Having received some months ago a duplicate of four different letters (none of which have come to hand) of Mr. Sam. Vaughan junior, I was retained from answering them immediately by his referring to a letter of yours, which I had not yet recieved. Having been since favoured with that letter accompanied by a copy of the II volume of the American philosophical Transactions, I begg to recieve my very harty thancks not only for that very valuable present, but particularly for the honour you did me by addressing to me the first dissertation on Chimnies in such friendly expressions as reflects a particular honour on my person. Recieve allso my thanks for the separate copy of that dissertation, which I recieved afterwards.

I am sorry to see as wel from your letter as from those of Mr. Vaughan and from the notes which the Whartons wrote to you and to each other, that the hope of recieving satisfaction from those gentlemen is but small. I had no doubt (and I can scarce restrain from thincking so still) but that your persuasion strengthened by your authority could not fail of inducing them to doe my justice, the more so as each of my letters written on that subject were in my opinion, equivalent to as many full powers to act in my name. I renew this full power again, declaring that I abide by every step you may find good to doe in this affaire or which Mr. Bache or Mr. Vaughan junior my doe in your place. The dread, which Mr. Sam Wharton expresses in his notes, of being exposed publickly with his son as men of very suspicious caracters can, it seems scarce fail to engage them to perform their duty, if pressed and threatened.

As Mr. Wharton offered a thousand acres of land for security, could he not be obliged by this very proposition to force his son to make up his accounts, and to give afterwards that security or to pay the balance by selling that land? Can no authority oblige a man to sell a bale of marchandises, which he aknowledges to have still under his care belonging to me? Is it possible that a free and vertuous people can keep a moment longer as one of their magistrates a man, who by refusing such a satisfaction aknowledges his injustice and to be of the blackest caracter by cheating a man who confided in his honour? By perusing the letter to Mr. Vaughan you will see my reflexions on the power of atorney. If I was more versed in mercantil affaires, I would perhaps reason some what better as I doe. But you will easily excuse me, if I blunder in reasoning on such like affaires.

Mr. Wharton has still in hands belonging to me the sum of 9407 Livres besides the profits of the sales, interest of the capital, and also the profits of the sale of goods of the advanture, in which he and I were only concerned, and of which adventure he sent me the capital sum, being eight thousand Livres, which passed thro your hands.

Mr. Wharton had no more right to send my money, contrary to our agreement my express order, to Mr. Coffyn than to a man at Canton. But as Mr. Wharton denies having made any private agreement with Mr. Coffyn and having borrow’d any money from Mr. Coffyn, and as indeed Mr. Coffyn had no right to make any private Contract without my knowledge and consent in an affaire, in which he was only concerned for one sixth and I for one third; I should be much obliged to you to get from Mr. Wharton an affidavid authenticated by two witnesses (I should wish by yourself and by Mr. Vaughan) of this assertion of Mr. Wharton. This affidavid being kept in your hands, or under the care of Mr. Vaughan, it would be highly desirable to me, if your would be so good as to send to Mr. Coffyn an admonition as pointed as possible, requesting him to send at least one half of all the remittances which Mr. Wharton has sent him. I believe it was his Duty to sent me two thirds of the whole, as Mr. Wharton will probably not have sent to Mr. Coffyn the share of Dr. Bankroft (which was of the advanture) as Dr. Bankroft was himself at Philadelphia since Mr. Wharton was arrived. Thus Mr. Wharton could not send to Mr. Coffyn for his share than one sixth part, and thus it is clair that two third part, sent over to Mr. Coffyn (viz. 33280 Livres) did belong to me, whereas Mr. Coffyn did send me only 4284 Livres. You see by this whole transaction that not only Mrs. Wharton and Son, but Mr. Coffyn allso have treated me in the most unjust way, and that Mr. Coffyn has very likely acted towards me the part of a real robber.

Therefore an admonition from you to Mr. Coffyn, who owes you so much respect and gratitude, could not but have a great wight on the mind of that gentleman: and if such admonition could be made officialy from the board of trade or of foreign affaires, in whose countroll Mr. Coffyn is, if still an agent or consul of America, it could scarce fail of having an additional effect. Mr. Coffyn could have recours to Mr. Wharton himself, if it was true that this gentleman had lent money from Coffyn; as in this supposition Mr. Coffyn could not, without being a rogue make me pay a debt which Mr. Wharton ow’d him.

Considering your age and high station in life I write you on those affaires with the greatest reluctance. Your old friendship and constant kindness towards me could only engage me to it. Tho the loss of that money can’t but be sensible to a man who is not rich be assured, that the loss it self, if this should be my case, affects me infinitely less, than the base action of men, who I thought incapable of committing it, and in whose h[onesty?] I had so much confided, that I should not have hesitated to entrust each of them with my whole fortune. After having been treated in such a way, I doe not wounder, that some men have taken an aversion to their own species. For my part I feel to much, to wat degree all affects me: and it makes me often incapable of applying to my philosophical labours. I begg the favour of dispatching this inclosed open note to your Nephew Mr. John Williams at Boston, with a pressing request to fulfill immediately my desires. Perhaps the Gouverment of Massachuset payed me allready by a grant of land, as I saw in the newspapers they are come to a resolution to pay their debts by that way. I hear nothing of my being adopted as a fellow of the American Philos. Society. I have sent you three Copies of a new edidition much improoved of my frensh edition On Vegetables, for yourself, one for the society and one for Mr. Vaughan. Mr. Jefferson will have sent it by a traveller.

I am sorry to be informed just now that a Civil war is allready begun in my country. I hope Heaven will preserve you some years longer for the good of mankind, that of your country and for the joye and consolation of all your good friends. I dare scarce take the liberty to request an answer from you or to give me now and then at a moment’s leasure some information of your health, if it was only by a few lines. I know who much labour your high station require. But consider that we are old friends allways much pleased to be informed of what concerns you. I am with very much respect My dear and venerable friend Your most obedient humble servant and affectionat friend