I had Yesterday the Satisfaction of recieving your Favor of the 15th. Instant. You will find by a Letter which I wrote you on the 11th.— Instant1 that I imputed your Silence to its true Cause, being well persuaded that the same Attention you have always paid to the public Affairs in general would not be withheld from those which call for it in this Kingdom.

I am happy to find that you have a Prospect of terminating the Difficulties which the Bills drawn upon me have occasioned, and I ^tho I^ cannot but observe that Count De Vergennes Letter is peculiarly explicit & precise, yet ^I^ must confess I should not have been surprized if it had been still less smooth concieved in Terms still less soft—would it not be well to transmit a Copy of it to Congress?2 It certainly is high Time for us France has done, and is still doing so much for us that Gratitude as well as policy demands from us the utmost moderation & Delicacy in our applications for Aids. And considerable^ing^ the very singular Manner ^plan^ of drawing Bills on the Bank of Hope Chance, ^at a Venture^ I think we have no less Reason to admire the Patience, than to be satisfied with the Liberality of our good & generous Allies—

Mr. De Neufville had given me a Hint of the Embarrassments occasioned by “the Affair of our Goods in Holland”3 It seems as if Trouble finds its Way to you from every Quarter.—& between Holland & Spain ^supporting^ ^the public ^^our^^ Credit^ in Holland ^leans upon you^ on the one Side ^Hand^ &, in Spain, on the other,—^thus^ you seem ^continue^ like the Key Stone of an Arch, pressed by both Sides & yet sustaining each. How grateful ought we to be to France for enabling you to do it!—4

Mr ^Josha^ Johnson in a Letter dated the 18th. Instant5 mentions the Arrival there ^at Nantz^ of the Brig Betsey from Philadelphia—that she brought Letters for me, and that the Capt. put them in the Post Office.—I ^none of them^ have not as yet recd. any of them reached me

I have recd. too many unequivocal Proofs of your kind attention, to render a punctilious Return of Line for Line necessary to convince me of it. Let such Ideas therefore be banished, and be assured that Matters of Ceremony & Etiquette can never affect the Esteem & affectionate Regard with ^wh^ I am very sincerely Dear Sir your much obliged & obt Servt.

Be pleased to remember ^me^ ^present my Compts.^ to your Grandson— If the appointment of the ^a^ Secretary to the Commissioners for treating of Peace be left ^shd. become necessary & the Choice be left^ to them, I think he shall have more than ^mere^ verbal Evidence of the ^my^ Regard for you & yours6