I have lately receiv’d your two kind Letters of June 18, and Aug. 6. I do not find that I ever receiv’d those you mention of the 15th Sept.

I have been much afflicted the last Summer with a long continu’d Fit of the Gout, which I am not yet quite clear of, tho’ much better. My other Malady is not augmented. I have lately made great Progress in the Work you so urgently demand, and have come as far as my Fiftieth Year. Being now free from Public Business, as my Term in the Presidentship is expired, and resolving to engage in no other public Employment, I expect to have it finished in about two Months, if Illness or some unforeseen Interruption does not prevent. I therefore do not send a part at this time, thinking it better to retain the whole till I can view it all together, and make the proper Corrections.

I am much concern’d to hear of the Broils in your Country, but hope they will end to its Advantage. When the Fermentation is over, and the Troubling Parts subsided, the Wine will be fine and good, and chear the Hearts of those that drink of it.

Our Affairs mend daily, and are getting into good Order very fast. Never was any Measure so thoroughly discuss’d as our propos’d new Constitution. Many Objections were made to it in the Public Papers, and Answers to those Objections. Much Party Heat there was, and some violent, personal Abuse. I kept out of the Dispute, and wrote only one little Paper on the Occasion, which I enclose. You seem to me to be too apprehensive about our President’s being perpetual. Neither he nor we have any such Intention: What Danger there may be of such an Event, we are all aware of, and shall take care effectually to prevent it. The Choice is from four Years to four Years, the Appointments will be small; thus we may change our President if we don’t like his Conduct, and he will have less Inducement to struggle for a new Election. As to the two Chambers, I am of your Opinion, that one alone would be better, but, my dear Friend, nothing in human Affairs and Schemes is perfect, and perhaps that is the Case of our Opinions.

It must have been a terrible Tempest that devasted [sic] such an Extent of Country. I have sometimes thought it might be well to establish an Office of Insurance for Farms, against the Damage that may occur to them from Storms, Blights, Insects, etc. A small Sum paid by a Number would repair such Losses, and prevent much Poverty and Distress.

Our adventurous Merchants are hitherto successful in the East India Trade. Perhaps it would be better for us, if we us’d none of the Commodities of those Countries. But since we do use them, it is an Advantage that we have them cheaper than when they came to us thro’ Britain. As to the other Merchandize She formerly supply’d us with, our Demand is daily diminishing. Our People are more and more sensible of the mischievous Consequences of drinking Rum; the Leaders of several religious Sects have warn’d their People against it, and the Consumption has this last Year been less by one Third. This will affect her Islands. And the Restraints she has laid on our Trade have contributed to raise a Spirit of Industry in Families, who now manufacture more than ever for themselves, that must lessen greatly the Importation.

Embrace for me, bien tendrement your good Dame and Children. With sincere Esteem and hearty Attachment, I am ever, my desr Friend, Yours most affectionately