The post, which leaves at five o’clock today, and a violent attack of lumbago oblige me to put off replying to your esteemed letters until next Thursday.

This morning their High Mightinesses reached a conclusion consistent with the previous notice of the Province of Holland concerning the instructions to be given their plenipotentiaries in concluding a general peace.1 There is some unconstitutionality in this conclusion in that it is not unanimous, for the deputies of three provinces have declared themselves as yet unauthorized to give their assent. But that will come.

I continue to act silently on behalf of Mr. Wheelock, until it is time to act more openly, and I have reason to believe that the matter will succeed. On Thursday I shall answer you and Mr. Franklin too in greater detail.2

It will be quite easy to join Burgomaster Van Berckel and travel together in a good frigate if you can wait until June. When I repeated these words to our friend Gyselaar, “Perhaps the ——3 will send a frigate with him; he ought,” he replied, “He should, when we have ordered one.”

I am, sir, with great respect, your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant