John Adams to John Bondfield, September 16, 1789

New York Sept r 16, 89

Sir

I have received the letter you did me the honor to write me on the
15 of May. and take this opportunity to return you my thanks for your polite
congratulations. It is now five months within a few days since I entered on the
execution of my office: and although I had many apprehensions from the novelty of it,
and from my own long habits formed to different
scenes of life, in the course of a ten years residence abroad in Paris, London and the
Hague; yet I have not found much injury to my health or depresion of spirits. The
greatest pleasure I enjoy is in the reflection that I am now employed in doing
everything in my power to form a system of policy and Finance that may enable us to pay
those debts both at home and abroad which I had so great a hand in contractting. You
will always oblige me sir by transmitting me any information concerning the public
affairs of France in whose happiness and prosperity I am not a little interested.

In what will be the fermentations in France and the rest of Europe
end? Will the spirit and the system of constitutional liberty prevail or will confusion
preceed despotism?

If you can send me a cask of claret such as you sent me at the
Hotel De Valois, Rue de Richelieu, and another of Vin De Grave to be delivered to me at
my house at New York, at your Risque and can contrive to
receive your pay at the time and place of delivery, I should be much obliged to you. 1

I am sir Yours & &

J Adams