The Child whom you used to lead out into the common to see with detestation the British Troops and with Pleasure the Boston Militia will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter.1 He has since seen the Troops of most Nations in Europe, without any Ambition I hope of becoming a military Man. He thinks of the Bar and Peace and civil Life, and I hope will follow and enjoy them with less Interruption than his Father could.

If you have in Boston a virtuous Clubb, such as We used to delight and improve ourselves in, they will inspire him with Such sentiments as a young American ought to entertain, and give him less occasion for lighter Company. I think it no small Proof of his Discretion, that he chooses to go to New England rather than old. You and I know that it will probably be more for his Honour and his Happiness in the result but young Gentlemen of Eighteen dont always See through the same Medium with old ones of fifty.

So I am going to London. I suppose you will threaten me with being envyed again.2 I have more cause to be pitied, and al[though I will] not say with Dr Cutler that “I hate [to be] pitied”3 I dont know why I should dread Envy.— I shall be sufficiently vexed I expect. But as Congress are about to act with Dignity I dont much fear that I shall be able to do something worth going for. If I dont I shall come home, and envy nobody, nor be envied. if they send as good a Man to Spain as they have in Jay for their foreign department and will have in Jefferson at Versailles I shall be able to correspond in perfect Confidence with all those public Characters that I shall have most need of Assistance from and shall fear nothing.

I am, my dear sir, affectionately yours

I was much obliged to you for your kind Letter by Mr: Temple which I received in London; but having been called from thence to the Hague, & from thence again to Paris by the public Service, and much employed with the Cares of my Family as well as the public Business I have not been able to answer it sooner.1

Mr: Temple is now appointed Consul General from the King of Great Britain to the United States, and much will depend upon his Prudence, Patience & Wisdom. he is in a Situation of much Delicacy, and must proceed with great Caution. he will therefore stand in need of the Advice of his Friends. His Knowledge of the Commerce and his respectable Connections will be of great Service to him if he setts out right. if I should go to England, as by the late Letters from Congress I must, I should be glad to have a friendly Correspondence with him. it may be usefull to both Countries as well as to us.

Whether it will be possible to accomplish the Views of Congress in England I know not. if the same Blindness & Delusion should continue there, so much the worse for them. Our Country is in a Situation, to make her friendship much more Essential to the English than theirs can be to us, important as it is.

I hope soon to have the Pleasure of reading your new Work which has a great Reputation and is upon a most interesting Subject—2 This Letter will be delivered you, by J. Q. Adams my eldest Son, who after seven years Travel is returning home where I hope he will find Friends and become in Time a usefull Man.

With great & sincere Respect &c