Your judicious Letter of August the Eighth I have received and read with Pleasure. it was a great sattisfaction to me to find, that the representation I had made from time to time to the British Ministry had been in general consistent with your sentiments, although I confess there are some Points in your Letter, which I have hitherto touched only, with reserve

It is no doubt true that there is a great Ballance against us, and it is very probable it cannot be much lessened, perhaps never fully discharged, without an immediate Change of system at St James’s. of this I despair, because if the Minister was as sensible of the Wisdom and Necessity of a Change as you and I are, he would not have influence enough to Carry the measure through Parliament against the opposition of the Coalition, and the Popular Cry in favour of the Navigation Act. as far as I can perceive they will never admit our oil without Duty, nor with a light one untill they shall have fully tryed the Experiment for introducing the Whale Fishery, I mean the 490Sperma Cati Whale Fishery into this Kingdom. and found it fail— if they succeed in this attempt, our Whale Trade has no Chance for its preservation but by seeking another Markett.

Our Rum has great Prejudices against its admittance to Newfoundland Quebec or Nova scotia: because we derive our Mollasses from the French West Indies, and thereby promote their Grouth and prosperity: And the Admission of Our Ships is looked upon as certain ruin to them. Our Fishery then should I think with submission be encouraged and encreased by every means in our Power as well as the Manufacture of Pot Ash, the decline of Which is to me the most astonishing thing of all. this is the fault and disgrace of Our Country, and if our People, are become too Indolent to help themselvs by such means as they have in their Power they must and will suffer and ought not to be pittied.— I am very sorry you ever made remittancees in Rice and Tobacco. the states which grow these articles, have occasion for all they can raise and more, to Pay their own debts and I think that no state should contract more debt than they can pay with their own Produce. The Remittances made by the Nothern states in the Produce of the southern, has raised the Prices in America and lowered it in England

You have great reason to say that Britain would Consult her own interest in treating with us, because Nations generally do and allways ought: but if you were here, you would soon perceive, that Ministers are stunned and confounded. they know not what to do. they are at a loss to perceive where the Interest of the Nation lies and when they are not they see such deep rooted National prejudices and Habits in their Way, and such formidable Combinations of disappointed Factions Watching every step they take, with a determination to oppose it, right or wrong, that they stand still and do nothing, trusting all things to time and Accident. You say & I have often urged to My Lord Carmarthen the Duke of Richmond and Mr Pitt that the Present system will drive the Commerce of America, to other Countries and force the states, to retaliate: but they dont appear to beleive me, the Massachusetts Acts have alarmed them: it is true: but if they should not be followed by simular Acts of other states, they will have little affect. Your reasoning upon the Fishery is just and conclusive. but it supposes this Principle—Viz. that it is better for the English to encourage our Fishery than the French. this is indisputable in your Mind and mine, but with an Englishman at Present it is Problematical at least. I rather 491think they have decided the Contrary. they dread our seamen Ships & Wealth more than the French

The late Acts of the Massachusetts have silenced Impertinance in this Country more than any thing that was ever done, and as far as I can see they must be persevered in and initiated by the other states or We shall loose all our active Commerce, our Navigation and sea Men and become a Nation of me Husband Men. I am not so much of a Platonic republican as to Wish for this. And I know that Commerce is so much the Hobby Horse of My Countrymen that they will explore the Whole Earth before they will submit to it

There is one infallible Way for you to succeed. Let Congress and all Our Governors, Senators and Reps, put on French Velvets and Ratteens, silks and Cottons and Cloths, and Introduce French Fashions. You will find them as Cheap handsome and Warm. Your Oil may find a Market in France, if you will take French Manufactures. Mr Dickinson found a good Market in France for Oil lately, and Mr Boilstone is going there with his Cargo, as he says. I wish he May.— We have now a good Treaty with Prussia, Tobacco will certainly find a good markett there, and Why not Oil?

We shall have a long and obstinate struggle, and in my opinion never shall succeed, untill we actually divert our Trade from this Country. the Thing must be done. Threats and Prophecies and Reasonings will avail nothing. When the steed is stolen, this Nation will wish She had shut the stable. but she may never again find the last Animal.— at least he will not be so gentle and tame and Usefull. He may have lost a Limb or contracted diseases, or Learnd wanton Tricks, and often Throw his rider

The English having the Whole Mediterranean to themselvs, have found a profitable Markett for their Fish, and therefore will not feel so much the inconvenience and Loss of supplying their Newfoundland Fishermen from hence.

