[dateline] Novr. 1st. [1779]
[salute] Dear Sir
Your Favor of Octr. 17th. came this day to hand by the Post and contains such flattering
Sentiments in regard to my subserving your Mission as almost to intoxicate me into
a Wish that I had not spurned much personal Honor and family Emolument in pursuing
a comparitively evident public Interest. But, nearly drunken as you have made
{ 274 } me, depend upon it I am sober enough to distinguish between the Champaign with which
my Regale began and the adulterated Cup which you hold out to me while you pledge
yourself, in Case of future Correspondence, not to be in
debt more than by the Difference in the intrinsic Value of the Letters
will be unavoidable. Let me ask you where you learnt such Language. It is not roman, it is not even french,
and I am sure it is not such english as
you were accustomed to talk before you travailed into
strange Countries. Be that as it may, un peu égaré,
1 you recover your whole Self again shortly after, in the Affair of Mr. Iz. I shall
pursue your Injunctions.
I sat about giving you some Idea of the Temper of Congress as to the Ultimata by extracting
the Propositions and offered Amendments, but I found myself soon bewildered.
2 You may by a little Conversation with our Friend S A know more than a great deal
of my Fatigue in the Way mentioned would convey. In short the great Difference sprung
from our varying Quantum of Obsequiousness to the Dictations of a Foreigner as they
were retailed to us through the mouths of either Fear or Roguerey, and not from our
being wide of each other in Opinion of our Rights,
if we were in Condition to assert them or
if our Ally would consent to join in a determined Assertion. But this said some must
be quite on
new Ground and not on the subsisting Treaties, for the whole End of these is the
Assurance of our Independence formally or
tacitly. And France to be sure would never think, at least would never insist that a common
Right in the Fishery was included in our
Independence in Matters of Commerce.3 For if this should be done, the Principle established would let in other nations,
which France and England would
both chuse not to do. I am greatly pleased with the Confirmation by your travailed Experience
to Sentiments springing from my own natural Temper—that the way to insure the lasting
Regard of France is by showing independent Virility instead of colonial Effeminacy.
The Bearer unexpectedly calls me to seal. I see my Correspondence with Portia is all
over. She cannot write because I should see the mark of the Tear on the Paper.
Heaven bless you both
I do not think it will be easy for me to send you the Vols. you wish by Way of Boston
but if you can borrow a few Sets there I will be upon Honor to repay them as Opportunity
serves and I will attend to chances from this River but I cannot promise 20 setts.
4