John Adams to President of Congress, October 6, 1780

Amsterdam, 6 Oct. 1780. Dupl in John Thaxter’s hand (PCC, No. 84, II, f. 285–287). printed : Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. description begins The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States , ed. Francis Wharton, Washington, D.C., 1889; 6 vols. description ends , 4:83–84.

Received by Congress on 29 Jan. 1781, this letter consisted of an English translation of the decree of 30 Aug. by Maria I, Queen of Portugal, forbidding privateers from entering any Portuguese port and further prohibiting any vessel, whether a privateer or warship, from bringing in its prizes.