It is with great Reluctance that I can ^ever^ prevail upon myself to tell you that what ^any thing^ you do is not right ^in my Opinion im^proper, and especially when my tellg you so may possibly be attributed as much ^is capable of being imputed^ to my Pride as to my ^well as to^ Prudence

The Count de Montmorin informed me Yesterday that you had consulted him on the Subject of a Conference you proposed to have with the Spanish Minister relative to Mr. Cumberland Errand and he recapitulated the Advice he had given you relative on that Head

As I consider the exclusive Direction ^Condu^ ^Affairs^ of the Am. Legation at this Court to be committed to my exclusive Direction, and consequently that I alone am responsible for the Manner in wh. they may be conducted, I cannot ap consent ^must object^ to your taking any measures respecting them but such as I shall ^may^ previously have approved of and assigned to your Management.

Nor can I consider your ^I also think it wd. no Advantage can result from your^ having communicated to the the Chevalier DBurgoyne ^the Count Secretary the Chev. DBurgoyne^1 all the Intelligence you had relative to Mr. Cumberland & his maneuvers as well as the Channels thro which it was acquired ^obtained^— To obtain ^assist in gaing^ Intelligence is doubtless is doubtless within your Province ^as well as Duty^ but the Use to be made of such as may concern ^affect^ the Business ^& Objects^ of the Legation I conceive to belong solely to mine—Besides It wd. I know ^doubtless^ be red ridiculous to appear ignorant of what every Body knows, but it is not necessary nor ^[in margin] always [wise] ^^useful^^ to communicate what others do not know, & particularly the Means of acquiring it—this Kn ones knowledge^

I am a little suspicious that we entertain different Ideas as to the Extent of your Appointment— From your ^havg^ urging your Commission of Charge Des Affairs as a Reason as a Reason why you shd. countersign my Letters ^and from some other Circumstances^ I apprehend that you view it as being now in For some Degree in Force, and perhaps that my temporary absences from the Habitations ^Seats^ of the King may in Virtue of that Commission devolve upon you ^on such occasions^ farther Powers than those annexed to your Office as Secretary.—on the other Hand I ^cannot^ look upon that Commission as contingent ^in any other Light than as^ eventual and to take Effect only on my ^the^ Death or absence from Spain ^of the Am. Minister here,^—and that the only Powers you are now vested with are ^at present^ ^confined to^ are those which originate in your office ^appt.^ of Secretary—and that you have been led to take these measures merely from an opinion of their Expediency.2

Perhaps ^perhaps^ these are only Conjectures—perhaps they may be ^are^ groundless. I wish they may be—if they^t^ should not ^be the case^ ^If our Sentiments do really thus vary on these points^ it will be best that they^se points^ shd be explained and all Cause of Variance removed. Perfect Harmony between us is essential to the public Good, and I should regret exceedingly to and adjusted ^the Difference removed^ If you think my Construction of our sev respective Commissions right, ^I hope^ you will then in future forbear to taking any Steps ^in the Business of the Legation^ without the Line of Secretary without previously ^unless with my approbation^ as as to Intelligence ^touchg those Affairs^ you will will continue with your usual Diligence and Address to obtain it, but avoid communicating ^more^ either ^of^ the Matter or the Means of acquiring it ^than may be (unless already public)^ to any Persons except to Congress without my Consent— If indeed you should should chuse to transmit ^it yourself^ to Congress I have not the least Objection— But if on the other Hand you should be of opinion that my Construction of our Commissions does you Injustice— In that Case I must and for the Sake of Harmony as well as to prevent any ^the^ Evils from In ^often resulting^ from interfering Measures I must request the Honor of you to suspend confine yourself to the Duties of Secy until all Doubts can be removed by Congress.

As on the one Hand ^I assure you^ it will always give me Pleasure to be a witness to your Services & to represent them in a true Light to Congress so on the other I flatter myself you will ascribe this Letter to the true Motives and nothing but that^e^ Regard Consideration of public Good and that Consideration of being responsible for ^the Issue^ of Measures not my own, could prompt ^prevail upon^ ^induce^ me to write you this Letter—

I acknowledge with Pleasure your Readiness to ^do^ your Duty, and think ^that^ you deserve Credit for the Attentions & Addresses ^in^ gaining Intelligence.

It would give me Pain to be if the Restrictions I impose upon shd be thought merely arbitrary and not founded on Reason— I am persuaded ^I am persuaded you will not^ think they arise from Caprice when you Reflect.

When you turn your Thoughts I ^seriously on^ these Restrictions I am lay upon you am persuaded you will think them sound reasonable and not merely arbitrary and capricious— I will not therefore pay so ill a Compt. to your your good Sense as to suppose it necessary to assign the several Reasons which enduce me to think them proper indispensible ^requisite^

In a Word my dear Sir it is our Duty to harmonize and to avoid all occasion of Contentions and you have too much Experience not to know that it is.3 I am dr Sir Your most obt. & hble Servt

I have given the Bearer ^the Bearer^ ^the Paper for you^ an american newspaper for you, which I recd. have just recd. from France ^arrived just after you left us^—Mr. D Neufville ^A Dutch Mercht^ has made an offer of accepting the Bills drawn on Mr. Laurens, on Terms very generous—I have mentioned this to Count Montmorin.—4 I have seen Count O Dunne,5 I think you wd do well to visit him— He may & indeed has promised to a ^be very useful to our Affairs^ in Portugal which have taken ^By a Letter just recieved from Mr Adams I have just recd.^ I find are ^appear to be^ in a very unpleasant Situation— Dohrman6 havg been ordered to cease attending to them— The Count appears ^seems^ very well disposed, and has promised me to extend his Care to such Americans as may unfortunately be carried to that Kingdom.

As the Court will be here on Saturday, I think you had better not send the Journal I desired you ^to^ keep, by the Bearer but to retain it till you come yourself— There are various Speculations in this City respecting the Objects of ^Mr.^ Cumberlands Mission some ^most people^ suppose he is charged with offers for Peace, and as far as I can judge most People appear ^are^ very glad of it

I had written thus far when a Number of Letters from Am. were delivered to me—we have later news than ^they^ contain—among them was a Letter for you which you will find enclosed with this—The Seals of my Letters have been barbarously toasted— They pass you know through hot Fires in France & in Spain. ^I have recd. your Favr of the 23d. Inst— The Report from Bordeaux you mention had reached us— God Grant it may be confirmed^ I am Dr Sr. your most obt. & hble Servt