Altho: you will very lately have heard from my father, I have too much pride as well as pleasure in the correspondence to relinquish my part of it. The difficulty of finding a safe conveyance for my letter can alone induce me to be silent.

We had the pleasure of breakfasting with Dr Priestley on our return out of Wales. He has an exceeding pretty house 1 mile from Birmingham and appears as happy and comfortable as possible. He is pleased with his situation and lives chiefly with a society of ingenious sensible men who reside at Birmingham; but I believe his happiness proceeds from that cheerful temper of mind, which inclines him to see only la belle jambe and which is the greatest blessing any one can possess. Our good friend Doctor Price has had an ugly accident from a kick of a horse on his ankle bone. This has confined him a considerable time and deprived us of the pleasure of seeing him at Chilbolton. We expect Mr Jones next week from him I hope to hear many satisfactory particulars of our much honord and esteemed friend, whom he so lately has had the happiness of visiting. I do not find Lord Shelburne has decided whether he shall remain in England or be employed in a judicial capacity in the East indies. I own, I wish the former, as I am of opinion Lord Shelburne can not do wiser, than strengthen himself by the assistance of such men—as for politics, you possibly at Paris may know more of the measures intended to be pursued, than we do at Chilboton, where we live extremely retired and hear little of what passes dessous les Cartes. I see, by the papers, the arrival of Gov. Franklin, had he been deserving of it, how happy should we have been to have shewn him every mark of friendship and regard. As it is, I feel angry he should bear a name I have long learned to love and respect.

Although I have declared my intention of not relinquishing the correspondence, I see no good cause for engaging more of your time than is sufficient to assure you how highly we continue to think of our good Doctor Franklin and with how much warmth and sincerety we pray for that happy day, which shall restore you to England and to those friends, who have long known the misfortune of losing a society so dear to them. Adieu, my dear Sir, and believe me with great respect Your affectionate and obliged