I was this morning favd. with yours of the 9 Inst.1 and have just finished reading your answer to the Chevaliers indiscreet & improper Letter— If no Faction hostile to the true Interests of this Country existed in it, I presume that the proper way to treat that Gentleman would be to insist on his Recall and to refuse to do Business with him— under present Circumstances, Prudence requires that more than ordinary pains be taken to preserve public opinion from the Errors into which that Faction so industriously labor to mislead it. On this Principle I approve of your treating that Letter with more attention than it really deserved. While such continues to be the State of Things, the aggressions of Foreigners ought not to be concealed from the public Eye; and perhaps we should now have fewer aggressions to complain of if our Delicacy and Forbearance and Silence had not encouraged Doubts of our Self Respect— The answer is not too long— in my opinion it is always best to do Business thoroughly or not at all— It is a great point to keep, and to shew one’s adversaries to be, in the wrong—and this point you have gained with Respect both to Adet and the Chevalier— It gratifies me not a little to see American ministers act like Americans on independent and american Ground, uninfluenced and undisgraced by foreign management— with sincere Esteem I am Dr Sir Your most obt. Servt