The Letter in which this is inclosed, I received yesterday—open for my Inspection— The Bill of Exchange drawn by Mr. Morris for 144.000 florins, will I hope be some relief to you Our Secretary of State for foreign affairs informs me on the 7th. of April that twelve of the States had granted the Impost

new York only remained to come in— and it is not likely the Legislature of that State will take upon its’self all the Blame, of the Consequences of its holding out long— I flatter myself it will not be long before American Obligations at Six or even five pr. Cent, will be sought for as much as English Stock at 3 pr. Cents at seventy or 71—

It will be very extraordinary, if the few Obligations you have remaining on hand, cannot be disposed of, rather than the affairs of the United States should be ruined— half a dozen Americans here in London might make a purse and buy them— Nay I think it very likely I could sell them or new ones like them, here in London among the Jews. I wish not to borrow Money in England, and had rather be bound in this respect only in Holland, for many reasons— with / great respect I am &c

It is impossible for me to assist you in your Refutation of the Abbe Raynal.—1 My time is all taken up, and there is not enough of it.— The Quakers changed the Names of Days and Months, first day second day &c first Month, Second Month &c—but the other New England People never did that I know any Thing of.— if they did you will find it in Hutchinson, as well as what relates to the 2250 Livres &c. if any Thing of that sort ever took Place, (which I dont believe,) it was done to ballance the Reward given by the French in those Days to the Indians for New England mens Scalps. What he 299 Says of the Poverty of the Land is not true. The Soil in all New England is upon an Average as fertile as any Country I have seen in Europe, or as any state or Province I have seen in America. It is not equal to many other Countries, for the Production of Grain, especially wheat, but it is as good a Grass Country as ever I saw.— if it were cultivated and manured, as England is, it would be equally beautifull and perhaps more productive of Grass, and every Thing that depends on it as Horses Cattle, sheep &c.— Hutchinson will tell you about the old Charter.— But always remember that Hutchinson was a Tory and an Anglomane, and therefore although his Information was very good, and his History is in general true, there is sometimes a Colouring given to favour his own political Opinions. taking this Key with you, Hutchinson is a good Authority.

There was an Attempt made, for a Settlement on Kennebeck River, under the Patronage of Ld Chief Justice Popham, in 1608, but this did not Succeed.2 The first settlement, which Supported itself was that made at Plymouth in 1620.— There is no Where in New England, to be found, Such vast Wastes of barren Land as that between Bayonne & Bourdeaux or that between Antwerp and Holland

Although there is here and there a Plain of Pitch Pines or Shrubb Oaks, which are not fertile, Yet in general the Soil is Strong, and before Cultivation covered with a vast grouth of Oaks, Walnutts, and every other Species of Trees which require the Strongest soil for their Nourishment.

Bookmaking is a profitable Manufacture, and any Thing to make Readers wonder, increases the Sale, without this, so many Inaccuracies, and glaring Falshoods would not have crept into the Writings of De Paw, Buffon or Raynal, concerning America.

your most obedient