From the Earl of Shelburne
Copy: Library of Congress; als (draft): Public Record Office; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives
London 6th. April 1782
Dear Sir

I have been favour’d with your Letter, and am much oblig’d by your remembrance. I find myself return’d nearly to the same Situation, which you remember me to have occupied nineteen years ago, and should be very glad to talk to you as I did then, and afterwards in 1767, upon the means of promoting the Happiness of Mankind, a Subject much more agreeable to my Nature, than the best concerted Plans for spreading Misery and Devastation. I have had a high Opinion of the Compass of your Mind and of your Foresight. I have often been beholden to both and shall be glad to be so again, as far as is Compatible with your Situation. Your Letter discovering the same disposition has made me send to you Mr. Oswald. I have had a longer acquaintance with him, than even I have had the pleasure to have with you. I believe him an Honest Man, and after consulting some of our common Friends, I have thought him the fittest for the purpose. He is a Practical Man, and conversant in those negotiations, which are most Interesting to Mankind. This has made me prefer him to any of our Speculative Friends, or to any Person of higher Rank. He is fully appriz’d of my mind, and You may give full credit to every thing he assures you of. At the same time if any other Channell occurs to you, I am ready to embrace it. I wish to retain the same Simplicity and Good Faith, which subsisted between us in Transactions of less Importance.

I have the Honour to be with great and Sincere Esteem Dr. Sr. Your faithful and most Obedt. Servt.

Shelburne

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