I receivd at Marseille your letter by Mr. Partridge respecting the nature of the Account made out by the Editor and Bookseller of My Map and Description of the States of NAmerica. I had already done in the matter every thing in my power when I was on the spott—and press’d the point stronger than I should have done had it been for my own account—but when I considered it, as what I really wished the doing an act of just charity to the Daughter of an ingenious and ill-treated Man I exerted more pains about it than is my ordinary Custom. I wished to make my intended Charity as efficient and productive as possible—if I were on the spott I could not do more. I have prepared a Second Edition with very many additions, going to descriptions of the Inhabitancy &c &c &c. If You will recommend to me any person who will translate it into French I will publish this edition in France and give the whole Profitts to Evans daughter.

I am told you are on the point of returning to Your own Country—a Country which You have not only Saved, but form’d into a State independant and Sovereign. You must excuse me when I say what I feel, that I envy you. God has not only made you an instrument of Good to your Country but has given you the most Supream of all happiness in this world that of seeing Your Country and the Whole World acknowledging your Deeds; that of therefore living to receive from their acknowledgments your reward in this World. It was your happiness to be in a situation and exerting your Abilities in a line of politicks in which providence had designed to leave the affairs at I wished in my line of Conduct to have served a Country which alas I could not, at least would not, believe was too farr gone in corruption of all sorts but especially in corruption of Politicks, to be served. This corruption sunk to ignorance and inspired with insolence in the Nation; and Providence gave it Leaders and Government exactly calculated to lead it to its just punishment. But whatever my Habituated Love to my Native Country was, I thank God I always had a feel for the Welfare of the English Nation which superceded all local considerations and I am happy in my hopes that real Political Liberty with all its concomitant and consequent happiness will be established in that branch of the English Nation which Providence planted and nurtured in America. Providence now holds this out to them and may They have the Temper and Wisdom to see what is their real Interest—or at least to take the advice of those who do see. If God grants you life and health what a glorious scene in this great drama, have you before you, in giving and persuading your Country to take your advice as to the Settlement of their Independence in a Sovereignty Free and Efficient to all the purposes of Liberty and their real Interest. I have the pleasing consciousness to think that my Memoire addressed to them, will not, when understood be intirely useless and inefficient to those ends. Adieu My Dear Friend. You are going to a New-World form’d to exhibit a scene which the old world never yet saw. You leave me here in the Old World which like myself, begins to feel, as Usia hath felt, that it is nearing out apace. We shall never meet again on this Earth, but there is another and another world where we shall meet and where we shall be understood and those of us who shall not have our reward here will have it in all fulness there. If you receive this, pray lett me hear from you—before you depart—but more especially (if you have leisure) when You arrive at Home. Studying the State of this Country with reference to what I know (as the Workman knows his own metier) of America, I see many things, which might be usefull for America to Copy—a Temperate Spirit and a Homely Wisdom hath established real Liberty and actual Happiness with surer and a longer permanency here than any other Country ever yet enjoy’d in Quiet. I shall not neglect to collect these experiences with reference to America if I can communicate them to you or to any one there I can be sure they will be of Use, I will with pleasure do it and the more so, as I find that the very Spirit and true foundation of the Constitutions of this Country has not been understood first by Scribbling Voyagers: and next less so by Speculating Writers who write from System not from Fact. Once more My Dear Friend, adieu. May you have an easy passage, with as little pain as possible and a happy arrival at your Home. Remember your Old and Affectionate Friend and Servant