When I last had the Pleasure of Seeing you at Passy, I had not the most distant Idea, of being So deeply engaged in Law Operations, as I have been almost ever Since; but, in general, Accident alone gives rise to the most important Occurrences in every Man’s Life. The accompanying Pamphlet will tell you, that I have not been altogether idle. In fact, you would hardly believe the Volumes of Law, that I have wrote within the last two Years, & the many Trials, & the many Questions & Arguments in Westminster Hall, which my Proceedings have given rise to. The next Term, most probably, will close the whole Business; but at present nothing is finally determined, & the Parties appear equally irritated against other, as they were at the beginning of the Contest.—I have now depending against Lord Portchester, another Action for £. 50,000; & I have also depending a Petition against the last Return for the Borough of Cricklade, having had the Same Injustice done to me wt the last Election, as I had at the former Election. The Merits are with me, but I Shall be Saved the trouble of entering into them, my Opponent having been a Minor.—My Law Proceedings have given Rise to a great Public Question, which, in Spite of every litigious Quibble of Law, I Shall be able Soon to bring, to a solemn, final determination.

This Business, & this alone, has Released you of many a troublesome Visit from me, Since we last parted. I long much to pay my Respects to my Friends on the Continent, & I hope to be able before long, So to do.

I often enquire, & often hear, through one Channel & another, of the Welfare of my Respectable Friend the Doctor. Pray Remember me to him, in the kindest Manner. No Man living Rejoices more than I rejoice, at the continuance of his Health & Spirits, & I am not without Hopes of Seeing him kiss Hands at St. James’s, as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, to the Court of England.

A particular Friend of yours, who I often See, is continually enquiring after [Bon] I have a Million of Compliments in Charge, [&] a Number of Things to Say from this Friend, but I am too Solemnly, & too gravely disposed, at this Moment, to enter upon the Subject. Your imagination will naturally Supply the defect of my Silence.

I embrace the Opportunity of troubling you with this by a Gentleman, who inform’d me last Night, that he shou’d set out tomorrow Morning for Paris, & offer’d to take Charge of any Thing from me. I know you will pardon the Liberty I take, in Requesting the favour of you, to convey to Mr. Woulfe at Paris, the accompanying Parcell.

J’espere que la charmante Mademoiselle Le Bar Se porte bien.

Adieu, my Dear Friend. I shall be happy to hear from you, whenever you can spare five Minutes from your Official Engagements. I lay open to your Commands at all Times, & upon all Occasions. Believe me ever, faithfully & sincerely Yours,