I had the honor of addressing you on the 1th of August last by the Dublin Pacquet Captain Ahern, which I am rejoiced to hear is safe arrived, as I have the most sanguine hopes of secceeding in my arden desire of receiving the Desired honor from Congress. Lady Newenham is absolutely Elated at the Idea. She already Views the public account of it with pleasure. She anticipates how it will be made known in the public papers.

The son for whom we have solicitd, has Every Virtue of heart, Principle and Integrity. Dutyfull and attentive to his parents and affectionate to his Brothers and sisters. He is now for Ever parted from them; Except by an accidental Visit. The more I Know the House he is Connected with, the more I rejoice at the Choice I made for his future welfare. I think a month, like a Lover, as year untill I hear from you on this Subject.

The Elections for our City     is now Closed, in the Guild of merchants they Chuse 31, in none of the others more than four, in most only two; not withstanding Every Art, Bribery, threats and undue Influence; we Carried 28 out of the 31, and among them Americas real Friend, my agent, Mr. James Napper Tandy his being Chosen has given great offence. It was he who seconded my motion to address against permiting the Irish Army to be sent to America, and the Mercenaries of Hesse Cassel to be imported here in their Room. That was the address that rouzed all Ireland against the Measure, and Stopped a Slaughter. That Address has never been forgiven by the Enemies of American Independence. I see it is republished last year in London. We have much to fear from the Ensuring Session of Parliament, we shall become the Dupes of English oppression and Duplicity, if we are not Steady and Circumspect. I fear the Treaty with your Magnanimous Ally favor England and Scotland only. There are parts of it that require the most Critical Scrutiny. That of the Countervailing Duties will not tend to our advantage, and why should be tyed down to the Methuen Treaty with the Treacherous Court of Portugal; we ought to make our own Treaties; as to the Duties on Claret, we are to be Guided by those we lay on Port, and we must regulate Each by the English Duties. One London Merchant who was in the secret, sent, on the 12th of September, to the House of a friend of mine at Bourdeaux and ordered 400 Ton of Claret, which has raised the price to 3s. a bottle, though it was only 2s. 6d: before. I was very well off, as I got 7 Ton in August last at £74 per Ton, freight Cash, and all Duties included. I hate all other wines, Madeira excepted, and Even that unless I import it myself; I do not see that the British Cabinet have finished your Treaty nor do I believe they will pay due attention to Ireland, when they do, as an Irishman I have no Confidence in this Beardless youth.

Stocks have fallen last Monday most rapidly, yet our Politicians do not look upon it as a Sympton of War, for they way that all Differences in Holland will be settled. I do not doubt but they may be right, yet I think matters are arrived to a serious heighth in that Republic; which Every party recedes, must for Ever give up; the Stadholder has by much the majority of the People in 3 of the 7 Provinces; Even in the state of Holland, he has a Strong and Numerous party, who have not, as yet, openly declared their sentiments, but I Know how they are inclined by my Letters from those Concerned; the Recriminatiry Manifesto of the Duke of Brunswick, has made much noise, It is a Master Peice in its Line; he deals out the retort with great force and Ingenuity; he Names authors. The Manner, Subject, and Allusions in it, have induced me to write to Mr. Hop to Know if it be Genuine, or whether it is the ospring of some London

The affair of the Tythes here, has rouzed Government; the moment Lord Letteril (the Middlesex Hero) and his army left the southern parts of this Kingdon, the right boys became as Violent as ever; they must have redress; their grievances are real and not ill founded; the Clergy exact too much, and their     are the greatest Extortioners; some have promised them redress when Parliament meets, but I fear the promise is only Hypocrisy, for some of those very among the Supporters of Tyth and only temporized with the poor to save their own Lives.