Mr Jefferson and I are sending Mr Barclay to Morroco and Mr Lamb to Algiers. Coll Franks goes as secretary to the Former and Paul Randall Esqr of New York will accompany the Latter. We shall have numberless difficulties, much Time I fear will be required: and Our Presents not rich enough. The difficulties attending all our operations in Europe are so numerous and tedious, that it is enough to tire the Patience of Job. We must now send Agents for the Redemption of Captives as well as to Treat. Captain stevens in a Vessell of Mr Fosters, and Capt Obrien in one of the Irvins of Philadelphia are 492taken and Carried into Algiers, at Least if the spirit of Forgery has not gone so far as to Counterfeit Letters both to me and Mr Jefferson which have great appearance of Authenticity as long ago as 1778 I engaged earnestly in the Business of Treating with the Barbary Powers: but Dr Franklins opinion allways was that the Freedom of the Navigation of the Mediterranian was not worth the Presents and every thing allways withered more or less that Dr Franklin blasted—1 I beleive no Man that ever existed had such a reputation for Wisdom and such an Influence, with so many stupid opinions. If I thought his opinions would no longer have influence, I would indeavour to forget the Evil they have done. His opinion that a Treaty with Russia was not worth 5000 £, defeated our Negotiations there,2 as I believe, His opinion that We ought to fight on the side of France two Wars more against England, will for ought I know bring it to Pass. It will take us twenty Years to get through the perplexities in which his senseless system of Politicks, have involved us and after all the fault of it will be Laid upon others not on him. I wish now that I had gone Home without Leave, with the Definitive Treaty. at least I am apt to flatter myself I could have done more service in Congress than in Europe though I should Probably have found perflexities there as well as here. but there or here I can suggest no more than this—

1st We must have a Revenue. We can no longer borrow in Europe. and we must not be stingy of it. We must give the Barbary states, presents that will prevail. or We must fit Out Frigates to Cruize for them and fight them the very Insureance upon our Trade will bear the Expence.

2d We must have Ministers and Consulls in Europe and the Ministers must Live so as to keep us above Contempt, and must be allowed Clerks and Assistance, or the immense Labour upon them Cannot be done

3d We must explore other Marketts than the British—

4 We must encourage our own Navigation and Manufactures at least for the present If this system is not pursued, Poor Jefferson and myself shall struggle and Labour in Vain.— the Peoples Expectations will not be answered We Shall be censured. But this is not terrible to me. another thing affects me very much We shall become weak and defenceless. Poor and discontented, very probably Involved in other Wars—and an accursed Military spirit arrising that will attach itself to some European Power Build itself up, under its 493influence and overturn those systems of Government, for which alone, I would ever have troubled my head with Politicks, or in more modest Words for Which alone I think the People of America ought ever to have contended with G B—

This is too free a Letter to be sent to any body without requesting a cautious use of it I shall be obliged to you sir for your sentiments from time to time the Measures we are taking with the Barbary states ought not to be made Public—

Poor New England is the Principle object of jealousy their Intelligence their Valour, but above all their Navigation and seamen and dreaded, both by England and France. their Wisdom Courage and Firmness will be put to the utmost Tryal they must lay their Measures deep to save themselvs This the Massachusetts and New Hampshire have done in their late Acts, which I hope they will persevere in even although they should stand alone, nay tho she should be obliged to make Acts against R Island and Connecticutt as severe as they did to exclude their Paper Bills in 1750—3 New England must make herself independant of all European Countries, or I fear She will be undone. Manufactures and Navigation will do it She may supply ships to Carry for the southern states, nay Manufactures to supply them in Time if She will,—to this End She must be frugal, and perhaps Poor—for a time, she must be active and Industrious. she must meet her Fate with Patience as well as Courage and spirit. I expect it will be a long Time before the southern states will adopt the same measures. never be discouraged persevere untill they do. and if they never do, you may find your account even in that—

with great respect I have the Honour to be sir your most Obedient / servant—

Your two letters of Apr 27th & June 26th were duly received. The first at the President’s, Richd Henry Lee Esqr, where I had the pleasure of dining with your son on the 10th of Augt, being at New York on my last tour for collecting historical materials.1 I have not seen him, since he reacht this state; but have heard of his welfare. I am busily employed in the way you mention; & am glad to find by what you write, that I was not out in my conjecture, that the present pictures which are circulating have no likeness. I shall not pretend to give a full & compleat history, but I shall aim at its being impartial, tho’ I shall not attempt to publish the whole truth, for the reasons you have mentioned. I flatter myself however that there will be a resemblance, known so to be by many; but which will not be thought so to be by multitudes, other than as the historian may be credited. They will be hard to believe, that so much quackery & exaggeration, so much puff & vapour, & so much dreggs went into the composition of public appearances.

As I am in hopes, that no such policy as what wrought in France, will be practised at the British Post Office, so I shall forward this in the common way of conveyance.

