I have received your favor of the 10th. inst. with its enclosures.— They contain a great deal of interesting matter;—and No. 9 discloses much important information, and political foresight.— For this proof of your kindness, and confidence, I pray You to accept my best, & most cordial thanks.—

Mr: J. Adams, your son, must not think of retiring from the walk he is now in:—his prospects, if he continues in it, are fair:—and I shall be much mistaken if, in as short a period as can well be expected, he is not found at the head of the Diplomatique Corps;—let the government be administered by whomsoever the people may chuse.—

The embarrassment into which he was thrown, by the unforeseen events which so soon took place in Holland, after he had received his first instructions, & had arrived in that country, have long since been removed; and he can be at no loss now, as to the course he is to pursue.—

Long before this letter can have reached you, my answer to the Boston Resolutions will, I presume, have made its appearance in the Gazettes of that place, notwithstanding the delays it met with in getting thither—first, from a mistake of the Postmaster in Alexandria; who, mixing it with the dispatches which were addressed to me returned it by the messenger who carried my letters to his office—this necessarily detained it three days;—and the immense falls of rain, and destruction of bridges which followed, prevented all travelling for at least three days more1

Whether it was from the spark which kindled the fire in Boston, that the flames have spread so extensively;—or whether the torch, by a pre-concerted plan was lit, ready for the explosion in all parts, so soon as the advice to ratify the treaty should be announced, remains to be developed, but as the Ratification thereof, agreeably to the advice of the Senate, has passed from me, these meetings in opposition to the constituted authority, are as useless, as they are at all times improper and dangerous.—

My best respects to Mrs. Adams and with sincere regard and friendship / I am—Dear Sir / Your affecte. Hble. Servt

I mention’d to Mr. Pickering, Secretary at War, the Letter from your Son, which I saw, & recommended his reading it with attention, as I thought the information it contained would be very useful to him in Judging of political questions &c which might fall in his way. he writes me that he enquired for it & found it had been returned a few days before, & no copy of it was retained.1 mr. Woolcot & he are very desirous of seeing it, & I think it may be of great Service for them to see & to have it by them—it will explain & elucidate many things which they do not now well understand, & will correct some Ideas which they may now entertain.—

If you think so too & have no objection I will thank You to let me have the Letter to copy, leaving out the name & the place if you think best. I wish indeed to have a copy to show to mr. Cabot mr. Gore mr Lowell & a few others, for it gives information which they can not elsewhere get, & exhibits a View of European politics & persuits that is new & instructive.—

With much respect I am Sir / Your very huml Serv