Do the People in Virginia, Maryland or New York state pay Tythes? Is the assembly, Senate and Council Chosen in Pensylvania, New York, Maryland, and Delaware in the same manner as in Virginia State? I have got the account of the    and wish to Know the Constitution of the others. I do not imagine that Bishops would be allowed; they become too ambitious for a Republic; they will want a House of Peers. They will want a Convocation. Churches of all Religious generally prove haughty and overbearing when in High station; I have often Known a worthy Curate become an unworthy Dean and a bad ArchBishop. I have Expected to have seen a Circumstantial Account of each state, its Constitution Civil, Military and Religious; perhaps some Books are now publishd on that subject, if there are, I should add it to the other favors already Conferred upon me and my family was your Grandson to Collect them and forward them to me.

I hope during the Course of this Winter, that Every Matter necessary for the full completion and future Security, of American Independancy and Prosperity, will be settled on a solid foundation. If as you are splitting into too many States; I do not approve of that system, as I think it must weaken the General Union and force. In Case of a foreign War, it will be hard to unite so many Soveriegns; Suppose a war with England, these Little States, now forming in the Ohio, would be annihilated before the other states could determine how to act, but if that part belonged to either Carolina, Virginia Pensylvania or New York immediate assistance would be had, as the Danger would be more sensibly felt. Another thing I hope all the states will avoid, which is following that slow mode of acting and speaking that infests the Councils of Holland; the referendums ad infinitum, as a Clog to the wheels of a Politic Government; Sudden attacks on Invasions require speedy assistance. Your yearly Choise of a Governor General ought to be made perpetual by a Law, declaring it, to be Death for any Man to move that the same Person should be continued Governor for two years. They might become Stadholders in a short Period.

This days papers from London gives a Circumstantial account of the Loss of the Cato Admiral Parker in 1783, the only account we ever had; I send you that and the three last British papers, our Irish papers are all, but one, bought up by Government, so that you Cannot have even a paragraph inserted in them, unless it be in favor of Government; we are going to establish a Weekly Magazine, where-in freedom of writing will continue a little longer. Several writers of Independant fortune and good abilities have Engaged to support it, but I fear its Circulation. If it has not a General Circulation, the main Intent is frustratd, however it shall be tryed at the Loss of £7: 10s: 6d: per week. We have many Enemies, and they and their plans must be Exposed. The People must see and Know their Danger. Of becoming Hewers of wood and Drawers of water towards discharging the Debt of England; of which we are likely to bear the Burthen, though we never had or Ever shall have the smallest advantage by it. Peerages, and other Honors are dealt out as freely as Compliments from a Rotten Burrough to a Corrupted Representative. My Colleague for this Metropolitan County has been many years slaving for a Peerage, yet has not been able to be dishonored by being translated to the upper House of Infamy. How degrading it must be to any Man of feeling to be forced to obey the Dictates of an upstart secretary, let those dictates be Ever so Infamous. Mr. Gardiner had the City of Dublin at his Command 3 year agoe but timidly gave up protecting Duties; the Ministers laughd at his Credulity, and the people execrated the Dupe;

Our Harvest, which was very great, has been well saved, yet mutton is 4½d. a pound, Beef 3½d. Butter 10 or 11d Veal 3½d. Pork 3½d. Hay, Potatoes, and Straw very Cheap Hay has not been Know to be so Cheap these 6 years; it is for 8s. and last year it was 21s. per Load of 400 pound to Each Load. The winter is coming on, but no storms or other Symptoms of a hard one; all the winter Corn got Safe and Dry into the Ground; we are seldom without Snow or hail in November, but this year we had only one Day of it.

I have lately seen your acquaintance Mr: Deane, I cannot call him your Friend for I never recieved a Shilling from him in the General Collections for American Prisoners during the War; he looks very well and says he Enjoys his health; he is immensely rich; and as fond of Experiments as ever. Lord Charlemont seems on the Decline, he is more and more Esteemed Every day, and the whole Volunteer Army would join in beseeching the King to make him a Marquiss or to grant any other royal favor, that would be agreable to his Lordship, and then he might cum dignitate. My retirement is not very distant, for I am tired of the Duplicity of the world, the want of Spirit in the people, and the Lethargy which seems to have overwhelmed the Men of Landed Property in this Island.

