With the greatest Pleasure I received the 26 June your Friendly Letter of the 18 May last. It gave me, and our Friend Dr. Rowley, the great Satisfaction and Comfort of Knowing, that our Labor was not in vain for you. I owne I felt and feel for Master Williams’s great Carelessness. Your great avocation pleaded much for you.
I will endevor to answer wholly if I can, your Favor. Previous however I must beg to Know, for my good Friend Francis Dashwood who was under the Protection of our departed Friend, Lord Le Despencer whether there is any thing to be expected from Mr. George Henry of your City. Dashwood’s Case is in the herewith going Memorial. If you can say, yea to it and probable possible Methods to be taken you will not only oblige me, but many of Lord Le Despencer’s Friends.
I am glad what I sent to you in regard to Banks, pleased you. If I can perfect a Note I have began of the Rise and Progress of our Bank from 1694, its first Institution, you shall have it herewith.
If I conceive right the Contention for the Emission of Paper money without a Suficient Foundation can but be deem’d a Roguery. You have explain’d the great Dividend made by your old Bank. The new Bank must not divide all the Profit they may make; and this, upon the Principles, in the Note, sent to you; but in reform, as it will strengthen its Credit.
You flatter my Vanity much, in placeing my Phiz amongst so many Worthy’s as Lord Chatham &ca a Joking Friend to whom I Shew’d your Letter which I did, thereby adding to my Vanity, observed, “Had not the Doctor forgot a certain noble Lord, Lord Laugh?” I reply’d, no Medallion, or Medal was wanted as a Help to remember his Superlative Merit.
Your Plenipo did not give me Room to cultivate him; so I know nothing of his doings. I have been told of a Publication of his but have not seen it. A Gentleman who is lately embark’d for Maryland and was in the Temple, his Name Murr gave a Friend of mine a Publication called I think Political Sketches dedicated to Mr. Adams. It tends to shew that a good Government may be setled in Democracy. I have only skimm’d it over. I think him in general pretty right, but I cou’d wish it less flowery. I hope your People will soon see how necessary it is to establish one plan Principle for the Interest of the whole. The calculation about Coining, and the diferent Fractions, proceded, if I mistake not, from some who wishes to throw out some thing to shine and dazzle. Are not Dollars or as good as any Coin? Neither Spain or Portugal will give or Bullion to you. It must be thro’ Industry, you can procure those Metals; and this Procurement must be first atended to; and, if that can be brought about, let them serve as Count or by weight, as in all Republics, I can recolect, in done; and trouble not your self about coinging except smaller Pieces are wanted for setling interchangings.
I long to see the Result of your, General Washington and the diferent Deputys Meeing. I will hope to your Follies may not be atributed what a School once wrote to me on my asking his opinion concerning some Regulations of our Legislature as to Coin. His Answer was “as our Legislature in all its Measures concerning Trade, has evern, been and ever will be, influenced, by the interested Motives of and Dealers in the respective Commoditys, never by common sense, and the Interest of the Community at large, I think their doings, like the operation of a Country Travelling Tinker; who whilst he stops one Hole, makes two.”
You say very right, except you Stop, I shall not overtake you. 78 is not a great way from 82; but I hope you will go on as long as you wish to go; especially as you say, your Sufferings are tolerable; and so as not to hinder your enjoying the Pleasure of Society, which is a very great good thing, and I will hope you will be able to cooperate in, and bring to a happy Conclusion, what may lend to general Good. You leave to time, and very rightly, what the last 12 years Labor of your Life may produce. I coincide perfectly with you, that you right. This being the Case, to the all powerful Hand of Providence must all the rest be left!
Our Friend Dr. Rawley holds well. He is young about 44. and labors hard for the Public, for its good; but, as with you, so with him, Time alone will show the Success of his Endeavors. You have made us very happy in Saying that in a great measure thro’ the Doctors good Counsels you enjoy the ease you do. May it be of long Continuance! He returns you his very afectionate respectful Compliments and will be happy to receive as you promise a Letter from you. I am with the greatest Trust, Sincerity and Respect Dear Sir Your very afectionate devoted Servant