I have received your letter to Mr Arthoud. It is a fresh proof of your Esteem and Friendship and it is the more acceptable as it was perfectly unexpected. From the Character of the gentleman and my Views it is likely to be of more service than any letter that I possess and I beg you therefore to receive my particular thanks for it.

Notwithstanding my letter of 10 Octr. last I could not resist the present favorable opportunity of visiting this Island, and altho’ the time that I can allot to this object must of necessity be very short yet I have every expectation of rendering it very interesting to myself and of use to my Friends: in particular I expect to render my friends in Jamaica a singular benefit by procuring them the Mountain Rice which is cultivated with success here and is in so much greater estimation than the Carolina Rice that it is dearer. The total want of connection between the Planters of St Domingo and Jamaica can only explain its not being cultivated in the latter where it would be particularly useful as it is reaped just before the time of Hurricanes, whereas other Productions as Indian and Guinea Corns (Articles that can be preserved in Stores) come during or after the time of the Hurricanes. As it requires but 5 Mos. to come to perfection I think it will also do in the Northern parts of America and I intend therefore to carry some there with me from Cape Francois.

There is just arrived at the Cape three Plants of the Bread Fruit from the Isle de France together with some other East India Plants. Thro’ the care of the French Administration this part of the World is at present well supplied with the most important Plants of the other Indies as the Cinnamon, Camphire, Tea, Sage, Cloves, Tallow Tree of China, Mango, Pepper Mangerteen, &c &c and all but the two last are so numerous that no common event can check their propagation. There seems to be but the Nutmeg and the Varnish Jams necessary to place the West Indies and America in a state of Rivalship with the Eastern part of the World and who can tell but we may be as successful in the above as in those productions that we have already procured from France and properly tried to cultivate viz the Sugar Cane, the Cotton, the Coffee and the Rice in which case Eastern Voyages Eastern Possessions and Eastern Wars will have no longer an influence on European Politics an event, that, considering present circumstances, must be as little expected on the other side of the Atlantic as the late Revolution tho’ it perhaps would produce no greater alteration in the Political estimation and relative importance of the European Powers than the same American Revolution. The Tea Plant grows here but badly, to give it a fair chance I have sent 4 Plants of it to Philadelphia and shall carry some seeds with me there. I hope the American Climate will prove a Congenial one to it, the West Indian is not cold enough. The fortune of the last War enriched Jamaica with the most important Cargo of Eastern Plants that ever has been sent here and had I sailed immediately from that Island for America I should have carried a Number of Plants with me. I however established a Correspondence for the use of my Friends who may be curious in this line.

I am in that part of Hispaniola that suffered most from the Hurricane last August. It was not however to compare with a Jamaica one, taking the Barometer as the guage and certainly there cannot be a more accurate one. This sunk but 4 Lines here, whereas it sunk more than 2 Inches in Jamaica in those disastrous misfortunes. Hurricanes appear to be the work of Human Industry, for Islands in this Climate covered with Woods are not subject to them. Hence the larger the Island the more may be cultivated of it with safety. Hence these Events at all times were more frequent in the Windward Islands which are the smaller ones and wholly cultivated. Hence in Jamaica they were first dreaded and first frequent when the Mountain Lands were opened to make Penns for the raising of Cattle during the War when the Commerce with the Spaniards (who formerly supplied Jamaica with Cattle) was cut off. And Hence they commence to be here, now that the great encouragement for the cultivation of Coffee has occasioned a considerable proportion of the Mountains to be cleared; and upon the same principle, as the improvements continue to augment the Chances for Hurricanes here increases. Hurricanes have in Jamaica and this Place followed very closely the clearing of the Mountain Woods. The latter in fact took place about the Years 1776 and 7 in this Country about the Years 83 and 4. The Hurricanes in Jamaica commenced in 178[] and here this Year. But I must stop here—not from fear of shortening the conversations I hope soon to have with you because I have much to interest you but from fear of writing you a treatise instead of a Letter.

From the usual Weather at Sea at this time of the Year I guess you will not receive this before your Birth day, so that my congratulations will arrive in Time. I expect to be then at Sea but whether in fair or foul weather I shall not fail to have you in my mind with many wishes for your health and long life. Present my Respects to Mr and Mrs Bache Mr Franklin and Mr T Bache. I remain with the highest Respect Dear Sir Your devoted Servant and friend