A bullying young Fellow of the Name of Boush who went backwards and forwards with messages from Lee to me at Valenciennes, call’d on me this Day fortnight, in the Morning, accompanied with the Lee’s Nephew, and endeavour’d much to comprehend himself, in what I had said, and what I told him I shou’d continue to say, of Mr. Wm. Lee. I remark’d to him that knowing nothing of him I never had made him the subject of Conversation any where, and I added, that if he had no Message to deliver from Mr. Lee, that I had nothing further to say to him. He then took his Leave, and in the AfterNoon sent me a most insulting and impudent Letter, abusing me in Scurrilous Language, and concluding with the Assurance, that he Shoud Support what he Said with his Life and Honour.

I took no Notice of this Letter to the Man himself, but understanding that he was, or had been, in Arthur Lee’s Employ, I wrote to him, that Tho’ I shou’d never be backward to obey every fair Call of Honour, it wou’d be Madness to pay attention to every or any desperate Person, who, to curry favour or recommend himself to him, his Brother or his family and instigated by them, might push himself forward as a Bravo. Mr. A. Lee tacitly admitted his Knowledge of what had happen’d, and after a Correspondence with me till then, in the Stile of a Gentleman, wrote to me a most arrogant, insulting and impertinent Letter, which I treated with the Silent Contempt it merited. Nothing further pass’d till this Morning, when, while I was ill in Bed, this brave Man Boush again call’d on me, and left Word he shou’d call again. As there are no fixing Bounds to the desperate Acts of a Man, who, without the Shadow of Provocation, pushes himself forward as a Bravo I have follow’d the Advice of some Friends who were with me, and wrote to the Comte de Vergennes a Letter, a Copy of which I send you with ~y2 this. I send it to you, as also a Copy of what has pass’d between the Lees and me, as I am doubtfull of the Propriety of sending them to the good Doctor. Exercise your Judgment, act as may Strike you wisest and most proper, and believe me upon all Occasion My dear Sir your faithfull and obedient Servant