It is a delightful Evening, and I am just returned from a long solitary walk to pay my Respects to you. While the Court were enjoying a Bull Feast, I amused myself in the Gardens and ornamented Grounds which surround me, some of which are beautiful; but I forbear describing them or the Reveries they suggested. Mrs. Jay is at Madrid, and her Absence makes me feel the Force of the Reflection which concludes Miltons Description of the Cha^r^ms of Paradize. You will naturally suppose that the delicious Retreats to be found here would give a romantic Completion to an Imagination less inclined to it than mine. Nor will it be difficult for you to believe, that the fairy Scenes which present themselves in the Reveries I often endulge in these Retreats, are peopled from America, when I assure You, that the ocean has not been able to wash from my Remembrance, any of the many agreable Ideas impressed upon it in that Country. Could You percieve the Direction of my Thoughts, you would see them daily bending their Course to the Hudson and the Delaware—sometimes sporting at the Hills, that Seat of Hospitality, and at other Times admiring the Delicacy of Sentiment and manners which created the Esteem and Friendship that prompt this Letter. There are Recesses about this Place that would please you, and to those who wish sometimes to enjoy Solitude, they afford it in Perfection. They are frequented by few except the Gardners who keep them in order— The beau monde preferring a grand public walk, planted by Charles the fifth, where they see and are seen, where every Evening they pass and repass each other, where the Courtier bows to his Patron, the Belle displays her Charms, the pettit maitre his pretty Person, the Grandee his Equipage, and all have the Happiness of seeing the Princess of Asturies1 take her Evening Ride in a splendid Carriage, drawn by six fine Horses, richly caparisoned, and surrounded by Guards well dressed and well mounted, and holding naked Sabres in their Hands.

This Pageantry may be proper in Monarchies, and may entertain those who seldom entertain themselves. For my own Part I readily exchange it for the lonely devious walk, the water Falls, the Fountains, the Birds, and above all the ancient Elms, bound to each other by innumerable vines of Ivy Ivy & whose Tops intermixing, exclude the Sun. But as much as I am in Love with these, I would gladly leave them for less decorated Scenes on your Side of the Water, and for the Pleasure of spending the Remainder of my Days in that Peace Tranquility and Retirement, in which alone virtue and Liberty reward their Votaries for all their Sacrifices—neither the whistling of a name, or the Fascination of ambition, will be able to detain me from your Shores, when the Duties of a Citizen will permit me to return from this honorable Exile, for as such only can I consider it. Then Madam! I shall again have the Pleasure of seeing you shine in the Dance, at the Tea Table, and in those polite and proportioned Attentions which bespeake Discernment as well as Grace.

But You may ask me how it happens that in thinking of Balls & Tea Tables I should forget the Silks &c. we were to send you? If you understood Latin, or if I had an English Translation of Virgil I should exclaim in the Words of Æneas when the Queen desired him to relate his adventures. The winds and waves madam! have been cruel to us, and your Disappointment was involved in ours— Had we gone to France, your orders should most punctually have been obeyed—or had we possessed more humble Ideas of your Taste, I should have employed some Person there to execute them—unfortunately for these orders we were brought here, where fashionable People import handsome Things at a great Expence and charged with very heavy Duties from abroad, unfortunately too, I knew no Person in France to whom I could trust the Task of choosing for you.— If my Fellow Traveller’s Taste in Dress had been like yours, I should have requested the Favor of him. Thus circumstanced, I was obliged to acquiesce in the mortification arising from your Disappointment, and I assure you nothing but the Reflection that to some Persons artificial ornaments are of little Importance, can diminish it. As to this Country, believe me, it would be as difficult to find very elegant things manufactured in it, as Mrs. Merediths, and I have no Reason to believe they are very often met with any where.

On reviewing what I have written, I find that this Letter is of tolerable Length already for a little Postcript, but having fallen into Conversation with you, I am now in the same Situation I often was at Philadelphia “loth to bid you good bye—”

When next you see Don Juan,2 tell him I have had the Pleasure of seeing his son—that he is a well looking polite young man, and that Mrs. Jay is much pleased with him—he lately returned from France, and expresses a Desire of visiting America. I offered to transmit his Letters enclosed with mine, but have not as yet recieved any. You may tell him too, that in a Conversation I had with his Patron Mr. Galvez, I took the Liberty of telling him all I knew about him, and that as I knew nothing to his Disadvantage, the Information was very agreable to his Friend. This will fill the little mans Heart with Joy, and as you always derive Pleasure from communicating it, I am happy in giving you this opportunity of gratifying that Disposition—

Shortly before I left you, Mr. Meredith gave me a Caution from Betsey3 “not to return a new man”. This was not very christian advice—however I suppose the Bible was not then in her Thoughts, and that she meant something else by it, which she would not believe me, if I should say I did not understand. The Caution was civil, and included a Compliment, which from her good Sense was flattering. I cannot prevail upon myself notwithstanding to return it—on the contrary I sincerely hope I may find her changed, tho in nothing except, as some phrase it “in her Condition”. I expect to hear that she is quite delighted with Trenton, and that she builds as many Castles on the Banks of the Delaware, as I do on the Banks of the Tagus. When I return, we will put all our Castles together; and be the Founders of a visionary City, that will probably surpass Mr. Penn’s real one. My only apprehension is, that Betsey will be for having too many Churches in it.

As the Atlantic is between us, and no great Danger can attend the Confession, General Dickinson may know that I endeavoured to persuade Mrs. Dickinson whom we had the Pleasure of meeting at Chester the Day before we embarked to come with us—but unluckily she had been so frightned in a Rhode Island voyage, and was so attached to her husband and family, and Mrs. Bond threw so much cold water on the Proposal, that all my Rhetorick proved fruitless—she is a charming woman and has my Esteem and best wishes—

Whether I shall be able to write to Mr. R. Morris by this Vessel is uncertain—if I possibly can I will, for I would not willingly forego the Pleasure of paying that mark of attention to a Gentleman who merits and shall have from me every Proof of attachment. Be so obliging as to remember me affectionately to him and to Mrs. Morris—assure her how much Mrs. Jay and myself consider ourselves indebted to her Politeness and Civilities during our Residence at Philadelphia, and how happy we shall be in hearing of her welfare, and if possible of contributing to it.

I imagine you have had a very gay winter, and that the french Minister has given you some little Specimen of Paris. What has Hymen been doing? If he has been half as busy the last winter in making Matches, as Mercury was the one before in making Lies and Mischief, you have had fine Times. Tell us something about these Matters. You cant concieve how interesting every Thing from America is, especially such as relate to our Friends. I know I can give you in Return nothing equally so; but as I am sure you are disinterested I wont dwell on that Circumstance— Adieu— Assure Mr. Meredith of my Regard and Esteem—and believe me to be very sincerely— Your Friend & Servant