I was honoured with your most obliging favours of the 6th. Decr. & 29th. Janry. on the subject of obtaining permission from the Ministers of Spain, for the Ship Ascention, S. Chase Master, to Enter the Port of Havanna.—1 The week past we had, by a special messenger, that we had sent on to Philadelphia, with the required, authenticated certificates, the honour of receiving, from His Excellency Don Joseph de Jaudenes a polite Letter accompanyed with his Permission for sd. ship &ce &ce—

The Owners of the Ship are convinced, that through your kind influence only, the grant was obtained, and desire me in their Names, to return You, their thanks of gratitude, joined with my peculiar obligations to you Sir for this favour?

You very truely observe, that many of our Contemporaries are droping off. One of my Collegues Mr. Deshon2 & the Continental Agent Mr Bradford are in the number. And my much honoured Friend the Cheif Majestrate of Massachusetts, whom I had the pleasure of taking by the hand, in July last at Boston, seems to be very feeble & fast approximating to his dissolution. We are all of us, making room for Posterity to conduct the affairs of this mighty Republic: I hope a propicious Providence, will grant them Wisdom & every Virtue, to Govern the extensive Dominions and increaseing Inhabitants of the United States of America.

I feel my self willing to depart, could I have the satisfaction of imbraceing my Son, that Imbarked with You & under your countenace, in the Ship Boston for France in the Year 1778, the many unmerited benefits, that he received, by your notice of him, I have a grateful sense of.3 But! alass! he yet remains in that distracted Country: I cannot prevail with him to return, by every indearing Parental soothing or harsh menaces— Doctr. Franklin, Mr Jefferson, Marquis la Fayatte, Mr Short & many others, have indeavoured to prevail with, to return to America, where he might be useful to his Country.— Doctr. Franklin, before he left France Wrote him a Letter, and insisted upon his returning with him, and if he was imbarrassed in his 384 Finances, to let him know the amount, and he would find means to discharge them. He did not answer his Letter, but ever after shuned his House.— The Doctr. upon his arrival at Philada. inclosed me a copy of the Letter, and advised me in the strongest terms, to cross the Atlantic, and he would furnish me with the means of forceing him away: for he was a subject, worth saveing; as he did not know of any vice, that he was guilty of: and it would be his ruin to remain.—

At my time of Life, and not having had the small-Pox, detered me from going, and has rendered my Life extreemly unhappy, in being deprived of a Son for Seventeen Years, that I had hopes of being a consolation & not a grief in Old Age.

Mr. Short prevailed with him Three years past, to leave Paris & go to Bordeaux & Imbark for America, which he promised to perform immediatly, but has remained there to this day.

The fascinating manners, customs & habits of France, has made such an impression upon his Mind, that he abandons his Country, Parent, an only Brother, Friends & connexions, to gratify, a mistaken Pleasure & happiness, and even to forego the prospect, of ever receiving a farthing of my Estate, (which he well knows) unless he returns—before my decease?

I beg Sir you will excuse, this long dis-interesting Letter & believe me, with sentiments of purest truth & sincere regards.— Your most Obedient / and most Humble servt

Permit me to introduce to your Acquaintance and civilities Benjamin Beal Junr Esqr, a Son of my next Neighbour. This young Gentleman has been educated at our University and to the Law in the Practice of which he has Spent some years but finding the Multiplication of Professors in proportion to the diminution of the Business, he has thought proper to turn his Attention to travail and to 385 trade and is bound to France with a Vessell and Cargo of his Fathers who is a Man of Property. Mr Beal is an amiable and agreable young Man and I wish him Success. Any Attentions with which you may honour him will be gratefully acknowledged by him as well as by me.1

Congress has risen without receiving the Treaty with England. Mr Jay has been unfortunate in the Vessells on board of which he sent his Dispatches.

Mrs Adams joins with me in kind Compliments to Mrs Monroe, and in best Wishes for your Satisfaction and Success in your Mission.

With great Regard I have / the Honour to be, Sir your / most obedient and most humble / servant