You know my constant and earnest desire for peace. You are so fully possessed of my principles upon these subjects, that you cannot doubt but that the sentiments expressed in the 4th letter on the American war lately written by a member of parlt. in this Country to his Constituents do perfectly accord with mine.— In your letter of 26 octr 1778 you seem to express that a visit from a friend wd not be unwellcome, if that friend were in a character of a plenipotentiary, to treat of a sincere peace between all parties. You must know from the course of public transactions in England, that the alliance between France & America is a great stumbling block.— Whatever engagements America may have entered into, they may at least by consent of parties be relinquished, for the purpose of removing so material an obstacle to any generel treaty of free & unengaged parties. If the parties cd meet for the sake of peace upon free & open ground, I shd think that a very fair proposition to be offered to the people of England, and an equitable propositon in itself. The universal destruction attending war to all parties, ought to be a motive for the restoration of peace superceding all minuter considerations. Knowing the sincerity of your desire for peace, I throw out to you the Cursory thoughts wch present themselves to me, to take the chance of starting any idea wch may lead to that blessed end. I am yrs affectely.