SIR
I should not have failed yesterday to have returned an Answer to your Letter, which was brought to me the preceding Evening, had it not been for the violence of a Disorder which had seized me near a Week before. That Disorder still continues to afflict me much, and prevents my seeing any one but my physician, or doing any business even of the most trifling Nature.
Under such Circumstances, you will excuse me if I decline to engage
with you in Conversation, upon a subject in which you think the general
Cause of Humanity and possibly the essential Interests of both our
Countries are concerned.
I have the Honor to be
Sir
Your most humble Servt
1 Lieutenant General in the English army.
TO DANIEL ROBERDEAU.1
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
Feb 9 1778