We would have liked, sir, to read a copy of your work in your language and have entreated one of our friends who knows English to make us a summary of it and to give us the general idea. We observed with satisfaction that you demonstrate very clearly everything you put forward and we understood through our friend that this commendable work is worthy of you and your philosophy. We want it to be translated into our language in order to know every detail that escaped the friend who extracted it for us.

You are aware, sir, of what is happening here since the Assembly of Notables. The Paris parlement is seated at Troyes. This body of magistrates continues to demand a meeting of the Estates General and to profess its incompetency to register taxes. Every superior tribunal of the capital and of the provinces demands the same thing. The entire nation joins her wishes to their demands. In this state of affairs we hope soon to have the Estates General. Everything will then fall into place, the national spirit will 136 materialize and the ministers will be contained. Up until now, they have been the absolute masters. Because no one was watching over them they were seated and unseated by intrigue, upon which their good or bad administration had no impact whatsoever. Everything followed the way of their whims. Enormous pensions were always the reward for good and bad ministers alike.

The felicitous Constitution of your country shelters you from everything that is happening here. Preserve your liberty as you would something precious. The blood it cost you is priceless, and nothing in the world could compensate you for its loss. You shall cease to be happy if you cease to be free. Death is preferable to slavery. Do not envy us our commerce, our riches and our vicissitudes. Laboring in the earth and joyful poverty are the backbone of freedom; you know it better than we, sir, you, who have pondered great truths and who have contributed by your talents and your courage to the revolution that has rendered you free.

We have been told that your return to your homeland was set to take place midway into next year. We hope that between now and then you will take a trip to Paris with Mrs. Adams and with your esteemed daughter and son-in-law. We are very eager to have the honor to see you again and to assure you in person of the feelings of respect and friendship which you have inspired in us and with which we shall not cease to be, sir, your most humble and most obedient servants

We pray Mrs. Adams and your esteemed daughter to allow us to present to them our humble respects, and we offer our sincere regards to your esteemed son-in-law.