In response to your esteemed letter of 26 June, I already have had the honor in a previous letter, which I hope that you received, of rendering you an account of the exchange of the ratifications. Here is a copy of my note on the subject, concerted with our friends and approved by them, as conforming to the usage in such an instance, and a copy of the resolution, which was sent to me by the greffier a few days ago at my request.1

Here is a letter that I suppose is from America.2 May the contents compensate amply for the troubles that the witches caused you, while waiting for their friend with the cloven hooves to carry them away.

Mr. Van Berckel sailed on the 26th of last month with his squadron of three warships and a brig, and they are likely by now closer to America than Europe.3

Your son is in the company of the ladies whom you recommended to him, and he sends you his respects, as does my family.

I executed the commissions of Mr. Storer and will have the honor of writing him next week.

Our friends, always in high Spirits, have been gone for eight days and will return next week.4

The nest of the Ouderwetse Patriot and of the Post naar den Neder-Rhyn was discovered here. The bookseller and the printer, who do not have perhaps 3,000 sols between them, each had to pay a fine of f3,000 to buy their way out of a beating, and the writer fled by post to Cleves.5

I thanked the ladies and Mr. Boylston for the kindness that they showed in carrying the box that you sent with them from our cousin the baron to Madame Dumas, who is thankful, as she should be, for this favor.6

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