You granted us a distinct pleasure, dear friend, in sending us word of yourself.1 We have oftentimes begged Mr. Jefferson to send you our compliments and to attest to you how much we regret your absence. Surely he has not failed to satisfy our request.

If it were up to the friendship alone which we feel for you, we would make the voyage to London. We have so many chains which tie us down that we must give up the hope of such a sweet satisfaction. All that we may do is to send you news of us, and to assure you that we love you still and that we are disposed to do everything that might be agreeable to you.2

You may, dear friend, call on our zeal to serve you in everything that is in our power. Our services will never cease to be at your command, and we count our being useful to you among our pleasures.

We flatter ourselves, and our friendship for you assures us, that your new London friends have not caused you to forget those of Paris. Our rights upon your heart are and shall be respected by your virtue. You will not find in all of England, and even in your new republic, any friends who are more sincerely and more steadfastly devoted to you than us. You are familiar with our way of thinking, our form of government has not corrupted our soul, and we conserve our reason with all of its privileges. We are truly philanthropes, but we have certain feelings which we do not bestow upon everyone in general. We know how to distinguish talents and virtues, and to invest our esteem and our respect in them.

You see then, our dear friend, that by our philanthropy you are not thrown in with the masses. In truth, you deserve this distinction and in this our friendship does you justice.

We cherish well our recollections of Mrs. and Miss Adams. We pray you remind them of our respectful attachment. You are blessed by your wife and children. We congratulate you. You will be all the more by your grandchildren because virtue is always a source of happiness.

Your wisdom did not permit you to speak of the affairs of your office. We know what you owe to your duty as a man of public service. We take advantage of the liberty of private men in telling you that when engaged in political matters, if avarice gets involved in the situation, one finds thousands upon thousands of obstacles. We painfully recognize that the well-being of nations is not the principal object of governments. They desire but money and money and more money. They love commerce, they favor it, they help it expand only to have money. They know that with that metal and our ideas they shall be masters over everything. In this state of affairs we commiserate with you and share your troubles and your difficulties. It was easier for you to win your liberty than to make avarice hear reason. Our concern for America had us share the fortunate outcome of your war; the same concern will have us share that of your mission.

We call upon your friendship, our dear sir, to favor Mr. Poncet, 479celebrated French sculptor, who is headed to London on business.3 He will transmit our letter to you. We love and esteem this artist, and we beg you to grant him all of the courtesies in your power. Our friendship shall not neglect to repay everything you might do for him. We have asked him to bring us news of you and of your ladies. His stay in London will be for only a month. You have all the requisite time to write us a nice, long letter. Your French pleases us greatly. You know our language well enough to communicate all the ideas and all the sentiments that your heart will inspire you for two priests who have vowed you their esteem and their friendship, and who shall always be, with these same sentiments, dear friend, your most humble and most obedient servants