Paris, 15 February 1780. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:248–249.

John Adams thanked Williams for his letter of 1 Feb. (above) and briefly commented on events in America and the settlement of Williams' accounts. He applauded Williams' stated determination to eschew any party spirit, which Adams believed had too long infected the conduct of American foreign affairs and had “injured worthy Characters on both Sides, and done Us much harm.”