on reading The Letter which you was so obliging as to write to me on the 21 July 1795,1 it appeared however prudent to delay excited no other Surprize than that certain Gentlemen had forgotten the Respect which they owed both to themselves and ^as well as^ to me

It was foreseen that any Treaty with Great Britain would be violently opposed by the Debtors to that Country, by the Enemies of the Antifœder ^al^ists, and by the Partizans of France— I returned from England expecting and prepared to meet with Censure and Calumny; but not from certain ^Individuals^ whom I had always believed to be incapable of such Conduct—

So little Impression have these Circumstances made on my mind, that I do not regret the Part I have acted, ^nor have I published a single Line to defend it—^ Public Opinion will gradually become correct, & if it should not; I know the time will come when all the Libels & Lies in the world will perish, and leave Truth untarnished and undisguised by Error—

The motives which produced your Letter are rendered obvious by the Sensibility which ^pervades it^— I thank you for it Sincerely; and I should it have done it more early, had it not appeared to me adviseable to suspend our Correspondence, untill the agitations alluded to, should have subsided— It will give me pleasure to be informed that this Letter has come safe to yr Hands— I am Dr Sir your affte. & hble Servt