Soon after I had the honour of receiving your Letter wh[ic]h accompanied the Laws of N York,1 I wrote you by a vessel bound to N. York & accompanied my Letter with a Sett of the last Edit[io]n of my Geog[raph]y. in boards for your acceptance. It was as long ago as October last. I hope they reached you safely.2

The hint you dropped when I last saw you, relative to my undertaking to write the history of the American Revolution, has led to a train of reflections on the subject. I own I felt so unequal to the work, That I was confounded at the suggestion of the idea ^of undertaking it^. Nor do I on consideration feel more confidence in my own abilities. I am willing, however, to undertake what any man of common judgement & industry may do, & that is, to collect materials for such a work. This would indeed naturally coincide with the attention wh[ic]h I am bound to pay to my other publications. But in order to collect to advantage, it would be best to have at first a well digested plan, as far as one could be formed, of the work into wh[ic]h the materials are to be compiled— There ought to be certain leading points & objects to guide the enquirer after information, that he may know what he is about, & the progress he is making.— Now, sir, as you have acted an important & conspicuous part through the whole of the Revolution, I know of no person more capable ^than yourself^ of guiding an Enquirer to the several objects that ought principally to engage his attention, then yourself, & to the sources where he may obtain the best information. If you will oblige me, sir, with your directions, as to the great points of enquiry—& such observations as may occur as to tha a plan of the Work, I shall be happy, as I have opportunity, to direct my attention to the subject, & to prepare something, if my life & health shd. be preserved, for some future historian of our country. If my abilities bore any proportion to the love I bear to my country, & the zeal I have for its honour & happiness, I should not for a moment hesitate engaging in the compilation of its History.

Some original & very valuable Letters have lately fallen into my hands, wh[ic]h throw much light on the transactions at Paris during the negotiation of the Peace of 1783, & wh[ic]h if publickly known would, I apprehend, greatly change the public opinion respecting the French nation—& do away entirely all obligations to gratitude for their assistance in our revolution. Pardon me if I say, the people of the United States, are [mutilated] but little acquainted with what they owe to the discernment & firmness of their Ministers (Dr. F[ranklin] excepted) who negotiated that Peace.—

I presume, sir, on your goodness, to excuse both the matter & the length of this letter. I am, Sir, with very great & sincere respect & esteem your most obdt Servt