J’ai été fort agréablement affecté de la bonne compagnie que vous m’avez adressée, & des honorées vôtres du 28 & 30e. Mars, qu’ils m’ont remises.1

Nous aurons Soin exactement com̃e vous le desirez, & de la santé & de l’amusement agréable & utile de Mr. Votre fils. Chaque fois qu’on tire la Sonnette de l’hôtel, nous croyons que c’est lui: mais, à notre grand regret, il n’a pas paru encore.

Mr. Van Berckel presse ses préparatifs, pour partir au plus tard vers la mi-Juin. Il sera bien aise de votre compagnie, si les circonstances vous permettent de la lui accorder.— Deux braves Capitaines, Mr. Rymersma de Rotterdam, & Mr. Decker de Gouda qui com̃ande actuellement le beau Vaisseau le Tigre, briguent l’honneur de le transporter, & d’aller échanger avec les Etats-Unis les premiers honneurs du Pavillon de leur Republiqe. 2 Mr. Van Berckel me paroît décidé à aller droit à Philadelphie, à cause de son bagage & de sa suite, qui l’embarrasseroit autrement. Il pense que le meilleur pour lui est de com̃encer par monter sa maison, d’y laisser tout cela en ordre, &, quand les chaleurs seront passées, de faire une excursion par N. York, où il mettra peut-être son fils cadet en apprentissage, jusqu’à Boston.

Celui qui m’a écrit en confidence, est dans la Sphere privée; & je ne lui connois aucune influence dans les affaires publiques ni de l’Améque ni de l’Europe. J’ignore la source où il peut avoir puisé ses anecdotes: mais j’ai tout lieu de penser, qu’elle est analogue avec vos principes, plutôt qu’avec ceux de tout autre qui pourroit en avoir de différents.3 Je persiste dans mon Sentiment, que la Négociation en question, la plus Scabreuse, selon moi, de toutes celles qui restent à faire, ne sauroit être mise entre des mains plus sures & plus heureuses: mais je sens très-bien en même temps, qu’à la même place j’aurois aussi la maladie du pays.

J’ai com̃uniqué à Mr. Holtzhey le paragraphe qui le regarde.

J’ai écrit un Billet aux Com̃is de la Poste, pour leur faire contremander les papiers Anglois, excepté le London Courant; & je leur en écrirai un autre, dès que cette Lettre-ci sera finie; parce qu’ils me paroissent tergiverser, & prétendre que tous ces papiers soient continués jusqu’à l’expiration des 6 mois à la fin de Juin. Je Suis avec grand respect, / De Votre Excellence / le très-humble & très obeissant / Serviteur

I did myself the Honor of writing to your Excellency, and sending several inclosures by the last Post. I send herewith another, which ought to have preceeded in publication one, which your Excellency has received.2

I suppose Mr Hartly is or will be soon, with you. He says He shall settle matters at Paris in a little while. and Mr Fox has said the same thing. the Bill which the Latter Gentleman has just introduced into the House, will not go far enough unless great Powers are given to the King; for the Execution of which the Minister must be responsible, and these are ticklish Times for a bold Minister to Act in.

Mr Fox, who takes the whole of the American business on Himself, is bold in his Nature for he is clear sightd & not frightned by shadows, but some of his Colleagues may perhaps endeavour to prevent his taking those Manly steps, which the Times require, the Man with whom I conversed last Wednesday will I am Affraid Clog Him as much as possible, and his Ennemies are ready to trip up his Heels; He has a difficult part to Act, & perhaps it may not be made Easy, by the Instruments, He makes use of, which is perhaps forced, or which has intruded itself into his hands. all you Gentlemen Know the Man & I trust will soon raise Him out of his Profundity, that is, to use his own words out of the Bottom of all Bottoms. I have some Notion, that He thinks of opening, examining & correcting the Treaty lately made, what He will get thereby I Know not— perhaps He thinks too of going to America as the british Minister

Mr Ridley has communicated to me a Request from Mr Barclay, that I would render myself at Paris to assist Him in the Execution of his Commission for settling the public Accounts. If I thought myself Capable of doing any Good, I would have immediately complied with the Invitation, but I really think I am not qualified for that business, & have at the same time an Idea that I can be of some Service here, if your Excellency thinks so, I Know you would have me Continue where I am. I therefore refer the whole to your Excellency; Mr Ridly will do Himself the Honor of speaking to your Excellency on the Subject & will communicate to me the result of your determination

I take the Liberty of sending to your Excelleny an Imitation of Aurea Libertas.3 &c by a friend

There is in the papers a long account of the Affairs of this 416Country in the East Indias, but half of the busysness is not told. a want of food, of money of Discipline is like to ruin the base & baseless Domination in the Indias Our Friend Heyder Ali has certainly done much for America & Humanity.

I am with the greatest Consideration / Sir / Your Excellencys / Most Obedient / Humble Servant