From George Washington to François-Jean de Beauvoir, marquis de Chastellux, 19 July 1781

You have taken a most effectual method of obliging me to accept your Cask of Claret—as I find, by your ingenious manner of stating the case, that I shall, by a refusal, bring my patriotism into question, and incur a suspicion of want of attachment to the French Nation, and of regard to you wch of all things I wish to avoid I will not enter into a discussion of the point of divinity, as I perceive you are a Master at that Weapon. In short, my dear sir, my only scruple arises from a fear of depriving you of an Article that you cannot conveniently replace in this Country. You can only releive me by promising to partake very often of that hilarity which a Glass of good Claret seldom fails to produce.