Seven Vessels have lately arrived at Nantz & Lorient from Am., two of them directly from Philadelphia & but one Letter brought by them has as yet reached me— It gives me Reason to expect others by every Post, and ^as^ well as to suppose that Dispatches of an important Nature have been arrived in them for You. My Correspondent informs me that certain Measures relative to peace were preparing in Congress & refers me for particulars to public Letters on that Subject which have not yet come to Hand He also gives me to understand that France possesses the fullest Confidence of America, and that if the former perseveres in her Integrity and does not sacrifice too much to a premature Peace she will be amply repaid for the Expences of the War by an alliance which our Countrymen are as sincerely desirous of rendering in every Respect advantageous to her.1 I cannot forbear considering the approaching Winter as a very critical Season— It is sd. that Russia & the Emperor have offered their Mediation & that it will be accepted—2 it is further said that France wishes for Peace or tho rather that For my own Part I fear that France has very little to expect from the Friendship of these Mediators, and unless appearances decieve me, every nation in Europe except Prussia wish better to England than to France— It appears to me expedient to delay the Progress of this Mediation, and in the mean Time to endeavour strenuously to form a close defensive Alliance between France Spain Holland & America. If ^France &^ Spain could be prevailed upon to adopt this Idea speedily & heartily I am persuaded that that the Dutch might, in their present Temper and to obtain certain Guaranties, easily be brought into the Measure, and there I think Such a quadruple Alliance followed by a vigourous Campaign would give us ^a^ Peace worth our acceptance. as to the present Campaign, I do not expect great things from it—my Expectations from the Expedn. agt. New York are far from sanguine, it depends on too many Contingencies not to be very uncertain—

I wish to see some great stroke struck—some great Plan wisely concerted, & vigourously executed had a french Fleet of out decided Superiority to the Enemy been on our Coast early in the Spring & cooperated with Gen. Washington throught^out^ the Summer, the Halifax NYork & Chs. Town wd. this turn before Winter have changed Masters, and then we shd. have been ripe for peace

as to this Court I should be do not apprehend that they are tired of the War, or that they have the least Objection to another Campaign—they want Jamaica, they want Gibraltar & Mahon would be a tru^m^p Card in their Hands. If their activity was equally to their Perseverance, and theiry Dexterity equal to their Resources, they wd. be very formidable possessed the Talent of drawing forth & using all their Resources they wd. be very formidable as but take Spain as she is, if she could once be prevailed upon to pass the Rubicon, that is to declare or acknowledge & engage to support our Independance, she wd. give great Britain a mortal wound and render essential Service to the common Cause. How far France views the Matter in this same Light I know not, nor can I clearly comprehend the Policy of the System she seems to hold relative to it—

The Embassador is well attached to the American Cause, & has such proper Views of its importance as well as the Manner of supporting it that I have often wished at him at Versailles— There is never the less a sort of Mysterious Reserve about him upon this Subject, nor am I informed whether any & what Steps have been taken by him & his Court to influence Spain to an alliance with us—3 I have however full Confidence in the Friendship of France, and the late aids she has granted to America give us Reason to rely on the King & his principal Ministers—

There is some Reason to hope that this Court begins to think more seriously of a Treaty with us than heretofore—a few Weeks will enable ^me^ to judge better of their views— In Politics I depend upon nothing but Facts, & therefore shall never risque decieving decieving myself or others by a Reliance on Professions which may or may not be real sincere—

The Duke of Crillon is still at Sea, I am tempted to wish that Expedition had not been undertaken—if it fails it will do harm, & I see but little prospect of its succeeding—

You are several Letters in my Debt and ^I^ wish to know whether one on relative to Mr. Vaughan ever reached You.4

As I have Reason to think this Letter will go unopened to your Hands, I have written with less Reserve than usual. In a former Letter I informed You that Mr. Toscan carried your Letter for Congress which was committed to my Care in April last. I mean the one in which you requested Leave to retire & mentioned your Wishes respecting your Grandson.5 Your Letter to me upon that occasion also contained & ^an^ Intimation which demanded my warmest Acknowledgements— I have since waited for a good opportunity of informing you of the part I acted in Consequence of it—

It appeared to me most expedient to avoid taking any Measures to induce Congress to adopt your Proposition, so far as it respected me—for tho the Change wd. be agreable to me, I did not wish to give occasion to Debates on a Subject which could only affect my personal Concerns, especially too as I had some Doubts respecting ^too as^ the policy of the Measure ^did not, upon the whole, appear to me unquestionable^ For these Reasons I did not give the least Hint of the Plan to any of my Correspondents but confined to myself to the following Paragraphs re respecting you Retiring, in a public & in a private Letter to the President of Congress