On last Friday I received your esteemed favour of the 13th Septr. It gives me pleasure to hear of the welfare of your worthy Venerable G: Father. He must be happy to find such a change here, as seems to promise the most favourable consequences.

There is some regularity in our System, public Credit and Confidence gains ground in the department of the Superintendant, the people in general I hope will submit readily to the burthen of Taxes, from a thorrow conviction of its being properly applyed—There is resourses in this Country, and I have the pleasure to assure you, we are at this Instant in a much better situation to Maintain a War, then at any one period since the declaration of Independance.—France has done much for us we feel it, & begin to intertain the hyghest Sense of it.—Her assistance another Compaigne, with a Navel force such as we had this Year would clear this Country of British Forces, and relieve us from the Calamitys of War.—

The Constant calls for money from Your Side to Support us, has led you to think with great Justice, we have no Oeconomy—However much reason you have had to think this for some time past. I think I may Venture to assure You, that your uneasiness on that Score will not increase.—The management is out of the reach of those who woud have distroyed the resourses of Europe, coud they but command it.

To give you a Just and briefe account of the present and the past. The Rations provided at the different departments on the Continent for the Army &ca. which cost America last Year No less than about four shillings Spen[t] is now Contracted for, and most punctually fulfiled at 8d. 8½d & 9½d per Ration—The disproportion in this Single instance must give you an Idea of the Cause of all our Wants and distress.

I hope your Grand Father will See Peace restored to this Country, and Live to pass the latter part of his Life among those of his Friends Independant & free.

Accept my thanks for the papers You send me. I shall not miss any Oppty. to Send some from hence to your Address.—You will have great News from hence long before this gets to hand, The Marquis de La Fayette Set out for Boston last week to Embark for France. I wish him a Safe Passage. He is the Sincere friend of America.

What tempted Mr. Deane to write Such letters as have been lately published?—He may have been Chagrined, Yet his best friends cannot Justify this kind of Sentiments, as they have betrayed Such principles as never to be reconciled by his Country Men—I will always give his Credit for his Just & Curious description of our Acquaintances abroad—Vainity & folly have but too often exposed many of our Americans to ridicule.

The times have made a number of great and mighty Men & Some of the best Characters for Ridicule than can possibly be met with.

Wishing you every happiness—believe me most Sincerely— My Dear Sir Your friend & Servant