31st of Augst. [1779]1Sir
Yr. favor of the 22d came yesterday to hand.
2 Mr. Bennet parted from me on Saturday and probably will get home in less Time than he came.3 I shall attend all in my power to the Subjects you have written about: but I am verily exceeding sick confined to the House, my Chamber & my Bed, alternately. I have in vain dabled with Rhubarb. I go upon Tartar emetic this morning. I was in Bed yesterday when I prepared the Scrap for Dunlap. I was loath to let a post day go over without some continuance of the Vouchers of Deanes Infamy. Mr. J Adams on hearing something relative to Mr. De Vergennes & A Lee, has sent me copies of his own Correspondence with that minister on the Subject of Deanes Publication, in the course of which he gives that Testimony in Regard to A Lee & his Brothers Richard & Francis from personal Knowledge, which cannot fail to destroy any evil Impressions Made by Deane’s Malignity; and which must do credit to the manly ingenuous Spirit of the Writer. Whenever I dare I will copy them. I must first translate the french, which is the full my present State of Health will allow. This morning came to hand what I now send. I have not examined them, but at the same Time Parliamentary Registers were deliverd. I thought it Transgressn. enough to frank the present. I will send the others by the first opportunity.
JL
Receiver’s copy, Lee Papers, American Philosophical Society.
1 Although Lovell omitted the year in his dateline, the context of the letter is clearly that of 1779.
2 Lee’s 22 August letter has not been found, but see Lovell to Richard Henry Lee, 28 August 1779.
3 For the ordeal of the postrider in getting to Philadelphia, see Richard H. Lee, Memoir of the Life of Richard Henry Lee, and His Correspondence . . ., 2 vols. (Philadelphia: H. C. Carey and J. Lea, 1825), 1:229 - 31.