I trust you are sufficiently convinced of my respect for and attachment to you to render an apology for the liberty, I am going to take unnecessary— I learnt with pain that you may not probably be here ’till late in the session— I fear that this will give some handle to your enemies to misrepresent—and though I am persuaded you are very indifferent personally to the event of a certain election, yet I hope you are not so as it regards the cause of good Government. The difference in that view is in my conception immense between the success of Mr. Clinton or yourself; and some sacrifices of feeling are to be made. But this is not the only relation, in which I deem your early presence here desireable. Permit me to say it best suits the firmness and elevation of your character to meet all events, whether auspicious or otherwise, on the ground where station & duty call you— One would not give the ill disposed the triumph of supposing that an anticipation of want of success had kept you from your post—

You observe My Dr. Sir, I speak without much menagement. You will ascribe it to my confidence and esteem. It is not necessary in any view to multiply words— I forbear it— But allow me to add that 142 it is the universal wish of your friends you should be as soon as possible at Philadelphia

I have the honor to remain very respectfully / & truly Dr sir / Yr. friend & obed / servant

I was requested if possible to deliver the Letter myself, which I send herewith, but as I am about setting off for Europe, I take the Liberty of sending it thro’ the Channel of the Post Office, it came under cover to me from Baron Vall-Travers F.R.S. & Member of several other Scientific Societies in Europe, as his Letter enclosing the enclosed is dated 15th. Feby. last. it may appear that it has remained some time in my possession, be assured that I have only lately received it, for the Ship in which it came was ran aground on the Goodwin Sands by a Dutch Navigator, who left her to the Mercy of the waves, she was afterwards taken into an English port, & detained a considerable time: I find this is not the first from the learned Author, he says “I am uncertain of the fate of my last letter to his Excellency the Vice President dated Decemr. 8th. by Captain Rose commanding the Ship Maryland & bound for George-Town.”1 It seems the Baron has proposed to send regularly from Europe to America (if encouraged) the most important intelligence concerning new discoveries, Inventions, & Improvements in Arts & Sciences. I have not the least doubt but he would perform any thing he would undertake with the strictest punctuality, for I can safely say he has been a faithful friend of mine, he has been indefatigueable, sparing neither pains nor expence in promoting the investigation of a little work on the Magnetic Variation which I wrote to him about. These my poor endeavours have met with so much more encouragement than they deserve in Europe, that I am advised by some of my best Friends to visit that Quarter, to bring the principles to the test, Having been engaged in making an extensive set of Tables to reduce them to practice without the trouble of measuring angles, or making calculations by the Mariner, on this Account I wish to make a number of observations on the Western coast of Europe. I am now within one day of the appointed time of my departure from this port for 143 London, & as I may also go to France, it would oblige me very much to receive a line of introduction to the Marquis de Condorcet Secretary to the Academy at Paris, or any other person at pleasure there: if sent to the American Minister in London no doubt I may receive it.2 Pardon the freedom I have made use of, as I apprehend such a Letter from a Physician Who has said so much to the purpose on Constitutions, or one from a Doctor who has lived to see the adoption of his own System, may have the greatest weight. Should I be so happy as to receive this favour, it will ever be remember’d by me with Gratitude, as it will give me a double satisfaction for I shall conclude the enclosed from my foreign correspondent has arrived safe.

With the greatest sentiments of respect I hope to be permitted to make an offering of my service and esteem