last night on my return from Versailles and the Sight of the gallant young Duke of Normandy.1 I found your Favour of the eighteenth with its Enclosures which I delivered as soon as I had read it to our Secretary Mr Humphreys as I propose to do all of your future 582 letters to be by him transmitted regularly every Month, with our Dispatches to Congress, who are now Sitting at New york with his Excellency Richard Henry Lee Esqr: at their Head as President and His Excellency John Jay Esqr their Secretary of foreign affairs.

I thank you Sir for your Care in procuring the Information from Mr Bisdom and Mr Vander Hope respecting the Presents usually made by the Republic to the Barbarians, which I have communicated to my Colleagues and it is put upon our Book, and transmitted to Congress.—

I think that Miss Van Berckel, will be in no danger from the Barbaresques, in the Way She is going, and I beleive there is much less danger in any other route than is represented in the English Papers—which abound with Lies frabricated by Scheming Insurers, whose Robberies are not less detestable than those of the Affricans, for Fraud is even more wicked than violence—. we have no Information of any American Vessels taken, excepting one, by the Emperor of Morocco who has promised that no more Shall be taken untill Congress can send him a Consul which he desires.

I congratulate you on Madame Dumas’s Convalescence. My family join in thanks to you for your Polite attention and in sincere Wishes for Mrs Dumas’s perfect Health. the Duke and Duchess de la Vauguyon enquired kindly after your welfare yesterday, and were very sorry to hear from me of Madam Dumas’s Indisposition

With great Regard sir your most obedient / and humble sert—

The orders I have lately reicived from Your Son Mr: J: Q: Adams for packing up his goods, on purpose to be Shipped to another End 583 of the World, gave me very great concern, I rather like to unpack, then to pack up, especially for Such for whom I maintain the greatest Esteem and am proud to Serve; I am in this point alike the Hollander, all under een dak van’t huÿs,1 but changes will and must happen; I only beg and intreat the mercies of heaven to conduct him Safe and in good health, to his beloved Country.

Your Excellency’s Advise I have to beg, how to act with the Arms of the 13 united States of independent America, which was Some weeks ago brought to Your hotel from the painters, whether You chuse to have the Same Set up immediately, You may assure Yourself of my integrity and utmost dilligence to have every thing performed to Your entire Satisfaction; I don’t know if it is by Your Excellencys Command, that the Motto, which the Eagle holds in its bill, e pluribus unum, was to be painted with the Same Colour as the rest, except the 13 Stripes which are red and white, with a blue one across at the top, the reason for this bold question is, that I think the letters will not be legible, nor distinguishable when erected.

This inclosed Letter is come with last Monday’s post, and I have a Small parcel, Seemingly containing a book, I have besides to deliver an Exemplarium from the drawing Academy, with a bill for two Ducats, but not knowing whether You are pleased to continue the Subscription or not, I thought proper to Set it off for a fortnight, or Such time I Shall have received instructions, all which I Shall have the honor to convey to You, with the first opportunity I can meet with:2

I am with all due respect and Submission / Your Excellency’s / most devoted and humble Servant—