Dr F is arrived, is honoured, is caressed &c but his friends will not be very wise should they promote him to the Presidentship in Pennsylvania, nor he be prudent, should he accept it, at his time of life, when he cannot answer for the continuance of his faculties for a single day.2

I was repeatedly in company with Mr Jay at his own house, & was much delighted with him; he communicated to me some very important intelligence; & I am much mistaken, or our affairs abroad will be well managed by him. Upon the affair between Govr Bowdoin & Capt Stanhope, he made sensible remarks & gave excellent advice. It will go near to give you some employ, & I trust will procure the Capt a severe rap upon the knuckles.

Our friend Dana, you will have heard before now, is one of the judges of the superiour court. The promotion was made by Mr Hancock—not out of love to Dana—but some of the lawyers out of love to themselves, urged the promotion, that so he might not return again to the bar. Upon the same principle, should the aforementioned gentleman go to Congress, for the ensuing year commencing at Novr, he would use all his interest in favour of you to keep you abroad, should he have hopes of getting again into the chair, unless you should return. Many a person has been honoured with a foreign promotion to get him out of the way—that however has not been the case, as to your Excellency & Congress. I dined at Milton the last saturday with our friends Mr & Mrs Warren. They were well. You was the subject of conversation part of the time; for I shewed them your letters, & they returned the compliment in kind. I do not suppose, he will come again into publick life. Cushing will probably be continued Lt Govr annually, unless Goreham should oust him, by his subtle manoeuvring, at which he is reported to me by the knowing ones, to be notably dexterous.3

Now for the last. Your assurance is sufficient. Politically considered, we are certainly Aliens, as to the British nation, tho’ blood relations to the inhabitants. You must not rely with regard to the English, that the hopes of introducing & establishing the spermaceti fishery among themselves are visionary. You may depend upon the contrary, or both my information (which comes from persons actually concerned in the fishery, thorough Americans, & who have been 496so althrough the late contest) & my conjectures are wrong, should the heavy duty be continued, & administration be determined to exert their efforts in order to effect it. The scheme you hint at, has been forwarded by the aids of the Marquis Le Fayette, & proposals & specimens of oil sent to Mr Breck; but in the present form I am persuaded will not answer. Besides it will be difficult to form a company on this side the Atlantic to engage in it. We are too young for such a business, as well as for banking.4 Not only so, but the ships which have returned lately, have not brought in, as I learn, a single spermaceti whale.

I wish you to go upon another scheme, & to push the reduction of the duty from 18 to 8 pounds sterling. The ministry might venture to carry such a reduction, when they will not attempt a removal. We may lose all by aiming at too much; & Mr Higginson assured me, when conversing lately w[ith hi]m on the subj[ect th]at they could make the fishery answer, if successful in catching, had they no heavier duty to pay than eight pounds sterling per ton. The present ministry seem to be favourable to us & we should make the best of them; but should not urge them to measures that may contribute to a change which may & probably will prove highly injurious to ourselves. Fox’s coalescing with North is an invincible demonstration, that no reliance is to be had upon him. May substantial proofs of sincerity be given! but then perhaps they must be doled out in small portions & be given in detail, because of the peculiarity of the times. When the dissenters applied to Sr Robt Walpole for the removal of their just complaints; he asked them whether nothing would satisfy but the removal of the whole. No. Then it can’t be done; would you strip the horses tail, you must pull out hair by hair. A high tone on our part will not do. We are not enough united; but are inclined to divide more & more. The Main, I expect, before a twelve month is at an end, will break off from the Massachusetts & set up for a new State. Things are working that way apace. Besides Vermont, two States have set up for themselves toward the Ohio.5 The Spaniards have also closed up the navigation of the Mississippi— Have obliged the inhabitants of the Natches to take the oath of allegiance to his catholic majesty—& have erected & garrisoned a fort there. I want to manoeuvre in some such commercial way, as that the British vessels should navigate up & down the Mississippi upon a trading plan with the Americans in the neighbourhood of that river, & so oblige the Spaniards to open it both for them & us. I am persuaded, that the business of Don Gua—— at Congress is to 497manoeuvre them, if possible, into a relinquishment of their claim & right to the navigation of that river; but I am convinced he will labour in vain.6 Should he attempt playing off France by way of aid; I hope a counter-game will be played that will make them afraid.

Mr Bowdoin is very popular; for he has convinced all, that he is not afraid of spending his money, & he has abilities.

Your paragraph relating to Temple I sent off immediately to Gerry at New York.

Propose returning with my family next summer to England, & then printing as fast as the press can work.7 I shall make an early appearance, if favoured of Heaven with health & a safe arrival, not at your Excellency’s levee for that I don’t understand, but in your closet, to have some free familiar chat, as in days of yore. Mrs Gordon unites in best wishes to Self Lady & Miss. I remain with real & great esteem, / Your Excellency’s / sincere friend & humble servant