I take the liberty of laying before you a memorial epistle, I have presented to the President stating my right to presume upon the publick attention—1 As I have availed myself of an opportunity of mentioning your name, I think it my duty in apprising you of it, to solicit your patronage in support of those pretensions which you sir in a great measure have put it in my power to claim.

My long absence from home threw me entirely from the line of business I was engaged in, and numberless competitors at present prevent the resumption of it, so that I am necessitated to seek every occasion of advancing myself some other way—

I find, sir, that after many Attempts I cannot obtain a settlement from the board of treasury without a certificate from you purporting the propriety of payment from them.—

I sat out the first of November from London and returned thither in August, I incommoded myself exceedingly in embarking immediately from thence,—as both Mr: Jefferson & yourself conceived Congress might wish for every Information that I could give them.—

Upon my Memorial the Board were directed not merely to report, but to take order thereupon— they however insist upon your Certificate as the highest Evidence.—

I have done myself the Honor of calling several Times at Mr: Jay’s without being so fortunate as to see you—

I hope you will justify my presumption in thus addressing you.

I am / sir / most respectfully / your obedient & / humble servant

What is there which the new Government possesses, on which to found its Authority.? Has it Honours? has it pleasures? has it profits to bestow, which may Attract the Attention, excite the Love, or alarm the Fear, of Such a Majority in every State as will compell the Minority to Obedience?

Has the national Government at this moment, Attractions enough to make a Seat in it, an Object of Desire, to the Men of greatest Fortune, Talents, Birth, or Virtue? Has it Charms to give Contentment to those, who are now in it? Have the Representatives, Senators, or even the Vice President or President, cause to prefer the Situations they are in to any Stations at home, public or private? To leave the two first Magistrates out of the question: do the Senators consider their present Seats as their homes, or as Steps to promotion in their own States! if the national Government is to be but a ladder on which to mount into higher regions at home you will Say that this Government will soon die the death of the late righteous Congress; and the new Constitution expire like the old Confederation.

Gentlemen find under this Government, as they did under the former, that they live at uncomfortable Lodgings, instead of their own houses: alone, instead of in the society of their Families and Friends: at a great distance from their Estates and Business. Professions, Faculties, Property, Families, all going to ruin at home. You will not 480 babble to me about Patriotism, Zeal, Enthusiasm Love of Poverty and Country, at this time of day. You and I have been the Dupes of these Professions too long.— I see nothing Since, I arrived from Europe but one universal & ungovernable Rage for the Loaves and Fishes. The Corruption of Ambition and Avarice, has more universal Possession of the Souls of the Gentlemen of this Country, than of the Nobility of any Country in Europe.— But the new Government has no Objects of Ambition or Avarice, Sufficient to Satiate the Appetites that crave.— What Allurement has it then?— You expect it to work Miracles.— to make Brick without Straw. If the People would give Titles or Marks of distinction, this would go a great Way.— The Title of Right Honourable, would raise the Senate and make it an Object of Ambition.— Senators and even Governors, Judges and Chancellors, would be willing to leave their Places at home to obtain it.— But as it is, and as, I fear it is like to be, I expect, that one half will resign before two Years.

Is the new Government to be founded in force? Are We to raise a Navy and an Army, to detect illicite Trade and to quel insurrections? to protect the national Judicial against the State Judicials? the national Executive against the State Executives? Have We dominion enough over the Minds of the People to do this?— Titles would cost much less, and be less dangerous to Liberty.—

To talk of a Government, without all Ettiquette is to betray a total Inattention to human Life and manners. Can Subordination be preserved in the Smallest Society, without distinctions? examine it in a Family. Let the Master and Mistress, the Father and Mother, Men Servants and Maid Servants, Sons and Daughters all live together in the Same room. let them dress all alike. let them breakfast dine and Sup all at the Same Table. Let Tom the Coachman Set at the Head of the Table, as Accident shall direct, and Polly the Milkmaid Set at the right hand of her Mistress. Let the Children and Servants call their Father and Master by their names Tom Dick and Harry, and be themselves called so in their turns. in this Case you would soon See the Liberty, order, Virtue and Happiness, that would result from such an admirable republican OEconomy.

Away with all this Nonsense.— Let us not betray such gross Ignorance of the World.— I wrote the first part of this Letter, at the date but it has lain by unfinished till this 14. June.

I am, dear sir yours