I was favoured with your Excellencys Letter by Coll: Harmar under the date of April 17th. In compliance with your request I have delivered to Coll: H’s care 3 Roles and 1 parcell the particulars of their contents you will find in the inclosed paper and how they are addressed.

You say truly Sir that I promised to send them by the Count de Moustier, who leaving England sooner that I expected, with the neglect of the Society’s porter, prevented it, and having no good opportunity presenting, after that, by which I could send them with safety, and convenience occasioned the delay until I was informed by our Good and Mutual Friend Dr. Price some Months ago that you intended Visiting your Friends here in April, was the reason of a further delay, and I hope my Dear Sir that you will have the Goodness to admit the above reasons as my Excuse.

As the 12 last points were not delivered until the 23d of Last Month, you were not intitled to them until your arrears to Christmas were paid up, I have taken the Liberty to pay the 2 Guineas for your due at that time, which may be repaid at any time but if you wish that I should purchase the 2 first Vol: for 30 I will do it and it may be repaid me with the 2 Guineas whenever you please.

It was by the advice of Mr. Laurens that I took the liberty to address the outside covers to the Count de Vergennes, and to be lodged at the Custom House at Callais for his orders, as Prints are either prohibited, or pay a heavy Duty in France, so that you must advise the Count thereof, and he will Issue out his orders in consequence for you to receive them safe, which I shall be glad to hear of.

I should have presumed to have purchased for you a work which is just Published by Mr. Astle intitled the Origin and progress of Writing £1 11s. 6d, but Mr. Astle tells me that it is sold by Batrois le jeune sur le Quay des Angistines and I thought best not to Load the Coll. with any additional weight. I think that your Excellency will be much pleased with it besides I believe that you once did write something yourself on that Subject.

And now my Dear Sir will I repeat my thanks, my most respectful regards and best Wishes to the Good Doctr. Franklin, The Friend of Mankind in behalf of my self and my fellow men in general, and in particular for your interesting yourself in my affairs in No. Carolina, which I have now reason to hope will have the desired effect. My poor Patty says all that is respectful and grateful but is in too weak a State to suffer me to pay you my regards in person—however I beg your Excellency will be assured of my most sincerely and affectionately yours whilst