Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 8

From Benjamin Franklin

From Edmund Jenings
From Arthur Lee, 5 June 1779 Lee, Arthur JA From Arthur Lee, 5 June 1779 Lee, Arthur Adams, John
From Arthur Lee
Paris June 4 5th. 1779 Dear Sir

By advices from America since my last to you, my Enemies are determind to impeach my attachment to our Country and our her cause, per fas et per nefas.1 This makes it necessary for me to request 74of you, your opinion on that point, from the knowlege you have had of my conduct while we acted together in Commission. The Calumnies of wicked men, can only be refuted by the testimony of those who are honest and competent, and it is necessary for me to desire this of you least any accident, which God forbid, shoud befal you on the voyage.2

Late Letters from Charles town say they are all in good spirits there.3 No other news.

I have the honor to be Dear Sir, with the greatest esteem yr. most Obedt. Humb. Servt Arthur Lee

RC (Adams Papers).

1.

Justly or unjustly.

 2.

See JA's reply of 9 June (below).

 3.

The letters mentioned by Lee cannot be identified, but they may have referred to the threat posed to Charleston by the British occupation of Georgia and perhaps more particularly by the movement into South Carolina of British troops under the command of Gen. Augustine Prevost. The immediate danger of an attack ended when Prevost withdrew from the approaches to Charleston on 12 May (Ward, War of the Revolution , 2:684–685).