Give me Leave to introduce to you, Mr Anstey a Member of Parliament and Barrister at Law, who is Sent out by the Commissioners of American Claims to verify Facts, Such as Titles to Estates, Incumbrances upon them &c.1

The House of Commons Yesterday ordered an Account of Vessells 123 cleared out for the Importation of Flour Biscuit and Live Stock from the U States into any of the Islands of Newfoundland &c and also an Account of all Flour &c imported into any of the Islands in Newfoundland, between the 10th. Jan. 1784. and the 10. Jan. 1785.2

Whether this portends good or evil, time will discover.

The Debates in Parliament have taken an unusual Turn to foreign Policks and the relative Situation of Great Britain. if this subject Should be fully considered they will discover, that it is of some importance to know the situation of Great Britain relatively to the U. States of America.— it would not be extravagant to Say, that they may hereafter find it in the Power of Congress to turn the Ballance and decide their Fate. Congress has hitherto been studiously kept out of Sight, by the K.3 Ministry and Opposition. They are afraid of raising in American Minds Ideas of their Importance. Russia, Denmark and England would not form a Ballance to Bourbon and Holland, if Congress should be joined. indeed if the U. states should be neutral the Ballance would not be exact.— In my humble Opinion We must be neutral or join the French and Dutch.

Opinions are very Sanguine that this Country can support their Credit, without a very fair Commerce with Us. There is nothing then remaining, but foreign Politicks and the Ballance of Power, to persuade them to give Us Satisfaction. They generally consider Us, as already in the Scale of Bourbon, and it is not easy to convince them that We are not. I have endeavoured to convince them that Neutrality is in our Power, but with little Success. inded they really do not think Us of much Consequence. We have no Navy: and are Aukward in Uniting in any Thing. some of them indeed agree that We shall grow, both in Union Dignity and Power. It is really of more moment to this Country, to Secure the Neutrality of the United States, than the Alliance of Russia, and the time will come when it will be seen and felt. But the Nation is too much inflamed and imbittered, to reflect coolly upon any Thing respecting America.

Our Path is plain. We must make navigation Acts, and take care of ourselves, preserve our Neutrality as long as We can, and when We must part with it, get the best Price for it4 We can.— it is much to be desired that our Commerce with all other nations may be encreased, especially France & Holland, and lessened with England as much as possible, untill she shall put it on a more liberal Footing. The political Friendship too of France Spain and Holland Should be cultivated as much as possible without involving Us too far.

With great Esteem and Affection yours

Give me Leave to introduce to you John Anstey Esq Barrister at Law and a Member of Parliament, who goes out by Authority to verify the Claims of the Loyalists, as they call themselves.— I believe it to be the Design of Mr Pitt to pay their Demands which shall be found to be Supported, and withdraw their Pensions and then leave them to Seek their Fortunes. in Such a Case if our States repeal their Laws against them, they will generally return, to their old homes, or to some other Part of the United States, where they must become good Citizens or be compleatly insignificant.

By Mr Anstey, I Send you, the Kings Speech and the Debates upon it. The most remarkable Thing in them, is, that the King and every Member of each House, has entirely forgotten that there is any Such Place upon Earth as the United States of America.— We appear to be considered as of no consequence at all, in the Scale of the World. The next Thing observable is, that Administration and Opposition are agreed in turning their Thoughts to a Confederation with Russia and Denmark, in which they wish to get the Emperor to join, as a Ballance to the Confederation, between the House of Bourbon and Holland, to which they Suppose Sweeden attached.1

They are agreed also in the Fact that there is a Surplus of Revenue in the Treasury, and therefore that the Resources of the Country are inexhaustible. You may perhaps Smile at this Inference but they are very grave.

I dont know whether We ought not to wish that they may Succeed, in their Project of Connections with Russia and Denmark and 125 the Emperor too: because, when one Part of Europe shall become thus formally pitted against the other, probably both sides may begin to recollect that there is Such a Power as the United States of America, and that she has some Influence. Congress may in Such a Case take more time to deliberate whether it is necessary for them to engage at all. and if it should appear inevitable, they may make better Terms.

In the meantime it is much to be wished, that a friendly Settlement could be made with Spain, and that a Minister might be sent to Holland, whose Inhabitants are the most cordial Friends We have in Europe.

I have had an opportunity this Week of Conversation with the Marquis of Lansdown and Lord Abbington his Friend and Admirer. They appear to me, to be as far from having adopted any decisive system relative to Us, as Mr Pitt or Mr Fox. This Conversation has removed every Expectation that there will be any Party or even any Individual in Parliament in favour of a liberal Commerce with Us.2

The United States therefore have no Choice left. They must Support their own navigation, or have none.

With great and sincere Esteem, I / have the honour to be, Sir, your / most obedient and most humble / Servant