Before I Had a Pointed Reason to write, My friendship for You, and our Common zeal for the Public Had dictated it— But I must Begin with the Article that in My Mind Creates some Uneasiness

it is writen from Amsterdam that Mr John Adams is very Violent Against the Society of the Cincinnati and Calls it a french Blessing—and that He says, altho’ I Have long Announced an intention to Go to America, I Never fulfill it, which seems to Hint a want of zeal to Comply with the desire of My American friends1

Was I to take the Matter up, as a french Man, I Might tell You, that the french Court Had Not, that I know of, dreamt of the Society Before Count de Rochambeau Was writen to By General Washington—2 and I Might Add, that Orders, titles, and such other foolish tokens of Vanity, are not more Valued in france, nor earn so Much, As they are in Germany, Russia, Spain, and Great Britain— But As it is as An American that I Engaged, Bled, Negotiated, fought, and Succeeded in our Noble Cause, I only want to Mark out my Conduct to You, whom I Esteem, and whose Esteem, in point of Republicanism particularly, I Hold in the Greatest Value

The institution in itself I do not Examine—it is worth paying attention to it— should it be dangerous, it must not subsist— Should some parts be exceptionable, Amendments Must Be Made— in Case it is quite Harmless, the American officers Might Be indulged in 75 that, as the Country is not a little indebted to them— Opinions Must Be Collected, Because Opinions, of Honest Men May differ— Lee was the Hero of Some, General Washington Was Mine, and so on— I don’t loiter into the Merits or demerits of the Society— I only want to Acquaint You with the Part I Have taken

The Society’s Letters Respecting the french Army were directed to their Generals and Admirals—the Permitting of it, Has Been Considered at Versaïlles, as a Compliment Paid to a large and Meritorious Body of Americans, as a Badge of Union Between the two Countries, and I Had no part to Act in the Business—3 The part I Acted, Was, 1stly., to Accept for myself, and deliver the Thanks of the Society to American officers pointed out By gñl Washington— 2dly after it Was Accepted By the french officers to deliver it to them in a polite and Brotherly Manner—and When I acted so, I was led By two Motives—the One, because, independant of the Affectionate and dutiful Regard that Binds me to Our Gallant, patriotic Army, independant of What Can Be said in favour of that Free Maçonnery of Liberty, it Has Ever Been My duty and inclination to set up in the Best Light Every thing that is done By a Body of Americans—and When wrong Measures, Such as are some times taken in County or town Meetings Have Been By me disputed for in foreign Compagnies, I will Be still more desirous to see a Proper Respect paid to the Measures of such a Respectable Body as the American officers— My Second Motive is, that Independant of Any Propriety of the Institution in itself, Had I Amendments to propose, it Should Be in America and Not in Europe, and that, on the Moment the Society is Unpopular, a two words Resolve from an Assembly May entirely destroy it, when, if danger is feared, I Heartily would Consent to the destruction.4

I Have not Entered into the Merits of the Assossiation— Your Opinion, and Mine, on the Subject, are not to Have Effect in Europe— Let us Reserve it for America, where it May Be of Use— I only Wanted My Conduct Not to Be Misrepresented to You—and As To My democratic principles, Let it Be Remembered, that at a time When Your Situation Was to the Worst, and My disobeïng this Court Might Be Ruinous, I Went over a Volonteer in the Cause from Which others Could not Recede Unless they Were Deserters.

As to My Going to America, You know I came With an Instruction to settle a plan of Cooperation— Count de Grasse’s Misfortune postponed it—5 Negotiations Came on, and You thought I should stay—6 Count d’Estaing was Employed, and You thought I should Go 76 with Him— I did not set off Before the Affair of the Six Millions Was settled, as You Well know—7 When peace was Made, I Returned through Spain— The Minister and Consul Wanted free ports, Wished to Have L’orient, and Had no Instructions to Act officially— Instead of two that Were Promised, four Have Been Given—dunkirk, L’orient, Bayonne, and Marsïelles—8 That Affair Will Be soon Concluded, and Before the end of May I shall Set out for America— Many Reasons of delay Might Be pleaded— But they did not so much Weigh With me as to Retard the Intended Visit.

