I have the honour to inclose a Copy of a Letter to the Marquis of Carmarthen of the 14th. of July, another of the 27th. with a project of a Declaration concerning the construction of the Armistice, and another of this date with a project of a Treaty of Commerce— It is high time something should be done, to turn the attention of Administration to the relation between this Country and the United States, and it seemed most advisable to lay the project of a Treaty directly before the Ministry, rather than first negociate the appointment of any other Minister to treat with me, than the Marquis of Carmarthen himself— If I had first proposed the appointment of a minister, they would have procrastinated the business, for six Months and perhaps twelve, before I could have communicated any thing to them— Now they can have no excuse— The offer is made & hereafter they may repent of their error, if they do not accept it, or something nearly like it immediately. I am very sensible it will greatly embarrass Administration, because most of them I believe are sensible that some such treaty must be one day agreed to, and 284that it would be wise to agree to it now, but they are affraid of oppositions from many quarters— I must not however disguise my real sentiments. The present Ministry are too much under the influence of Chalmers & Smith1 and others of that Stamp & have been artfully drawn into so many manifestations of a Determination to maintain their Navigation Laws relatively to the United states, and of a Jealousy of our Naval Power—Small as it is, that I fear they have committed themselves too far to receed. Their Newfoundland Act, as well as their proclamations, and the fourth of their Irish Propositions2 are in this Style— I have no expectation that the proposed Treaty will be soon agreed to, nor that I shall have any counter project, or indeed any answer for a long time. it is very apparent, that we shall never have a satisfactory arrangement with this Country untill Congress shall be made by the States, supreme in matters of foreign Commerce, and Treaties of Commerce, and untill Congress shall have exerted that supremacy with a decent Firmness—

I am with great esteem / Your most Obedient / Humble Serv.

We feel ourselves very much beholden to your Excellency, for your Condescension to favour us with Your respected letter of the 24th Inst:, but especially so, for the friendlÿ and sympathysing manner, 285in which your Excelly hath been pleased to express himself. We thank you most Sincerely for having already before the receipt of our Letter, written in our favour to the Honourable Board of the Treasurÿ and if on a minute Scruting our character is found free from any fraudulous intentions, we beg to claim your further protection, and to Sollicit your Excelly to continue to intercede in our behalf.

Messrs Willink & van Staphorst have hinted to us, that our agreement with Mr Geyer hath been misrepresented, as if the money which hath been Stipulated to be furnished by us into that Partnership, was really money we had in hand, belonging to the United States, whereas it was part of monies intrusted to us by Several individuals, for the very purpose to carry on the American Trade. We have made no difficulty to let them have an English Copy of it, and we do not doubt, but they will transmit it to your Excellency this post, and will also explain to your Excellencÿ that the arrangement with Mr Geyer hath made with his Creditors in England, if even it shd be thought partial, which however we don’t pretend to say it is, yet is made without our Concurrency.

Those Gentn: are also authorised by the chief part of our Creditors here, together with Messrs Clicquet & Co & Couderc & Brants, to take upon them jointly with us the further management and liquidation of our affairs. Every part of it therefore must be laid open to them; they will see the whole of our Transactions; and as they are men of abilities and Gentlemen, we most chearfully leave to them the vindication of our Character, and submit to their judgment, whether we deserve Lenity or Rigour

We certainly cannot but expect (how painful this may be to our feelings) but our conduct will be Subjected to misrepresentation, may be, even to slander. To this we must Submit, and have no other remedy against it, but to beg those whose good opinion is most valuable for us, not to condemn us unheard. May we therefore intreat your Excellencÿ if our conduct or any part thereof, should appear mysterious or dubious, or be represented in a wrong light to your Excellency, to favour us with your remarks, and to rest assured that every explanation your Excellency may require, shall be most faithfully given by us, as this is a right we owe our Creditors, and—may we add—we owe ourselves.

Permit us to Subscribe ourselves with due Sentiments of regard / Your Excellency’s / most devoted humble Servants