I have received your Letter of the 6th. and had before received the Same Information from Amsterdam.

I know not how to express to you, the Sense I have of the disingenuity of this Plott.— The Difficulty of Selling the Obligations I believe to be mere Pretence. and indeed the whole appears to me to be a concerted Fiction, in consequence of some Contrivance or suggestion of Mr Parker, the great Speculator in American Paper, who, though I love him very well, is too ingenious for me.— I feel myself obliged to write this in Confidence to you, and to put You on your Guard against the immeasurable Avarice of Amsterdam as well as the ungovernable Rage of Speculation.— I feel no Vanity in Saying that this Project never would have been Suggested, if it had not been known, that I was recalled. if I was to continue in Europe and in office I would go to Amsterdam and open a new Loan with John Hodshon before I would Submit to it.—1 The Undertakers are bound in Honour, as I understood it, to furnish the Money on the new Loan. They agreed to this upon Condition that I would go to Amsterdam to sign the Obligations.

The Truth is that Messrs Willinks and Vanstaphorst have been purchasing immense Quantities of American Paper,2 and they now Want to have it acknowledged and paid in Europe.— it appears to me totally impossible that You or I should ever agree to it, or approve it. and as far as I can comprehend it is equally impossible for the Board of Treasury or Congress to consent to it. You and I however cannot answer for them: but I think We cannot countenance any hopes that they will ever comply with it.— The Continental Certificates & their Interest are to be paid in America at the Treasury of the United States. if a Precedent is set of paying them in Europe, I pretend not to Sufficient foresight to predict the Consequences. They appear however to me to be horrid.— if the Interest of one Million Dollars is paid this Year in Europe, you will find the Interest of Ten Millions demanded next year.— I am very sorry to be obliged at the moment of my Retirement to give opinions which may be misrepresented and imputed to Motives that my soul dispizes: but I cannot advise you by 269 any means to countenance this Project: but it is my Serious Opinion that the Judgment of Congress or the Board of Treasury, ought to be waited for, At all hazards.— if the Brokers, Undertakers and Money lenders will take such Advantages of Us, it is high time to have done with them; pay what is due as fast as We can, but never contract another farthing of Debt with them.— if a little firmness is shewn in adhering to the Resolution of waiting the orders of Congress, it is my opinion, Care will be taken in Amsterdam that our Credit shall not suffer. The Interest of our Commissioners, of the Brokers, Undertakers and Money Lenders, all conspire to induce them to prevent a failure. But in my Judgment a failure had better take Place than this Project.— I shall not write with the same frankness to Willinks, but I shall give them my opinion that the Judgment of Congress must be waited for.3

My dear Friend farewell. I pity You, in your Situation; dunned and teazed as you will be, all your Philosophy will be wanting to support you.— But be not discouraged, I have been constantly vexed with such terrible Complaints and frightened with such long Faces these ten years. depend upon it, the Amsterdammers love Money too well, to execute their Threats. They expect to gain too much by American Credit to destroy it.—

I am with / Sincere Affection and great Esteem, your / Friend & servant

Every Question you ask about the new Constitution Shows that you understand the subject as well as I can pretend to do, and that you are well aware of the reasonable Difficulties and objections. But is there not danger that a new Convention at this time, would 270 increase the Difficulties and reasonable Exceptions rather than remove any of them? a Declaration of Rights I wish to see with all my Heart: though I am sensible of the Difficulty of framing one, in which all the States can agree.— a more compleat Seperation of the Executive from the Legislative too, would be more Safe for all. The Press, Conscience & Juries I wish better Secured.— But is it not better to accept this Plan and amend it hereafter? After ten years Absence from his Country a Man should be modest, but as at present instructed I think I should vote for it, as it is, and promote a Convention after sometime, to amend it. But the Massachusetts will decide before this Letter, reaches you: and all that I can do, is to wish that you may determine wisely.— We shall Sail by the first of April and See you, I hope in May. Your Bill in favour of Mr Elworthy is accepted. My Love to all and accept the warmest Thanks for your kind Attention to the Interests of, My dear sir your affectionate Friend and obliged / humble servant