Papers of John Adams, volume 7
1778-11-29
I have just seen Mr. Dubourg, to whom I owe the honor and pleasure of being known to you. He told me that you had written me concerning some books you would like to procure. The person to whom you gave the letter must not have carried out his commission, for I never received any letter from you. If it had reached me, you can be assured that I would, with the utmost diligence, have undertaken to carry out your request in that letter. As soon as I receive a new letter with your instructions as to what books you wish to have, I will hasten to send them as soon as possible.1
I have the honor to be with respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
Neither JA's letter nor any reply to this one has been found. JA had dealt with Quillau earlier, having paid him 192 livres on 30 June and 170 livres on 9 July (JA, Diary and Autobiography
, 2:331). There is, however, no evidence of any later transactions and, indeed, JA's personal accounts indicate that most of his book purchases were made from the longestablished firm of Paris booksellers, C. and J. Hochereau (same, 2:327, 331–336, 343, 435–438).