John Adams to Zacharias Coffin

Your note of 18 July, with the Letter to Mr. Sherbal Coffin was delivered to me yesterday. The letter shall be sent forward by the first oppertunity, & any others you may think proper to write in future—

I have written to your fellow-sufferes, obrien and stephens in Answer to their Letters, but have not been able to give them so much encouragement of a speedy Redemption as they & I most heartily wish—

It would be cruelty to our Country, & to all future prisoners to submit to such exorbitant Exactions as no other Nation pays, and therefore I think that Congress will not agree to such terms, nor any other, before a peace is agreed on—

I am, sir, Your Countryman / & very humble servt.