The return of the Courier who brought me your favor of the 27th ultimo gives me an opportunity of thanking you for it & the Inclosures which I am reading with much pleasure and translating into the Spanish language, in which I beleive I should make some progress, If I had often such Themes to Induce my application to it. I occupy at present a Pavillon of the house in which the Prince of Masseran lived the last year. The Chevalier Burgoyng [turns] me often in sorrowful reflections on the Loss we both sustain by the Absence of a Family where we were both received with such Friendly Distinction. I own to you that I am pleased with what you tell me of the Princesses obliging remembrance of me, because it persuades me that She said I was desirous of meriting the continuance of her Notice. I am glad that you saw Mr Giriste often, He writes me highly satisfied with your Grandfather and all about him & will carry into Italy & Germany the Same Sentiments. I have had the good Fortune to be in a good Footing with all the Foreign Secretaries here and visit & am visited by them all frequently. The Charge des Affaires of Sweden Saxony & the Secretaries of Vienna Naples & Holland spent the last Evening with me & this we do Alternating with one another almost every night in the week, in which Business does not Interfere. There are very few Families here which receive Company. The Natural & Artificial Beauties of the Place & the Salubrity of the Air can scarce atone to the Lovers of Society for the solitude to which they are obliged to Submit while the Court resides at this Site—I am obliged to you for the hint you gave me of Mr Adams visit to Paris—I was informed of it from another quarter & knew it was on acct of the proposed Conferences for a general Peace—I am not at all surprized at his silence to the Doctor, It seems to be one of the Misfortunes of our Country to have employed in some Instances men whose sole pleasure appears to be to thwart & render Ineffectual the Services of others. I may however assure them in this Supposition & be deceived in thinking that as Servants of the same Republic, without regard to Personal Considerations, they ought mutually to contribute to the Information of one another & the advancement of each others affairs—On this Principle I wrote to Messrs. Adams & Dana, until they did not chuse to answer my Letters & if all the knowledge I obtained of their proceedings came from themselves only, I should be as ignorant at Madrid of their Existence as If I was shut up in the Seven Towers at Constantinople—I must intreat you to continue now & then to drop me hints by the French Couriers, They will often serve me as Clues to get at further Information. I have for 6 weeks past had some small hopes that our affairs are like to be on a better Train here—Mr Jay however I suppose will write on this Subject to the Doctor—We have letters to the 17th of June from Philadelphia. If the Ct. de Grasse has a favorable passage, possibly we may strike a blow at the head Question of Loyalty in America—There is yet no acct of the Duke de Grillons arrival at Minerea. He was near Casthagena the 10th Inst detained by Contrary wind—Inclosed you have a Journal in Spanish of the seige of Pensacola & some Gazettes which you will Hand to your Grandfather with my Compliments—You will please to lay out the little Balance in your hands in the Purchase of a Seal ring with the head of Brutus or Socrates, or Doctor Franklin or some one Else in that State & send it to me by one of the Ct. De Vergennes Couriers, If Mr Le Pin returns He will readily charge himself with the Commission—I am Dr. Sir your obliged friend & Humble Servt