At the request of Sir John Carter, I take the liberty to inform your Excellency, that Robt. Muir, detained in our goal, having lived upon his own money till about a week ago, is now according to the custom of the goal allowed 3d. per day which is paid by the parish. But the parish officers object somewhat to the making this allowance, as this man’s offence, they say, does not principally relate to this country. With your Excellencys leave I will advance, on your acct., the 3d. per day till he is released, which will now shortly take place.— Our Court and Law days come on rather before the middle of the next month.— This man is very close, and hath not made one mite of discovery. He hath indeed lived as frugally as possible on his own money, that, as it should seem, he might be under the less temptation.

Sir John Carter desires me farther to inform you, sir, that it is a matter of doubt with him, whether or no, it will be advisable to let this man come to his trial, or release him on his own recognisance, and so give him an opportunity of failing it, or running from it. In consequence of which he will ever carry with him that Idea of culpability which may deter him from his late practices.—

If he is brought to his trial, the first part of the evidence, will, Sir, rest with you; Such as getting some Carolina merchant, or other person of note, to prove the authenticity of the bills which he was proceeding to counterfeit. As he was so early & compleatly interrupted, 98 after all the evidence which you & we can get, he will very probably be acquitted.

But the whole of this is submitted to your better judgement; by sir / Your Excellencys most obliged / and obedient / humble Servant

I have received your Favour of the 22d., and pray you to advance the three Pence per day, as you propose, on Account of the United States and I will honour your, Draught for this and any other neccessary Expence, when you please

I am fully of opinion with Sir John Carter, that it will be most prudent to release Muir on his own Recognizance. and pray you to receive into your Possession all the [Tipes] Blocks and other Instruments and Materials

Wishing you all Happiness. I am / with great Esteem and Regard. dear Sir your most obedient / and most humble Servant

I have the Honour to inclose to Your Lordship, an authenticated Copy of a Resolution of Congress of the third of May, relative to Phineas Bond Esquire, His Majestys Consul in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania Delaware and Maryland. Congress being desirous, on this and every other occasion to manifest their Disposition to cultivate a friendly Correspondence with Great Britain, have received Mr Bond in his Capacity of Consul, although no Treaty or Convention subsists, between the two Countries, whereby either have a Right to establish Consuls in the other. As yet Congress have not received any Commissaries for Commercial Affairs, and they think it most prudent not to receive them from any Nation, untill their Powers Shall have been previously ascertained by Agrement, lest, as those Appointments are seldom made, and both 99 Parties may not have precisely the Same Ideas of the Extent of the Powers and Priviledges annexed to them, disagreable questions and discussions might and probably would otherwise take Place on those delicate Subjects.1

your Lordship will be pleased to Submit these Reasons to his Majesty, and to assure him, that Congress regret the Objections. which oppose their complying with his Wishes in this Instance: but that they are ready to join with his Majesty, in Such Agreements or Conventions, as may be neccessary to remove them, and which may also tend to promote and establish a friendly and Satisfactory commercial Intercourse, between the two Countries.

With great Respect, I have the Honour, to be / My Lord, your Lordships most obedient / and most humble Servant