John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1787

Grosvenor Square Sep r 6 1787

Dear Sir.

I am Sorry to give you the trouble of this Commission: but I fear it will not be effectually done but by you—and therefore let me beg the favour of you to send for M r de La Blancherie and withdraw my Subscription to the Society of whose affairs he has the direction, and put a stop to his sending me the Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres et Des Arts.— 1 he persuaded me at the Hague to Subscribe and I paid him a years Subscription— the society continued One year and then ceased & I thought I had done with it forever: but since I have been in England now and then a Bundle of those Gazettes are pourd in upon me— I have no use for them, and sometimes I am put to an enormous expence of Postage.— I am now determined at all Events to put a Stop to it forever and pray you to take Measures for that purpose, by paying him off and taking his Receipt—and by delivering him the inclosed Letter which Contains a Renunciation of my Subscription

With great Esteem I am &c &c

P S. when I subscribed I understood it to be for one year only— and accordingly paid him the four Guineas.— but I suppose he will now pretend that I am bound by that Subscription to pay for the Subsequent years. I will not dispute this with him—tho I am not bound in Law or Honour.— one year the Society and Paper ceased since which it has been revived two years, or nearly so that he may pretend that I am eight Louis D’ors in Arrear. Pay him this if you please and no more, and I will repay you immediately. But at all Events I will be cleared from all Connection with this Man and His society and Nouvelles for the Future—

J A— 2