I acknowledged the favor of your Excellencys parcel of Newspapers by Captain Geddes; they were very agreable. I Sent you the first 20 days proceedings of the Different Assemblies in France. What an Amazing Revolution! the French guards defecting the Grand Monarch! the Clergy joining the People in the restoration of Civil Liberty and Reformation of Religion! an Arch-Bishop born and Educated in Spain, was among the first to Speak in favor of renovating the Constitution; I admire the Duke de Rochfaulcaut’s Speech in favor of a Free Press; he is a worthy descendant of him who wrote the Maxims—but you will see, by the Gazetts I send, that the Clergy begin to think the Church in Danger, but this may be a Maneuvre to divide the Assembly; there are a Number of Eloquent and wise Men among them, but the Robberies and riots, the Disputes between ? and St. Domingo, the Conduct of Brittany, may injure the Common Cause. What a Situation for a Monarch of France is the present one in! dictated to, even in the Lowest Departments of his Household, his Ministers discarded, his Governors executed, the Bastile Levelled, forsaken by the Gen D’Arms, and suspected by the People, pent up, in Versailles, with an upraiding Queen, wearing a Cockade suggested by a Silk Mercer of rue de Modena, debarred from granting any favors, fearfull of even hunting in his Quondam Domains. It is the most Extraordinary Revolution that History records or Imagination Suggest—without those Usual Assistances in other Revolutions—Viz. Meetings and Corresponding Committees, and, without Remonstrances or Petitions, no public accusation of Ministers, no fatality in War, no Charge of Succession or ill-made foreign Alliances—yet all France were nearly unanimous.

Had England taken the Royal Part, Ireland would not have assisted in Men or Money. We are Unanimous, Except the immediate Dependants of the Vice-roy, in favor of your Glorious and magnanimous friend, the Marquis La Fayette, but England must be soon involved in War; the Expected Death of the Prince of ? the Situation of the Netherlands; the Breach of the Danish Neutrality; the Growing Maritime force of Russia; the disputes with Spain; the alteration of the Trade compact between these Kingdoms and France—all these Circumstances cannot be Amicably disposed of, and even one of them occuring must produce a War.

The Papers I now send to your Excellency may not amuse, as probably many Vessels may have arrived at your Port from France long before this will arrive, but I would not omit this opportunity, or any other, of Shewing that Sincere and invariable Respect and Esteem, which I Always have had and Ever shall have for Doctor Franklin, whose Zeal, whose Integrity, whose Negoti[ations?] founded the American Empire, by his original opposition to British Tyrrany.

May that Providence which has blessed you heretofore, continue his protection to you and your worthy and Amicable Grandson. Had I departed in my last illness, I had left a Small but Sincere Mark of my respect to you. Your bust is near my writing Table in my Constant sitting room, and seems to Smile on me.

Lady Newenham joins me in most Sincere and truly Affectionate love and respect, and also to your Grandson. I remain with the Greatest Esteem my Dear Sir your Excellencys Most faithfull and Obliged Humble Servant