Before I left The Massachusetts. I had the Pleasure of receiving a Letter from you: but I learned from it, with Some Uneasiness that you meditate a Removal to a greater distance from Us. I had Yesterday another Letter from you of the 23 of November. I thank you for introducing to me, Major Peter Van Gaesbeek, whom however I have not yet had the Pleasure to see as he happened to call when I was from home.1 I shall Soon endeavour to See him and converse with him about you.

The Foreign affairs of the United States are become so interesting that I hope all Classes of Men will have less disposition to domestic Dissention. It will require all the Wisdom and all the Integrity, of the United States to conduct their affairs in the present Crisis, in Such a manner as to avoid the Calamities in which the European Nations are involved.

The French Lawgivers have committed so many Errors, and the combined Powers discover so much of a Partitioning Spirit, that I begin to apprehend that the French People of all descriptions will find themselves so exhausted on one hand and so irritated on the other as to unite in a military Government for the defence of their Persons and Property against one another and of their Territory against foreigners. But the Affairs of France and of Europe have got into Such Confusion or into so unnatural an Arrangement, that I find nobody disposed to prophecy what is to come. We are now allarmed with reports of Algerine Depredations,2 nor do We hear of so 244 much Justice from French English or Spaniards as to make Us fall in Love with Either.

I am Sir with unabated Esteem, your / most obedient & humble servant

As I had promised myself much Pleasure, in a few hours Conversation with you in my Way to Philadelphia, I was greatly disappointed when I found you were absent, and still more pained when I found heard you had been out of Health. your Journey has I hope been of Service to you. I lived in constant hope that We should have the Pleasure to see you in the Course of the last Summer at Braintree: and as I am suspicious You are rather too domestic, injuring your health for Want of active Exercise, fresh Air and the social Countenances and Conversation of your Friends: I hope you will next Summer make Us a Visit at Boston and Braintree where you will be sure to find Friends very glad to see you. The Air which arises from my Rocks added to fresh Breezes from the sea is as salutiferous as the Genius of Boerhaave. I can almost promise you a Cure.

We are surrounded here with Clouds and invelloped in thick darkness: dangers and difficulties press Us on every Side. I hope We shall not do what We ought not to do: nor leave undone what ought to be done. But We may do too much as well as too little. Almost all Europe is confederated against the Republicans of France who are no better than they should be: and We Americans find little more favour with Either than with the Algerines and Indians. I, in my Simplicity, had flattered my self with a rapid Reduction of the national 245 Debt, and with a growing Independence and Prosperity to my Country: but instead of a Kingdom of the Just, I find Republicks of Iniquity: instead of a Kingdom of Priests, Commonwealths of Jesuitical and Machiavilian Politicians: instead of a People all Righteous according to the Promise and Prophecy, all Peoples almost all wicked. God forgive me for the Picture I have drawn if it is too dark.

There is however, to be more candid and more serious, much of an honest and sincere disposition to do what is for the public Good, if that could be discovered, as I hope it will.

I owe you a little ballance, which I will endeavour to Send you and thank you kindly for the trouble you took in settling my vexatious affair.1

I beg you would write to me for your Letters are cordial Drops in a gloomy hour to your sincere Friend and most humble / servant.