I have received the polite and obliging Letter, you did me the honour to write me, on the Seventh of May.—1 Although an intimate and frequent Correspondence with you, considering the relation between Us, and the agreable Acquaintance, I had with you in France and England would have been always agreable to me; Yet considering the different Countries and Governments in which We live, and the Avocations of Business, which demand the Attention of both of Us, I never expected more Intercourse than there has been.—

Your Countrymen, I dare say, would be very happy to see you in North America; and none of them more than myself: Yet considering the importance of your Affairs, where You are it is a favour little to be expected. Next to the Pleasure of seeing you here, I should esteem that of frequently hearing of your health and that of your family. You were not so kind in your Letter as to let me know the Situation of your son, whom I saw in London, and in whose good fortune I interest myself very much.—2 The last of my three sons is to commence at Cambridge this Week, and like his two elder Brothers is destined to the Bar.— My only Daughter married to Col. smith of New York, has two fine Boys, and a third perhaps not far from Seeing the light of our sun.3

Far advanced in my fifty fifth Year, and having run through a great Variety of scenes in Life, I can very heartily join with You Mr Burke the King of Prussia and King solomon, in pronouncing all Vanité des Vanités.—

Yet I have lived to see my Country free and prosperous, rapidly Advancing to Wealth and Grandeur, after having seen her in great danger and deep Distress: I have lived to see, Europe become the Pupil of Harvard Colledge and the Town of Boston; and if I were Sure she would profit of her Lesson as much as this Country has done, I should think I had lived and seen enough.

Mrs Adams joins with me and all mine in most respectful Compliments to yourself, Mrs Fitch and your son: and in grateful Acknowledgments for the very handsome present in Sugar, Wine and Spirits which you had the Generosity to Send Us, and which We have received in good order.

Your Packet to the President I had the honour to present to him, with my own hand.

With great and sincere Esteem, I have / the honour to be, dear sir, your most / obedient and obliged servant

The first cause that the federall Court of anapolis had on there dockett, To Judge, Since Its Erection, Was on a Process of accompt Between two french Merchents, Belonging to france & actual Subjects of his Most Christian Majesty,1 Which as I aprehend, That Court has No Right to take Cognisance of It Beeing Not only Diamatrically oposite to the Laws of france, But Contrary to the Stipulated articles Between H.M.C. King & the United States, Notwithstanding which, thay have Risolved from the french Consulatory Court of Baltimore To a Judgment Which is appeal to france; off the three Judges of the Consulatory Court that have Given Judgment, 395 two of them Are Parties in the Cause, and in order to have the Execution of there Sentencess to proceed agreable to there Minds, thay have had Recourse to the federal Court of Anapolis, Which is Well Known, to Be Contrary to the Laws of Both Nations, I therefore Conclude that the federal Court have Not Been So Circumspect in there audience as the Nature of the Case Required, & on the 7th. & 8 of may Last, in Said Court there Was So little Atention Paid to the Convention of Both Courts that I who am a Partey Conserned, was Sentensed. By the federal Court to Imprisonment, in Violation of a XII article Between the Court of france & the United States, But whether this Sentence, Proceeded from, Inatention, Ignorence, Partiality, or any other Cause, I am Not in a Sittuation to Determine But as it has been Puntually Executed, have only to inform Yours Honour, of the Cause & Effect, & Desire that You Will Extend Yours humanity & Power with the federal Court So far towards My Releasment, from this obscure and Humeliateing Goal, from whence I have the honour of adressing You, That thereby I may have an opertunity of Makeeng a Proper aplycation, for Damages Sustaind from Insult & Injustice.

Your Kind Interposition in this My time of Eligal & abusive treatment will Ever be Most Graatfully acknowledged; By Your Sinceer and Humble Servent