I am greatly pleased with your Letter of the 30 of August. Every Part of it shows a Sound Understanding and a manly honest heart. Your Conduct at the meetings was wise, as well generous. Never mind Majorities. Weigh well and judge right and never fear being in a minority. You are right to mix with your fellow Citizens at their invitation to their Consultations. Although Horatius has Sacrificed to the Charm of a name, his numbers upon the whole are excellent, the last particularly is the truest representation of the Embassy to France, that I have seen and the clearest Justification of it.1

I have no Objection to your hope that the Types will never be unsett.— I had no Idea that I ever wrote so long a Letter to that confidential Friend and assistant of Secretary Hamilton. But upon reading it 8 or 9 years after I had forgotten it I dislike it less than I do most of my Productions. There is a Sportive, playfull Vein runs through the whole Letter—a few strokes of Satirical humour that if they are understood, ought to have good Effect. The Comments are curious: but they will take with the fools and Knaves for whom they are intended.

Your Letters give Us all so much delight that I pray you to be as generous as you can Afford time to be in dispensing them to your / Affectionate Father

I have received your favors of the 6th. & 10th: instts:— 1 The little schism which took place among the federal people at their late meetings, & which was detailed in one of my late letters, has terminated to general satisfaction & from the turn it has taken will probably very much promote a union of interest & exertion. Every measure, which was pursued to modify the proceedings of the majority at the public meetings, was done in private meetings of the two Committees, & when the result of their conferences was to be laid before the general assembly for their approbation, no notice was taken of any difference having existed. Every thing went on smoothly & with greater unanimity than at any former meeting. You will see by the papers that my name has been brought into public for the purpose of attesting these proceedings.

There is nothing of a public nature to excite much observation at this time, other than the Electioneering warfare, which is carried on with much warmth & some accrimony. The Newspapers here publish 401 no such speculations as those of Junius Americanus & Massasoit, (a foolish & absurd signature by the way.) voluntarily.2

The Mission to France excites enquiry—there seems even to be a great degree of impatience discovered, because the Executive has not thought fit to divulge what has been done & what is likely to be done further; & moreover what the Envoys were instructed to do. I am, for my own part, so indifferent upon this subject, that I feel a secret pleasure that this whimsical, womanish curiosity, of the people, should has not been gratified, as indeed I see not how it could be, consistently with prudence. But the high-flyers are by far the most eager to come at the state of the business—for no other purpose than to cavil and growl at it. The reports which circulate so freely on the subject of the speedy return of the Commissioners, are intended to worm & worry out the secret; at least they have this appearance. I scarcely know what creed is best on this occasion, for my data are no more authentic than those of other people, & yet my doubts are strong as to a satisfactory adjustment.

Upon the subject of your favor of the 10th: I have nothing to add, except to concur with you in deploring the calamity which seems so inevitably to await us. Your determination concerning the unhappy object & cause of our affliction, is righteous & just.

I am, dear Sir / Your Son