Philadelphia March 23. 1779
My dear Sir,
Give me leave to introduce to your friendly attention the Bearer George Mason esquire the son of a Gentleman in Virginia whom I esteem among the number of my most valuable friends.1This gentleman goes in search of health to some southern part of Europe, and being a stranger in France, I shall be in a particular manner obliged to you for every mark of friendship that you shew him.
To Mr. Mason I refer you for our news, which indeed is not much. This opportunity coming suddenly on me I have not time to answer your favor lately received so particularly as I wish, therefore I shall defer it until one of our Continental Vessels sails for France which I expect will be in a short time.
I am now in great haste, but with perfect esteem, dear Sir your most sincerely affectionate friend,
Richard Henry Lee
Adams PapersMassachusetts Historical Society
Printed in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 2, 1779 - 1794, p. 41.
1 According to George Mason of Gunston Hall, his son George (1753 - 96) was about to embark on a trip to southern Europe for an "obstinate rheumatic Complaint." For the elder Mason’s efforts to obtain letters of introduction for his son, as well as a letter to Richard Henry thanking him for writing on his son’s behalf, see Rutland, Papers of George Mason, 2:488 - 91, 497.