L'Orient, 14 May, 1779.
When I left Paris, the 8th of March, I expected to have been at home
before this day, and have done my utmost to get to sea, but the
embarrassments and disappointments I have met with have been many, very
many. I have, however, in the course of them, had a fine opportunity of
seeing Nantes, L'Orient, and Brest, as well as the intermediate
country.
By the gracious invitation of the King, I am now to take passage in his
frigate, the _Sensible_, with his new Ambassador to America, the
Chevalier de la Luzerne. I hope to see you in six or seven weeks. Never
was any man in such a state of uncertainty and suspense as I have been
from last October, entirely uninformed of the intentions of Congress
concerning me. This would not have been very painful to me if I could
have got home. Your conversation is a compensation to me for all other
things.
My son has had a great opportunity to see this country; but this has
unavoidably retarded his education in some other things. He has enjoyed
perfect health, from first to last, and is respected wherever he goes,
for his vigor and vivacity both of mind and body, for his constant good
humor, and for his rapid progress in French as well as his general
knowledge, which, for his age, is uncommon. I long to see his sister and
brothers. I need not add--