Having been obliged to come to Holland, the Beginning of this Year to obtain Money, to prevent Mr Morriss Bills from being protested, I have remained here untill this Time, in Expectation of 271 receiving the further Commands of Congress. From the Resolution of the 1. of May 1783 and from many private Letters, I expected that a Commission would have arrived to the late Ministers at the Peace, to treat with the maritime Powers, and this Expectation was so full that I have been Several Times upon the Point of going to Paris, to meet it.

But it is fortunate that I did not, Since no Such Commission is arrived and Mr Jay and Mr Laurens are now gone to America

The Instructions of Congress of 29. Oct. 1783, proceed upon the supposition that the definitive Treaty was not then Signed, and appear to have been given to any one or more of the Ministers, to the End that all might not be obliged to attend upon the Execution of them.2

The first Article, may be announced to the Emperor by one, as well as by more, and I Suppose it has been done:3 But I hope Congress will not rest there, but will proceed, further, and either write a Letter to the Emperor, announcing their Sovereignty and their Desire to live in Friendship with him: or send a Commission to some one or more to treat with him: or both.

In Conformity to the Second Article, I have met the Advances and encouraged the Dispositions of the other commercial Powers, as far as I had opportunity and have transmitted to Congress a Treaty prepared with the Prussian Minister here, ready for signature whenever Congress shall send a Full Power.

The other Instructions are such as I dont imagine it was ever the Intention of Congress that I Should go to Paris, to assist in the Execution of them.

When Congress had Several Ministers at Paris, it was very proper that they should join in the Execution of all Instructions. indeed it would have been proper and customary that they should have been all accredited to the King, for want of which, very many and very great Inconveniences were suffered. But it is not probable that Congress intended, the Peace being finished and their ministers Seperated to their Several other Stations, that they should all reassemble for the Execution of those Instructions.

I have the Honour to be with very great / Respect, Sir your most obedient and / most humble servant

I intended to have written to you some posts ago, But I found that a few of your things had been lock’d up in a Chamber at Auteuil, and left there with some matters belonging to Mrs. Barclay, and that they had Escaped her Memory and My knowledge. There are Two Coat’s and 2 laced hats belonging to your servants—1 lamp to write by with 2 Ink stands, a Coat of Arms in a Frame, 2 wooden stands for your wigs, and a small paper Box with powder, Also a little Box directed for Madam Dumas,— These things shou’d Certainly have been sent with the others had I known of them, and I shall have them Convey’d to you some how or other Very soon— Inclosed I send you three Receipts for the Bills of Exchange, If you prefer any other form let me know, and it shall be adher’d to— I have been Very Buissy for some time, and if you Chuse that a settlement of your Account shall be Stated for your Consideration I will attempt to make one. I think I Can form one to your Satisfaction as far as up to the time of your sending me the papers in Paris, and I will Endeavor to take as much of the Trouble off your hands as possible—

There are two Kinds of people with whom I have occasion to settle the Public Accounts, Those who wish to Introduce Every thing possible into them, and those who are Rigidly scrupulous to Charge any thing, lest it might have the Appearance of being wrong—and I suspect very much that You are among the last mentiond Class

I Beg you will present My best wishes to your son, and M. Dumas’s Family, and Beleiv me / Sincerely / Dear Sir / Your Affectionate / & Obedient servant