From John Adams to Philip Mazzei, 28 December 1782
To Philip Mazzei
Paris 28 Decr 1782
Sir
I have this moment received your Letter of the 23 of December. I have recd but one Letter for you, Since my Arrival in Paris, and that was inclosed with mine to you of the 26. Ult.1
I am not able to Say why the Letters were delivered to you at the Hague unsealed. I never unsealed any of your Letters, most certainly, and if you have recd any in that State, which had passed through my hands, they came to them in the Same State.
Mr Dumas will be So good as to deliver to you or your order, the Dictionary of Crusca as well as that of Baretti.2
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and most / humble servant
J. Adams.
LbC (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr Mazzei”; APM Reel 108.
1. For JA’s 26 Nov. letter, see Mazzei’s letter of 2 Nov., note 3, above.
2. JA wrote Dumas on 28 Dec. and directed him to give Mazzei the books (DLC:Dumas Papers), but see also Mazzei’s reply of 2 Feb. 1783, below. Although JA does not mention it, he also wrote a letter to the loan consortium on this date, introducing Mazzei and thanking the firms “for any Civilities you may shew him” (LbC, APM Reel 108).