The Son in Law of one of our good Friends has lately arrivd here from England, which gives great Disgust to more Persons than his near Relations conceive of.  On his Arrival, the Governor & Council directed him to state his Reasons for going to England and returning hither without the Leave of Government.  He stated his Reasons; which in general were to render Service to the United States, particularly by removing the Ideas which the British Minister had conceivd of the Attachment of nine tenths of the Americans to that Government, and their Wishes to return to it.  However frivolous this may appear to others, his nearest Friends speak of it, can you believe me, in a high Tone, and Mr ---- told me that Mr ------ was happy in being conscious not only of Innocence, but of great Merit.2—­Those who hope for a Change of Person in our first Magistrate next Spring will be much embarrassd by this Circumstance.  Adieu my Friend.

1 Addressed to Adams at Amsterdam.

2 The draft at this point has the words. “the Affair is in the Hands of the Attourney General by the Direction of the Govr & Council.”

To John Adams.

[Ms., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]

Boston Decr 19 1781

MY DEAR SIR

The Marquis La Fayette is so obliging as to take the Care of this Letter, which, for the sake of him, the Count de Noailles and others our french Friends who take Passage with him in the Alliance, I hope will arrive safely.  In the same Conveyance is a Packett intended for you from Congress, by which you will doubtless he informd of what has been doing there.  It is six Months since I left Philadelphia; you cannot therefore expect I should give you any of the Intelligence of that City.  I presume Mr L1 makes known to you every thing interesting.  I wrote to you frequently while I was there, but suppose all my Letters miscarried, as well as yours if you have written to me; for I have not receivd one for many Months.  I except your favor by the Sieur de la Etombe, to whom I pay great Attention, both on Account of your Recommendation & his Merit.  I give you Credit for a Packett of Gazzettes lately receivd, because I knew the Direction on the Cover to be your hand writing.

Matters go on here just as you would expect from your knowledge of the People.  Zealous in the great Cause, they hesitate at no Labor or Expence for its Support.  Anxious to have a Code of Laws for the internal Government, adapted to the Spirit of their new Constitution with which they continue to be highly pleasd, the General Court have appointed the supreme Judges with Mr Bowdoin who is at present at perfect Leisure, to revise the Laws and report necessary or proper Amendments.  The two great Vacancies in the offices of President & Professor of Mathematicks &c in our University are filled with Gentlemen of Learning & excellent Characters, the Revd Mr Willard