Your favour of the 7th Sepr. 1 I had a few days ago, shall Set off for Trenton within three days, and shall not fail to communicate One Paragraph of your Letter, the inconvenience of public parsimony I have experienced So much as gives me a full Idea of your feelings. I rejoice with you that you are again with an agreeable and charming family after so long an absence from domestic felicity, I wish my Compliments may be rendered agreeable to your Lady.

We have nothing here worth Communicating to you— Rhode Island yet Stands out against a Congressional Impost, and as all the other States have agreed to it, and also to the vesting Congress with the powers of regulating the Commerce of america for a certain time, we Shall be obliged to alter our provisos. and agree as Coneceticut has done that our Laws Shall have force, and our grants become perfect upon twelve States agreeing to the measure, it will then become necessary to make Laws prohibiting a Commercial conexion with Rhode Island, however disagreeable this may be there is no way to Support the Feoderal Government without it. the people I think become more and more convinced of the necessity of Stregthening the union2

A few days ago Mr Gerry wrote a letter to the two Houses proposing instructions that their Delegates Should endeavour to prevent all Establishments for Troops in time of peace, Instructions are accordingly given— he also proposed that the Delegates of this State Should be enabled to keep a public Table, this is postponed—3

the General Court have refered to Congress the question whether 434 British Subjects including Refugees Shall recover Interest for their Debts during the War or rather whether this State can consistantly with the 4th article of the treaty of peace pass an act to prevent it.4

We have laid a Claim before Congress to Lands on the Westward of the Hudson, and the first monday in December is the day for appointing the feoderal Court—

Mr Adams holds out well, and is yet the Stanch Whig of 1775. but has his Enemies your old Friends here appear very well and hope once more to see you in your Native Country.

We are much at a loss here to know what the Government of Britian intends with regard to trade their Province of Nova Scotia is almost Intirely fed by our produce and yet they prohibit the provisions being carried in american bottoms while daily insults are offered to our flagg. we might hope for national retaltion if the petty State of Rhode Island did not embarass our Measures

the duty upon oyl does not as yet prevent the exportation of it to London— but our Merchants Say that when they have Shiped what they have on hand they Shall buy no more

the Committee of Congress broke up in a most extraordianary manner (and for this goes by a safe hand I will add) that it is much to the dishonor of the States, the locus in quo became a Serious question, between the Southern and Northern members, and they therefore Seperated. Mr Dana has demanded the approbation of the General Court on his Conduct, and has obtained it, but how far he is to be considered amemable to the State and not to Congress is yet with Some a question, but as the facts are represented here he has no body that is against him.5

I have the Honor to be / with great Regard & Friendship / Your most Obedient Hble / Servt

I transmitted without loss of time to the Marquis of Carmarthen, His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Copies of the two Letters which you had done me the honor of addressing to me;1 and am in consequence authorized to assure you, on the part of His Majesty’s Ministers, of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States that can tend to the establishing a system of mutual & permanent advantage to the two Countries; for the more ready accomplishment of which, I am instructed to notify to you, Gentlemen, the previous stipulation proposed by my Court that the United States should send a Person properly authorized and invested with the necessary powers to London, as more suitable to the dignity of either Power, than would be the carrying on at any third Place a negotiation of so great importance.

I have not yet receiv’d any instructions upon the subject of your Letter stating certain Propositions in regard to particular Articles of the Preliminaries of Peace, between England & France, signed on the 20th. of Janry: 1783, and acceded to by the Ministers of the United States, but I have every reason to believe that a full & candid discussion of those points will be enter’d into by my Court, with the sincere view, I can venture to say, of effecting a fair & equitable adjustment of the several matters offer’d for consideration, and from an earnest desire of promoting a friendly & confidential intercourse between Great Britain & America.

I have the honor to be, / with great truth & regard, / Gentlemen, / Your most obedient humble Servant