I have received your favour of the 30th. of November and transmitted to Dr Belknap as you desire the Papers inclosed. The Utensils and ornaments represented in the Drawings are great Curiosities, and Seem to shew more Skill in Art, than any of the native Indians, at this day are possessed of. I am not enough in the habit of Antiquarian Speculations to hazard any Conjectures concerning them. I have never interested myself much in the Inquiries concerning the ancient Inhabitants of this Country, or the Part of the World from 361 which they first emigrated. I should not be at all Surprized, if hereafter evidence should be discovered that America was once a seat of Arts Science and Civilization: nor should I wonder if any one Should prophecy that Europe, will cease to be what it is and become as Savage and barbarous as America was three hundred years ago. The Temper and Principles prevailing at present in that quarter of the World, have a Tendency to as general and total a destruction, as ever befel Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah. If all Religion and Governments all Arts and sciences are destroyed the Trees will grow up, Cities will moulder into common Earth, and a few human Beings may be left naked to chase the Wild Beasts with Bows and arrows.—

Printing they Say will prevent it— But it would be very consistent with the present professed Principles to destroy every Type and Press as Engines of Aristocracy, and murder every Pen and Ink Man as aiming at superiority.—

I hope in all Events that Religion and Learning will find an Asylum in America: But too many of our fellow Citizens are carried away in the dirty Torrent of dissolving Europe.—

I thank you sir for giving me an Opportunity to see those Antiquities, and shall be glad to see any others that may appear.

I am, sir with great Esteem, your / most obedient

In one of your Letters you once expressed a Wish to know some Circumstances of the Negotiation of Peace, which might serve to shew whether Mr Jay brought me over to his opinion that We ought not to treat with Mr Oswald, without a Commission to treat with The United states, or whether I brought him over to mine. The inclosed Copies of Letters to Congress, to Vergennes and to Mr Jay himself will throw some light upon that Question.1

Ld Bacon once Said that a Man and his office were never better united than Ld Coke, and the office of C. J. in a certain Cause.2 I say too that a Man and his office were never better matched, than Mr Jay and the Commission for Peace. No Man did or could behave 362 better but he had not the honour if it could be any to bring me over to that Opinion, which I had strenuously contended for while I was alone in the Commission, and before he was united with me in it.

The Passage inclosed in Crochetts in the Letter to Livingston, must be kept a secret. it was not sent.— upon Reflection I thought I ought not to resign—and that although I had Information that convinced me, that Mr Alexander, an Intimate of Dr Franklin had told in England, that a Commission acknowledging our Independence would not be insisted on, I had not proof that I could produce of the fact, without doing Mischief and there might possibly be some misrepresentation. You will in it the Anxiety and Agitation of my mind at that time, on that subject.

I wrote in August 1782 and thereabouts to many other Persons upon the same subject, who I thought might have some Influence on My Colleagues to animate them to Stand out—3 But it is too much to trouble you with these, on a Point at present of so little Importance. Be so good as to acknowledge the Rect, of this Letter as soon as convenient, and keep the Passage in Crotchetts secret.

I am with much Affection and / great Esteem