I regret the opportunity which will bring you this. Your American Ministers Mr. Adams and Col. Smith are upon the point of leaving this Country. They will not bring to you any treaty of Amity and Commerce. I presume that matter stands pretty much as it did when I left Paris. However I hope better times will come. A little time given for cooling may have excellent effects. These are your own words some years ago to me. It has been a great satisfaction to me to find that little cavils about debts and posts &c have not produced any acts of hostility. I wish for more; but considering all that has happened, it is not a bad bargain that things are as they are. All individuals when they pass from one Country to the other are hospitably and kindly received on both sides. An American in any mixed company in England is not thought of as a foreigner. Old habits are not obliterated, and I hope new habits will arise long before the old ones can be passed into oblivion. We are in a kind of middle State between two worlds, and therefore to pursue the metaphor, I hope the new world between us, will be the millennium of peace. I hope on your side you will find peace and prosperity under your new constitution. We must jog on as well as we can, Good old wine in the old bottles must now be the cordial of our old age. When you quaff your new wine from new bottles let the old stock in your flowing cups be freshly remembered. I shall be very happy to hear from you and of your health and Comfort. God bless you my Dear friend. Your most affectionate