I have recd your Excellencys favor of the 1st. Instant,1 and sincerely wish you had ordered me to return to Spain; I am fully convinced that my doing so, would be of Service to my Country & pleasing to You, as it would furnish you with a safe opportunity of informing Congress what Consequences the late glorious Event had produced, and would have answered other important Purposes ^only^ known to your Excellency—

Your Letter states the Remoteness of my Sailing for America as one of the Reasons (and indeed the principal2 ^one^) for my Return to You; That is done away, for since I did myself the Honor to of writing to You, on the 17th. Ult.3 the St James from Philadelphia (a fine new Ship of twenty Guns) commanded by Capt Truxton is arrived at L’orient, & will sail by the 15 of next month.4

I have sent a Copy of your Letter Excellency’s Letter to Doctr. Franklin, & have prayed him to advise what he thinks will be best.5 He knows what Dispatches he has entrusted me with, and if they are not of immediate Consequence (and I am enclined to think they are not of that nature) it is highly probable by Return ^of the post^ I shall recieve his Instructions to repair to Madrid—^[in margin] I do assure your Exy that a Visit to You, even at this unpleasant Season would give me great Satisfaction, & if in answer to this I shall recieve your Injunctions to call on you for your Commands, before I leave Europe, I will undertake the Journey with great alacrity.^

Mr Franklin ordered me to this Place in Consequence of a Promise Monsr De Castres gave me, of a Passage in a Kings Ship to America. I have been here since June at no small Expence to the public, and am at last obliged to set out for L’orient to take a passage in the St James, and there I shall be so much nearer on my Way to your Exy if I recieve your or Dr. Franklins Instructions to depart for Spain.6