This day we had the real and Heartfelt pleasure of recieving yours of the 3d of october, announcing your Safe arrival and good health at Philadelphia; we accept that Letter, as a mark of your warmest friendship. It shewed, that even, in the midst of your gratefull and admiring Countrymen, your Irish friends were not forgot. You early placed a Confidence in me and I have the Conscious happiness (at this Period) to assert, that it never was betrayed. I gloried in it, and was proud to declare it in the Irish Parliament; I rejoice that you have landed in that Country, which owes so much to your abilities and assiduity; whose freedom is your Glory, and whose Interests you so faithfuly sustained at Paris; for defending whose Character, you were insulted by that wretched Tool of Despotism, one, Wedderburn—who dared to do it, only, because he had then the power of Arms, but whose meanest was doubly manifested by the act—and this wretch is now forced to hold Conferences with that Patriot, for whose Head, he advised the famous Reward.

I could not wait for the arrival of the American Papers, to hear of your arrival; after the Various reports of Algerine Captivity, your being sent to Frez, taken ill of a Fever at Madeira, Shipwrecked at Cape Henlopen, and landed at New Yorke ill of a Violent Fever, I wrote to his Excellency John Adams, who, by the return of the Post, relieved our anxiety by assuring us of your Safe arrival; that Event was Communicated, by me, to this Kingdom in the Free Papers, but for which the Court Vehicles gave me three months pleasure, by unceasing abuse. One amusing Fiction was, that I bought an old Bust of the Lord Chancellors Newports, and pretended it was yours, for that it was well known you were so poor, that you never sat for your Bust; however many of the Sycophants have been to see it; our first painter has Engaged to bursh it with a mixture, that will preserve it for ever, but I shall trust, not to that, as there is a Glass Case for it; a few, that remember you here, declare it brings you fully to their Remembrance; Mr. Deane lately inquired after you, and so did that old Traybox,? Thos. Adderly.

Our Annual Parliaments and long Sitting prevents me from pursuing my plan of Visiting America, as yet, but I mean to retire from Parliament on the Next Election for I find it, in vain, to attempt the Salvation of this Country; the People have lost their Spirit, the middle order are Timid and Wavering, the higher orders dissipate their Time and fortune in Luxury, or Else join in the Ministerial plunder; Parliament sharing in it, adds to the Extravagance of the Executive power, and Peers are made of Men, whose father and Grandfathers were hewers of wood and Valet de Chambres, without parts or merits. I was often solicited to take my old Employment, for which I paid £5000 (five thousand) pounds; it is again Vacant, as the late Collector is made a Commissioner, and I will not take it; because I cannot serve two Masters; it is now only £850:0:0 a year, when I had it, the Income was £1000:0:0; they ought to give it to my younger Sons, and thereby replace the Robbery of our Family.

29 out of 32 Counties have reprobated Ords Jesuitical Bill, the other 3 Counties are as much in the hands of Individuals, as the most venal Bunrough,(?) and from one of them, it is expected the Introduction will come; it will be a Serious day, if passed into a Law, as 9 in 10 throughout the Kingdom are against Every Principle of his Bill; our late Speaker, Mr. Perry, the best, most honest and Virtuous we Ever had, is just made a Peer, and Jack Forster, the Damned Anglo-Financier is Elected in his Room. He may court Popularity for a Short Time, but he is not sound at heart. He grasps at Power and Wealth. Gold is his God, and power his Glory—an unforgiving Foe and false Friend. America never had, in her Hutchisons, Bernards, Gages, or Sandwichs, a more obdurate Foe. Nay more—our best Clerk to the house of Commons has been permitted to resign on a Pension, and to menial ?—one Cook—a Garreteer Scribbler in the Court Paper is appointed to that Important office. This is a Gross and Daring Insult. Without waiting Even for the approbation of the House—on a former Vacancy Several Candidates were tryed—but Even that Priviledge is absorbed in the Gulph of modern Usurpation.

My Colleague has done Enough, been a Slave long Enough, at one Time, possessed of Sufficient public Confidence and Power to be Created an Earl, yet, after 8 years Drudgery he must serve part of this Session before he is made a Baron.

Our Parliament is to meet in a few days, when I think we shall have a Milk and Water Speech, and an old Eccho of an address. The Minister will be afraid of hinting at the Revivals of the Commercial System, and he dare not promise economy; I form my opinion from the Conversation of my Bottle friends, and therefore believe that the address will pass nearly unanimously—as all the Art and Ingenuity of Fitzgibbons and Company will be Exerted to keep Clear of Alarm, and Lull us into a fatale security. If the Ship that this is intended to go by, does not sail for a few days, I will Collect some papers for you.

This goes by Captain Weriland of the Ship Hartwig of Memel, bound to Baltimore.

I would be glad of some American papers, but not for the Captain to put into the paper office; before you left France I sent you a large pacquet of News papers and Pamphlets, which I hope you have received, as some of them Contained Curious Anectdotes.

The Dutchess (Queen) of this Island is the Gayest Female, that Ever reigned here—she and the King—her parties are truly jocose; Double Entendres are deemed absurb; plain English, answers best. Such a Trio of aid-de-Camps, are Scarse to be met with—for Intrigues of all sorts.

The winter here has set in most suddenly. Heavy Snows and Dreadfull Storms. My fourth son Robert went to Bourdeaux, and met the Great storm at the mouth of the River, Cabin Windrows Stove and Ship ran on shoare, however he got Safe, and is now bound to a Merchant at Marsailles; it would render him an Essential Service if an American Ship was Consigned to Messrs. Folsch and Hornbos ? as he is immediatly to Commence a fifth partner with them. Perhaps you might Serve him in that respect; my Eldest son is quite a Country Gentleman, politics, Drinking and Gaming; My Second Son is very busy in Studying in the Colledge, and is designed for the Law; my third Son is a Midshipman; my fifth Son is intended for Trade. Quere—What would be the ? to a Capital House in Philadelphia? Quere—At what age, would an apprentice be taken? Quere—Is there any School at Philadelphia for Boys to Learn Mercantile Buiseniss, preparatory to their going to the Counting House?

I wish I had some Certain accounts of the present state of the United States, in order to publish it in one of our papers, as the whole of the London Papers are filled (and some of ours) with accounts of Dissentions, Bankruptcies, failure of Confidence between Man and Man, a return of the European Manufacturers, for want of Employment, no Circulating Cash, New States, in the manner of Vermont, arizing every Month; Stamp acts passing in the State of Massachusets; in short the reports are so Numerous and disagreable, that I wish to Contradict them, report by report.

How is Mr. Temple recieved? His Niece, of Bunker Hill, is married to Counceller Emmet, one of the most Promising Lawyers in this Kingdom; I am looking out for some free Place to invite him to set up for, as a Candidate, on the first Vacansy; I believe he will prove as great, as Flood or Grattan, and I am sure as honest as Either of them. His father is Physician to the state, and yet Votes and speaks on the side of the Constitution at all public meetings and Elections.

By the Time you have read thus far, I am afraid, you will have lost all Patience at the Length of this Tedious Epistle, and as it is near at and End—I will tell you one Article at the End of my will, which is that I have left you a small token to keep in memory of my respect to you, and If I Survive you it is go to your worthy Grandson—to whom all of my family, who know him, send their Sincere love. Lady Newenham joins me in the Sincerest Respect and affectionate Regard to you. You have not a more Zealous admirer in all of America. I remain my Dear and respected Friend with Every Sentiment of Regard and affection your most affectionate and obliged Humble Servant