AMSTERDAM, March 13, 1788.
SIR,--Mr. Adams having announced to our bankers here his approaching
departure from Europe, and referred them to me for counsel on our
affairs in their hands, they sent me a state of them, and of the
difficulties which were pressing at the moment, and impending more
seriously for the month of June. They were urging me by almost every
post on this subject. In this situation, information of Mr. Adams'
journey of leave to the Hague reached me on the day of his arrival
there. I was sensible how important it was to have the benefit of his
interference in a department which had been his peculiarly from the
beginning, and with all the details of which he was as intimately
acquainted as I was little so. I set out therefore in the instant,
joined him at the Hague, and he readily concurred with me in the
necessity of our coming here to confer with our bankers on the measures
which might be proper and practicable. We are now engaged on this
subject, and the result, together with a full explanation of the
difficulties which commanded our attention, shall be the subject of a
letter which I shall do myself the honor of writing you by Mr. Adams,
to be forwarded by Colonel Smith, who will go in the English packet. I
avoid further particulars in the present letter, because it is to pass
through the different post-offices to Paris. It will be forwarded
thence by Mr. Short, whom I have desired to do himself the honor of
writing to you any occurrences since my departure, which may be worthy
of being communicated, by the French packet of this month. I have the
honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect respect and esteem,
Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.