ALS signed "John Adam[s]," one page, 7.75 x 14.25, February 16, 1779. Handwritten letter from Passy to M. de Sartine, in part: "By the late Appointment of a plenipotentiary at this Court, I am [left at] Liberty to return to my own Country, a[s it does] not appear that next Congress have any furt[her ser]vice for me to do in Europe. I therefore [wish] to return, as soon as possible. But the E[nglish] have heard so much of me, in former Times, [that] I should be very loth to be exposed to their [good-]will. If it is in your Excellency's Intent[ion] therefore, to send any Man of War, to [any] Part of the United States, I would ask the [favor] of a passage for myself, my little Son, [and] one servant." In very good to fine condition, with trimming to the right side, affecting both the text of the letter (completed in here in brackets) and the end of the signature, and horizontal folds reinforced on the reverse.
John Adams served as envoy to France from November 28, 1777, to March 8, 1779; he announces his departure by this letter, and would arrive back in Massachusetts on August 2nd. In late 1779, Adams would be appointed as the sole minister charged with negotiations to establish a commercial treaty with Britain and end the war.
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