Your most obliging Letter, which I received this day, has given me the truest satisfaction and most heart felt pleasure—as you, therein, rank me and Lady Newenham among yours and your truly worthy Grandfathers friends—I deem it a most distinguished honor and it will be my boast on my arrival in Ireland—where my inmost Principles are publickly Known—

I attended, from the earliest Period of the American disputes, to the Conduct of both parties; I read almost every paper that was written on each side—the transactions at, & Succeeding, the affair at Lexington, determined my opinion;—Which was—that England’s design was to inforce Laws, in order to render America a fund of Taxation to support the Royal Corruption of the Parliament of that Insolent Nation—thank Heaven! her Schemes have proved abortive—If those Heroes, Dr. Warren & Colonel Montgomery could re visit this Globe, how they would Glory, that they fell in the Glorious Struggle, though, in their Days, Independance had not advanced further than the Closet of Some Patriotic writer; upon the news of Montgomerys Death, at Quebec, I appeared in Deep mourning in the Irish Parliament, nay Deeper than his only Brother—These concurring Circumstances induced me to Commence Author, under the Different Signatures of Brutus, Junius and Leonidas, two Volumes of which I sent your much respected Grandfather by Eldest Nephew, & two, Chiefly relating to Ireland, by my youngest Nephew from Brussells in the year 1781—Perseverance and being Joined by the Patriotic Author of Humphry Search, soon cleared the Irish Papers of all Antagonists; the Spirit quickly reached from Corke to Derry, & soon became Universal—Government, determined to try their strength, endeavoured to obtain an Address from the Citizens of Dublin, in favour of Prosecuting the American war, I then thought it necessary to appear under my real Name in Print, cautioning my fellow Citizens against those Ministerial Maneuvers; the Day of Signing & voting came—when, no more than 17 wretches, under the auspices of the Right Honourable Sir John Blacquiere, the Vice-roys secretary, could be found in all the City of Dublin to sign the Bloody Address, & had we waited for a few days we would have had 20000, but we had upwards of 9000 in one day—to oppose it;—I Gloried in declaring that transaction to Parliament; This, my Dear Friend, was the real Cause, that prevented Government from Drafting more than 2000 men (at that Period) for the American War, If it had not been for our Efforts, they would have sent 10000 at least from Ireland, there being then near 13000 in the Kingdom; so great an addition would have proved very troublesome to your friends at that Critical conjunction; the British General Expected them, but Government thought it more prudent to Keep them at home—we thanked Effingham for his resignation of the Hostile Sword—we paid our just tribute of Praise to the Protesting Peers—I will venture to affirm, that these Spirited resolutions of my Country men gave Energy to your friends in England—all our endeavours in Support of American Freedom were Supported by large Majorities at all the Public Meetings—

I would not, now, mention these transactions, but, that it is my Pride and Glory to see that Cause Crown’d with Success—to see those Bright Examples of Etrurian Virtue Enjoying the fruits of their united Wisdom, Steadiness and resolution—to see them cultivate the Soil, for which they bled, improve Arts & Sciences and finaly enjoy the Blessings of Peace & Freedom—to see them respected by foreign Nations—to see a great Maritime Power arize in the western Hemisphere, that, may, e’er fifty years revolve, give Laws to half the Habitable Globe—whose flag will command Respect from Pole to Pole—whose treasury will, at no very distant Period, be enriched with the wealth of Peru Chili & Mexico—Nothing in the Course of Human Events, can prevent their rizing Grandeur but dissentions among themselves or contentions for Lucrative employments; their first and Cheifest Care will be, to pass the most Clear Explicit and binding laws to preserve the freedom of Election & the Chastity of the Elected; that the Representatives should immediately be disqualified from Sitting in any assembly upon his accepting of any pecuniary Employment; that no officer concerned in the Revenue should be capable of voting for a Member of Parliament; These and simalar fundamentals are Essentially necessary to give stability to the rizing States; however there cannot be a doubt, but, from the Number of wise and able senators on the Continent, every precaution will be taken that Human wisdom can foresee—in less than 3 years my Eldest son & I have determined to tread that sacred Ground, & New York is the place of our first intended Visit—

