From John Adams to François Barbé-Marbois, 1 March 1780
To François Barbé-Marbois
Paris March 1st. 1780
Dear Sir
You advised me to take my Son with me, to Europe, and I followed your Advice, and went further and brought his Brother to bear him Company, and went further still and brought a Grandson of our Friend Dr. Cooper. I thought the more of our Youth I brought here for an Education, the more the Acquaintance between the Countries would be extended, and the Connections strengthened. They are all learning French as fast as possible at a Pension.1
These young Gentlemen are likely to be under Obligations to this Country for more than their Education. I reveal no Secrets of Government. I have none. But the Bruit of Paris is that there is a strong Armament preparing at Brest, which is to be employed in the best possible Manner for our Relief. God grant it.
I had the Honour to dine this day with Comte Sarsefield, in company with the Comte de la Luzerne, the Viscount Sarsefield,2 and a great deal of other good Company: but I am very sorry I had not the Honour to bring Letters from the Chevalier and You to your Friends.
I presume, e’er this You speak English like a Philadelphian, that is with a great deal of Purity, Ease and Fluency. My affectionate Respects to the Family if you please.
I am with great Esteem, Sir, your Friend and Servant
John Adams
RC in John Thaxter’s hand (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, Fonds français, vol. 12768;) endorsed: “John Adams [Paris?] du Congres.”
1. JQA, CA, and Samuel Cooper Johonnot were enrolled in the pension academy of M. Pechigny and his wife in Passy (, 3:272–273).
2. These were Guy Claude, Comte de Sarsfield, JA’s friend and correspondent; Jacques Hyacinthe, Vicomte de Sarsfield, Guy Claude’s brother; and César Henri, Comte de La Luzerne, the brother of the French minister to the United States (vol. 6:85; François Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois and ——Badier, Dictionnaire de la noblesse, Paris, 3d edn., 1863–1876, 19 vols., 18:292; ).