I am obliged for your favor covering the Clerks accounts.1

The affairs of Europe are changed since the last autumn and indeed are daily assumg a new-face. Tis generally supposed that Dumorier is filed off, whether with or without an army is not yet ascertained. The next Ship from England must bring important accounts.

We are disturbed here with the bickerings of French and English Sailors and every riot seems more alarming. The magistracy make efforts to keep the peace but you know how strong a Pennsa Executive is—

Enclosed is a paper which makes mention of you and your son, and seems to hold up the Combination in a light truly formidable, how far his the authors opinions are just I pretend not to determine.2 I think however if a peace could be brot abt on any tollerable terms it would be for the general interest. I rejoice however and am disappointed in the general spirit of neutrality in our Country. Not because tis not the dictate of reason and judgment, but because there are madmen in all Countries—

Our new minister from France you see composes & sings songs. How far he will compose the minds of this people remains to be determined. Tis whispered at the first public dinner given him, the head of a pig was cut off and handed round as the head of an Aristocrat— Also that the new Consul of Pennsylvania is at the head of a Jacobin 210 clubb in our City, and who are amongst other things to denounce all such of their Countrymen as are not true Frenchmen. They are trying to cook up another dinner for the minister. How that will be garnished we shall hear—3

My old friend Major Jackson has had a meeting for the first time with Mr W— Brother B——m has employed him to go to Europe to sell land, whence returning, he is to take the hand, as he seems to have gained the heart of Miss W.4

I regret Mrs Adams’s indisposition and with Mrs. Otis beg our best remembrances and am / Sir / With respect & esteem / Your most Obedt & huml ser

Fully impess’d with a sense of your Goodness and Candor, I am induced to observe that having taken the liberty to express my thoughts to the President of the United States, on the appointment of a Consul to the Island of St. Domingo, and to solicit the appointment, (having resided in this country seven years and having been two years establish’d in business here) I have to request your interest in procuring me the above appointment;1 with assurances of my every exertion to prove myself worthy of the confidence reposed in me, and of the honor of subscribing myself with the utmost Respect, / Sir, / Your very respectful / and / very huml Servt: