Having been just informed by your valuable Countryman Mr. Laurens that He had an opportunity of conveying a Letter to You I could not refuse myself the pleasure of telling You that the unalterable friendship and affection all my Family feel for You has of late been very much quickend by the Hopes of seeing You again and very shortly. Indeed We look upon You as our great and general Benefactor without whose wisdom and abilities We might have waited much longer for the necessary blessing of Peace. For notwithstanding the opposition in the House of Commons, I hold it certain that there is not a Man in the Kingdom who is not glad to see an end of the War. The sole object of the Opposition was to ruin the Minister and such was his unpopularity that they succeeded. They carried a Majority against him for the best thing he ever did. I heartily wish all the World was of your opinion and mine as to the total inutility of War. But there seems to be a Sluggishness in human Nature which wants the pungency of arbitrary government as the sword and Fire of an Enemy to keep it awake. If such admonitions are really necessary, We have cause to be thankful for We have had our share of them: Many of us object to the Terms of Peace which they think might have been more advantageous; but these are generally the Men who voted for the War. But bad as things are if We submit to our Situation and cultivate what is left to us we may perhaps gain more in private happiness than We have lost in Glory and empire. How happy should I be to talk over these interesting Subjects with You. I have impartiality enough to acknowledge and submit to the Humiliation of this Country and rejoice with You in the Liberty and good Government and the growing Wealth and Happiness of America. Thus Happiness will last if You can but convince them that they will certainly destroy it by quarrelling amongst themselves. I would write more if I had time. We are full of fears and expectations but have no news. Mrs. Shipley and her Daughters desire to be most cordially rememberd to You. Your ever faithful and affectionate