Since I had the honour of seeing you at your own house, I have been so unwell, & so much occupied with my private Business, when able to attend to it, that I have not had an oppy of writing to you, as you requested & I engaged to do. Nor can I now do more than just to inform you, that, as the British are coming fast into their old practice, of taking from hence the Rum necessary for their Factories upon the Coast of Guinea, a draw back on Our Rum exported to foreign markets is important to the Commerce of this state.1 more than 1200 hhds have this year been called for by them; & so fond are the Africans of this spirit, that was it freed from the duty when exported thither, I have no doubt the British would soon take several thousands of hhds annually.—

as Our molasses Trade is the main branch of Business in this state, & is really the chief support of Our Cod fishery, as well as necessary to several other important branches of Our Commerce, it is a great point to have it as free as possible from unnecessary expences & embarrassments. the amount of Our export of Rum to foreign markets may now be fairly estimated at 3000 hhds a year; & 54 there can be no doubt of its soon amounting to twice or thrice that quantity if it was not loaded with the duty; for every market we now have for it abroad will be increasing in its use of & demand for it, unless the increase of the price prevents. two pence per gallon is no small Object in that Article, it is sufficient perhaps to secure to us permanently, or to deprive us wholly of the supply to the markets alluded to.—

it strikes me as very singular & unequal, that there should be a drawback generally upon foreign Imports when re exported; & none allowed upon a principal export of this state. If the former is admitted upon the principle of giving facility & extension to Commerce, will not the same Reason apply as strongly in the latter case. it is true the former may affect the other states more than the latter; but if to load exports to foreign markets with duties is anti commercial, if the principle be good, as a general case, it will not be objected that we shall principally be benefitted by it in this case. This would savour strong indeed of locality, & confirm the Idea here, that southern Gentlemen are jealous of, & wish to restrain us in Our Trade.—

If a drawback be refused on Rum lest the Revenue be injured, the Objection will apply as forcibly, at least, to the general provision; for surely the former case is capable of as many good Checks, as in any Case that occurs to me. the general allowance of drawbacks will give many openings, without great care is taken, to defraud the Revenue. a variety of deceptions may there be practised from the extent & complexity of the Objects; but here we have a single Article only to attend to, & this we can check in the hands of the Distillers who are few in number. I fear these hasty Observations may be too late, & perhaps not sufficiently clear & weighty to merit attention; but as I could not believe, till within a day or two, that a drawback on Our Rum could eventually be refused, I may be excused for not troubling you sooner on the subject, & it must be my Apology for now doing it thus hastily.—

Should Congress appoint the inferior Officers in the executive departments, & think it expedient to continue such in Office as have conducted well, permit me to say that I think Mr. Joseph Hiller naval Officer for Salem is one of the best in the state.2 his integrity, accuracy & faculty of executing rigidly the duties of his Office without giving Offence, are much greater than common. I am induced to say this of him, having been lately informed, that several in that Town have applied for the Office, expecting the appointment will be made by Congress, who are by no means his equals for such a post.—

With the most respectful Regard for your Lady & family, & most sincere wishes for your health & happiness, I have the honour to be Your Excellencys most humble Servant—

Without waiting for an Answer to my last, I will take a little more notice of a Sentiment in one your Letters. You Say you “abhor all Titles.”1 I will take the familiar freedom of Friendship to say I dont believe you.— Let me explain my self.— I doubt not your Varacity. but I believe you deceive yourself, and have not yet examined your own heart, and recollected the feelings of every day and hour.— What would you say or think or feel, if your own Children, instead of calling you, Sir, or Father or Papa, should accost you with, the Title of “Ben”!— Your servant comes in, and instead of Saying, “Master! my hat is much worn, will you please to give me a new one”; crys “Ben! my old hat is all in rags, and makes you the laughing stock of the Town! give me a new one.”— What think you of this simple manly republican Style?

had I leisure to write Plays like Gen. Burgoine, I would undertake a Comedy, under the Title of “Government with out Title.”2 The Dramatis Personæ should be a Quaker and his Wife, ten Children and four servants. They should all live in the Same room, dine, breakfast & sup at the Same Table— they should promiscuously call each other by their Names, without Titles and live without form.— We Should See, what order, Virtue and Œconomy would ensue.— The sons would soon be married to the female servants and the Daughters to the Male. both Children & servants would soon trick and cuff the old Man & Woman.

Poh, Poh Poh! Say you all this is vulgar and beneath the Dignity of a Legislator.— Give me leave to say nothing in human Life is beneath the Dignity of a Magistrate to consider. The Principles of Government are to be seen in every Scene of human Life. There is no Person and no society, to whom Forms and Titles are indifferent. 56 “Look through the Deeds of Men,[”] and then say whether Shenestone is not in the right, when he says in a whimsical Production called the “School-Mistress” which he wrote in imitation of Spencer.

The two last Lines contain a truth so exact, so universal, and so litteral, that I declare to you, in the Course of fifty Years Experience, in various Stages of Life, among all Classes of Peope and in Several different nations I have never yet met with one Man Woman or Child, who was destitute of a Passion for a Title. Let Us consider, my Friend more reverently and therefore more truly the Constitution of human nature, and the invariable Progress of human Life and manners. Family Titles are necessary to Family Government Colonial Titles We know were indispensable, in Colonial Government; and We shall find national Titles essential to national Government. as long as Titles are respected by others, they will be esteemed by every man. but it is not to gratify Individuals that public Titles are annexed to offices. it is to make offices and Laws respected; and not so much by the virtuous Part of the Community, as by the Profligate the criminal and abandoned, who have little reverence for Reason Right or Law divine or human. These are overawed by Titles frequently, when Laws and Punishments cannot restrain them.

Think of these Things, and perhaps I may hint to you some others hereafter. Yours with Sincere Esteem