My Servant went yesterday to Versailles about a passport. The Count de Vergennes received him very politely, said he could not get ready to return by him, but would give it you today, so I now take the liberty to send my Servant for it.
It will be Friday before I can depart. I wait for some letters from Messrs. Crommelins which I expect by Thursdays post; I thought they would have come by last nights post, but, I am disappointed.
I have thought a good deal about writing our very worthy friend Dr. P——. If you have not yet wrote him, I would beg leave to reccommend you to do it soon as you can conveniently, because I am persuaded your answer will give him much sattisfaction— And I would also reccommend, if you think proper, for one of the Franks I gave you to put it in a cover directed to Mr. Johnson the Doctors Bookseller in St. Pauls Churchyard, & put that under another cover to Messrs. Crommelins of Amsterdam desiring them to forward it regularly. I think this will be a better way than sending a letter naked, because, I fear the office keepers in England will open it, & altho it may contain nothing but private Friendship, yet I think it would be more agreeable to the Doctor to have it under cover, for various reasons. The Ministerial writers are very ready to abuse the Doctor already; & it hurts me to hear him reflected on, because, I am authorized to say, from my own knowledge, he is an honest man, a benevolent friend to liberty, & to mankind.
I am with true Esteem & regard Sir Your mo: Obedt. Servant