Il m’a été informé que je dois m’adressér a Vr̃e Excellençe; Je le fais avéc confiançe. C’est au Sujet de deux balles de Lainages qui furent chargées a Londres pour mon compte sous la marque PSD No 1 & 2. Sur le nre La Concorde, qui Fut pris par un de vos Corsaires dans sa traversée venant içy: ce nre était neutre, ainsi que moi etant Français; attestation que Je remis du consul de ma nation; Çelle de la facture qui monte £ Sterlins 820:4s:8d:; et le connaissement en ma faveur a monsieur Franklin a Paris pour les reclamér; Je reçeus la reponçe Suivante.

“a challiot prés Paris le 9: Deçembre 1777:

Mr. Monsr Franklin m’a remis comme Deputé du congrés pour L’Espagne, la lettre quil a reçeu de Vous relativement aux marchandises appartenantes avous prises par un de nos Corsaires.

J’ay l’honneur de vous avertir la dessus, que la copie de tous les papiers sur cette affaire a été expedié au congrés, et que vous pouvés comptér Sur leur Justiçe.

Je vous envoye au meme temps une lettre adressée a tous nos Capitaines et Commandants, que Je vous prie de Vouloir bien montrér a tous Ceux qui Viendront dans vos ports.

Vous Aurés la bonté d’etre persuade Mr. qu’il n’y a rien plus contraire aux Intentions du congrés que de faire tort, ou de le Souffrir d’etre Fait au sujet des nations neutres.

J’ay l’honneur d’etre avéc la consideration la plus Distinguée Monsr. vr̃e tres Humble & trés obt Sr: Arthur Lee”

Faites moi la Graçe Vr̃e Exce de me dire comment le Congrés a reglé Çet objet afin que je puisse me conformér a çe que Je la prie de me faire l’honneur de me prescrire.

J’ay Celui D’etre avéc Respect / Monsieur. / de Votre Excellençe / Le tres Humble et trés / Obeissant Serviteur.

Your Letter of 18th. I received last Evening & it was particularly acceptable as I had experienced much Uneasiness from the Time which had intervened since your last Favour. Notwithstanding your kind Hint at the Close of it, I was chagrined, greatly so, by reading the Paper of this Morning.1 Not, because I was not named as a Judge, for I think the Judges from this State are well selected & I know their Pretensions in various Respects better founded than any I could lay claim to—But the Appointment of the Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, has disappointed me. The Man who has obtained that Place has built up a very handsome Estate in Consequence of his Agency for Most of the Refugees who had Debts due to them in this Country, & which most lucrative Employment he got by the Sollicitations of his Father while he continued in England as a Refugee. I never heard of any Attachment or Services shewn by his Family to this Country, but something very different the public Acts of this Commonwealth attest to.—

But my Humiliation is forgot in the Assurance of the Continuance of your Friendship, & I have now only to regret the occasioning You Trouble in my behalf; & that I ever wrote a Line on the Subject to the President. Blessed is the Man who never expecteth for he shall never be disappointed. This Beatitude in future I will make my own, & thus I bid adieu to the Subject forever.

It is singular that Massachusetts should continue “Nothing” from a Want of System & Union in her Delegates. And what is still more disgraceful that Her paltry Policy, & debasing Œconomy should withhold a Compensation for the noblest Services of her ablest Citizens. Had the Vice President been born on the other Side the Potomac, how greatly would his Foreign services & American Merits have been estimated! As he belongs to New England, it is to be left to Posterity to do Justice to his Character, his Talents & his unparralleld Negotiations. And with such a glorious future Prospect, a Man ought to 173 be content to be a Beggar—say the ungrateful, the Envious & the Miserly.

I am most truly yours