Though so many Years have passed since We saw or heard from each other, I hope I do not deceive myself when, I presume that we continue to retain each other in friendly Remembrance, not without taking a real Interest in each other’s Well-being— Such at least, I can truly declare, are my own Sentiments & feelings in relation to you; and embracing every Opportunity of inquiring after you, I heard with sincere pleasure the other day from an American Acquaintance, that you were living in Health & Comfort, though retired from public Life— But why do I say though retired; when I can most sincerely aver that with a View to Health & Comfort, & those of Mind as well as of Body, no Situation in life has ever presented itself to my Imagination under so hopeful a form as that which my favourite Poet describes, as— “Domestic life in Rural Leisure pass’d”—1 I forget whether you are a Lover of Poetry— If you were so, when you were young, I think that even in advanced life, the author of the above Line Cowper, will still be dear to you; His piety gives unfading Charms to his Compositions— But I am in danger of expending all the time for which I must venture to detain you, without proceeding to the Business, which gives me Occasion, an occasion which I own I am glad to seize, to address you after so long a Silence— I am aware indeed that your Retirement may prevent your taking any part in public, even in the Case I am about to mention; still your Opinion, your good wishes, may be useful to us— Since the Abolition of the Slave-Trade,2 an Institution has been formed consisting of a considerable Number of the most respectable Members of both Houses of Parl[iamen]t. as well as of other Men of Consideration & Worth, with the Duke of Gloucester at our Head, for the purpose, of promoting Civilization & Improvement in Africa—3 Of Course all our Hopes are grounded & bottomed in the Cessation of the Slave-Trade— Now from the operation of the War & of other Causes, this Traffic is stopped, with a very trifling Exception which tho’ trifling, we are trying & that successfully to do away, throughout all that immense part of the Continent of Africa which is north of the Line & indeed much further— unless as it may be carried on by your Country men & our own, in direct violation of the Laws of both Countries— We trust we shall be able, by sends. Ships of War to scour the Coast of Africa, to suppress the British Sla[ve]. Trade. But this will be of little avail, if the traffic may still be carried on in fact, tho’ prohibited by Law, by the American Sla[ve]. Trader Nor do I see any prospect of preventing this abuse, unless a convention could be made between our 2 Countries, by which the Ships of War of each should be authorized, & even encouraged (by the hopes of gaining by the forfeitures,) to seize & bring in for adjudication the Vessels of the other, when prosecuting this unlawful Commerce— I rather believe there is another particular in which ^it still remains for^ your Country to render its Law similar to ours, by subjecting to forfeiture any Ship of any Country & under ^any^ Flag, which is fitted out ^in^ & clear’d, out from an American port—Now my dear Sir, may I hope for your assistance tow[ar]ds. the production of the Effects I have specified ? Knowing to whom I am writing I will say no more on this Head—

I cannot address you, without tracing my way to the period when we were last together, through the long & interesting Interval which lies between that & the present Moment— What Events have since happen’d! What Events may take place in the same number of Years yet to come— How many whom we loved have gone in the last 13 years? how ^many will go in the next?^ How strongly are we admonish’d, my dear Sir, to place our Happiness on a firmer & more secure Basis than it can enjoy in this World, which never more than of late verified the Character given of it by one of our greatest & best churchmen, Hooker,4 that it is full (made up, I think He says,) of perturbations—How astonishing is it, to see Men of penetrating Understanding, & of deep & large Views, confining their Regards to this limited Scene, apparently insensible to the Existence of any thing beyond it— But I beg pardon for thus running on, & I stop before my pen has got the mastery of me— I will detain you no longer than while I express my Hopes, that you are well & happy, & assure you, that I shall never cease to take an Interest in your Welfare— I remain with Respect & Regard My dear sir your oblig’d & faithful Servt