On my Return from New York; on Friday last, your obliging [letter of] the 5th. of May,1 which arrived here during my absence, was delivered to me. [I am] much gratified by the Information it contains, & thank you for it.—[Serio]us apprehensions were entertained that antifœderalism had [gained] considerable Ground in Massachusetts; but I am happy to find [from the] Facts you state, that appearances do not warrant the conclusions [which have] been drawn from them.—

[The] present aspect of our affairs is far from being agreable— Altho’ [peculiarly] blessed, and having abundant Reason for Content & Gratitude, [our nation] is permitting their Happiness to be put in Jeopardy by the [worst] passions inflamed and directed by the most reprehensible means. [Whether] the good Sense of the People will avert the Dangers which threaten [them] is yet to be seen— If the sound and leading Friends of their [count]ry could concur in opinion as to men and measures, their Efforts [would] probably be successful— but unfortunately there is too little [unani]mity in many points, and the want of it exposes us to the [hazard] of many Evils—

It really appears to me that the mission of our Envoys to France, [has] been treated with too much asperity. The President declared to the Cong[ress], that he would never send another Legation to Paris, untill he r[ecd.] assurances that it would be properly respected. As that [declaration seemed to imply that when he should recieve such [assur]ances, he would again send Envoys, it was not unnatural [that] he should concieve himself bound in Honor to do so. His [atta]chment to the Dictates of Honor and good Faith, even supposing it [to h]ave been too scrupulous, is amiable and praiseworthy—Whether that Declaration was advisable, and whether the [nomination of the] Envoys was made exactly in Season, are questions which[, like oth]ers of the same kind, may recieve different answers from [different] men. But having nominated the Envoys and recieved [the] requisite assurances, I for my part consider the sending [them] as a matter of Course; and do not concur in opinion with [those] Gentlemen, who think they should nevertheless have be[en] detained—2

I regret that my absence deprived me of the pleasure of seeing the Revd. Mr. Andrews—3 and the more so, as he would [have] answered my Inquiries respecting many of my friends [at] Boston, and informed me of your Health— With the best wishes that you may now and [long] enjoy that valuable Blessing I am Sir your most obt. Servt.