MY DEAREST FRIEND,

LETTER CLVI.

Passy, 23 September, 1778.

A VERY idle, vain conversation at a dinner has produced you this letter' from a venerable old lady in this neighborhood, the wife of Monsieur Grand the banker. As the subject was introduced, and according to the turn the conversation really took, there was not so much vanity and ostentation on my part as you will suspect from her account of it. But as I speak French very imperfectly, and she understands not a syllable of English, I suppose she did not fully understand me. All that I maintained was, that it was the duty of a good citizen to sacrifice all to his country in some circumstances. God grant, I may never be called to do this again so often as I have done already, for I have hazarded all, very often, and done as much as sacrifice all, sometimes. You will have a delicate task to answer her. Write to her in English. She has a son about five and twenty, who is a master of English, and will interpret. It is a virtuous family, and very civil to me and my dear Johnny, of whom the whole family is very fond.

We are in deep concern for America; the last accounts having left D'Estaing going to Rhode Island and Lord Howe after him.

1 Enclosed.

LETTER CL.

MY DEAR,

Portsmouth,' (N. H.) 15 December, 1777.

I ARRIVED here last evening, in good health. This morning General Whipple made me a visit at the tavern, Tilton's, and insisted upon my taking a bed at his house, in so very affectionate and urgent a manner, that I believe I shall go to his house.

The cause comes on to-morrow before my old friend Dr. Joshua Brackett as judge of admiralty. How it will go, I know not. The captors are a numerous company, and are said to be very tenacious, and have many connexions; so that we have prejudice and influence to fear. Justice, policy and law are, I am sure, on our side.

I have had many opportunities, in the course of this journey, to observe how deeply rooted our righteous cause is in the minds of the people; and could write you many anecdotes in proof of it. But I will reserve them for private conversation. On second thoughts, why should I? One evening, as I sat in one room, I overheard a company of the common sort of people in another, conversing upon serious subjects. One of them, whom I afterwards found upon inquiry

1 Mr. Adams went to Portsmouth at this time upon a professional engagement, believed to have been the last which he ever undertook.

to be a reputable, religious man, was more eloquent than the rest. He was upon the danger of despising and neglecting serious things, and said, "Whatever person or people made light of them, would soon find themselves terribly mistaken." At length I heard these words: "It appears to me the eternal son of God is operating powerfully against the British nation for their treating lightly serious things."

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One morning I asked my landlady what I had to pay? Nothing," she said, "I was welcome, and she hoped I would always make her house my home. And she should be happy to entertain all those gentlemen who had been raised up by Providence to be the saviours of their country." This was flattering enough to my vain heart. But it made a greater impression on me, as a proof how deeply this cause had sunk into the minds and hearts of the people.

In short, every thing I see and hear indicates the same thing.

LETTER CLI.

Uncle Quincy's,' half after 11 o'clock, 13 February, 1778.

DEAREST OF FRIENDS,

I HAD not been twenty minutes in this house before I

1 Mr. Adams started upon his first voyage to Europe from Mr. Norton Quincy's house, which was near the water side, at Braintree.

had the happiness to see Captain Tucker1 and a midshipman coming for me. We shall be soon on board, and may God prosper our voyage in every stage of it as much as at the beginning, and send to you, my dear children and all my friends, the choicest of blessings! So wishes and prays yours, with an ardor that neither absence nor any other event can abate.

JOHN ADAMS.

P. S. Johnny sends his duty to his mamma and his love to his sister and brothers. He behaves like a

man.

LETTER CLII.

Passy, 12 April, 1778.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

I AM SO sensible of the difficulty of conveying letters safe to you, that I am afraid to write any thing more than to tell you, that after all the fatigues and dangers of my voyage and journey, I am here in health.

The reception I have met in this kingdom has been as friendly, as polite, and as respectful, as was possible. It is the universal opinion of the people here, of all ranks, that a friendship between France and America is the interest of both countries, and the late alli

1 Of the frigate Boston.

ance, so happily formed, is universally popular; so much so, that I have been told by persons of good judgment, that the government here would have been under a sort of necessity of agreeing to it, even if it had not been agreeable to themselves. The delights of France are innumerable. The politeness, the elegance, the softness, the delicacy, are extreme. In short, stern and haughty republican as I am, I cannot help loving these people for their earnest desire and assiduity to please.

It would be futile to attempt descriptions of this country, especially of Paris and Versailles. The public buildings and gardens, the paintings, sculpture, architecture, music, &c., of these cities have already filled many volumes. The richness, the magnificence and splendor are beyond all description. This magnificence is not confined to public buildings, such as churches, hospitals, schools, &c., but extends to private houses, to furniture, equipage, dress, and especially to entertainments. But what is all this to me? I receive but little pleasure in beholding all these things, because I cannot but consider them as bagatelles, introduced by time and luxury in exchange for the great qualities, and hardy, manly virtues of the human heart. I cannot help suspecting that the more elegance, the less virtue, in all times and countries. Yet I fear that even my own dear country wants the power and opportunity more than the inclination to be elegant, soft and luxurious.

All the luxury I desire in this world is the company of my dearest friend, and my children, and such