I received this morning, your kind favour of the 9th. of this month dated at Kempwick at the Oneida Lake. your Letters always give me Pleasure, both as they contain interesting Reflections, upon public Affairs and as I take an interest in every Thing that relates to yourself and your family, believing as I do, your inflexible Integrity and wishing you every Prosperity.

I am very glad, the Council of Appointment, have made you a Judge and that you have accepted the Appointment. because I believe you will do honour to them and service to the state, and the United states.

I have not a Copy of the Discourses on Davila and I know not where to find one, except in a Volume of Fenno’s Gazette which he presented to the senate.—1 If I knew how to procure you the sight of them I would chearfully do it, because you discover a curiosity to see them.— They have never been thought of any Value. They never were taken any notice of, by the Public. They are forgotten except by you, and you had better not be singular.

If the History of All Ages and Nations coinciding with the known Constitution of human Nature, could bring “the Doctrine of The Defence to the greatest degree of moral Evidence,” the Example of France would not be necessary for that Purpose. Experience is lost upon Men. [“]Les sottises des Peres sont perdues pour leurs Enfans. Il faut que chaque generation fasse les siennes” so Said the late King of Prussia, and solomon in all his glory never wrote a more certain Truth.2

You have uttered an Awful Truth. I tremble when I transcribe it. “Three years longer continuance of this Anarchical Despotism and the hopes of enjoying civil and political Liberty, Will be lost forever for more than twenty Millions of Men.”

I say with you “rather the laborious Life of a forgotten Farmer, in the Town of Quincy, than all the Splendor of this World, whether at Paris or Philadelphia.”

you need not ask me Permission to grant me favours, for such are sincerely esteemed every Letter from you, by your / real Friend

A regard to the reputation of our Country induces me to address you at this Time.

Dr Kippis has published a Life of Capt Cooke the famous navigator and in Vol ii. p. 268 has given at large the directions issued in March 1779 by Dr Franklin then in France to all Commanders of armed ships in the American service, in case they should meet Capt Cooke at Sea not to consider him as an Enemy but to treat him & his people with all civility & kindness assuring them that “in so doing they would not only gratify the generosity of their own dispositions but obtain the approbation of the Congress.”

The Dr’s remarks on this recommendation are to me astonishing “In the confidence which he expressed with respect to the 355 approbation of Congress he happened to be mistaken, As the members of that assembly, at least the greater part of them, were not possessed of minds equally enlightened with that of their ambassador, he was not supported by his masters in this noble act of humanity, of love to science, & of liberal policy. The orders he had given were instantly reversed; and it was directed by Congress that especial care should be taken to seize Capt Cooke, if an opportunity of doing it occurred. All this proceeded from a false notion that it would be injurious to the united States for the English to obtain a knowledge of the opposite coast of America.”

By a note in the next page he seems to have obtained this account from Sir Joseph Banks—1

Had this assertion been made by any of the ministerial hireling pamphleteers it might be passed over with contempt; but as it comes from so respectable an authority as Dr Kippis supported by Sir Jos Banks—it must be regarded as a very serious charge against this Country— I have conversed with several persons, since I saw it, & among others with your worthy Lady—all join in reprobating the account as false & injurious— But I wish to submit the matter to your cool & candid opinion— I am informed that Dr Kippis is your friend & correspondent & I know you are a friend to America & to Truth. Let me therefore request of you to tell me, whether there is any thing in the Journals, open or secret, of Congress which can be construed into a foundation for such a report—or whether there is any memory of any thing like it in the minds of any persons who were in Congress in the year 1779— Whether any notice has been taken of the assertion by any Person in Brittain or America, & finally in what manner & by whom it may (if false) be most effectually contradicted.

I am sir with great respect / Yr very humble servt