I most sincearly Congratulate you on The accession of Rhode Island to the Union. by this event the Chain seems compleat. may our publick deliberations be conducted with that wisdom as shall insure Happiness to this great Nation.

I have just return’d from attending our Genl Assembly, Convened on purpose to Elet Senators and prescribe the mode of Choosing the Representative. Your Humble Servant was a Candidate for a Senator, but was not able to obtain; the whole of the Paper Money and Antifederal Intrest being oposed to him. Theodore Foster Esqr. who is appointed is and has been Federal. but being Brother in Law to Govr Fenner we fear will be totally against the Assumption. Joseph Stanton the other Senator is a full blooded Anti and a strong advocate for paper Money. hope they will both be for promoting the General good when deteached from their old Connections.1

I have wrote the President of the United State praying him to appoint my Son Oliver Bowen to the place of Navel Officer for the District of Providence he is about Twenty two Years of Age has had a Liberal Education and at present attends an Apothecarys Shop. the U. States owe me nearly Twenty Thousand Dollars which I lent them in the Years 1776 & 77, which puts it out of my power to provide for him at present. Theodore Foster Esqr was the Navel Officer. by his appointment as a Senator it will become vacant. if you will be so kind as just to second my application to the President shall esteem my self under many Obligations to you therefor.2

I Remain with sentiments of the / highest Esteeme your Excellencys / most Obedient Humb. Servant

By a vessel that sails for Boston tomorrow I inclose You the british king’s speech on the adjournment prior to the late dissolution of parliament—for which dissolution the next day a royal proclamation issued. From the tenor of this speech a general european war is expected.1 Meanwhile the most extensive naval armaments are preparing in the ports adjacent to all the great dockyards of this kingdom—and the most vigourous measures are pursuing to mann upwards of thirty sail of the line which are already put in commission with the usual proportion of frigates and sloops of war. Parliament will assemble on the tenth of august. Before that time it is said the answer of the Court of Spain to the demand of that of St James’s will be had. But in the interval the monarch and minister of this nation have the whole game of war in their hands and will probably play it The affair of Nootka Sound afforded the minister a good pretext for arming but no well informed person can believe that an attack of the spanish nation or a determination to exact satisfaction for the seizure of those fur ships cou’d alone have given occasion to the efforts that are now making here. More especially when it is considered that the courts of Berlin Warsaw Constantinople Stockholm and the Hague are linked with that of St James’s in a hostile confederacy against the sovereigns of Russia Germany Spain Portugal and Denmark. In fine it is expected and I think on rational grounds that a british squadron or a dutch or perhaps both will enter the Baltic within a very few weeks. shou’d another be detach’d into the mediterranean and a third towards the west india’s before September it woud not surprize me.

It is my intention to put this note with some newspapers into the ship’s bag immediately—and write You a seperate letter via Gravesend tomorrow.

With the greatest respect & esteem / Yours