We had the honor of transmitting to Congress, Copies of the Commission and Instructions, which in pursuance of the Authority delegated to Us, were given to Mr Barclay, to conduct a negotiation with Algiers Morocco.2

Mr Barclay has conducted that Business to a happy Conclusion, and has brought with him Testimonials of his prudent Conduct, from the Emperor of Morocco and his Minister, So clear and full, that We flatter ourselves Mr Barclay will receive, the Approbation of Congress. Mr Barclay has received Somewhat more than four Thousand Pounds Sterling, for the Expences of Presents and all other Things. Colonel Franks, who accompanied Mr Barclay in his tedious Journeys, and difficult Negotiations, in the Character of Secretary, will be dispatched to Congress, and will have the honour of delivering this Letter, together with the Treaty, the Emperors Letter to Congress, and a variety of other Papers, relative to this Mission, a Schedule of which is annexed.3

The Resolution of Congress, vacating Mr Lambs Commission and Instructions, has been forwarded to him, and We have repeatedly Advised him to return to New York. that Gentleman has received somewhat more than three thousand Pounds Sterling of the public Money for which he is accountable to Congress.

We beg Leave to recommend Mr Barclay and Colonel Franks, to the favourable Consideration of Congress.

It is no Small Mortification not to be able to communicate any Intelligence concerning the Treaty with Portugal. The Chevalier De Pinto is equally uninformed.— His own confidential Domestick dispatch’d to Lisbon last Spring has been constantly waiting on the Minister for an Answer, but has obtained none, and is not yet returned to London. The Treaty between France & England, has probably excited Parties and Surprize in Portugal, and the system of Men and Measures is not yet Settled. The Apologies are the Queens Absence in the Country and the Prime Ministers Indisposition.

The Article of Money is become so scarce and prescious that We Shall be obliged to Suspend all further Proceedings in the Barbary Business, even for the Redemption of Prisoners untill We shall be honoured with fresh Instructions from Congress.

With great Respect We have the / Honour to be, Sir, your most obedient / and most humble servants

I have read over most part of your book with no less satisfaction than pleasure and gained much information.

In conversation the other day you advanced a doctrine which appears to me new & extraordinary. neither are the consequences so evident as to prevent me thinking otherwise and that facts make against the Idea.

attention to stile would ruin America. The practice of all ages has been otherwise as the greatest patriots & publick writers have always attended to Language & stile.

Solomon Pericles the prophets. Thucidides by your own testimony distinguised for the propriety & force of his epithets and who esteemed a book as an hereditary possession. plato xenophon Demosthenes. cicero Brutus. vertot montesquieu Thuanus. Boccacio Petrach machiavel Davila. Milton Sidney & Addison all these with many others have enriched & preserved the fame of their country.

in your own America the writings of Mayhew Payne & others have been acknowledged to have had a great effect in producing the glorious revolution. your own orators speaking the praises of their fellow-citizens who died for their country like those at Salamis and Marathon.1 is a proof of what the people expect and have a right to expect the tribute of wel earned praise.

The remonstrances & addresses from America are replete with manly eloquence & nervous diction. His Excellency Washington excels in composition the most skillful in weilding the sword with Glory humanity & success.

who lamented the uncouth stile of his favorite Harrington & wished him to be translated?3

The same person pleaded for hours in Congress, with all the strength of argument and force of Language, the cause of his injured country & for Independence & gloriously prevailed.

The author of the defence of the constitutions cannot avoid sinning against his own principle, for he has wrote with all the warmth strength & freedom of an antient republican. nor has he neglected the charms of poetry when for his purpose,

if the wisest & best men have made use of these means to assist in extirpating Tyranny & establishing freer states. surely the Americans who profiting by the experience of former ages & have out stripped the Europeans in the Knowledge of whatever concerns the dearest interests of mankind & have brought into practice principles formerly held visionary by establishing free states upon the only solid basis. rotation of power and equal Laws. surely they ought not to neglect the means of persuasion instruction & information to their fellow citizens the rising generations and to the world in general.

when as milton saies the Greek writers by their manner of relating make small things appear great and important.

as you Americans have excelled in the art of government everything else is subordinate. I expect from your countrymen finer compositions & higher flights of Eloquence than the world have ever heard.

you come to a Language formed, are perfectly free no restraints of priests or Press. are not insulaires confined to an Island. The subjects greater & of more importance the objects richer & various & the world is all before you. but why do I say this to you? when the more I think of it, am persuaded you only throwed out this Idea to engage a weak opponent, and I sink under the subject.

Farewell and persevere in excelling in what you are pleased to condemn.

I am Dear Sir / with great esteem / your faithfull Friend