This Confidential Letter I Consider as a personal Mark of Esteem for You, and Respect for Your Opinion— Altho’ We Have differed in a few points, our fundamental principles are the Same— it is not to the Great Man I write Because My popularity, Thank God, is Established in the Kind, Liberal Hearts of the American Nation at Large— it is to the Honest Man, Because, Altho’ Your opinion some times Has seemed to me wrong, Your principles Have Ever Been Right and I greatly Valüe Your Esteem— Adieu, My dear Sir, Let me Hear some times from You and / Believe me affectionately Yours

On the Eighteenth of February the Baron de Thulemeyer, Envoy Extraordinary to their High Mightinesses from the King of Prussia, did me the Honour of a Visit, but as he found I had Company, he soon took his Leave, and as I accompanied him to the Head of the Stairs, he told me, he had Something to propose to me from the King and desired to know, when he might call again. I offered to return his Visit at any hour he pleased. He chose to call upon me, and named Eleven the next day, at which hour he came, and told me “That the King who honoured him with a Personal Correspondence and was acquainted by Reputation with my Character, had directed him to make me a Visit, and to say to me, that as his Subjects had Occasion for our Tobacco, and some other things, and as we had occasion for Silesia Linens and some other Productions of his Dominions, he thought an Arrangement might be made between his Crown and the United States, which would be beneficial to both” and the Baron desired to know my Sentiments of it.1

I answered him, “that I was very Sensible of the Honour done me by his Majesty but that I had singly no Authority to treat or enter into Conferences Officially upon the Subjects that Congress had been pleased to confer upon their Ministers at the late Peace, Authority to enter into Conferences: that I could do nothing but in Concurrence, with Mr: Franklin and Mr: Jay, who were at Paris, but I thought I could answer for the good dispositions of those Ministers, as well as my own, for forming an Arrangement between the two Powers which might be beneficial to both. That I would write to those Ministers an Account of what had passed.[”] He desired I would; and said he would write by the first Post to the King, and enquire if his Majesty, had any Thing in Particular to propose, 78 would inform him of my Answer, and wait his farther Orders which probably he should receive as soon as I should have an Answer from Paris.

I wrote the next day, and on Saturday last, receiv’d an Answer from Dr: Franklin and Mr: Jay, in which they say that they are perswaded, “that the Communication of the friendly Disposition of his Prussian Majesty, made to you by the Baron de Thulemeier will give great Pleasure to Congress. The Respect with which the Reputation of that great Prince has impressed the United States early induced them to consider his Friendship as a desireable Object, and We are happy in being authorized to assure his Majesty that they will most chearfully enter into such Commercial Treaty with him, as being founded on Principles of Reciprocity may be Productive of equal Benefit to both Countries. Altho’ We have no Commission to conclude such a Treaty, yet our Instructions from Congress enable us to join with the Kings Minister in preparing a Draft of such a Treaty, which being sent to Congress they would, together with a Commission to conclude the Treaty give us pointed Instructions on the subject, and much time might be thereby Saved, if you are of this Opinion, and his Majesty should be pleased to approve such a Measure, We think the Articles may be discussed between you and the Baron in the first Instance on the Principles which govern in the Treaties, you mention, both of which have been approved and ratified (i.e. with Holland, and Sweeden). that being done, we might confer together and write a joint Letter to Congress on the Subject: We shall nevertheless make this Communication a Part of our next Dispatch to Congress.”2

Yesterday meeting the Baron at Court, on Occasion of the Prince of Orange’s Birth day, he told me he had receiv’d another Letter from the King, and would call upon me in the Evening, which he did, and informed me, that the King had written to him, that he was collecting all Necessary Papers, and would soon send them to him, with his further Propositions to be made to me. I shewed him my Letter from Paris, with which he was well satisfied.

He added, that the King, had directed him, to mention, Rice, and Indigo, as Articles in demand in his Ports of Embden and Stettin and that, a large Quantity of Virginia Tobacco, had been this year purchased in those Ports for the Baltic Market, and that the excellent Porcelaine of Saxony might be a desirable Article for the Americans.3

I beg Leave to submit to Congress, whether the Model of the 79 Treaty with Holland or Sweeden may not in general be convenient for one with Prussia, as also the Propriety of sending a full Power to their Ministers at the late Peace, or one or more of them, to conclude this Business.

With a great deal of Difficulty, and at a dear Rate, I have at last obtained Money to Save Mr: Morris’s Bills which are payable this month, from going back. Messrs: Willinks and Co: will transmit the Contract for the Ratification of Congress. It is much to be lamented, that we are obliged to agree to so high terms but there was Absolutely no other Alternative but this, or protesting the Bills.4 This Business has hitherto necessarily prevented me from joining my Colleagues at Paris, in the execution of our Instructions.

With great Respect, I have the honour to be, / Sir, / Your most Obedient / And most humble Servant