My last to you was of the 10 Inst. and I concluded it with a Promise of a Continuation, which I now set down to perform.

The more I enquire and hear about your Contract, the more I become convinced that it will never be ratified. The Prices affixed to the several Articles are thought exorbitant, and I am well persuaded that the Conduct of those Affairs will be referred to the Person I before alluded to.1

Mr Carmichael has been informed (I believe by Letter from some Person in France) that you had in some late Conversations on American Affairs, spoken much to their Disadvantage, & in a manner very discouraging. I mention this that if the Report be ill founded I may desire him to undeceive his Correspondent. You must be sensible that such Reports will be no less prejudicial to you in America than in Europe.

Your Reasons for not publishing your Defense at present do you Honor. Let me advise you however to omit no opportunity of authenticating the Facts essential to it, and to hold yourself constantly in Readiness to seize the first proper opportunity of convincing the World that you merit the thanks & not the Reproaches of your Country. The Duplicity of which you complain, if well founded, is extremely reprehensible, and I think ought in that case to be fairly and fully exposed, but as no Injustice wounds so deeply as that which may be done to a Mans Reputation, Care should be taken that your Proofs be adequate to your Assertions. I beli ^am^ the rather led to the Remark by an apprehension that your Suspicions reach a certain Gentleman in America whom I verily believe incapable of such Conduct, and who I have many Reasons to think really wished you well—if upon any occasion his Conduct relative to you should have been wrong I am confident it must have been under the Influence of mistake and misinformation. I mean G[ouverneur] Morris— If you should adopt your former Idea of endeavouring to establish your Contract by a personal Application to this Court (which, if soon done would ^might^ be worth your while) I shall then have an opportunity of submitting to your Consideration the several Reasons on which my opinion of that Gentleman’s Rectitude in that Business, is founded—

I believe you innocent of the Malversations imputed to you, and I feel for you all that Sympathy which such an opinion must create in every honest mind. Evils of this Kind tho temporary are severe, and would be exceedingly so, were it not for the prospect of their soon ceasing— In this Enlightened Age, when the noise of Passion and Party shall have subsided the voice of Truth will be heard and attended to— It is too true that mere private Altercations have little Effect upon the public mind—few thinking it worth their while to examine the Merits of a Dispute important only to the Parties. This is not your Case— Your Commission and the Manner in which it was executed will ever be interesting to Americans, and therefore Americans will always be ready to hear your Cause and to determine it justly—that is—according to Evidence—keep your Eyes fixed to this Object—an ounce of Proof is worth a Ton of Assertions—be unwearied in collecting it— Spare no Pains in ascertaining the Facts necessary to defend yourself or defeat your Enemies. With Respect to your Defence, it ought in my opinion to be written with great Perspicuity and with the utmost Temper—that is the materials should be so arranged and embellished, as that the Reader may never find himself pl perplexed in Mazes, nor discouraged by Mud & Dirt, but on the contrary easily find his Way from the Beginning to the End, and the more agreable & entertaining it may be, the more he will be pleased with it, and consequently with you. With Respect to Temper the Caution extends beyond the Language, in which however I would not have a single hard word, & for this very good Reason, that I never knew an Instance in which they did any good, but many in which they did much Harm—as to hard Things— They respect Facts and Remarks—as to the first I know but one Rule—it is—never to omit publishing a Fact (if capable of proof) against your Enemy, provided it be essential to your Vindication against his Charges, & no honorary obligations forbid it: And on the other Hand to beware publishing any anecdotes either so trivial in themselves, or so little connected with your Defence, as to be imputable to malice.

I have known Defences fail from various Causes— Want of Temper, Negligence, too little Delicacy with Respect to some persons & things, and too much with Respect to others, were the common Causes. You have Time, and I presume, materials enough to render yours perfect in its Kind. Nay you may easily render it not only interesting for the present but forever. And were I in your place I would so connect & interweave it the important Affairs of your Agency with it, as that it should live as long as they may be deemed important, which in my opinion will never cease to be the Case. In a word—you may if you please build your own monument, and inscribe upon it incontestible Evidence of your merit— Think a little of this Matter, and tell me how you like the Idea.—

Adieu for the present—you shall hear from me again soon. I am dear Sir with great Truth & Sincerity Your Friend & Servant,