I received your kind Letter of the 21st of February. I have also received the Box of Soap, the Substance of which appears to be very good, but its Consistence had probably been affected by the Frost, for unless very tenderly and cautiously handled, the Cakes would crumble into little Pieces between one’s Fingers. However having an Opportunity of sending some to my Friends, in France, who much admir’d what I had of you formerly, I with some difficulty took out 22 Cakes, which I wrapt separately in spongy Paper, hoping that as they dry’d they might consolidate, and the infinite Number of little Cracks that appear’d in them be closed, and the Parts again united and so I sent them away in a small Box. But having since dry’d a Cake very gradually, I fear I shall be disappointed in that Expectation, for it seems as crumbly as before, and comes to pieces in the Water; so that I am sorry that I sent any of it away, till I had consulted you upon it, who probably must have met with the like Accident before, and might know of some Remedy. Business having prevented my Writing, Sally has been making an Experiment. She put 3 or 4 pound of the Crumbs, about the Size of Chestnuts into a little Kettle with some Water, and over a slow Fire melted them together, and when the whole was uniformly fluid, laded it out into little Paper Pans of the Size of the Cakes. These grew stiff when cold, but were rather soft and shrunk greatly in drying. Being now dry, they are exceedingly hard, close-grain’d and solid, and appear to have all the Qualities of excellent Crown Soap, only in drying they are twisted and warp’d out of Shape; wherefore I have not continu’d the Process on the rest of the Box, but resolved to send you this particular Account, thinking you may possibly teach me a better Method.

Capt, All is just arriv’d here, who has given me the Pleasure of hearing that you were very well a few Weeks since: he says he does not remember you to have ever look’d better, or to be more active. I continue much as I have been for some time past, and am always Your affectionate Brother