Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1787

To Abigail Adams

Paris July 16. 1787.

Dear Madam

I had the happiness of receiving yesterday my daughter in perfect health. Among the first things she informed me of was her promise to you, that after she should have been here a little while she would go back to pay you a visit of four or five days. She had taken nothing into her calculation but the feelings of her own heart which beat warmly with gratitude to you. She had fared very well on the road, having got into favor with gentlemen and ladies so as to be sometimes on the knee of one sometimes of another. She had totally forgotten her sister, but thought, on seeing me, that she recollected something of me. I am glad to hear that Mr. and Mrs. Paradise are gone or going to America. I should have written to them, but supposed them actually gone. I imagined Mr. Hayward gone long ago. He will be a very excellent opportunity for sending the packet to Mr. Drayton. Petit will execute your commissions this morning, and I will get Mr. Appleton to take charge of them. He sets out for London the day after tomorrow. The king and parliament are at extremities about the stamp act, the latter refusing to register it without seeing accounts &c. M. de Calonne has fled to the Hague. I had a letter from Colo. Smith dated Madrid June 30. He had been detained by the illness of his servant, but he was about setting out for Lisbon. My respects attend his lady and Mr. Adams, and eternal thanks yourself with every sentiment of esteem and regard from Dear Madam your most obedient & most humble servt,

Th. Jefferson

RC (MHi: AMT); addressed and endorsed; postmarked: “JY 19.” PrC (DLC); lacks part of complimentary close (see Vol. 9: 217, note 1).

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