I had last Week the pleasure of writing you per Ships Shelala & Franklin from this port for L’Orient2 by the former I sent you the Nuts & Apples, which Temple had wrote for, putting them under the care of a Mr. Erskine who went Passenger in the Ship;3 I hope they may arrive safe & in good order as we took particular pains to have them properly dried and packed—

In my last Letters I wrote you that Congress had voted an Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Versailles, that Colonel Laurence, who will be the Bearer hereof, was nominated to that appointment & that he had refused serving;—4 I find since, that he has been prevailed upon to go to France, not as Envoy Extraordinary, but as Minister with certain limitted powers & directions; It seems that the Vote for an Envoy Extraordinary, was a blunder of Congress, it was an appointment they did not understand, however upon being better informed, they have rectified the mistake—5

I have the pleasure to tell you that Sally is perfectly recovered, that the Children are well except little Louis, who has had a smart fever owing to a violent cold he caught, but is much better—6 My Love to Temple, tell him I wrote him a long Letter by the Shelala,— Sally & the Children join me in Love & Duty. I am ever Dear & Hond. sir Your affectionate Son