Docno: ADMS-06-09-02-0247-0002
Author: Dumas, Charles William Frederic
Recipient: Adams, John
Date: 1780-06-06
[dateline] The Hague, 6 June 1780
[salute] Sir
Today I am sending His Excellency Mr. Franklin the third and final issue of the
Gazette de Leyde,
1 in which I had Clinton's letter inserted according to your and his wishes. I also
have sent it to other newspapers, both in and out of the country, notably to Hamburg
and a friend in Amsterdam who has promised to send a copy to London. I still think
that this letter, as it appears in the American newspaper, has been tampered with,
for it seems to me that there are, at various points, statements that Clinton neither
could nor would have made.
Please remember me, sir, whenever you receive authentic news from America, for I can
make very good use of it if I hear it before others. Such was the case when I received
from Passy the news of Burgoyne's capture.
Would you, sir, not like to visit this country? It deserves to be seen, especially
in this season. I would be your
fidus Achates,
2 thus satisfying my long held desire to personally know and to be known to you. One
can get here from Paris in a very few days by way of Brussels and Antwerp. Give me
some hopes in this regard and forgive my requests for your good will and friendship,
which I will always strive to deserve through my zeal in the service of the United
States, together with the respect and devotion with which I shall always remain your
very humble and very obedient servant,