John Adams to de (business) La Lande & Fynje, November 19, 1782

Paris November 19. 1782

Gentlemen

Your Favour of 15 th. Instant is this moment come to Hand. M r Le Couteulx & M r Grand called upon me last Evening upon the Same subject.— I told them both what I now repeat to you “That I have no Right, Power or Authority, whatsoever to give any orders, Directions or Advice in this Matter, M r Morris alone, having the Authority of Congress to dispose of the Money.”— 1 But if my opinion as a Man and a private Citizen would give them any Satisfaction it was, that M r Le Couteulx should draw upon you at present, only for one Million of Florins, and leave the rest after M r Grand Shall have drawn out the 400,000 Livres for the Interest of the Money borrowed by the King of France, in Holland, to pay the Draughts of M r Morris as they may arrive, or to be paid hereafter to M r Le Couteulx or M r Grand, according as Necessities may appear. 2

There was no Copy of M r Morris’s Letter inclosed in yours to me. I Should be glad if M r Dumas would hasten in all the Accounts of Repairs to the House, and let them be paid off.

I know not, when the Obstructions to Trade will all be removed by a Peace.— But if the Nations of the armed Neutrality Should all follow the Example of the King of Great Britain, in acknowledging our Independence, and protect their own Ships in going and coming to and from our Ports, I think the Impediments to Trade between Holland and America, would be lessened. I have the Honour to be, with much Esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient and humble Servant