I have received your kind Favour of the 12 Inst with the Philosophical Paper, which I shall leave at the Disposition of Mr. Bowdoin as soon as I have taken Copies for myself. I am much gratified by your favourable Opinion of my Dispute with Mercator, and much more by your Correction of one of my Arguments, which shall be remembered if I ever take up the subject again. I endeavoured to avoid the Repetition of I. in my last Piece, and was astonished at the Improvement it is to ones Style. Your second Favour of 16 Inst. came to hand only to day, and I immediately set to Work about copying my Journal which you have inclosed. I have endeavoured to improve the Method of it for the sake of Brevity and Conciseness, you will judge of and correct it as you please. You will observe that the Winds and Courses if examined by a Sailor would appear not to be good Seamenship, as by them it appears that the Ship is sometimes too far from the Wind, and sometimes nearer than a Ship can lay. This apparent Error is now in Fact, because the Wind put down, is only the Wind that was most prevailing in the Course of the Day, and the Course is the Avarage of 24 Hours. If you think this looks like an Error, it may be well to put an explanatory Note to the Journal. Your Character, Sir, is here without a Shade; like your simile of a Marble Wall, the Mud has all fallen off, and the natural Polish shines unclouded. I wish however you would confide your Justification to me, you may depend on my Care not to produce it unnecessarily. I thought it best to get my Information about Aunt Mecom from its proper source, and the affectionate Terms on which we are justifys my Frankness. She lives with great apparent Comfort and Neatness, and seems very happy and contented except when she feels a Dispair of seeing you again: If you once came together I am sure you would never part while living. The Box of Soap is shipped and inclosed is the Bill of Lading. I have had Quinquays Lamp executed here and have succeeded something better than your Brother John did about the Philadelphia Saw. I suppose you remember your own Story. Everybody likes the Lamp, and it takes with much rapidity, My Tinman has I think improved it by placing the Wicks round as we did in our Wax Candle at Passy: it in this Way requires much less accuracy in trimming, which you know is a great point where servants are to manage.

I send you inclosed a pleasing Curiosity to you if you have it not already. Some Verses written by your Uncle in England, and addressed to you when only 4 Years old; I hear that Mr. Sam Franklin has a manuscript Book of both your Uncle and Fathers Writing, and I intend if possible to make myself the Possessor of it.

I have got through my Enormous LawSuit on exactly my own Terms, and the award given into Court is a Record that my commercial Character stands without a Stain according to the strictest Rules of Integrity and Honour. My Reception in this Town is the most flattering Circumstance of my Life, and I believe I may venture to say without being accused of Vanity, that it was impossible to be better receivd:       able to dine at home above twice in a Month since my arrival. I must conclude or shall lose the Opportunity as this goes by a private hand just setting off. I have got the Receipt to make Parmasan Cheese and have distributed it to some of our best Farmers. I intend to send it to your Society for encouraging agriculture who have voted me an honorary member. I will when I get Time send it to you and request your presenting it in your own or my Name as you please. Give my Love to Mr. and Mrs. Bache Billy Ben and all the Children. I am as ever most dutifully and affectionately yours.