PARIS, July 2, 1787.
SIR,--Being just returned from a tour through the southern parts of
France and northern of Italy, I could not till this moment, acknowledge
the receipt of your obliging letter with the papers accompanying it. It
happened unluckily also that those addressed to the Marquis de La
Fayette, were under my cover. I put them into his hands the moment of
my return. From the opportunities you have had of coming at facts known
as yet to no other historian, from your dispositions to relate them
fairly, and from your known talents, I have sanguine expectations that
your work will be a valuable addition to historical science; and the
more so, as we have little yet on the subject of our war, which merits
respect. I fear, however, that this is not the field from which you are
to expect profit. The translation will sell here; but few read English.
Be assured, that nothing shall be wanting on my part to encourage a
preference of the original to a translation; but it will not be till
the fall that either will be called for, because, during summer, the
readers are in the country. I got from a bookseller here about forty
guineas for a first copy of Dr. Ramsay's work, which he had translated.
If this would be an object with you, I offer you my service. I have the
honor to be, with sentiments of great esteem, Sir, your most obedient,
and most humble servant.