Papers of John Adams, volume 10
1780-11-09
I have the Honour of yours of the 7. Inclosed are a few more Extracts, concerning the Treatment of Mr. Laurens. You will publish Such Parts as you judge proper.1 This Event will have more Serious and lasting Consequences than are immagined. It is therefore proper that the facts should be preserved. It may be prudent to observe a delicacy concerning White Eyes. But Europe in general is much mistaken, in that Character. It is a pity that he should be believed to be so amiable. The Truth is far otherwise. Nerone Neronior,2 is nearer the Truth. I shall be very happy to see you at Amsterdam—and am with much respect, your humble sert.
For the extracts previously sent to Dumas and printed in the Gazette de Leyde, see Dumas' letter of 7 Nov., note 1 (above). The extracts enclosed with this letter were likely from Thomas Digges' letters of 20, 27, 31 Oct., and 3 Nov. (all above), but the Gazette of 14 Nov. contained only a brief excerpt, in French, from the letter of 3 November.
More like Nero than Nero.