I imagine you now act so principal a part in the busy scine of politicks that you will scarce have time to read a line from an old friend who has no other information to give you than that of the continuance of his attachment & his wishes to have the pleasure of seeing you in America. It is not long since that he flattered himself that he should have had the pleasure of seeing you here as the Joyful harbinger of peace but the death of one man has frustrated his hopes by procrastinating this happy event. It is not easy to conceive upon what principle the present Minister should so totally reject Mr. Fox’s proposition, the only one suited to the present disposition of the people of this country, & calculated to maintain or perhaps Strengthen the cobweb tyes, all that now remain, which unite a small part of America to G. Britain. Nor can I express my surprise that after so many lessons given in the School of adversity, so many convincing proofs of the Steadiness of this new Empire, even when in distress, the Minister should yet remain in perfect ignorance of the real sentiments of America—He betrays it in the Grossest manner when he flatters himself that he could persuade Congress to make a separate peace wth. him—I wish he could take a three months tour in the Country as I have done he would then be convinced that we were no more the people who were attached to Britain & wished to be friends again—that a seven years Contest had carried off the friends to England who are succeeded by Americans, people as a national as those of either france or England—he would find that every family would have bitter reproaches to make to the Old Country for the loss of friends & property, of which a wanton Sacrifice had been made & that the name of Britain formerly regarded with affection was now despised & abhorred. He would be astonished at the rapidity with which the industrious husband repairs the damages his troops have occasioned—he would see them well cloathed & fed & chearfully bearing without pay, or at least with a very distant inputation of it he would have seen a country so determin’d as to stand the Shock of two Bankrupcies without murmuring—he would see a regular Administration now established & men of all ranks Struggling to get into the different branches of it: evident proof of the Supposed Security of government—he would see that the uniform & noble conduct of the publick bodies for some time past is no more than an emanation from the general spirit of the people who tho’ they wish for peace would not accept it upon dishonorable terms—He would see a number of [two words illegible] which are never made but when there is the utmost confidence in Govt. & seldom but in time of peace, the most remarkable of which is the Bank, as solid now as that of England, & so advantageous that the disaffected themselves have but a helping hand to establish it—its credit has increased beyond the most sanguine expectations. They have divided at the rate of 10 per cent p. an. & tho the capital is only 400,000 dollars they paid & recd. last month 3 millions. The notes pass current every where, in some places bear a premium, are sought after even in New York—In short he would see enough to make him repent not having made an earlier peace & would sustain the anger of his R. Master from this Country to the cort consillors who had engaged him in a war with it—I perhaps am mistaken but If these same ideas which Ld. Shelburne harbors of the possibility of a connection with. G B are also those of many good whigs & men of sense whose informations have all come from one side some ambiguous expressions in my late letters lead me to think so—I have taken some pains to endeavor to undecieve them & as I find my brother has been at Paris on some pretext & may perhaps be under the same mistake—I have written him very largely on the Subject, the letter is enclosed—I have deliver’d my sentiments wth. more confidence as I have made this project my Study. As a friend to humanity I wish for peace private [who] strenghtens these wishes when this court takes place I am [promised] alight of my family you are privy to the orders given for the purchase of lands I have made long journey in this view & had purchased the Estate of General lee in Berkley Cy. Virga. We came to this place to execute the deeds when unfortunately the General died in [illegible] & shall probably lose the bargain which was not a bad one. I have of late had a difficult task laid upon—You know my fathers sanguine disposition, he thinks there is nothing bad, nothing but excess of Virtue in America & no happiness to be had out if—My mother imagines it torn to pieces by a long & evuil war & dreads coming to it—I have endeavored to give them Genl ideas of it & hope they will come & be happy—

One party sends brave [men] high but the Republican party have carried it with glory in the Assembly Council & choice of a Govr. Joh Dickinson is chosen notwithstanding every base attempt to vilify his Character Govr. Livingston is rechosen for Jersies Mr. Digges for Maryland—Mr. Boudinot is prest. of Congress Govr. Rutledge wd. have been had not Carolina already given two [?] This day the Members of Congress for this state are to be chosen Mr. Ingersol is I am told upon the list.

Mrs. Bache & family are well she requested I would inform you that 10 Doz. Squirrel Skins had been procured the remr. wd. soon be so & the whole sent by a frigate which it is imagine will sail soon—