Papers of John Adams, volume 20

Johannes Altheer to John Adams, 16 December 1790 Altheer, Johannes Adams, John

From Johannes Altheer

A Son Exellence ce 16e Dec: 1790.

Du Temps de votre Ambassade nous eumes l’honeur de vous voir en cette Ville et meme à notre magazin de Livres ou vous avez achettés entre autres le Tableau de l’hist. des Provinces Unies par Cerisier imprimé chez nous & dont nous vous addressames les 3 derniers volumes à la Haye en 1783: pour. f5:8—dholl.1

Comme mon Oncle le Sr. Wild par l’augmentation de ses années et le Changement de systeme est resolû de se retirer il m’a cedé tout son commerce me chargeant de la liquidation. je prends la liberté de vous addresser celle ci, en vous sollicitant de faire connoitre notre magazin à quelque Libraire de Philadelphie sur lequel nous pouvons faire fond: ce seroit trop de vous solliciter à nous envoyer quelque bonne addresse de Libraire chez Vous, ne fut ce que par un de vos secretaires: Nous sommes en etat de fournir presque tous les livres d’Etudes, grecs ou latins comme vous verrez par le Catalogue, que nous avons remis à Mr. Dumas pour votre Exellence.

C’est àvec une Consideration non alterable que j’ai l’honeur d’etre sincerement de / Votre Exellence / tresh & tres obt servr.

J: Altheer 451

TRANSLATION

To his excellency 16 December 1790

During the period of your mission, we had the honor of seeing you in this city and also at our bookstore where you bought, among others, Tableau de l’histoire des Provinces Unies by Cerisier, published in house, of which we delivered the three last volumes to The Hague in 1783 for 5:8 Dutch florins.1

As my uncle, Mr. Wild, is getting on in years and due also to the change in government, he has decided to retire and to leave me his entire business, charging me with its liquidation. I take the liberty to address to you this letter, and I beg you to make our store known to some bookseller in Philadelphia with whom we can establish our trust. It may be too much to solicit from you some good address of a bookseller of yours to send to us, even if it is via one of your secretaries. We are able to provide almost all books of study, Greek or Latin, as you will see in the catalogue which we have delivered to Mr. Dumas for your excellency.

It is with unwavering consideration that I have the honor sincerely to be your excellency’s most humble and most obedient servant

J: Altheer

RC (Adams Papers); notation: “Notre addresse est B. Wild & J: Altheer / Libraires à Utrecht.”

Utrecht booksellers Bartholomé Wild (d. ca. 1809) and Johannes Altheer (1758–1840) published Antoine Marie Cerisier’s Tableau de l’histoire générale des Provinces-Unies, 10 vols., Utrecht, 1777–1784, two sets of which are in JA’s library at MB (vol. 10:276; Catalogue of JA’s Library ).

John Adams to John Jay, 20 December 1790 Adams, John Jay, John

To John Jay

Dear Sir Philadelphia Decr 20. 1790

Permit me in this Severe Season, to Salute your fireside, and congratulate you on your return from the Northern Circuit.1

As the time approaches when We are to expect the Pleasure of Seeing you at the Supream Court in Philadelphia, you will give me leave to solicit the Honour and the Pleasure of your Company and that of Mrs Jay, and whoever else of the Family who may accompany you, at Bush Hill, during the time you may have occasion to Stay at Philadelphia.

This Satisfaction I have here requested as a favour, in hopes that there will be no Hesitation or Delicacy, to prevent you from readily granting it: but if I should be mistaken in this hope I shall certainly demand it as a right: because the Rights of Hospitality are not only Sacred but reciprocal.

452

As you are a Roman, the Jus Hospitii will not be disputed by You: and as I wish that I was one, I shall respect it and claim it.— We have an handsome and convenient Room and Chamber, and a decent Bed at your Service; and instead of the smallest Inconvenience to Us, you will confer a real Obligation, on Mrs Adams who joins with me in the request, to Yourself and Mrs Jay, and on your assured Friend and / humble servant

John Adams

RC (NNC:John Jay Papers); addressed: “The Chief Justice of the / United States, at his / House in / New York”; internal address: “Chief Justice Jay.”; endorsed: “Vice Presidt. Adams / 20 Decr 1790 / recd. 3 Jan / and. 4 Jany 1791—”; notation: “Free / John Adams.”

Fulfilling the constitutional duties outlined for the U.S. Supreme Court under the Judiciary Act of 1789, Jay acted as circuit justice for the Eastern Circuit from 28 Sept. to 15 Dec. 1790. He began his federal duties as chief justice of the Supreme Court in Philadelphia on 7 Feb. 1791, staying with the Adamses from 30 Jan. to 14 February. His wife, Sarah Livingston, and their family remained in New York (from Jay, 4 Jan., below; AFC , 9:186; Jay, Selected Papers , 5:277, 284, 308).