America claims so much of my admiration, that, was it not out of Compassion to your Patience, at this important Period, in reading so tedious an Epistle, I should continue to make your Eyes repent your acquaintance with me; but Knowing your heart, I think my pardon is sealed—

Permit me, now, to observe that my mind is peculiarily bent upon obtaining the two Consulships; which I have no doubt, but your Grandfather has already forwarded, as much as Circumstances have permitted; He may justly observe to Congress, that I have some Claim for that Compliment; I shall Pride myself upon it, and it will shew my Countrymen, that Congress distinguishes those (on this side of the Atlantic) who were their friends in the Day of tryal though I could claim it as a Debt, yet, I ask it, as a distinguished honor, My reliance is upon his Excellency’s warm Interest & transmitting their Names, With his Recommendation, to Congress, and I request your Earliest information to my worthy friend Mr: J: C: Hornbostel at Marsailles; I mention Mr. Hornbostel prior to my Son-in-Law Mr. Alexander Graydon, & as my first object; because, he was Early a friend to the Cause, I Early solicited for him, and I am under very particular obligations to him—& lastly I know he will do Credit to his friends—

Immediately on my arrival in Ireland, I will endeavour to gratify my own desire, by getting a suitable horse or mare for this Country, & I am sure of Success; but I fear being able to gratify my own desire of answering you with a Groom, as that Class of men (in Ireland) are generaly Drunken, Idle fellows, seldom remaining long in one family, but I may get a stable boy, Equaly as Knowing; a Grooms wages is Enormous; however I shall have the pleasure of writing to you upon that subject when I arrive there—

I received the Letters you enclosed and am much obliged to you for the Contents of them—

If Peace should be signed before you receive this, I request an answer in regard to the Copy of an Address (& enclosed to his Excellency) I intended to publish in Ireland, about that Kingdom being mentioned by Name in the treaty; as it strikes me, that something of that nature is necessary, & I shall impatiently hope to hear from you, for any further conduct in that affair.

We mean to leave this in a few days after my Daughters marriage, & shall remain at Leghorn two months; the remnant of the fall at Fishamble Street, has occasioned a Large and disagreable Swelling in my Groin, & I mean to Consult an English Physician who resides at Leghorn and is much Spoken of for his Steadiness and Care; After attending his orders, I hope to prevail on Lady Newenham to go to Florence & some other parts of Italy, & then to return to this City by the way of Genoa, as I shall wish to pay my Daughter another Visit of one month before my return to Ireland—

Lady Newenham charges me to return you her warmest & most affectionate regards for your very favourable opinion of her; I can aver, on my honor, that I never heard her talk of any young Man with greater Esteem and avowed sentiments of regard; she thinks you Every thing that is amiable in a young Man, & if her most fervent wishes could serve you in your future life, you have them in her fullest Extent for your happiness, success and Welfare—she desires her sincere respects to his Excellency, for whom she always had the highest Veneration; & requests leave to Recommend Mr. John Christopher Hornbostel—My Son and Daughters receive with much pleasure, your very obliging remembrance of them;—

It was on this day (5th. January) seven years, that my friend Captain Brown delivered me the address of Congress to the people of Ireland, which I had published in the public papers;—on it—were those remarkable Expressions “Accept our most Gratefull acknowledgements for the friendly disposition you have shewn to us—we know that you are not without your Grievances—we Sympathize with you in your Distress, and are pleased to find that the design of Subjugating us, has persuaded the British Government to dispence to Ireland some vagrant rays of Ministerial Sunshine—even the tender Mercies of Government have been [?] towards you—” this address was Signed in August 1775—I only mention it to shew you, that Congress was pleased at those resolutions we entered into in February 1775 & which I sent to America by Lieutenant Fleming in the same month—

If any thing occurs worthy your notice in my travels I shall put you to the Expence of the Postage;

I shall hope to hear from you soon after my arrival at Leghorn, & if Peace be not finaly settled, I request your Judgement thereon, which shall not transpire from the faithfull Breast of one, who has the Honor, to be, My Dear Sir with Every Sentiment of affection Esteem & regard your most obliged & obt. Hble. St.