I did myself the honour of writing you from Harwich and Amsterdam—1 we have been very unfortunate as to roads & weather and were not able to reach Bresleau, time enough for the Review there— those of this place and at Potsdam will be finished about the 20th. when I shall attempt a rapid passage to London by the way of Paris, I shudder at the Idea of tresspassing too far upon your indulgence— but I know you will make every allowance particularly when you consider, that I have passed the period of rediculous dissipation, 408and am now in the pursuit of knowledge and improvement— I hope to be honoured with your commands at Paris—where my stay will be 6 hours or 6 day’s, as may appear most consistant with your wishes— to save the expence of postage I shall Copy instead of inclosing my Letter to the King of Prussia, requesting his Permission to attend the review of His troops, and His Majesty’s answer—2

Your Majesty’s Military Fame, and the reputation of Your Armies, induced me to leave London early in August, with an intention of being present at the review of your troops at this place and at Potsdam— I shall be happy if my intentions should meet with Your majesty’s Approbation, and hope to be honoured with your permission to attend them— I am Sire—with the highest respect / Your Majesty’s &c.

to which his Majesty was pleased to return the following ansr

“Je serai bien aise, de vous voir, aux manœuvr d’ici. La permission, que vous venis de demander, pour y assister, vous est accordié; & Je prie Sur ce Dieu, Mr. le Cólonel Smith, qu’il vous ait en sa sainte & digne garde.

au Colonel Smith, au service des Etates unis d’Amerique, á Berlin[”]

with my most respectful Compliments to the Ladies I am / Sir / Your most Obedient / Humble Servt.

Yesterday I received the two Letters You did me the Honour to write me on the 3. of August.1 The Instructions shall be obeyed as soon as possible.

As to a Letter of Credence to the Queen, I believe it will now be unnecessary: but, when you Send me a Letter of Recall to the King, it may be proper to send another to the Queen: and, when You Send a new Minister, to give him a Letter of Credence to both. Such Letters to Queens Consorts can be but Compliments, and Wishes of Health and Properity to her Person and Family, and recommending the Minister to her Majestys royal Benevolence. I did, in the time of it, give Assurances to the Marquis of Carmarthen that the Omission proceeded not from Want of Respect, and his Lordship sent my Letter to the Queen, as he afterwards told me.

As to the Posts, I think I shall have no Answer untill the Meeting of Parliament approaches, and then I expect an Answer to every Thing, alltogether, and that the Surrender of the Posts will be made conditional, and dependent upon Some Arrangements or other concerning the Debts.

But the Ministers are all wrapped up in Silence. I really dont wonder at it. The State of the Nation is critical beyond all description. The People discontented, and the Populace tumultuous.— in-short, Sir, I have Seen the time in holland exactly like this here.— I See now, as I Saw then, what is not very prudent to talk about— I See that many Personages of high Rank, who want to converse with me freely, are afraid of being remarked, both at Court and by the Mob: indeed I See this Fear in many of the foreign Ministers.— Mobs were never more apprehended or dreaded in Holland, during any Part of my Residence there, than they are now here. There is this difference; nobody owns it here, whereas many did there. in Case of a Commotion, whether there would be most compliments paid to me or my Neighbour Lord North I know not.— I am not however uneasy or apprehensive. There is one Thing in my Favour. The American Cause has been ever most popular among the lowest Classes in this Country, and I think I have Seen Symptoms of the same disposition continually Since I have been here. it was the Same in Holland, and the time may possibly come when this Disposition will be as usefull here as I found it there: indeed almost all the Bilingsgate you See in the Papers is calculated to counteract this Tendency of the People, who, without it, would depopullate many Places by Emigrations.

I have communicated to the Comte de Reventlaw, the Danish Minister here, the Resolution of Congress of the 21. of March, and have received, in his polite Answer, an obliging Assurance that he would transmit it to his Court.2

With great Respect And Esteem, I have / the Honour to be, Sir, your most obedient / and most humble Servant