I have just received your kind Letter of the 7. and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. Mr Jackson and Mr Tracy will take all our Letters and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyance by Captain Young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards.

It is hazardous prophecying in European Politicks, but it is easier to judge what is right. if the Treaty of Munster is not binding what Treaty is? How many Powers of Europe hold important Rights and Possessions under it? it is the great Charter of Europe. it is the Basis of the publick Right of Europe. France holds So much under it, and by Subsequent Treaties founded on it, that I make no Scruple to believe She will Support Holland nor have I less doubt that Prussia will join on the Same Side, if the Emperor persists. They may negotiate as long as they can, but must finally take a Part, for which Reason I hope there will be an Accommodation before next Spring.1

I See not the least Colour for the Idea you Speak of, of a possitive Combination among the great Catholic Powers to crush England, and the lesser Protestant ones. There has been plainly a Combination of absurd Englishmen Scotchmen and American Refugees to crush England Holland and America, the 3 most considerable Protestant Powers, and I wish this Stupid Combination was at an End. I can make nothing of Ireland, and as to our own dear Country, the most it wants at present is a little less Drinking and Extravagance at home and a little more Liberality abroad and to agree upon Taxes to pay the Interest of their Debts.

Mrs Adams is with me and desires me to make you her Compts.

You can Scarcely have heard a Character too high of my Friend and Colleague Mr Jefferson, either in Point of Talents or Virtues. My Fellow Labourer in Congress, eight or nine Years ago, upon many arduous Tryals, particularly in the Draught of our Declaration of Independence and in the formation of our Code of Articles of War, and Laws for the Army I have found him uniformly the Same wise and prudent Man and Steady Patriot. I only fear that his unquenchable Thirst of Knowledge may injure his Health.

I envy you the Pleasure of returning to Boston from whence I have been a kind of Exile for ten Years. almost Seven have been passed in Europe, and if I had not Some cause to hope that my Country has received more benefit than I have of Pleasure I should curse the day that I ever Set my foot on board a Frygate. I am at present however very happy in all respects.

What would be the Consequence if We should have an immediate War with Great Britain? dont be allarmed there is no danger of it. but it is usefull to Speculate.

Would not our Produce be all fetched away to Europe in Dutch French, Portuguese, Italian Sweedish Vessells &c— and would not our Privateers made great Havack among British Commerce?

They might pour into Nova Scotia and Canada Troops, which would oblige Us to maintain Land Armies. Ay! There is the Rub.— and this Consideration ought to make Us do all in our Power, to avoid such a War. But I dont See that they could distress Us or hurt Us very much.—

Their Stocks are at 54 or 55, as low as at any Time in the War, and they must soon borrow more Millions.— They will Soon tax the Stock holders, I fancy one or two Per Cent, per Annum.

The Duke of Dorsett, has communicated to Us a formal Proposition from his Court that Congress should send a Minister to London.— This is so polite and so condescending, according to the Notions of Courts and Nations that I suppose Congress will at length come into it. who will they send? Mr Laurens, Mr Izzard, Mr Lee, Mr Bingham or Dr Franklin, or Billy, or Paul Jones or Mr Charmichael or Dr Bancroft? All very respectable Men.— but not equally so.—

Whoever they send, much good may do him. especially, if they give him Nine thousand dollars a Year.— it is a great deal of Money to be sure, in Weymouth and Braintree, but it is a Sprat in a Whales Belly at a Court, especially at st James’s.—

The Duke of Dorsett and Mr Hales are very complaisant.— The Duke really Seems a plain, open honest Man—without a Spice of Reserve or ill Will.— And he Seems to have Sense enough. Some People have Spoken Slightly of him. others have hinted that his Life has been free. but I confess to you I like him very much better than any body, Since Fitzherbert, Oswald and Whiteford, not one of whom will I ever forget.

Now for private affairs.

I wish you would draw upon me, in Holland England or France, which you please, for my Boys Expences of every sort. for I think the Public ought to maintain my Family, and the little you may receive for Rent in Boston, Mistick or Braintree you will please to reserve for Such Purposes as you think most for my benefit. Remittances are in such demand that, I Suppose you may sell Bills to my Advantage.

My Love and Duty to Mrs Tufts, and your son, to Unkle Quincy, Mr Wibert and &c

Yours affectionately