I have written to you twice this Summer a few Lines, sending you by one of the Opportunities the Second Volume of the Transactions of our Philosophical Society, and by the other my long Letter to you on Chimneys which I wrote at Sea in coming hither, and which is printed in the Transactions. I hope these will be got to hand before you can receive this, which I send by the Countess Beniousky, who tells me she is to pass thro’ Vienna. She appears to me a good and sensible Woman, and I recommend her to your Civilities.

In a former Letter I sent you enclos’d all the Papers that had pass’d between Mr. Wharton and me respecting your Affair, excepting one that was accidentally omitted, and which you have herewith. The Accounts after a very long Delay, were brought to me by his Son, and I gave them to Mr. Vaughan who had an Opportunity of sending them to you, and I suppose has done it. He is young, healthy and active, while I am old, infirm and too much occupied with publick Business; I am therefore happy to have his Assistance in procuring you Satisfaction. But the Father being ill of the Palsy, and the Son as is said addicted to Drink; it is difficult to get forward in any Affair with them. However, when you have pers’d the Accounts, and sent us your Remarks and Answer to Mr. Vaughan’s Letter that accompany’d them, we will try what farther can be done for you.

I presented your Books to our Society who return you their Thanks. They are indeed, from the Variety of useful Knowledge contain’d in them, a most valuable Present. The Society have done themselves the Honour of electing you a Member, and I enclose their Diploma, by which the Election is certified.

Your Friendship for me will make you desirous of knowing something of my present Situation. I acquaint you therefore, that except the Stone, which does not grow worse, I retain my usual good Health; tho’ my Strength and Activity is sensibly diminish’d, as might be expected at the Age of Fourscore. I enjoy however the Conversation of my Friends and my Books, my Hearing and Sight being as good as when you first knew me. After long Absence in Europe I find myself happily at home, in a good and convenient House which I built for myself 24 Years since, with my Children about me, who afford me great Pleasure, and in one of the most flourishing Cities and best Provinces of America, enjoying the universal Esteem and Respect of the People, who with great Unanimity have plac’d me at the Head of the State. I can rise no higher, nor expect any greater Felicity in this World, and I begin now to feel a Curiosity of knowing something of the next. To inquisitive Minds, like yours and mine, the Reflection that the Quantity of human Knowledge bears no Proportion to the Quantity of human Ignorance, must be in our View rather pleasing, viz. that tho’ we are to live forever, we may be continually amus’d and delighted with knowing something new. Adieu, my dear Friend, and believe that to Eternity I shall be, Yours most affectionately