I have greatly Suffered from the Consideration of the Inconviencies that both you & Mrs Jay must have been exposed to on your Passage from hence, arising from the scanty Accommodations of the French Frigate— I trembled at the thoughts of it before your Departure, but I was fearfull of mentioning it, least I might anticipate that Uneasiness of Mind which I am confident you must have experienced—

however, I hope this will find you Safe arrived & established at Madrid, with the Prospect of executing the important Business committed to your Care in Such a Manner as to give Satisfaction to yourself, & to justify the Hopes that are conceived of its Success from your abilities in the Nego tiation—

Notwithstanding the unfavorable Impressions that a certain Gentlman1 maliciously insinuated in the Minds of the Government here in regard to Continental Affairs, & the Obstacles that thereby arose in procuring proper assistance for the Reparation of the Frigate, I have the pleasure to inform you that I have surmounted all Such Difficulties, & that the Confederacy will take her Departure in a Fortnight,2 fitted out in the best Manner that the exhausted State of the King’s Magazines will permit— The Intendant, under whose Control & at whose Disposal are the public Stores, persisted in refusing every Kind of Succor, but through the Influence of a spirited Remonstrance on the Subject, I procured an Order from the General3 to have Such Articles as the Frigate had occasion for immediately delivered, & in case of the Intendante obstinately persevering in a Refusal, to throw open the Doors of the Magazines by an armed Force, & take them out at pleasure—

I Shall soon return to America & shall endeavor to make my Stay there as short as possible— You are acquainted with the Object that attracts my Attention; will you be so obliging as to give me your opinion on the probability of my Succeeding—4 I Shall write to Doctr Franklin & will endeavor to procure his Interposition in my Behalf. Can I flatter myself that you will do me the favor of Sounding him on the Subject & Know whether it will be agreeable to him & transmit me the Results of your Enquiries, which you will please to direct to me at Philadelphia, & forward by Triplicates, eventually to provide against the Accidents that your Letters may be exposed to—

The Success of a Detachment of 5000 Continental Troops under the Command of General Stirling in taking Possession of the Garrison & Stores on Staten Island, is the only Intelligence of any Importance from America— It consisted of 300 Men & a considerable Quantity of Provisions &c.5 The Severity of the Winter far exceeding what has been known in the Memory of Man gave an Opportunity of executing this Expedition, by forming a Bridge of Ice for our Troops to pass over—

A very large Reinforcement of 8 to 10,000 Men, under the Orders of General Lord Cornwallis took their Departure from New York bound for Georgia— Their Object, it is imagined, is the Conquest of So. Carolina— Altho Genl Washington has detached 5000 Men from the Virginia & No. Carolina Lines, to reinforce this important Garrison, I tremble for the Fate of it— Should the Aims of the Enemy prove Successfull in that Quarter, it will turn out a most brilliant Stroke for them; it will furnish them with great Pretensions & will enable them to assume a high and imposing Tone in the Conferences that may be expected to take place on the Subject of a Negotiation of Peace—

I was inclined to think, (but I find myself mistaken) that the formidable force stationed at the Havannah, would prevent the English from attempting any further Operations on the Southern States, as they are exposed to be greatly disconcerted in their Plans by an unexpected Attack of the Enemy— Should not the Defence of these States engage the peculiar Attention of the Spaniards, as by the local Situation of their Possessions, & the Strength they have collected there, they can easily & readily afford us Assistance. I cannot believe, with as many do, that because they have not formally acknowledged & guarenteed our Independance, they esteem themselves under no Obligations to repel the Attacks made by the Enemy on any of the United States— However, Should this be the Case, I hope that through the good Effects arising from your Embassy, this desireable Event will Soon be brought about, altho Some political Reasons may hitherto have opposed it— Teucro Duce, nil desperandum—6

The Continental Currency still continues depreciating. It is a Circumstance very alarming, & whose pernicious Effects must prove of fatal Consequence to the Interests of the United States. I am fully convinced that the only Method to arrest its Sinking Credit, is to redeem the greatest Part of it by calling it out of Circulation, which can only be effected by negotiating a Loan in Europe, & by the Application of it in the Manner & to the Purposes that I mentioned to you in a Conversation we had together on the Subject—

You have doubtless heard that Mr. Laurens is appointed Ambassador to the States General of the United Provinces— Mr. Lovell was to Sail for Europe, on some important Mission, which was Kept a profound Secret—7

On my Arrival in America I shall frequently trouble you with my Reflections on public Affairs, though I cannot flatter myself with the Hopes of being admitted into the Arcana of Business So as to be able to observe the various Springs & Movements that govern the political Machine, which are often no other than private Interest disguised under the fallacious Mask of public Virtue.

Do me the favor of making my most respectfull Compliments to Mrs. Jay, & tell her that I sincerely wish her the greatest pleasure & Satisfaction during her Residence in Europe— A Number of her female Friends, amongst which are Madam Delhomme & Madam Pitault, who greatly regretted her speedy Departure, beg to be affectionately remembered to her—

Please to let Colonel Livingston Know that I am much interested in his Welfare & Shall be happy to hear from him. I Shall write him shortly by a Safe Opportunity— I am with great Esteem and Regard, Dear Sir Your Sincere Friend & obedt hble servant