I have only time to acquaint you, that since my last1 there have been some Appearances of an Intention in Ministry to take up American Affairs Lord Carmarthen and Mr Pitt have certainly had Conferences with Committees of Merchants who have represented to them the Necessity of arrangements with the United states, upon Terms which will give Satisfaction.

Nevertheless I have no Confidence in this att all, and I think that Congress and the states Should not relax in any Measure in Consequence of it

Mr Pitt did Say to Mr Campbell, the Principal Man among them, that Mr Adams the American Minister, was well disposed to a friendly Settlement and had made some Propositions to the Kings Ministers who were also well disposed. He was very inquisitive whether they had seen Mr Adams. They answered they had not and that they were not known to him in the Business. This was true, in a litteral Sense. But in fact they had taken Pains to give me circuitous Information that they had been consulted by Lord Carmarthen and to desire of me Such Information as I could give them and I had, by means of Coll Smith conveyed to the sight of a Person in their Confidence, some Papers containing Such Matter as I thought might be trusted to them, in such a misterious Way. The Representation they have made is very Strong as they say, but I cannot yet obtain a Copy of it. They pretend to say that Mr Pitt assured them their Report had given him new Lights, and they think America may have whatever she2 desires except a free Trade with the W. India Islands.3

This will prove only a Delusion, for if the Ministry really are desirous of an equitable settlement, I am well perswaded they cannot yet carry it, in Parliament. So that I hope the states will persevere in their own Measures and that even all the southern states will at least lay heavy Duties upon the Tonnage of Such Nations as have not Treaties with Us, and prohibit the Importation in their Bottoms of any Merchandizes except the Produce of the Country to which they belong.— Even the Importation of Irish Linnens in British Bottoms should be forbidden, as well as silesia Linnens; Hemp & Duck from Russia and Iron from sweeden Wines from Portugal, Goods from the East Indies, &c &c &c.

With great Regard, I have the / Honour to be, sir your most / obedient & most humble sert

A day or two after the receipt of your Letter of Novr. 1st. & that of President Lee.1 which came with it I wrote to the archbishop of Canterbury, by Colo. Smith, for an Hour when I might have the Honour to pay my Respects to his Grace—And was answerd very politely that he would be glad to have the Honour of seeing me, next day, between Eleven & twelve, accordingly I went Yesterday & was very agreably received, by a venerable & candid Prelate, with whom I had before only exchanged Visits of Ceremony—2

I told his Grace that at the desire of two very respectable Characters in America, the late President of Congress and the present secretary of State for the department of foreign affairs—I had the honor to be the Bearer to his Grace of a Letter from a Convention of Deligates from the Episcopal Churches in most of the southern States— which had been transmitted to me open, that I might be acquainted with its Contents— That in this Business however I acted in no official Character, having no Instructions from Congress nor indeed from the Convention, but I thought it most respectful to them, as well as to His Grace to present the Letter in Person— The Archbishop answered, that all that he could say at present, was that he was himself very well disposed to give the satisfaction desired, for he was by no means one of those, who wished that contentions should be kept up between the two Countries, or between one Party & another in america but on the Contrary was desirous of doing every thing in his power to promote Harmony & good Humour—

I then said that if his Grace would take the trouble of reading two Letters, from Mr. Lee & Mr. Jay, he would perceive the motives of those Gentlemen in sending the Letters to my Care, I gave him the Letters which he read attentively & returned, and added that it was a great satisfaction to him to see, that Gentlemen of Character and Reputation, interested themselves in it, for that the Episcopalians in the United States, could not have the full & compleat Enjoyment of 88 their religious Liberties, without it and he subjoined that it was also a great satisfaction to him, to have received this visit from me, upon this occasion And he would take the Liberty to ask me, if it were not an improper Question, whether the interposition of the English Bishops would not give uneasiness & dissatisfaction in America

I replyed that my answer could be only that of a private Citizen, and in that capacity I had o scruple to say, that the people of the United States in general were for a liberal and generous toleration— I might indeed employ a stronger word and call it a right & the first right of Mankind to worship God, according to their Consciences & therefore that I could not see any reasonable Ground for Dissatisfaction and that I hoped & believed there would be none of any consequence

His Grace was then pleased to say that Religion in all Countries especially a Young one, ought to be attended to, as it was the foundation of Goverment— He hoped the Characters which should be recommended would be good ones— I replied that there were in the Churches in America able Men of Characters altogether irreproachable and that such & such only—I presumed would be recommended— I then rose to take my Leave, and his Grace then asked me, if he might be at liberty to mention that I had made him this Visit on this occasion I answered, Certainly if his Grace should judge it proper.

Thus Sir I have fulfilled my Commission and remain as usual—Your Sincere friend & most / obedient Servant—