Since writing you a line By Major Franks, I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you, but learn from Mr. Carmichael to my great Sorrow that your bad state of health had obliged you to retire into the Country. I hope change of air has been of Service to you & that you are now returned to your old habitation & have again begun to portion out your time between Business & pleasure. Since my last my health has also suffered & I found it necessary to my great mortification to leave Madrid & the company of our friends there, & come to Cadiz where I have found myself bettering fast, my stay here will however be of very short duration as you will learn from yr. honored Grandfather whom I this day trouble with a letter—I am determined to lead no longer the uncertain life which I have experienced there for years past time runs on too fast to think of losing any more of it. My Stay will I imagine Scarcely exceed the Month of February & I expect that as I have taken the liberty of troubling you very frequently in Paris, I hope you will now give me an opportunity of taking my revenge, by giving me the pleasure of executing any commissions you may want done on the other Side the water; my headquarters, for your government, will be at Philadelphia; any ceremony used on the occasion I shall regard as a proof of your having disaproved of my never having made use of it.

We have received with the utmost Glee the news of Cornwallis which exceeds our most flattering expectations, a victory we hoped for but not so compleat & with so little loss, there are few instances where fortune & prudence seem to have been so thoroughly united as in the present. The effects will probably be as great as the event was glorious—The southern provinces freed from Devastation; Clinton unsafe in New York or at least unable to go our upon excursions the English in Carolina reduced to the [Bare] limits of Charlestown; what can Brittin expect—The friends to America will be more decidedly So & the doubtful will declare themselves for her & the veil drawn by Pride over B. weakness & obstinacy must at last be snatched away to her Confusion & Sorrow for having lost the Substance in pursuit of a Vain Shadow. The Session of parliament will probably be a very noisy one I wish it may be enough to awaken the Govt. to a right sense of reason; I am at a loss to concieve how the ministers are able to maintain their ports So long, considering the repeated unfortunate events that have been crowded into the last 12 Months & the great preparations made by her opponents to follow thir Blows—I have at times some feeble hopes of a speedy peace, & these again are efaced by the idea tho England will never seek it while her fleet is entire, be this as it will the main point appears decided & it is that concerns us most. Adieu mon cher, portez vous toujours Bien, et pensez quelquefois a Votre très obligé ami & serviteur