I have been wittness whilst I was in America of a Circonstance which I think it Imports your excellency to know; my good Intention will I hope apologyse for the Liberty I am taking, if your Excellency is acquainted with it; if unknown, it is certainly my duty as a good cytyzen of that country to Inform you of what Follows.

In the year 1775 Samuel Bayard Junior deputy Secretary of the then Province of New York, was ordered by the convention to the house of Nicholas Bayard a Mile out of Town, in order to watch over the records of the Province, then under the Guard of a Capt. and 30 Men; some Time after, they were Transported to Kingston on the North River, vulgarily called Eusopus; under the Guard of the same Person and the same Military Party; 18 Months after the said Samuel Bayard, contrary to ye oath he had Taken to the convention, found Means of sending that part of those Records which contained the Grant of Lands etc. to Governor Tryon then on board the Dutchess of Gordon; since that, they have been conveyed to the Tower of London, where they now are; those papers, fortunately become useless to Gt. Britain, at the return of the Peace must be of the Greatest conséquence to that State, because, as you well know, they contains not only the Title of Lands but the copy of Wills etc.

I cannot Terminate this Letter without taking the Liberty of congratulating your Excellency, not only as a Man, an European, or Gaul, but as an American cytizen, on the happy, thrice happy révolution, which you have began conducted and terminated with so much wisdom; henceforth will begin a new Era in the annals of Mankind, far more Interesting than those absurd révolutions which have hitherto stained the earth with Blood without meliorating it. May nature extend your days to the utmost Verge, to the End you may see the Misfortunes of War repaired, the Energy of this new people, the wisdom of their [Laws?] the Industry of those new States admired and respected by all nations. Permit me to add that I am the Person, who under the name of St. Jean de Crèvecoeur had the honor if dining with your Excellency Last March, with the Contesse de Houdetot and who last July sent you, by the hands of Mr. Target a Book Intitled Letters of an American Farmer.

I am with the most unfeigned Respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient and humble servant