I cannot sufficiently thank you, my dear sir, for your obliging politeness in forwarding me a Copy of M. De Vergennes Letter containing an Account of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis’s Army—tho’ before your favor reached my hands (which was the night before last) I had seen in the Gazettes the Capitulation of York. I pray heavan that that great Event may be the means of hastening a peace. It is certain that the News of his Lordship’s disaster reached London on Saturday last, & as the Parliament was to meet the Tuesday following, every one here seems impatient to see the King’s speech.

The terms granted the British in Virginia are perhaps more generous than they would have allowed an American Army in a similar Situation. I hear that many of the officers are permitted to come over to England. Such Indulgences undoubtedly do honor to the Men that grant them—& unfortunate is it for mankind that the vanquished are not always treated with the like Generosity & [Amity].

Edmund Jennings Esq. an American Gentleman settled here, recieved by the last post a letter from his friend in London (a person of undoubted honor and Veracity) who has very lately seen & conversed with Mr. Laurens in the Tower. Mr Laurens enquired of that Gentleman whether he had heard that America had taken any measures that might procure him more humane usage than such as he had hitherto experienced since his Captivity—From which Circumstance it is plain that that worthy, great Man has been used with the severity & rigour of which all Americans who have been in the power of Great Britain so heavily complain.

I had a letter from Fox, dated Amsterdam the 21st. ult. He appears much displeased with the behavior of the Mynheers to Strangers as to hospitality, politeness, &c. & says a dutchman has no idea of inviting a person, however well recommended, to dine with him, unless he has a prospect of reimbursing himself in some way or other from the strangers purse for the expence of the treat—I can’t say what fox expected, but I always had that opinion of Messieurs les Hollandois & of most other great trading people.

I like Bruxelles tolerably excepting the Climate. From the day I got here we have had a Continuation of dirty, rainy, foggy, damp weather—I expect to have the Rheumatism in a week or two now—If so, Adieu Bruxelles, with all your pretty walks, clean, neat Streets &c. &c.

With my most respectful Compliments [to] his Excellency Dr. Franklin, I remain, My dear Sir, With the greatest Truth & esteem Yours sincerely