Adams Papers
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David Humphreys to John Adams, 30 December 1784

From David Humphreys

Paris Decr 30. 1784

Sir

I write this to request information of you, what is necessary, right, & proper to be done by me on saturday next— You can doubtless tell, Sir, whether it is expected & wished that the whole diplomatic Corps should, be at Versailles on New-year’s day, or whether the concourse will probably be so great as that the presence of the smaller limbs of that great Body may readily be dispensed with— I wish only to regulate my conduct by the strict rules of propriety—

In case you should go, and think it expedient that I should attend; I will have the honour of calling on you at any hour you may please to name & take breakfast with you.— As I have heard it suggested, that on new Year’s day, some presents are usually expected by the Cte de Vergennes’ Servants or some body about the Court, I shall wish also very much to be informed how this is, how many expectants there are, & to what amount it is customary to give every one, that I may be prepared accordingly— An Ansr. by the bearer will much oblige1

Sir / Your Most Obedt. / Hble. Servant

D. Humphreys

P.S. In consequence of Mr Jefferson’s advice, Mr Short2 who is, (or lately was) one of the Council of the State of Virginia, proposes taking an opportunity of being presented at Court—

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mr Humphreys / Decr. 30th: 1784.” Note that “30th:” was inserted in a different color ink and a different hand.

1. No reply to this letter has been found, and it is unclear whether Humphreys attended the New Year’s Day event with JA. For an account of the event and the costs involved, see AA to Cotton Tufts, 3 Jan. 1785, AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 6:41–45.

2. For William Short, a close friend of Thomas Jefferson’s, see AFC description begins Adams Family Correspondence, ed. L. H. Butterfield, Marc Friedlaender, Richard Alan Ryerson, Margaret A. Hogan, and others, Cambridge, 1963–. description ends , 6:9.

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    Adams Papers
    Title
    David Humphreys to John Adams, 30 December 1784
    Author
    Humphreys, David
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    30 December 1784

    Reference

    Cite as
    “David Humphreys to John Adams, 30 December 1784,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-16-02-0284. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 16, February 1784–March 1785, ed. Gregg L. Lint, C. James Taylor, Robert Karachuk, Hobson Woodward, Margaret A. Hogan, Sara B. Sikes, Sara Martin, Sara Georgini, Amanda A. Mathews, and James T. Connolly. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012, pp. 481–482.]

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