I embrace the first opportunity, for Europe, to acknowledge the honor of receiving your much esteemed Letters of 28th August & 23d Decem 1782,1 and to congratulate you, in the most affectionate Manner, on the complete Success with which your Labors have been crowned—

The glorious Terms of Peace that the United States of America have obtained, do really fill the Minds of the People with Wonder, when they reflect on their small Beginnings, and the immense Risque they have run—their Hearts overflowing with the highest Sentiments of Gratitude, to the two Commissioners, thro’ whose Conduct, solely, under Heaven, such unexpected Benefits have been obtained— You'll permit me to say that I feel a double Share in these Joys—both because my Country is made capable of being the happiest quarter of the World—and because One who honors me with the Name of Friend has acquired the greatest Share of Glory in placing her in this Situation—

What mighty Events have happen'd in our day already—or rather what astonishing Ones are these to be the Cause of! This important Revolution in America—The almost total Abolition of the Power of the Papal See thro’ Europe, by the free Acts of Princes, who have been, for Ages, under its Yoke—The universal Desire of all Nations to become commercial—must lead to a diffusion of Knowledge—and liberal Connection of Mankind with each other,—in every part of the Globe, and, of consequence, to the Practice of every human Virtue—dissipating Superstition and Error—rendering the Inhabitants of the several Empires as Brethren—

I thank you, sincerely, Dear Sir, for the particular Intelligence you communicated to me in Letters before mentioned— The one of August 28th—did not arrive untill March—the Vessel having had 160 days passage from Holland—

Your worthy Brother, and our mutual Friend, Mr Cranch, tells me that you have asked Liberty of Congress to leave Europe, and to 445return to your native Country—2 I shall be one of many thousands who will rejoyce to see You—and as this may not meet You in the old Country I shall omit giving particular Advice of Politics here. If I find your Tarry in Europe fixed upon, the first and frequent opportunities shall be embraced to give you what little information I can obtain— And as it is my intentions to attend the G Court this year, if chosen, political Manoeuvres will come more under my Notice— From what I can learn, Our Court, I mean that of Philada. is not free from Parties, and hazardous Views— your Presence here is much wanted on every Account, beside personal— The Knowledge of our Politicians is in general too confined to guard sufficiently against the Wiles of the old Countrys—

In Case you tarry in Europe I will communicate to you freely on our political Movements—and in that Channel which You think may be free from Inspection—an evil often attending Letters to Persons in high rank—and shall be greatly obliged by such intelligence and advice, as You think may be serviceable to our Country—such parts of which, if any, as you wish to be kept private, shall be so kept, when signified—

Mrs D has minuted your kind promise to take a Saturdays Dinner with me—and joyns in hopes that it may establish a sincere and lasting Friendship in every Branch of our Families—

I am, in every possible Consideration, Dear Sir, Your obliged Friend & most humble Servant

After so long a Silence1 please permit me to address Your Excelly: with my sincere And Most Harty Congratulations on the success of Your Principal Negociations in Europe, Which has brought us to that Degree of Liberty and will I trust to that of Prosperity So Much Desired by Every Good American

The War With all its Horrors and Confusion being Now At An End, You will no Doubt turn Your Views towards the Improvement of our Countrey and the Advancement of its Commerce the Latter being What I Profess, would beg lave to make You Some Proposals on that Subject. After Agriculture You Know that the Fishery on the Coast of New England is the Branch which Will always Imploy and Mentain the Greatest Number of People, and be A School for bringing up a set of Hardy Robust and Experienced Seamen Ready on All Occations for the service and Defence of their Countrey; but in order to promote And foment this Branch it is our Business to Point out the Markets where their Produce Can be Most Advantagiously disposed of and assist in that Line so far as our Knowledge And Abilities Will permit. For Salted Drey Cod, which Are the Only Fish that serve in Europe, the best Markets Are Bilboa, Lisbon, Cadis and Alicant, but this place being the Nearest to Madrid, and our Great Connections With new Castile and Aragon gives us an Extreme advantage over the others, And Makes our Consumption nearly Equal to that of all the Rest, So that when prices are moderate We Sell from 130,000, to 150,000 C wt here Dureing the Season Viz from the begining of Septr. till About the End of Aprile, which at an Average of about 20 s Sterling pr C wt Will Make £150,000 Sterling, which nearly would Return to Our Countrey Annually in Espeice from this one port Alone, an object I hope you will consider Well worth your Attention, we have Also Another Advantage that the Fish Caught Near the Shore on the Coast of New England are Always Preferd here to those of the coast of N F Land and will Always Sell for half a Peso or about twenty Pence Sterling pr C wt more than they. Tho Fish are Always Sold here At three months Credit I shall in order to Serve Our friends who May Consigne Me their Vessels and to Procure them Every possible facillity on thier business Advance them the full Amount on delivery of thier Cargoes, in Specie or in the Manner thier Captains Shall be Order'd to Receive it, and they Can Ballast or Load thier Ships with Salt, Which is Chaper and better here than in Any Other part of Europe for the fish Business, and will Always lave them a Profit on Return

But as I am Not Known to many of the principal Merchts: in Boston, Salem, Marbelhead, &c who Also May not have Corrispondts. in this Quarter, I would Request Some Letters of Recommendation from You Sir to those who You May Suppose to be Most Extensive in the fish trade, and in Order to Remove every Scruple You might have in Compleying with this Request, You Will please, (Should this 447Come to Your hands in Paris) take Informations Regarding My Solidity And Extensive Connections, of

Sir John Lamberty

Tourton & Ravel

De Lessert & Compy:

Challet Pere & Fils

and if in Amsterdam You will please Enquire of

Hope & Co.

Muilman & Sons

Nichs Muleries & Co.

Melvile & Wolff

Wernier & Hartsinck

to None of Whome we wrote on the Subject; but have No Doubt they will give you Perfect Satisfaction in that perticular, and thier Business with My house of a Considerable time has Given them a good Knowledge of My Capital And Credits. The Firm of My House is Robt Montgomery & C. Should you find it Agreeable to hand me the Recommendations in Question You will please forward them So Soon as Convenient as it is Necessary to advise our freinds in America the state of our Market So Earley as Possible to serve for thier Goverment2

My being the Onley American House Yet Established on this Coast and having Always been Ready to Render Every service in My Power to the States Makes me (I hope with Some Reason) Pretend the Apointement of Consul, And would Request you will take an oppertunity of Mentioning me to Congress as A person of Your Approbation for that Imployment,3 I have Already Hinteded it to Mr. Jay who Assures Me of Every thing he Can do for it

With wishing You Every Happiness I have the Honour to be with Sincere Respect And Attachment / Dr Sir / Your Excys. Most Obedt. & Very Huml Servt