I have the Satisfaction of finding by the Return of the Vessel which carried my Dispatches of June last to Congress, that the Duplicate of a Letter written to you on my arrival at Cadiz and sent by her has probably reached You.

As there is Reason to believe that you are still in Congress, I refer you for the political State of Affairs here to my public Letter which You will find long and particular—1 I am a little apprehensive as the great Exertions of America, during the last Campaign, have not produced correspondent Events, that either Relaxation or Divisions may succeed—they are both to be dreaded, and therefore if possible to be avoided—

The defensive Plan^art^ which Mr DTernay was obliged to act for want of Reinforcements may have made Impressions to the Disadvantage of our Allies. On this Subject I have good Authority to assure You that the commanding officer of the french Fleet in the Islands has orders to afford him Aid on his Application— Whether such Application was made, or if made, why not complied with, I am uninformed. I have also good Reason to believe that Plans in Favor of america are now under Consideration at Versailles—but what they will be, or whether they will ever be adopted I cannot pretend to say— At any Rate it appears to me of great Importance that no Distrust of our Allies appear, and tho Prudence teaches us to rely chiefly on ourselves, yet it ought to be remembered that one of the most certain Methods of destroying Friendship is to entertain Suspicions of its Sincerity— The greatest Attention is doubtless paid to the Marqs. D Fayette, and other french officers—their Representations will have great Weight in France—2 Perhaps a Grant of Eight or ten thousand acres of Land concieved in sounding3 & honorary Terms would not be unacceptable to the former.

I was happy to find Your name among those of the Committee sent to Camp—4 This was a wise Measure— The most severe oeconomy in the Expenditure of public Money will I hope be observed— The Credit of the United States has both at Home and abroad been so heavily (& perhaps imprudently) laden, that Care should be taken lest its Strength should become inadequate to its Burthens—

The Loss of Charles Town had a wonderful Effect here,5 and the ill Consequences resulting from it had no sooner been removed by the subsequent glorious Efforts of America, than the Defeat of Gen. Gates again turned the Tide against us, & the more so, as the small and unequal number of Troops by whom that Victory is said to have been atchieved, gave occasion to Remarks much to our Disadvantage. I am impatient to see the Congress account of that Disaster—it has not yet made its Appearance, and Cornwallis’s Letter still remains uncontradicted except by Ship News which in such Cases is seldom much regarded—6

Gibraltar continues closely besieged, and unless soon relieved (wh. is not very improbable) will be greatly straightened. This is an expensive Expedition, and the Object of it may, in my Opinion be more easily and speedily gained in America than in Spain.

I recd. a Letter this Morning from Holland, informing me that Mr Laurens was still closely confined, but that his Health was much mended—7 I hope you are looking out for a proper object of Retaliation— The Honor as well as the Interest of the States demand it, and I am persuaded such a Step proper & spirited Step would have a favourable Influence on our Affairs in Europe especially if done in a Manner consistent with the Dignity and Justice of Congress. There is Reason to fear that all his Papers fell into the Enemys Hands. Copies of Letters (found among them) from Mr DNeufville to Congress were sent to the Stadtholder, and occasioned much noise, but that Gentleman & his Party firmly avowing them, it soon subsided—

The Dutch I believe will remain pacific—they have too much in the Funds to risque and some of them seem surprized that Congress should be at a Loss for Money while the Produce of the Country continues to exceed the Consumption of the Inhabitants— Adieu— I am Dr Sir very sincerely Yours &c.