I duely Received the Letter you honored me with some Time before the Packet sailed, with one Inclosed for our mutual and very Respectable Friend the comtesse de Houdetot, which I forwarded along with mine, by a Passenger who was bound to Paris; this vessel sailed 24 days ago; I am much obliged to you for your opinion concerning the Steamboat, I am in great hopes that the encouragement, which it is likely Mr. Fitch will obtain from congress will enable him to cheapen, simplify and render his Machine still more usefull. Like all other Invention, it will no doubt give his author a great deal of Trouble and Anxiety ere he has brought it to its Last degree of Perfection. I wish most sincerely that he may succeed, and then will he be most Justly Intitled to the Thanks and applause of both America and Europe.

I Receiv’d yesterday your Letter of the 10th Instant containing Two Packets, which will be forwarded on Sunday, by a vessel bound to Morlaix. No Letters for the Gentleman you mention have Reach’d my hands; if any ever shou’d rest assured that I shall Transmit them to you by some safe hands—whenever you have any for your Friends in Paris I beg you’d Freely send them to me. I shall Take the same Care of them as I do of my own. With the most unfeigned esteem Veneration and Respect, I am your very Humble servt.