Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 8

From William Vernon Sr.

To Benjamin Franklin
To the Comte de Vergennes, 12 April 1779 JA Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de To the Comte de Vergennes, 12 April 1779 Adams, John Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de
To the Comte de Vergennes
Sir Nantes April 12 1779

I have the Honour to inform your Excellency, that I expect to imbarque and Sail for America, in fifteen days that if your Excellency or any of his Majestys other Ministers, have Occasion to Send any fresh Dispatches to any Part of the united States, So good an Opportunity may not be omitted.1 The season promisses a short Passage, and I shall 32be happy in this opportunity, and in every other, of doing any service, and of expressing the perfect Consideration, with which I have the Honour to be, sir your most obedient humble servt

John Adams

RC (Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.-U., vol. 8); docketed: “M de Rayneval M. Adams fait part de Son prochain depart pour l'amerique paquet.”

1.

In his reply of 23 April (Adams Papers) Vergennes wished JA a safe and speedy voyage and sent a packet for the French minister in the United States, Conrad Alexandre Gérard. A postscript cautioned him to drop the dispatches overboard in the event of capture.