Benjamin Waterhouse to John Adams, December 21, 1780

Leyden 21st. Decemr. 1780

Respected Sir

I have the satisfaction of informing you that Mr. Thaxter and your Sons are now settled in
their lodgings in the same house with me. I could wish the rooms were better as well as
larger, but they think the [y] answer very well, and seem well pleased with
their situation. Tomorrow we are to converse with the teacher of Latin and Greek, and to make
our terms &c. with him, this person teaches the Sons of the Griffier Fagell 1 and gives great
satisfaction. I imagine your eldest must attend him a while before he attends the public
lectures on the greek, the master however can judge of that when he examines him. The
Christmas vacancy commences this day, but that makes no difference with these
private-teachers. I think with Mr. Thaxter and several others that Charles is too young to
attend any of the publick lectures yet. The Lectures on Grotius and the Law of nature are what
I imagine you wish them to attend, one is given in the forenoon, the other in the afternoon by
the same Professor. I am in hopes by Monday next we shall get fairly under:way. The gentlemen came into their lodgings but last night, and to day have been
visited by all those gentlemen who call themselves the english-Society only because they speak
our languague. The English-clergyman 2 came to see
us this morning and to tell us how glad he was to have this addition to his little flock.
Tomorrow we are invited to Mr. Luzac’s, 3 and that
finishes our visits. I had sent me a day or two since a number of questions concerning this
University, they were written at Boston, or Jamaica-plains by I guess Mr. G. 4 I have answered them as well as I could and sent them to the
gentleman who transmitted them to me, they were dated No­ vember 4th
1780. The history of this University is I find almost too intricate for a stranger to
unravell.

I believe Mr. John reather wishes me to propose to you his learning to ride. I can only say
I would not have missed those few lessons I have had for ten times the sum they cost me
besides the advantages resulting from the exercise, and the company we generally find there;
Mr. Luzac and his brother ride twice a week with us, more for exercise than instruction. We
pay, for the first 16. Lessons 30. guilders: for every 16. after 20 Guilders; and generally
take three lessons a week. I imagine Mr. Thaxter from what he already sees thinks they three
can live here for the sum, that it would cost for one at
Amsterdam, that may however not be, yet I am confident a person can live here for half the sum
he pays at Amsterdam provided he lives and takes his rooms as a student.

Mr. Luzac desires his compliments to you. I am with great respect your friend &
Countryman,

Benjn. Waterhouse