A few Days since, I recd your Letter of the 13th of Decr last, without either of the Arrets therein referred to. from the Cover of the Letter, which is inclosed for your Inspection, I suspect it has been opened, previously to my receiving it; if so, I should be well pleased to know who the person is that is so very curious as to loose his Sense of Honor in this Matter.1

When I left New York, the Board of Treasury were seriously disposed to investigate minutely, the Expenditure of the foreign Loans,2 & I flatter myself, whatever has been wrong, will be rectified, or at least brot to Light.

Virginia has proposed a fœderal commercial Convention, & Massachusetts have appointed their Commissioners; should the other States accede to the Measure, I think some effectual plan will be adopted for putting our Commerce on a respectable Footing.

the States appear likewise to be sensible they have long eno’ trifled with public Credit, & to be disposed toward of the impending Blow, by granting the Impost & supplementary Funds. New York alone is opposed to the former, & will probably adopt it soon.

What is the Issue of your Negotiations respecting the Interest of british Debts during the War? this is a more important Matter than I formerly supposed it, & the Idea of being subject to such a Demand, strikes the American Merchants thro’ out the Continent so disagreably, that an attempt to recover the Interest by a legal process, would I am apprehensive produce dangerous Convulsions in every State. indeed there would be too much Reason for them, for at the Time that the american Merchant is responsible for the principal of the british Debt & the Interest accruing since the War, he must either pay, or be subject to Arrests & attachments, he cannot recover the principal of his Debtors unless he takes real Estate or public Securities, neither of which will his british Creditor take at their Value, nor even Specie, without an allowance of 6 per Ct for Loss on Bills of Exche.— indeed every State seems to be so impressed with the Injustice of allowing to the british Creditors, Interest under such Circumstances, & more especially as American Merchants cannot recover on their Book Debts Interest, that the States have almost universally expressed their Sense against such an allowance; but at the same Time all Eyes are turned to your Negotiations, & if the british Minister will not come into the propositions of Congress, it may be necessary in order to give Satisfaction to the Union, for you to hint to Congress what it will be best for them to adopt, to do Justice to your & their Constituents. I have Reason to expect some of your Competition are laying concealed, to make a Clamour against You, should your Measures not be satisfactory to our Merchants—

pray give my best Respects to the Ladies & be assured I / am my dear sir yours / sincerely

Doctor Gordon is to deliver you this Letter. He is going to the Land of his Nativity, wishing for the best Happiness of his own 248 Country & ours and hoping that mutual Affection will be at length restored, as the only Means of the Prosperity of both. As he determines to spend the Remainder of his Days in the Country where he was born,1 what rational Man who considers the Ties of human Nature will wonder, if “Esto perpetua”2 is his most ardent Prayer for her? But the Attachments he has made here—his private Friendships and the Part he has taken in our publick Cause afford Reason to beleive that his second Wish is for us. I am affraid however, that the Doctor builds too much upon the Hopes of the Return of mutual Affection; for Can this exist without Forgivness of Injury, and Can his Country ever cordially forgive ours whom she intended to injure so greatly? Her very Disappointment will perpetually irritate her own Feelings and in Spite of Reason or Religion prevent her concieving a Sentiment of Friendship for us. And besides, she will never beleive that there is a Possibility that we can forgive her. We must therefore be content, at least for a great While to come, to live with her as a prudent Man will with one who indeed has professd a Friendship for him, but whose Sincerity he has Reason vehemently to suspect; guarding against Injury from him by making it his Interest to do as little as possible. This is an arduous Task our Country has committed to you. Trade is a Matter I have had so little to do with, that it is not in my Power to aid you in this more than in any one thing else.— May He who has endued you with a Strength of Understanding which your Country confides in afford you all that Light which is necessary for so great an Undertaking!

The Child whom I led by the Hand with a particular Design, I find is now become a promising Youth. He brought me one of your Letters.—3 God bless the Lad! If I was instrumental at that Time of enkindling the Sparks of Patriotism in his tender Heart, it will add to my Consolations in the latest Hour.— Adieu my Friend. Mrs Adams desires your Lady & Family may be assured of her cordial Esteem & Love

Believe that I am very affectionately / Your Friend / & humble Servant