I hope you received the letter I wrote you from Cadiz I sailed from thence 14 March we had a very tedious passage not getting sight of land till 23 April, which we did to the Southward of the Delaware & the wind being opposed to our entrance we made an attempt to get into Cheseapeak which should have accomplished on the 25 had not the Quebeck frigate intercepted us & taken us after a chase of a few hours we were carried into New York where my friend Livingston was confined in the Prevôt by General Robertson in order as he said to prevent his communicating to Cogress the contents of any dispatches he might have from the Court of Madrid. Admiral Digby at the generals request confined me on board the frigate as the Col’s friend & Confident—Luckily for us S Guy Carleton arrived two or three days after us & being made acquainted with our confinement & the cause of it, reprimanded the conduct of his predecessor in the severest manner put us on our paroles & gave us liberty to come to this city & furnished us immediately with a conveyance—He was astonished there was a British officer who could be guilty of as low an action He spoke much of his wishes for peace [illegible] should not this object be obtained he hoped war would be carried on in a more soldierlike manner & an end be put to those plundering parties which ruined individuals without benefit—If he keeps up to these professions & his General character of his amity the Refugee parties will be abolished, we shall readily meet him on that ground—He has a great appearance of candor in his dealings & I believe had he come out three years ago would have been a dangerous enemy because a generous one—The Change of Ministry has surprised us but we think if it has any effect it must be disadvantageous to us by making a coalition of parties—

I have waited upon Mess. Morris & Bache by whom was very cordially recieved, though the former is so entirely taken up with publick affairs that it is not an easy matter to have access to him Mr & Mrs Bache have taken me under their protection & promised me that assistance & kind attention which I have ever experienced from the different Branches of this family: they are both well as also the Children.

Congress have given a Splendid entertainment in honor of the Dauphin with fire works & the Chevalier is soon to return the co[mp.] If they had given to you or myself all that has been spent already in honor of this young prince [we wo]uld have but little to wish for in point of fortune.

I am exceedingly pleased with the Specimen I have seen of this part of the country, notwithstand all the Ravages of war, every thing flourishes & Industry with a busy hand repairs damages almost as fast as they are made; one Circumstance only surprises & alarms me, luxury has got to a great height. French connections have introduced French fashions & tho’ the Republican Spirit is in its vigour you find not in this town the least trace of republican manners I have in vain sought for the quakers simplicity which I had imagined necessity had made many embrace who were not naturally inclined to it: They are full as dreary here as in France.

Pray give my affectionate respects to the Doctor with many thanks for the letters which he forwarded me & believe me as ever your much obliged & affectionate friend