the said Henry Laurens, during our pleasure, our agent for and on
behalf of the United States, to negotiate a loan with any person or
persons, bodies politic or corporate; and whereas the said Henry
Laurens having, by unavoidable accidents, been hitherto prevented from
proceeding on his said agency, we have, by our commission bearing
equal date herewith, constituted and appointed the honorable John
Adams, until the said Henry Laurens, or some other person appointed in
his stead, shall arrive in Europe, and undertake the execution of his
aforesaid commission, our agent to negotiate a loan as aforesaid;[14]

And whereas it may so happen, that the said John Adams, by reason of
some disability arising from the state of the business of his present
appointment, or otherwise, may be prevented from undertaking the
execution of the said commission, or having undertaken it, from
proceeding therein; we, therefore, reposing especial trust and
confidence in your patriotism, ability, conduct, and fidelity, do by
these presents constitute and appoint you, the said Francis Dana, in
the event of the disability of the said John Adams, as aforesaid,
until the said Henry Laurens, or some other person appointed in his
stead, shall arrive in Europe, and undertake the execution of the
aforesaid commission, our agent for and on behalf of the said United
States, to negotiate a loan with any person or persons, bodies politic
or corporate, promising in good faith to ratify and confirm whatsoever
shall by you be done in the premises, or relating thereto.

Witness his Excellency, Samuel Huntington, President of the Congress
of the United States of America, at Philadelphia, the 20th day of
June, in the year of our Lord, 1780, and in the fourth year of our
independence.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.

FOOTNOTES:

[14] See Mr Adams's commission in John Adams's Correspondence, Vol. V.
p. 329.

* * * * *

TO JONATHAN JACKSON.

Amsterdam, November 11th, 1780.

Sir,

You must before this time have heard of the capture of the late
President Laurens, on his voyage hither; that the enemy affect to
consider him a state prisoner, and have, accordingly, confined him to
the Tower, _in arcta et salva custodia_. Their treatment of him has
marked the barbarity of the nation from the throne to the footstool.
Does