Two Days ago, I received the Letter, you did me the Honour to write me, on the 16. of Octr. with its Enclosures.

The Approbation of my Conduct in Europe expressed in the Resolution of Congress of the fifth of October, does me honour, and demands my Acknowledgments. The Permission to return to America and the termination of my Commission in Holland, having removed all Difficulties, It is my Intention, to embark with my Family in the Month of March. It would give me great Pleasure, sir to accept of your polite and friendly Invitation to New York: but as the health of my Family is very tender, and their Apprehensions of the Sea, very great, it will be neccessary for me to imbark for Boston.— Mr 1 Smith and his Family will embark for New York. As Congress have not transmitted him any orders, relative to another Minister, or to a Charge des Affaires at this Court, the Presumption is that it is either the Intention of Congress, to have no Diplomatick Character here, or that other Persons are destined to fill it. in either Case Mr 2 Smiths Road is as clear as mine to return home.

You have, before this time, received from Col. Smith his own account of his Journey, Arrival and Reception in Portugal. His Reception was more flattering than could have been expected, and was in every respect I presume fully Satisfactory to him. But the Mission has been attended with Consequences affecting his health, which 235 there is reason to fear he will have Cause to remember for sometime. A bilious Fever or tertian Ague contracted in Portugal or Spain, has left him in a delicate State of Health, which I fear he will not fully remove till he Arrives in America.3

The Public Mind cannot be occupied about a nobler Object than the proposed Plan of Government. it appears to be admirably calculated to cement all America in Affection and Interest as one great Nation. A Result of Accommodation and Compromise, cannot be supposed, perfectly to coincide with any ones Ideas of Perfection. But as all the great Principles neccessary to Order, Liberty and Safety are respected in it, and Provision is made for Corrections and Amendments as they may be found neccessary, I confess I hope to hear of its Adoption by all the States.

Two days ago, a great Consternation was Spread in the Stock Exchange, by a report of a quadruple Alliance of the two Empires with France and Spain. Whether this is any more, than an Artificial Circulation to turn the tide of popular Terror and Vapour, like the revived Conversations about an Invasion of England, I know not.4 France undoubtedly has the Power to form Alliances, if She will, which will bring the Existence of Britain and Prussia into Question. But the Revival of States General and Provincial, and the Contests which are likely to arise out of them will give the French Government Business enough for sometime.

most perfectly do I agree with you that America has nothing to fear, but a Want of Union and a Want of Government. The United States now stand in an elevated Situation, and they must and will be respected and courted, not only by France and England, but by all other Powers of Europe, while they keep themselves neutral.

It is Suspected by some, that the Additional Troops now recruiting for the Army, are intended to be sent to Canada and Nova scotia. their ostensible destination is to the West India Islands.5

No Answer is made to any of my Memorials or Letters to the Ministry. nor do I expect that any Thing will be done, while I Stay. There are reports of an Intention to send a Minister to America; and a Mr Lister, Liston. I think the name is, now at Madrid, is mentioned. But nothing has been Said to me, upon that subject for some time.

With invariable Affection and Esteem / I have the Honour to be, sir, your / most obedient and most humble / servant

I wrote you on the 12th instant, that is to say, by the last post. but as that channel of conveiance is sometimes unfaithful I now inclose you a copy of my letter of that date, and of the one of Fiseaux & co. inclosed in that.1 I have since received my letters by the packet, but, among them, nothing from the Board of Treasury.2 still their orders may be among the dispatches with which Paul Jones is charged for me, who was to sail a week after the packet. if he brings any orders, what you shall have done as I observed in my former letter shall be considered as if not done. on further consideration & consultation the object of my letter seems to increase in importance & to render it indispensible in us to do what we can, even without orders, to save the credit of the U. S. I have conferred with mr̃ Jacob Van Staphorst, who is here, on this subject. he thinks the failure would have so ill an effect that it should certainly be prevented, he supposes the progress of your late loan may by this time furnish money in the hands of Willincks & Van Staphorsts, to face this demand, & at any rate that these gentlemen will exert themselves to do it. by his advice I wrote to ask of them if I might count on their doing it, provided I forwarded your orders, and I wrote to Fizeaux & co. what steps I was taking, desired them to confer with Willincks & Van Staphorsts, and to regulate the expectations of our creditors accordingly. the answer of Willincks & Van Staphorsts which I shall receive the 22d. inst. and yours which I hope to receive about the same time will decide what is to be done. still it will be about the 28th. before Fizeaux can receive it through me, and he sais notice should have been given by the middle of the month.3

I see by the American papers that your commission to the United 237 Netherlands continues till the spring. will you have to go there to take leave? if you do, and will give me notice in time, I will meet you there. in so doing I shall gratify my wish to see you before you leave Europe, to confer with you on some subjects, and become acquainted with our money affairs at Amsterdam, and that ground in general on which it may be rendered necessary, by our various debts, for me sometimes to undertake to act. I am very ignorant of it at present.

I am with great & sincere esteem Dr. Sir / Your most obedient & mo. humble servt.