Having been very happy in your friendship, and much honoured by it while you resided in this country, I cannot avoid taking the opportunity which is now offer’d me of conveying to you a few lines. While at Portsmouth you favoured me with two letters.1 The first I answered; and the Second I Should have answered had I not imagined that you were on the point of Sailing, and therefore doubted whether any letter I could direct to you would be received. I afterwards learnt that you had been detained a good while in the Isle of Wight; and this has made me Sorry that I did not write to you. I have also learnt from the public papers that you and Mrs Adams had arrived Safe in America, where, I doubt not, you have been received with joy. I wish you could have carried with you a better account of the Success of your mission; but a discovery Seems to have been made here Since Mr Pitt came into administration that the united States are of no use to us. What a pity is it this discovery was not made before, the commencemt: of the late war, and the Shocking waste of blood and treasure which it occasioned?—

We have lately been in a State of great confusion here in consequence of the King’s insanity.2 It is given out that he is now well and that he will re-assume the governmt: in a few days; but Should his recovery be a partial recovery, or should he relapse, of wch: there is great danger, party disputes will run higher than ever among us, and our governmt may become a Scene of tumult and distraction. At the Same time the connexions into which we have lately enter’d with Prussia, Hesse and the Stadholder, render it almost impossible for us to avoid being involved in another war Should no peace take place on the Continent next Summer; and it is indeed to me wonderful that any persons among us can look to another continental war So Soon after the last without terror. But amidst this darkness I trust in that Providence which orders every thing for the best, and often makes calamities the most dreadful the causes of the greatest good. This observation has been remarkably verify’d by the consequences of the American war. It was this war that gave rise to that 395 Spirit of liberty wch: is now working thro’ Europe, and that will probably gain for France a free constitution. And it was this war that has gained for your country that independence wch:, I hope, will terminate in the establishment of a form of governmt: that will be an example to the world. You have, with great ability, contributed to this by proving with abundant evidence the necessity of a Separation of the judicial, executive and legislative powers, and of a distribution of the legislative powers in particular between three independent States. I think it Scarcely possible to read your observations on this Subject in answer to Nedham and other writers without conviction.

But, Dear Sir, I have gone beyond my intention in writing this letter which is only to express my respect and good wishes and desire of preserving a place in your remembrance. My best complimts wait on Mrs Adams. My congregation can never forget that She and you once made a part of it. May Heaven grant you both whatever can make you most happy.

We have had here, at the beginning of this winter, uncommonly Severe weather, and I have not, during a great part of it, enjoy’d my usual health; but I am now much better. I received in July last a few lines from Coll: Smith at New-York introducing to me Mr Barlow3 whom I was very glad to See but to whom I could not Shew the civilities I wish’d because just then Setting out for Wales to spend the remainder of the Summer there. I think very highly of Coll: Smith, and feel myself much interested in his happiness and Mrs Smith’s.

I am, Dear Sir, with great regard and affection, / Your very obedt: and humble Servt

I am greatly obliged, by the Letter you did me the Honour to write me on the 18th. of February; and regret very much the Want of Leisure to examine the Subject of it, with that Attention which its great Importance requires.

That the Truth may be pleaded in Bar of a civil Action for 396 Damages, for actionable Words, Spoken or written, I remembered very well: but it lay in my mind that Some just Cause for publishing it, must be added. You may easily conceive a Case, when a Scandalous Truth may be told of a Man, without any honest motive, and merely from malice. in Such a Case, Morality and religion would forbid a Man from doing Mischief merely from Malevolence, and I thought that Law would give damages. The Case in 11. Mod. cited by Blackstone I have not an opportunity to examine.1 But this is a Point of no great Consequence at present.

The difficult and important Question is whether, the Truth of Words, can be admitted by the Court to be given in Evidence to the Jury, upon a Plea of Not guilty.? in England I Suppose it is Settled.— But it is a Serious Question whether our Constitution is not at present So different as to render the Innovation necessary.? our Chief Magistrates and senators &c are annually eligible by the People? how are their Characters and Conduct to be known to their Constituents but by the Press? If the Press is to be Stopped, and the People kept in Ignorance, We had much better have the first Magistrate and senators hereditary. I therefore, am very clear, that, under the Articles of our Constitution, which you have quoted, it would be Safest to admit Evidence to the Jury of the Truth of Accusations, and if the Jury found them true and that they were published for the Public good, they would readily acquit.

In answer to the concluding Part of your Letter, I beg leave to Say that I am indebted to your Friendship, in Part at least for a destination to another office much too high, difficult and important for my Forces. But having been forced by the Course of Things, heretofore, so often to undertake Trusts out of all Proportion to my Talents, and having been Supported through them by good Fortune, and the favour of the World, I must again rely upon the Same Assistance.— one Comfort has always attended me.— I have been always best supported by those whom I love and esteem the most.

With the highest Respect and Esteem I have / the Honour to be, dear sir, your affectionate / Friend and most humble sert.