Your obliging favor of the 17th Ulto. came to hand the 4th. Inst. I should have returned you my thanks for the mark of your Attention by the Ct. DEstaing. had I not have been much Occupied in writing letters to America with which he did me the honer to charge himself for the Ports of France to insure their safe arrival. It is with the highest pleasure I find that you interest yourself in my Affairs. I hope my conduct has been & will ever be such, as will Justify the good opinion entertained of me by your Grand Father and Yourself. It is difficult to give general Satisfaction, I have made it my endeavour, but finding the Attempt Kimurical, I console myself with the Reflection, that If I have failed, I have not missed my object for want of good Intentions. I am happy that the Ct. DEstaing and Marquis de la Fayette were witnesses of my Conduct, manner of life and Reception here: They know the sentiments of the most distinguished Natives and Foreigners on my subject and while I have their Testimony in my faver, The prejudices of others will be less afflicting to me than they have been hitherto the Indulgence of my Friends, but I expect that they will, while They aid me to correct them by salutary advice, endeavour to conceal them from Others.

The Accts. which Mr. Jay is so impatient to receive are now nearly Complete. the last bill Drawn by Congress and accepted by me in the Month of September 1782 was this day paid. This Enables me to close finally our public Accts. Your Grand Father wrote Mr. Jay to endeavour to give him as much Time as possible for the payment of the Sums due. I think that I have in a great measure complied with this request, besides that by retarding the payment I have saved considerably to the Public by the Difference of Exchange.

Until the Month of March 1782 I recd. from Mr. Jay the payment of my Salary. In that Month for the first Time I drew on Dr. Franklin. The Public was then considerably in Arrears [to] me, and I expected that when Mr. Jay settled his private Acct. with your Grand Father, He would at the Same time, as he has my receipts for the payments he made me, have informed him of the State of my private Acct.

I am under eternal obligations to the Doctor for his kindness in Accepting my bills and shall profit next week of the permission you mention to draw upon him in my own Acct. at the Same Time in faver of Messrs. Cabarrus & Dranl but for near the Amt of the ballance due them. I shall exact from these Gentlemen a writing obliging them to consent to settle amicably any error or charges to which Mr. Jay can make any reasonable Objections. Altho I apprehend there can be none.

The Marquis De la Fayette promised me to impart to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Jay the Situation of our Affairs here This promise rendered my Communications in the Same Subject Unnecessary: I have not insisted on being presented to the King and Royal Family, because I previously wished to know the Answer made by Mr. Jay to the Ct. de Arenda who is instructed to Inform him of the Present Disposition of this Court. In other Respects I am treated and addressed as the Chargé Des Affaires of the United States & have great reason to be satisfied with the Marks of Personal Esteem I receive from the Ministry and others.

I have no public Letters from America later than the month of September 1782. I receive large packets of newspapers from the Department for Foreign Affairs which Cost me from 16 to 20 Dollars each, You can easily imagine my Distress and Dissappointment when I open them.

I shall be glad to hear how our negotiations with Sweden & Denmark go on & whether any other is on foot. The Business Minister tells me that a Treaty with his Court costs between six and seven thousand pounds Stg. The negotiation will be the first to profit of this Affair. For the Empress makes him presents on Return but not of Equal value. With the sincerest Wishes for your prosperity & with the most respectful & Affectionate remembrance to Dr. Franklin I am My Dear Sir Your obliged Friend & Humble Servant