Lady Newenham had the Honor of writing to you in august last, which I Suppose you have received, as I find the Ship arrived at her Destined Port; she is in good health, but much troubled at the Dangerous illness of my Unmarried Daughter that saw at Passy, whose life is not Expected from the Encreasing symptoms of a Decay; she bears her Situation with becoming fortitude; my Second son has constantly obtained Either a Premium or great Character at the Colledge Examinations; I hope he may make a figure at the Bar, but I fear he will not, as he is so very bashfull. I could easily get Commissions for my others in the Army, but I would not put one, if I had one hundred four, at the British Army. The oldest and best officers of that Army, are now laid   in Ireland, and men who never saw an angry Shot fired are put over their heads; General Walsh and Massy, who conquered, I may now say for the United States, in Ame   are out of Employment and not even on the Staff. Many Lieutenant Colonels and Majors are treated with contempt and the Commands of forts, and Garrisons given to young Captains of Parliamentary Interest; I look beyond my own   for advantages for my sons, and I wish them to Inherit first of my principles. Some parts they may lay aside, for they never may be in the same public I have perhaps but Very few Virtues. Yet I an Boast of one. That I never decieved my Countrymen or acted in a public Line different from my real Principles. That I never opposed any adminis    for opposition sake, and that I never, in my Life solicited Place, honour, Title or Employment for myself, or one of my Family. I feel myself so Happy, so perfectly Content with my present Station, that I would not Chang it, for the D   of St: Jame’s Treasury. In that, You my Dear and Ever Respected Friend, my deem me an Enthusiast. I may be so, but I adhere to that Line from Principle, Conviction and observation. The Dear beloved Partner of my Good and Bad fortune coincides with me. She bore the loss of Property, when I was dismissed from my purchased office of £90 a year, with the Spirit of a Roman Matron; when tumbled from affluence to its Reverse. She applauded, and never murmured at my public Conduct. A Dear and respected Parent left me a Considerable, but much Encumbered, Landed Estate; she Enjoyed the pleasures thereof, without being Elated. The Enormous Debts were Called for, much through the Instigation of a Vindictive Government the particulars of which you will see in the public papers in a few months, and this Call distressed. However I have weathered that storm. Government (if possible) injured their Character, and I now defy them. As the Poet Says, “the Tale is long” but March next shall unfold it.

How shall I apologise to (VIR) the Man, for this Egotism. It was rude to begin it; bad to Continue it. The Idea of Freedom took possession of my mind, and writing to Doctor Franklin induced me to declare my sentiments. However I must solicit your pardon for the trouble you must have in reading a Volume of     Egotism.

To morrow I Endeavour to return to some French gentleman, that friendship which I Experienced in France. By Name, Monseiur D’Launay De’ Artillieres. He is just arrived here, recommended to me by our revered General Lord Charlemount. I have invited for his Company a Patriotic Judge of our Courts, an Irish Barrister, a beautyfull Irish Lady of Quality, A Native of Virginia, a witty Person and four Irishmen of Virtuous public sentiments, with five or six Females that would not disgrace the proudest Court in Europe. He came here without any Letters of Introduction or recommendation; but his appearance is so genteele and his Manners so Engaging, that he will be his own Master of the Ceremonies.

It is now full time, that I should give your Eyes and Patience some relaxtion from reading a long and uninteresting Volume. Impute it to the real Cause, and then you will do me Justice. My respect and regard for you induces me to seize Every opportunity of offering them to you; among your Numerous Friends and Admirers in Europe and America you have not One, whose heart partakes more in your and your grandsons happiness, and Welfare. I presume to say, our souls and Principles are Congenial in Ideas of Liberty and General Benevolence; but if I had no other Cause of respect and regard, and the Confidence you placed in me, the Honor your Correspondence bestowed on me, and the friendship I Experienced from you on all occasions fill my mind with never failing gratitude. All my Family, particularly Lady Newenham and mu poor daughter Eliza, desire to be most affectionately remember to you, not forgetting their young Friend. I remain my Dear Sir with perfect Respect and Esteem your most faithfull and obliged Humble Servant