you
to apply to for the money in case Sir Clement should not have paid you. But it now
appears that the first of the sett and the letter of advice were lost at sea in the ship
which carried them.1 The second of the
sett arrived but without the letter of advice, which amidst a multiplicity of cares I
had neglected: and consequently came back protested and occasioned me a loss of about
thirty or thirty five guineas for interest and damages. I am now determined not to loose
my present, for if I should give it up, it would do no honor to his Majesty nor service
to the nation, but would only be swallowed up, by some peculating clerk— I therefore
request the favor of you to apply to Sir Clement Cotterel Dormer 170 for the money, who will readily pay it. As soon as you have received it, you will
please to write me; or if any difficulty is made about it let me know that, and I can
easily find a way to make a noise about it to the discomfiture of those who may be in
fault— When the money is in your hands please to order for me as good a gold snuff box
with the kings picture as can be made for an hundred pounds, as good a gold watch as can
be made for fifty and send me these insured, and the rest in Cash insured or bills of
exchange. The rest will be employed in another manner here for the honor of his
Majesty
Upon second thought you may send the remainder after pay for the box, and watch, in two silver servers and four silver candlesticks with the kings arms upon them
LbC in CA’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Messrs C and R Puller / Broadstreet buildings”; APM Reel 114.
The letter lost at sea was likely JA’s of 28 Aug. 1788 to the London banking firm regarding his diplomatic honorarium (LbC, APM Reel 113). JA recorded a payment of £255, part of the “customary present” upon taking leave of the Court of St. James, in his accounts for 1788. He transferred the funds from the Pullers to the Dutch firm of Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst (vol. 19:494). See the Pullers’ reply of 6 Jan. 1790, below.
tre:1789
Il m’a été informé que je dois m’adressér a Vr̃e Excellençe;
Je le fais avéc confiançe. C’est au Sujet de deux balles de Lainages qui furent chargées
a Londres pour mon compte sous la marque PSD No 1 & 2.
Sur le nre La Concorde, qui Fut pris par un de vos Corsaires
dans sa traversée venant içy: ce nre était neutre, ainsi que
moi etant Français; attestation que Je remis du consul de ma nation; Çelle de la facture
qui monte £ Sterlins 820:4s:8d:; et le connaissement en ma faveur a monsieur Franklin a
Paris pour les reclamér; Je reçeus la reponçe Suivante.
“a challiot prés Paris le 9: Deçembre 1777:
Mr. Monsr
Franklin m’a remis comme Deputé du congrés pour L’Espagne, la lettre quil a reçeu de
Vous relativement aux marchandises appartenantes avous prises par un de nos
Corsaires.
J’ay l’honneur de vous avertir la dessus, que la copie de tous les papiers sur cette affaire a été expedié au congrés, et que vous pouvés comptér Sur leur Justiçe.
171Je vous envoye au meme temps une lettre adressée a tous nos Capitaines et Commandants, que Je vous prie de Vouloir bien montrér a tous Ceux qui Viendront dans vos ports.
Vous Aurés la bonté d’etre persuade Mr.
qu’il n’y a rien plus contraire aux Intentions du congrés que de faire tort, ou de le
Souffrir d’etre Fait au sujet des nations neutres.
J’ay l’honneur d’etre avéc la consideration la plus Distinguée
Monsr. vr̃e tres Humble & trés obt Sr: Arthur Lee”
Faites moi la Graçe Vr̃e Exce de
me dire comment le Congrés a reglé Çet objet afin que je puisse me conformér a çe que Je
la prie de me faire l’honneur de me prescrire.
J’ay Celui D’etre avéc Respect / Monsieur. / de Votre Excellençe / Le tres Humble et trés / Obeissant Serviteur.
re:Deschamps1
TRANSLATION
I have been informed that I must address myself to your excellency;
I do so with confidence. It is about the two bales of woolens which were loaded in
London on my behalf under the label PSD No 1 & 2 on the
vessel La Concorde, which was seized by one of your
privateers upon its crossing hither. This vessel was neutral, as I was French; an
attestation of which I remitted, from my Nation’s consul, along with the bill which
amounts to £820.4s.8d and the bill of lading in my name, to Mr. Franklin in Paris to
reclaim the sum. I received the following reply:
“From Chaillot near Paris, December 9, 1777:
Mr. Franklin remitted to me, as the agent of Congress to Spain, the letter that he received from you regarding the merchandise belonging to you and taken by one of our privateers.
I have the honor to inform you in regards to this, that a copy of all of the papers on this affair has been delivered to Congress, and that you may count on their justice.
Meanwhile, I am sending you a letter addressed to all of our captains and commanders that I beg you to show to all who enter your ports.
Please have the goodness to know, sir, that there is nothing more contrary to the intentions of Congress than to do harm, or to suffer it done to the subjects of neutral nations.
I have the honor to be, with most distinguished consideration, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant, Arthur Lee.”
Do me the honor your excellency of telling me how Congress handled this affair so that I may act in accordance to what I beg you to do the honor to prescribe.
I have the honor respectfully to be, sir, your excellency’s most humble and most obedient servant.
re:Deschamps1
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Monsieur Adams, Vice, President du Congrès.”
For the claims of Deschamps and other neutral ship captains who
demanded compensation for the seizures made by American privateers, see Franklin, Papers
, 25:69–71. Congress took no action, and JA did not
reply to Deschamps’ letter.