The Public Councils of this Country, as far as they regard America, remain So exactly the same as to afford nothing new to communicate to Congress. The Members of Parliament, have been so long irritated and tormented on that subject, that they detest to hear the Name of America mentioned, and the political System and national humour Seems to be, neither to Speak nor think of it.— a seemingly total Inattention and Silence prevails, and will prevail for sometime.

Secret Schemes however in abundance are concerted to plunder Us, in any Way they Can think of besides the regular Course of their Commerce with Us, which one would think rapacious enough. an honest Tradesman, whose Name is Carpenter an ingenious Engraver, 41 lately came to me from the remotest Part of the City, to give me Information that an Unknown Scott, had applied to him to engrave a Plate, for Striking the Paper Bills of North & South Carolina. He laid a Plan to get a Witness, to a future Interview, but the scott conceived a suspicion and would not lay open his design. Coll Smith who attended for the Purpose desired the Engraver to publish the Fact in the Newspaper, that Merchants here may be upon their guard. Carpenter went round to all the Engravers, in Town and found another, to whom the same Person had applied.— Congress, or the Delegates from North & South Carolina, will put that State upon their Guard, for it is not at all improbable the design will be pursued, by means of some other Engraver of less honour than Carpenter.1

There is a vast sum in Circulation here of base Copper: to the amount of Several hundreds of thousands of Pounds. very lately these half Pence are refused every where: I suppose in Consequence of some Concerted Scheme. and it is supposed that they will be all purchased for a trifle and Sent to the United States where they will pass for good metal, and consequently our Simple Country men be cheated of an immense sum.2 The Board of Treasury, may be ordered with out the avowed Interposition of Congress, to give the alarm to our Citizens. and the seperate States would do well to prohibit this false Money from being paid or received.3

Coll Smith will Sett off, for Portugal in a few Days, and at Versailles Madrid or Lisbon will have an opportunity of learning more of the present Politicks of Europe, than can be known here. a profound Calm prevails through Europe at present, tho the Bulletin from Paris Speaks of Movements of the Empress against the Turks. Her own Journey however is a strong Proof that Hostilities are not soon intended.4

With great Respect to Congress, and much / affection for their secretary, I have the / Honour to be, sir, your most obedient / and most humble servant

To William Stephens Smith Esquire Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America to the Court of Great Britain—

The Secretary of the United States of America for the department of foreign affaires, His Excellency John Jay to whom was referred a letter to him from the Honourable John Adams of the 27th. of June last, informing that the Queen of Portugal had ordered her squadron in the straits to protects the Vessels of the United States, equally with those of her own Subjects; on the 25th. day of January last reported, that in his opinion, as this is a particular Mark of her majesty’s friendly disposition it should be acknowledged in the manner most likely to be pleasing and acceptable. He therefore thought it would be proper for Congress to write her a letter of the following tenor—

Great and good friend—

We take the earliest oppertunity, since our annual election, of presenting to your Majesty our sincere Acknowledgements, for the friendly regard you have manifested for us, in having ordered your 43 squadron in the straits to protect our Vessels equally with those of Portugal— Permit us to assure you that we shall retain this mark of generous attention in grateful Remembrance, and shall omit no opportunity of testifying our desire to establish & perpetuate between our two Countries, an intercourse of Commerce and good offices— which may prove no less beneficial than agreable to both.

We pray God to bless and preserve your Majesty. Done by the Congress of the United States convened at the City of NewYork the   Day of   1787.

As this Communication was made by the Queens Envoy in London to Mr. Adams their secretary thought this Letter should be transmitted to him, and that the Compliment would be more delicate if his Secretary1 was commissioned to carry & deliver it.—

The United States in Congress assembled on the third day of February 1787 ordered that the report of the secretary of foreign affairs dated 25th. January 1787 on a Letter of 27th. June last, from Mr. Adams, be referred to the said Secretary to take order for the Transmission of the Letter to the Queen of Portugal, when signed by the President, in the manner suggested in said Report.

These2 therefore, are to authorise and require, you in pursuance of the instructions of Congress to proceed to Portugal and deliver their Letter, herewith presented to you, to Her Faithfull Majesty, either with your own hand in an Audience to be obtained for that purpose or by the hand of her Majesty’s Minister of State for foreign affairs as you shall find upon enquiry to be most proper

You are first to consult with Her Majestys minister of State for foreign affairs, deliver him a Copy of this Commission which contains a Copy of the Letter of Congress to Her Majesty, and follow his advice, concerning the manner of delivering it. Done at Grosvenor square in London this Eleventh Day of April. A. D. 1787.