Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 7

From Edmé Jacques Genet

From James Warren
Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 1 January 1779 Genet, Edmé Jacques JA Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 1 January 1779 Genet, Edmé Jacques Adams, John
Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation
Dear Sir Versailles, 1 January 1 1779

I read to Count Vergennes that which concerns the Count d'Estaing in the note with which you honored me. He recommended that I mention it in my journal. But it will have to appear in the number after that which will appear tomorrow. I have also included an English piece—signed Fire and Sword,2 which should amuse you.

I am, with respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant,

Genet

I am keeping an eye out for the piece from Virginia in the British papers.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “m. adams député du Congrez a Passy”; docketed: “M. Genet”; by CFA: “1779.”

1.

Undoubtedly written in January, as it is a reply to JA's letter of ante 30 Dec. as well as that of 30 Dec. (both above).

 2.

Presumably the satirical piece published by Genet in Affaires de l'Angleterre et de l'Amérique under the heading: “Conseils aux Ministres Anglois pour donner à la proclamation ou manifeste du 3 Octobre encore plus d'efficacité”; and the signature: “Le Fer & le Feu” (“Lettres,” vol. 13, cahier 62, p. xxvii–xxxi). It listed monetary rewards as incentives for carrying out the Carlisle Commission's manifesto of 3 Oct. (Richard Henry Lee to JA, 29 Oct. 1778, note 4, above). Among them were £5,000 for burning a town of 1,000 houses, £30 for the scalp of a member of congress, and £5,000 for the scalp of General Washington.