You will I hope recieve this Letter from the Hands of Doctr. Bancroft,1 whom I take the Liberty of recommending as well as introducing to your Excellency. I have had the Pleasure of being intimately acquainted with this Gentleman, for this Year past, and assure you that in the Course of it, he has to my Knowledge been a useful and zealous friend to America. His long Residence in this Country, and his acquaintance with our Affairs in Europe from the Beginning of the War, enable him to afford you much interesting Information—

I have within a few Days past recd. a Letter from your Nephew at Madeira desiring to be appointed Consul there by the American Ministers here, until Congress shall be pleased to pass some Resolution on the Subject.— I enclose a Copy of that Letter & of my answer to it.—2

When I consider the Circumstances under which our Ancestors settled in America, & recollect what I have heard of the Friendship which subsisted between them, I find myself heartily disposed to serve this young Gentleman, and to act a Part towards him which I am sure would have been exceedingly agreable to my Parents, who always expressed the most friendly Sentiments of the Families from which his Father descended— I have the Honor to be with great Esteem & Regard Dr Sir Your most obt. & hble Servt