Mrs. Adams not knowing of this Opportunity by Mr. Sears and Capt. Cheevers, who are going in a Dutch ship, who probably may call on you as the ship is designed to touch at Bourdeaux. I wrote you by a Vessell of my Own a few days since by the way of Cadiz, I then wrote you I had received a Trunk by Capt. Tucker, for Mrs. Adams, in good order.1

You will doubtless have heard by the packet Count Destrang sent, that he is gone from hence, but we are att a loss where.

The Somerset Man of Warr a 64 Gun ship was cast away on Cape Codd, some of the people lost, the rest are expected by land being about 400. The Cape Codd people have been att her this week past.2

Genl. Hancock gave a handsome ball to the Count and his Officers and many of the Town were there likewise.3 Mrs. Adams has been On board the Admiral ship, and has with Col. Quincy's family and Mr. Cranch dined on board Another ship and the Captain &c. have been up to Brantry and some of the Gentlemen dined with her and Colo. Quincy. I lately took out of the office sundry letters by Via4 Baltemore for your and Mr. Cranchs family.

The ship cast away itt is said is part of Admiral Byrons fleet, who had been to Convoy a Number of Transports clear of the Coast which were bound to England and so was coming to look after the french fleet—but itt seems they got seperated in the storm. Five were seen near Nantucket and as we have not heard any more of them suppose have returnd to York. Count Destrang did not know of these disasters As he saild Two days after the ship got on Cape Codd.

There has been talk of the Enemy's leaving N. York and Rd. Island, but itt dont Appear by many circumstances that they will, though many of the Troops may go elsewhere Yet itt is supposed they will keep a Garrison of 5 or 6,000. As itts likely you will have more certain Accounts from head Quarters, shall not add.

We have had near a hundred of sick prisoners brought up from Halifax; some dyed on there passuage and have a most terrible fever. They are att the Islands,5 but those who have tended them are mostly taken with the same fever. A young Doctor, a son of Shereff Greenleaf, who tended them, dyed last week and Young Doctor Appleton lys dangerously ill of the same fever caught of them.6 The treatment Att Halifax latterly is much worse than att York, for since Admiral Gambere Gambier has been there, he has treated Our people with 118great humanity, Allowed by all that comes from there. On the Conterary what we send them go all in good health upwards of 200, went a few days since to Halifax.—I have just given you a little sketch and when Opportunity Offers should be glad of a line—& are Yr. hum. servt.,

I have taken up my pen again to relieve the anxiety of a Heart too susceptable for its own repose, nor can I help complaining to my Dearest Friend that his painfull absence is not as formerly alleiviated by the tender tokens of his Friendship, 3 very short Letters only have reachd my Hands during 9 months absence.

I cannot be so unjust to his affection as to suppose he has not wrote much oftener and more perticularly, but must sit down to the Score of misfortune that so few have reachd me.

I cannot charge myself with any deficiency in this perticular as I have never let an opportunity slip without writing to you since we parted, tho you make no mention of having received a line from me; 119if they are become of so little importance as not to be worth noticeing with your own Hand, be so kind as to direct your Secretary

I will not finish the sentance, my Heart denies the justice of the acqusation, nor does it believe your affection in the least diminished by distance or absence, but my Soul is wounded at a Seperation from you, and my fortitude all dissolved in frailty and weakness. When I cast my Eye thoughts across the Atlantick and view the distance, the dangers and Hazards which you have already passd through, and to which you must probably be again exposed, e'er we shall meet, the Time of your absence unlimitted, all all conspire to cast a Gloom over my solitary hours, and bereave me of all domestick felicity. In vain do I strive to through of throw off in the company of my Friends some of the anxiety of my Heart, it increases in proportion to my endeavours to conceal it; the only alleiviation I know of would be a frequent intercourse by Letters unrestrained by the apprehension of their becomeing food for our Enemies. The affection I feel for my Friend is of the tenderest kind, matured by years, sanctified by choise and approved by Heaven. Angles can witness to its purity, what care I then for the Ridicule of Britains should this testimony of it fall into their Hands, nor can I endure that so much caution and circumspection on your part should deprive me of the only consolor of your absence—a consolation that our Enemies enjoy in a much higher degree than I do, Many of them having received 3 or 4 Letters from their Friends in England to one that I have received from France.

Thus far I wrote more than ten days ago, my mind as you will easily see far from tranquil, and my Heart so wounded by the Idea of inattention that the very Name of my Dearest Friend would draw tears from me. Forgive me for harbouring an Idea so unjust, to your affection. Were you not dearer to me than all this universe contains beside, I could not have sufferd as I have done, But your Letters of April 12, of June 3 and June 162 calmd my Soul to peace. I cannot discribe the Effect they had upon me, cheerfullness and tranquility took place of greif and anxiety. I placed them Next my Heart and soothed myself to rest with the tender assurences of a Heart all my own.

I was not a little mortified to find that the few Lines wrote by way of Holland were the only ones you had received from me,3 when I had wrote many sheets of paper long before that time and sent by so many different hands that I thought you must have heard often from me, and led me to suppose that many of your Letters to me must have shared the same fate.

But this circumstance will make me more cautious how I suffer such cruel Ideas to haunt hound me again. Tis the 23 of November now. Count Estaing has saild near a fortnight, Biron with 15 sail lay upon the watch for him, but a very terrible Storm prevented the Count from sailing, and shatterd Birons Fleet, 11 Sail only have arrived at Newport, the Somerset was lost upon Nantucket Shoals. I fed many of the prisoners upon their march to Boston. About 40 were drowned, the rest deliverd themselves as prisoners. The two other ships which are missing were supposed to be lost there, as the Hulks appear and a 50 gun ship which came out with Biron from England has not been heard of since. Thus they have made a fine voyage of watching dEstaing, lost 3 capital ships, never saw the French Fleet, returnd into port with one Ship dismasted and the rest much damaged.

Heaven continue to be propitious to our Friends and allies for whom I have contracted a most sincere regard. If chastity, temperance, industery, frugality, sobriety and purity of morals, added to politeness and complasance can entitle any people to Friendship and respect, the Behaviour of this whole Fleet whilst they lay in this harbour which was more than two months, demand from every unprejudiced person an acknowledgment of their merrit. If I ever had any national prejudices they are done away and I am ashamed to own I was ever possessd of so narrow a spirit—and I blush to find so many of my country men possessd with such low vulgar prejudices and capable of such mean reflections as I have heard thrown out against the Nation of our allies though the unblamable conduct of this Fleet left them not one personal reflexion to cast.

Let me Imitate and instill it into my children the Liberal Spirit of that great Man4 who declared he had no Local attachments. It is indifferent to me says he whether a man is rocked in his cradle on this Side of the Tweed, or on that, I seek for merrit whereever it is to be found. Detested be national reflexions, they are unjust.