Paris, 4 December, 1782.
My dearest Friend,--Your proposal of coming to Europe has long and
tenderly affected me. The dangers and inconveniences are such, and a
European life would be so disagreeable to you, that I have suffered a
great deal of anxiety in reflecting upon it. And upon the whole, I think
it will be most for the happiness of my family, and most for the honor
of our country, that I should come home. I have, therefore, this day
written to Congress a resignation of all my employments, and as soon as
I shall receive their acceptance of it, I will embark for America, which
will be in the spring or beginning of summer. Our son is now on his
journey from Petersburg, through Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, and if it
please God he come safe, he shall come with me, and I pray we may all
meet once more, you and I never to separate again.
Yours most tenderly,