Papers of John Adams, volume 7
D'après Le desir que vous avez temoigné hier devant moy de Retourner a L'amerique et Les inconvenients d'estre pris en Chemin et Conduit Chez vos ennemis J'ay Jugé que Le Sejour de Passi ne vous plairoit peutestre pas, et si vous aimiez mieux habiter unne franche Campagne. J'ay dans le Blesois1 unne terre meublée que Je n'habite pas, Je vous offre avec plaisir de vous en Laisser le Maistre tant que la 426guerre durera.2 Vous y trouverez touttes Les Choses Necessaires a la vie et mesme a meilleur Compte quicy. Je vous prie, Monsieur, de Regarder cet offre de ma part Comme un homage que je Rends a vos vertus.
J'ay L'honneur d'estre tres parfaittement Monsieur vostre tres humble et tres obeissant serv
In regard to your desire, expressed to me yesterday, of returning to America and the dangers of being captured and made prisoner by your enemies, I have been thinking that your continuance at Passy might not suit you, and that you might prefer to live inexpensively in the country. I have in the Blesois1 a property that I do not occupy and I offer, with pleasure, to leave you the master of it as long as the war lasts.2 You will find there all the necessities of life even cheaper than here. I ask you, sir, to regard my offer as a testimony that I render to your virtues.
I have the honor to be very perfectly, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
The Blésois or Blaisois was an old county, about one hundred miles south-southwest of Paris, midway between Orleans and Tours. (Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universel
).
In the course of reading this sentence JA underlined and copied into the left margin the words “Blesois,” “une terre,” and “guerre.” He probably did so because the words were particularly difficult to read and he wished to produce a correct copy in his Letterbook. There “unne terre” appears as he copied it in the margin rather than as it is in the recipient's copy.