Philippe André Joseph de Létombe to John Adams, February 28, 1781

Paris, 28 February 1781

Sir

Ten days ago Mr. Searle gave me the letter that your Excellency had the honor to write me on the 3rd of January. 1 I could not answer it right away because business, events, and a thousand other obstacles prevented me from doing so. But I saw Mr. Searle as often as I could and would like to thank your Excellency for his remembrance to me and for the introduction to such an estimable citizen as Mr. Searle. I regret very much that I will not be able to cultivate our relationship any further because he is leaving for Holland and I am going to America in twelve days.

I ask your Excellency to honor me with the orders for Philadelphia and Boston. Be certain that it will be with much zeal and enthusiasm that I execute my post in America. Again I would like to ask that you recommend me to your compatriots. This would be a great honor. I beg you, sir, to please send the packet along to me as soon as possible in Paris, where I will find it upon my return from a ten-day trip that I must make. 2

Please, sir, accept my tributes of respect and of a tender attachment with which I am, your Excellency, your very humble and very obedient servant

De Létombe Ecuyer, Consul général de France à Boston. Rue de l’Université à Paris.