From “The Knight of Pommereuille” (unpublished)
Paris, January 24, 1779
Sir

I have been some days ago to your house about noon, and was very sorry not to have the honour of seeing you. I had it to see Master Adams, who told me, there were now in america more of five thousand officers without employments; thus I will think no more of bearing arms in america. as i am in suspence to go there to see a friend of mine, I would in making a sacrifice to friendship not to be idle in that Country and Continue my service. I have the honour to pray you of giving me some elucidations on what follows: there are eight months now my friend is in boston. Curiosity only Carried him there he is a great traveller: from that time he sent but one Letter and intreats his relations to prevail upon me for my going and Rejoining him. it is well: but my friend     in no particulars Concerning boston. the geographers say in general it is a flourishing City; but a traveller a Little Curious Desire something yet more. as I Know nobody who has been there; I take the Leave of praying you to be so Kind, as to acquaint me, if you think the war Makes not an obstacle to the Conveniencies of Life in boston; if a man may Live there pleasantly, and not pay the provisions an exessive price, and if a french man may safely make this voyage on a dutchman ship. One of my friends to whom I Related I Could not have the honour of seeing you, proposed me to show me your Coloured statue, and that of Voltaire: I gladly Accepted of the offer; I saw with Rapture the image of a famous poet, whose writings ought to interest all french men. but I must Confess it, My first and Last glances have been Cast on the statue of the virtuous and Learned man, who Did break the chains in wich groaned his Country. after some ages of a general oppression, may the revolution that is happened not Long ago beyond the seas, as it offers all the inhabitants of europe an asilum against fanaticism and tyranny, to instruct also those who govern people on the right use of their autority. May those brave americans, who have preferred of seeing theirs wives injured, their children slain, their habitations Destroyed, their fields ravaged, the burning of their Cities, to shed their blood and die, than to Lose the smallest portion of their Liberty, May they I say prevent the immoderate increase and the unequal distribution of Riches, Luxury, effeminacy the Corruption of Manners, and to provide for the Maintaining of their Liberty and the duration of their government. May they remove at Least for some ages, the sentence passed on all earthly things, wich Condemned them to be born, to have their time of vigour, their decrepitness and their end. May the earth swallow up the american province, one day so powerful and     to seek the means of subjugating the others. May in each of these provinces, or never to be born, or perish very soon by the sword of the hang-man or by the dagger of a brutus, the Citizen one day so puissant and so much enemy of his own. Felicity to project of Rendering himself the master of his Country.

I have the honour Sir of being with Respect your most humble and obedient servant

the Knight of pommereuille

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