Papers of John Adams, volume 21
d.1793
The Bearer of this Letter is Mr Lear the late Secretary to President Washington a Gentleman
universally esteemed and beloved wherever he is known. I beg Leave to
introduce him to your Acquaintance and Freindship.1 This Country is too happy in the
Enjoyment of that Liberty which Cost them So dear to risque it, by medling
in foreign Wars: and too gratefull to those who assisted them it, to join in any Crusade against
them.
I Shall ever remember with Pleasure, the time I have formerly passed in your Society, and wish it were in my Power to be a better Correspondent.—
With sincere Esteem I am / and ever shall be your Friend and / humble servant
RC (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History, New York); addressed: “Mr John Luzac / Professor of Grecian
Literature / in the University of / Leyden”; internal address: “Mr John
Luzac”; notation by JA: “Favoured by / Mr Lear.”
Tobias Lear formed a mercantile company in June and
sailed to Europe on 10 Nov., seeking suppliers from Scotland, England,
and the Netherlands. Lear wrote to JA on 3 Oct. (Adams Papers), offering to
carry letters to Europe (Washington, Papers, Presidential
Series
, 14:1).